In Community Care’s quest to develop services that help frail and disabled adults live in their own homes and communities, we enlist the help of likeminded partners like Society’s Assets. Our relationship is a solid example of how, through working together, we make a real difference in people’s lives.

The two organizations have collaborated through the Wisconsin Partnership Program in Racine since 2003. In January of this year, our relationship with  Society’s Assets has grown to expand the reach of Family Care in Racine and Kenosha counties, with the aim of eliminating waiting lists for long-term care services. Since Family Care was launched in Racine in January and in Kenosha in February, the waiting list for long-term care services in Racine County has been eliminated and Kenosha’s waiting list is being chipped away.

“We are a success story because we share similar goals with Community Care,” says Jean Rumachik, Society’s Assets’ director of home care services. “We both strive to help people with disabilities live as independently as they possibly can. We both want to provide the highest quality services. We both want to help people live at home, in their own communities, with dignity, while enjoying quality care.”

Society’s Assets began in 1972 as an informal grassroots effort led by people with disabilities. Its goal is to develop services and resources to help people with disabilities live independently as possible. Today the agency’s staff of 1,200 strong provides comprehensive services for seniors and adults with disabilities in Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, Jefferson and Rock counties, including home care (bathing, dressing, grocery shopping, etc.), home health care and independent living services (assistive technology, bill paying, transportation, etc.).

Rumachik says Society’s Assets has “the good fortune” of being a partner with Community Care. “It has been a year of change and that’s never easy. When differences arise, as they will, Community Care is a partner who is willing to listen and talk, to come up with good solutions.

“Community Care took on the very large task of quickly developing the programs to meet people’s needs,” says Rumachik. “I give them the tremendous compliment that they do an excellent job of understanding the needs and concerns of providers and of demonstrating a willingness and ability to make it work.”