Frequenty Asked Questions (FAQ)What is Center for Social Change?
Center for Social Change, aka CSC, is a non-profit organization with a 501(c)3 status. It was founded in 1993 in the State of Maryland with an objective to support people with developmental disabilities in the community. It began providing services to people with developmental disabilities in 1994.
What is Center for Social Change International?
Center for Social Change International, aka CSC International, is an subsidiary organization of CSC. It was incorporated also as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with an objective to mobilize resources in the United States and other countries in order to support adults and children with developmental disabilities in the poor countries of Asia and Africa. CSC International also undertakes research and development issues with a view to assist people with developmental disabilities worldwide.
What is CSC Foundation?
CSC Foundation is the fund raising subsidiary of CSC. It mobilizes resources from private foundations, corporations and the public. Funds are raised to supplement services to people with developmental disabilities that CSC supports. Funds may be donated to the Foundation via online or by calling CSC's corporate office at 1.800.269.0383.
What is CSC-India or India CSC?
Center for Social Change has established its India International Liason Office in India with the permission of Reserve Bank of India under its FEMA- Regulation 5. We call it the CSC-India or India CSC office.The purpose of this office is to coordinate CSC's global objective of providing services to people with developmental disabilities in India through CSC affiliated orgnizations in India. CSC India thus provides training, to personnel of all organizations that are interested in working among people with developmental disabilities in all States of India. CSC in USA also recruits trainees from India to be trained in US for an 18 month internship program. CSC India also condutcs workshops with the help of affiliated organizations to raise public awareness among people on disabilitie. CSC India is not a funding agency and its responsibilites are national. CSC India partners with any registered non-profit organization in India, if that organization is in agreement with our global objective. CSC-India's office is located at T.C 5/77(1) Akkulam, Trivandrum, Kerala 695017. This office will soon be moved to Delhi. For information please email info.indiacsc.org
What is India Center for Social Change
aka ICSC?
India Center for Social Change, aka ICSC is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that was incorporated and registered under the Charitable Trust Act of India in the year 2002. ICSC is an independent organization that has a charitable status in India ( 80.G) but does NOT have a 501 (c)(3) status in the United States. ICSC was formed in the state of Kerala under the guidance of CSC' leadership with an objective to serve children with mental retardation and related developmental disorders in India. Its vision has been the same as that of CSC for the past 5 years. ICSC received enormous supports from CSC over the years. Since mid 2007, ICSC has become relatively independent to manage its affairs for the benefit of children that it supports in Kerala. ICSC has chosen not to expand its services beyond the state of Kerala. CSC India, therefore, partners with other national organizations to accomplish its national objective of supporting people with developmental disabilities. All contributions to Center for Social Change International in USA that supports CSC India affiliated programs in India including ICSC's programs are tax-deductible in USA. Contributions restricted to ICSC programs in India will be delivered to ICSC's programs in Kerala.
Are there other organizations that CSC in India work with?
Yes, there are other non-profit organizations serving children and adults with developmental disabilities in India that India CSC works with. These organizations are also functioning either at a state level onational level and are independently registered ones. A few such organizations include Navajyothi, Premajyothi, Nirman etc, besides ICSC.
What is CSC International for Autism India?
CSC International for Autism India (CSC for AI) is a non-govern neutral organization formed in India recently to bring awareness among people on Autism in India. Autism is a brain disorder that has currently affected over 7 million people in India. CSC International for Autism India is a new South Asia initiative of Autism center in USA. Programs include Therapeutic integration, residential habilitation, intensive individual support services, family training, early diagnostic and building up resources for parents, professionals, educators, students and public at large.
What are the Mission and Vision
of these organizations?
CSC and CSC International conduct programs and provide multiple services to people with developmental disabilities and related disorders including autism in the United States and internationally. Programs vary among children and adults with wide range of disabilities. Services include residential, supported employment, day services, therapeutic integration, advocacy and volunteering. These services promote growth, choice, inependence, self-rights and better life for all individuals.
