Blue Sky prepares for move into new facility

For adults with developmental disabilities, Blue Sky Community Services can help build and support life skills, and their newest facility at 2610 Gerhardt St. in Cape Girardeau is nearly complete.

The facility is an upgrade and expansion from their two existing Cape Girardeau locations, said owner Kevin Smith, and will keep them from having a wait list.

The 2354 Rusmar Ave. location will remain open, and the smaller facility at 1131 N. Kingshighway will close after the move into the Gerhardt building is concluded.

Blue Sky also has an office in Sikeston, Missouri.

Terry Regenold, who serves as both compliance officer and assistant director of the Sikeston location, said the day program at Blue Sky focuses on two main areas: independent living skills and employment services.

Adults with developmental concerns ranging from autism to cerebral palsy to Down syndrome can receive services at the center, Regenold said, and the goal is to be as independent as possible and involved in their communities.

Cheryl Smith, director of Blue Sky, said community integration is important to their consumers.

Regenold agreed, saying there are several examples among their consumers of people who were very isolated, and with the staff's support, were able to learn skills that were "very helpful" in their lives.

Altogether, Blue Sky has 66 consumers and 32 employees.

They'll add another six staffers with the new facility on Gerhardt, said Kevin Smith.

Kevin and Cheryl Smith started Blue Sky in 2014, after seeing a need that could serve their adult son, who is on the autism spectrum.

He's now a volunteer at Blue Sky.

Quite a few staff have a family member with a developmental disability, as well, Cheryl Smith said.

"It's very personal," Kevin Smith said.

They are a limited-liability company, or LLC, Cheryl Smith said, and funding comes to them through different channels. Some consumers pay privately, and the facility has contracted with area high schools to help graduating seniors transition out of school, she said.

Blue Sky is also funded through the Southeast Missouri Autism Project, and that funding is under threat.

The state legislature has proposed a 43 percent cut to the project in one version of the budget, so the $63,000 Blue Sky received this fiscal year would take a hit if that version is signed into law.

The session ends in May.

While that wouldn't be a crippling blow to Blue Sky, it would affect other services Blue Sky's consumers use, Kevin Smith said.

The Tailor Institute is not affected by this proposed budget cut because funding comes from the Department of Economic Development rather than the Southeast Missouri Autism Project, which is through the funding for mental health services.

Funding for autism services has been in place for many years, Regenold said. As time went on, "the growth in funding allowed for growth in services," she said.

Funding cuts would hurt not only the growth of services but the existing availability, she added.

Regenold said Cheryl and Kevin Smith had foresight when hiring staff members, and hired people who have credentials beyond the required minimum.

"They knew it would be important," Regenold said.

Kevin Smith nodded, and said, "It sounds like overkill for a day program, but it's worked out well."

Staff works to help everyone who approaches Blue Sky for help, Regenold said.

And the new facility on Gerhardt was built out with services in mind. A reception area and conference room serve to greet visitors, and four ADA-compliant restrooms are on site.

A laundry area and kitchen are both set up exactly as they would be at consumers' homes, Regenold said, and will be good learning spaces.

Consumers meet for group sessions each day to work on individual skills, such as personal hygiene tasks or social skills, then go on community outings to apply their skills.

Groups have between eight and 12 members, and two staff members stay with each group.

"We're not an educational facility," Regenold said. "We're here to reinforce skills already learned, such as reading and math, and we give incentives for guidelines for success.

"We emphasize consumer choice," she added. "Everyone has input on where to go for community outings, and everyone has personal goals to work toward."

More information is available on the Blue Sky Facebook page or by calling (573) 332-0020.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

2610 Gerhardt St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.