ABOUT
History
Our philosophy is to provide meaningful and productive employment and a safe living environment for all persons.
Advo Companies, Inc. is a non-profit organization that operates a vocational training center and residential homes for persons with intellectual disabilities. We have been providing service in Amarillo since 1991. At present, our primary service populations are those persons with mental retardation; however, our service base has expanded to include persons with closed head injuries, cerebral palsy, and those that are deaf, autistic and diabetic.
The “MISSION” of Advo Companies, Inc. is to provide a service delivery system that permits individuals with physical and developmental disabilities the opportunity to choose the level of educational, vocational and work options needed to meet their personal goals and objectives.
By making available a variety of training and work opportunities, an experienced team of concerned staff, and a well-prepared developmental plan, the individual ceases to be a passive recipient of services and becomes a decision maker in obtaining their goals and desires.
What We Are All About
- Our facility is located at 5241 S Washington and offers a vocational training center, day habilitation program with support areas to meet individual needs.
Our current program population is 150 and growing daily. Our program provides a disabled employee to trainer ratio of 8 to 1. We also provide training for specialized groups with more challenging disabilities at a ratio of 3 to 1. We also provide for an on-site nurse to give treatment as prescribed by the physician.
All trainers receive approximately 40 hours of in-service training prior to client contact which includes: CPR, First Aid, behavioral intervention, training techniques, Injuries and illnesses, seizure disorders, employee pay calculations and vocational goals and enhancement. Trainers also receive specialized training annually and on an as needed basis. Advo Companies, Inc. employs a full-time training coordinator that specialized in employee training and placement needs.
- Individuals in the day program have access to a continuum of vocational and life skills training and work opportunities.
These services include a structured group setting in the Advo Companies Training Center facilities as well as job placements in the community at large. We believe that all individuals can and should engage in meaningful work, and to this end, opportunities for gainful employment in our training center as well as, work assignments in other settings are provided.
- All services are developed based on the principle of normalization that demands that developmentally and physically disabled persons are provided the same opportunities to interact in their community as other citizens.
All individuals served are provided activities and learning opportunities geared to their needs while progressively exposing each to routine tasks that they are likely to encounter in normal settings.
- Individuals who live in the homes operated by Advo Companies, Inc. are afforded the opportunity to remain in their home community, close to family and friends, in the least restrictive environment.
Advo Companies currently operates 17 homes with 80 individuals being served with 24 hour care to meet their individual needs. The homes can accommodate 4 to 6 individuals depending on the funding source and licensing regulations governing the home. Community resources are utilized whenever possible in order to provide freedom of choice and versatility. They learn ways to take care of themselves, they are given the chance to become active in their communities and discover that they are an important part of society.
- The basic philosophy that each individual has value and contributions to make permeates all aspects of the program.
For this reason, a range of skill development and work participation programs designed to meet individual needs are offered. A team consisting of the individual, family members, and the professional and experienced Advo Companies staff, prepare a developmental plan geared toward increasing the abilities of the individual served. All goals strive to build upon their strengths and move them toward a meaningful role in society. First and foremost, this involves the opportunity for choice. All individuals are encouraged to become active participants in the learning and living process, including goal setting, which will encourage them to achieve whatever level of accomplishment they choose.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Carla Hughes – Joined Board of Directors as President on 6/03/2003
President/CEO of Advo Companies, Inc.
Richard Thorne – Joined Board of Directors as Vice President/Treasurer on 10/15/2003
CFO of Advo Companies, Inc.
Jeanette Thorne – Joined Board of Directors as non-voting Secretary on 3/26/2012
Accounting Supervisor of Advo Companies, Inc.
Doug Conder – Joined Board of Directors as a member on 6/3/2003
CPA – Conder Kletchka and Associates
Carol Cooper – Joined Board of Directors as a member on 2/9/2015
Committee member for Horns and Heels Gala, Community Volunteer and Philanthropist
Jeanne Prescott – Joined Board of Directors as a member on 2/9/2015
Committee member for Horns and Heels Gala, Community Volunteer and Philanthropist