How does one know that these organizations are legitimate organizations?
CSC group of organizations are legitimate organizations because (a) they do business that carry certificates of good standing; (b) CSC is licensed to do its business in Maryland by the Office of Health Care Quality of the State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) and in Washington, DC, by the licensing Department of Health, and (c) the programs of CSC are monitored by the Developmental Disabilities Administration of DHMH in Maryland and by Department of Disability services in D.C.
What do you think are the strengths
of your services?
Center for Social Change has historically served the most difficult adults and children with behavioral issues and those who are medically fragile in the community. Adults who were once institutionalized have adapted well in the community within a short period of time and live happily under the guidance and support of our programs for them. Individuals who were believed to be unsuccessful in community life and because of which they were in the institution for many years, were successfully placed in the community by CSC. Such individuals have grown and learned to live independently in the community. The story of Michael Taylor who, after living in Rosewood Center for ten years, was successfully placed in the community for the first time by CSC. He is well known to the world of advocates of disability. These are our strengths. We are one of the few successful, quality-focused, goal oriented programs in Maryland. We do not have many licensing issues. Our reputation as a quality program can be confirmed by the State agencies, and by parents whose children have done well in the community due to CSC's efforts.
How do you recruit and train staff?
Our staff is hired primarily through referrals and by word of mouth. They are thoroughly screened and their backgrounds are checked. For those who wish to work with children, an FBI background check is completed prior to hiring. CSC has a policy of not hiring any applicant with a criminal background. We also conduct yearly drug testing and driving record checks to make sure that our individuals are safe in the hands of our employees. CSC employees are trained well prior to working with our individuals. All employees are certified by the Maryland Board of Nursing to give medications; they also have CPR and First Aid certificates prior to working with our individuals. They go through the State mandated training program with CSC's training department. All of our employees also receive individualized training based on the needs of the individuals that they work with.
What is your employee
retention/turnover rate?
CSC has a good retention rate of employees because we do provide them competitive wages, attractive fringe benefits such as 100% health coverage including dental coverage, a life insurance policy of $25,000, long term disability and short term disability at no cost to the employees, 401(k) with an employer match, earned time off, paid holidays with extended days off, other State mandated benefits such as FMLA, injured workers insurance, liability coverage, unemployment benefits, and many more.
What do you do to prevent abuse, neglect or exploitation of individuals in your organization?
We have an internal policy in agreement with the State policy to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of our individuals. Such policy is strictly implemented. If at any time an incident is reported to the administration, it is internally investigated. The employee will immediately be suspended pending investigation of the allegation made against the employee. If proved correct as a result of the internal investigation, the employee will be terminated. If an allegation is not sustained, the employee will be reinstated under strict supervision. All incidents are reported to law enforcement and to the office of Health Care Quality for appropriate action. CSC has a network of supervisors who regularly monitor employees who work with our individuals.
Explain how you include the people you serve in the process of planning their own services?
Services to our individuals are always planned in consultation with them, their families and advocates. Those individuals who are able to speak for themselves regularly join the CSC team in planning their activities. House meetings are held on Fridays in each home and activities are scheduled for the next week. For those who are unable to speak for themselves, family and staff have input in planning activities that are based on their interests and preferences.
How do you respond to individuals and family members who have concerns about your services?
Family members and individuals who have concerns about our services or staff, are actively encouraged to contact our administrative office. We address the issues immediately and most concerns are resolved quickly. Some families, despite our best efforts, may choose to leave our program. We are confident, however, that CSC provides the best service at all times.
What is CSC most proud of in the service
to people with disabilities?
CSC is unique in its approach to serving individuals. We all know one another and interact as a family. While medications and behavior plans improve the individuals to some extent, what works better for the people we serve is our great respect for them and their worth as human beings. And we are proud of our efforts and the efforts of the people we serve, to attain a relatively normal, happy life within the community. CSC cares and changes lives.
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