BUDGET MESSAGE

2430THE KENNEDYCENTER

Service Description

Founded in 1951, The Kennedy Center, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3, non-profit community-based rehabilitation organization offering innovative and comprehensive program services to persons with special needs and disabilities, from birth through their senior years. Founder Evelyn Kennedy established The Kennedy Center as a grassroots organization, with a dozen other parents, all of whom had children with special needs and disabilities. Since 1981, The Kennedy Center has sought and consistently achieved the highest accreditation from the CARF International (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) standards setting organization. The KennedyCenter is one of the most comprehensive rehabilitation facilities in the State of Connecticut. On an annual basis, well over two thousand individuals receive program services through our departments of Rehabilitation Services, Residential Services and Kennedy Industries.Our mission is to promote the empowerment of our individuals with diverse abilities, disabilities and experiences toward optimal participation and inclusion in the community.

  • Rehabilitation Services provides: individualized employment planning; career counseling; job development & community placement; working interviews and on-the-job training; recovery oriented employment planning & placement and peer mentoring supports; job club series; school-transition services including vocational exploration/training and community independence training; acquired brain injury support services including prevocational skill redevelopment; independent living skills training; and community reintegration.
  • Residential Services provides: individualized group home placement; independent living skills training; supported living services; a Caring for the Caregiver program; family support and respite services.
  • Kennedy Industries provides: specialized job training in our consumer staffed businesses such as “Stamps and Stuff” Mailing Services, “Frameworks” Picture Framing, “Kenn Kleen” Cleaning Service, “Soups and Such” Catering and “Cutting Edge” Lawn Services.

Budget Summary

The FY14-15 operating budget for The Kennedy Center is approximately $33,500,000.The KennedyCenter is requesting a $8,000 grant to help support the transportationneeds of up to 136individuals with disabilities that live in the Town of Fairfield. These vital transportation services provide individuals with access to daily living activities including employment, vocational training and placement, medical appointments, therapeutic services, recreation,and volunteer opportunities. Many of our individuals are unable to access the public transit system due to the limited hours of operation or their skill and physical limitations. The KennedyCenter offers transportation service to all consumers regardless of age or income levels. Currently, there are 56 bus runs managed through our transportation hub.

Organizational Highlights

It has been a tremendous time for The Kennedy Center, Inc. This year’s highlights include: the opening of the Maggie Daly Arts Co-operative (MDAC) in Downtown Bridgeport, thanks to the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival; the Mobility Services Department received three grants from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Connecticut Transit and South Central Region of Government to provide travel training and ADA para-transit re-certification services; an exemplary Fidelity Rating for our Mental Health Work Services in Bridgeport; and the Department of Social Services awarded the Rehabilitation Division a grant for employment and training services under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Waterbury.