Sara Roby has a passion for helping those with disabilities. With more than 10 years of experience of working with children and adults with disabilities, she is opening her own agency called Commonwealth Connections.
“During the last decade, I have had the pleasure of working with some amazing individuals and families,” she said. “These participants that I’ve worked with are the reason I am here today, opening my own agency. I wanted to do better, offer more, and help my participants and their families more.”
The mission of Commonwealth Connections is to provide a secure environment for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and to promote purpose through providing meaningful community access, building independent living skills, developing healthy social skills, and helping participants meet their individualized goals to build a life they love.
As Executive Director of Commonwealth Connections, Roby said their philosophy is to “Create a culture of inclusiveness and belonging where all are welcome, all have purpose, and all are treated with love, kindness, and respect.”
While there is no brick-and-mortar location, Roby said her staff is still able to provide services.
“We want to help spread the message of love, acceptance, and community for all, here in our beautiful town,” Roby said.
Commonwealth Connections is a Medicaid Waiver Provider Agency, which means they work with the state of Kentucky, under the Medicaid umbrella, to provide services to individuals that receive either the Supports for Community Living or the Michelle P. Waiver.
“Our agency just completed a yearlong process with the state, the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, to become an approved direct service provider,” Roby said.
Commonwealth Connections offers the following supports:
- Residential Level II (Family Home Provider) — also known as Adult Foster Care; they hire individuals who are willing to open their home and their family to an individual with disabilities that needs a home.
- Respite — a short-term care support for families/individuals providing full-time care to individuals with disabilities.
- Behavior Supports — a service provided to children and adults with disabilities; the Behavior Support Specialist is required to have a Masters in Social Work, Education, or related field; this support is focused on helping individuals with maladaptive behaviors; they learn to cope, they learn important skills, they work on building relationships, and the Behavior Support Specialist works with the individuals family and other team members in all settings.
- Community Living Supports — a service provided to an individual in the community and/or home setting; it is meant to help the individual build vital social and daily living skills, and support community involvement and inclusion.
- Supported Employment — focuses on helping adults with disabilities secure and maintain a job in the community setting.
Roby said she knows there are some other agencies in Owensboro providing these types of supports and she is honored to be able to work alongside them.
“This is truly my passion and I am excited to start helping this amazing population of individuals,” she said.
