The History of People Enhancing People
There’s No Place Like Home
Current trends show that increasing numbers of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses needing assistance with their daily living actives would choose to stay at home rather than move to large group home facilities. Being active and contributing members of the workforce and communities in which they live is vital to achieving and maintaining a high quality of life. And just like everyone else, they want to make their own decisions and remain in control of their care and independence.
People choosing to stay at home receive help with tasks such as meal preparation and grooming through the use of Personal Care Assistants (PCAs). Although Clients have several options available to obtain PCA services, PCA Choice provides the Client with the most independence and control.
Working through a PCA Choice Provider, the Client of PCA services is responsible for recruiting, interviewing, hiring and managing the PCAs they choose to employ. Through a unique joint employer arrangement, the PCA Choice Provider performs payroll processing and provides insurance and other employment related services.
People Enhancing People (PEP) is a PCA Choice Provider… plus a whole lot more. Here is our story...
Our Humble Beginnings
PEP was founded by Jim and Claudia Carlisle, two individuals who have utilized personal care assistants themselves for over fifty years. Over that time, they have experienced it all... the good, the bad, and the excellent. Although the bad times were frustrating, the Carlisle’s always persevered because remaining independent and in control of their own care was worth it. Through their experiences, they have come to know what makes an excellent PCA and they also know the challenges faced in trying to find them. Most importantly – they know how difficult it is to retain an excellent PCA once one is discovered.
Jim and Claudia strongly believe that all Clients should be able to find the help needed to stay at home and remain an active and contributing member of the workforce and the communities in which they live. Soon the brainstorming began, and along with one of their “excellent” PCAs, the concept for People Enhancing People was born. All they needed now was funding to help make their dream a reality.
Jim and Claudia Carlisle, the Co-founders of PEP
Timing is Everything
In 2001, President Bush signed the New Freedom Initiative that mandated we “tear down the remaining barriers to equality that face Americans with disabilities today.” This set into motion a series of programs designed to do just that. Government research uncovered what the Carlisle’s already know – the struggle to find and retain high quality PCAs is one of the key barriers to successfully maintaining true quality of life in our communities. Needless to say, it was also noted that this will quickly become a crisis as the baby boomers age.
As a result, states were given grants to improve personal assistance services that are Client controlled and directed. In January of 2003, People Enhancing People was awarded one of these grants through the Minnesota Department of Human Services and immediately went to work to bring their new business venture to fruition. They then assembled a highly qualified Board of Directors, hired a Program Administrator and convened Advisory Committees for both Clients and Personal Care Assistants to ensure that PEP is always listening to the needs of it’s constituents.
Removing Barriers
PEP is different from typical PCA Choice providers. In addition to the standard employment related services of payroll, taxes and insurance, PEP delivers solutions to the most common obstacles that get in the way of a Client’s success:
Recruitment and Interviewing Assistance
Successful recruiting and interviewing is hard work. PEP understands the resources and energy that go into bringing quality staff on board. We offer partnership on recruiting strategies you can put into place, as well as templates and documents to use in recruiting efforts. We offer the same assistance with interviewing, because finding someone interested in working with you is only the first step in building a quality care team. We want to help you in building the team that will provide top quality care as you achieve and maintain independent living.
Employment Support Programs
Many recipients have limited employee management experience/skills. Acting as a strong employment partner, PEP offers structured guidance through quality employment policies, coaching and management training and partnership, and assistance with all aspects of creating a positive work environment for your team.
PEP Dash of Cash Program
Understanding the importance of providing recognition for outstanding service is something that sets PEP apart as a non-profit PCA Choice organization. With the Dash of Cash Recognition program, Clients may turn in recognition letters for the outstanding service of any of their PCA staff. All PCA who are recognized by their client for above and beyond performance receive a thank you card from the office staff and Board of Directors for their efforts. In addition, each letter received is held at the office and entered into a monthly drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate to an area business. Each month four different names are drawn, so 4 PCAs receive a "Dash of Cash" for their outstanding performance!
Through these enhanced service offerings, PEP aims to create an environment where the Client of services can experience the good, the great and the excellent in PCA services.