The BEST Support Agency Around!
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We are a small 501 (c)3 nonprofit support agency located in Fortuna, California that services adults in our local community who have a developmental or intellectual disability. In 1998, three Eel River Valley parents of adult children with special needs created the Diane Cathey Center as a place of love, acceptance, and continued growth for their children and other adults like them. For a long time adults living with developmental or intellectual disabilities didn’t have many places to go after leaving high school and none locally. Many couldn’t go on to college and weren’t afforded the luxury of finding employment. The Diane Cathey Center, the first of its kind in the Eel River Valley, is a support agency where these individuals can continue their education, find employment, and receive support and assistance with various life skills and community activities. Each individual at our center has a weekly schedule that our trained staff work with their individual support teams to create for them. These schedules are based on their individual life goals, current abilities, and activities they enjoy. We pride ourselves on being an active member of the Eel River Valley community and helping each individual we serve live a happy and successful life!
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Our namesake, Esther Diane Cathey and her mother, Lola Cathey, one of our founders.
What We Offer:
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​Community Integration
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Employment Development
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Goal Attainment Assistance
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Higher Education
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Social/Leisure Activities
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Daily Living Skills Instruction
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Personal Development Support
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Individualized Program Scheduling
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Sustainable Living Practices
Say YES to Success!
"If we are ever to succeed, we must first be given the opportunity to try."
Community Integration
At a Glance...
The Diane Cathey Center started as a unique day program with a holistic approach to support services for individuals who have an intellectual or developmental disability. Since the program was established twenty-two years ago, it has undergone several changes that have shaped it into the all-encompassing support agency it is today.
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Our goal is to provide individuals with supports and instruction to develop skills for employment, personal growth, and participation in both home and community-based activities.
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The DCC Community Integration Program focuses on assisting individuals in accessing their local community in a variety of ways. Each individual who chooses to be a part of our Community Integration Program receives guidance on building a weekly schedule, unique to them, that will ultimately help them work towards developing necessary life skills and experiencing all their community has to offer.
"Everyone is good at something and therefore, has something valuable to contribute to their community."
The first local job assistance program certified in Customized Employment
Discover
Your Greatest Self
with
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Breaking Barriers
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Breaking Barriers is a very unique program. As an Independent Living Service we are equipped to assist those receiving our services with one VERY powerful thing... achieving life goals! We have found that individuals who live with a developmental or intellectual disability have the same kinds of goals as those who do not live with a disability such as: personal development, building social skills or network, and employment, just to name a few.
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Individuals who choose Breaking Barriers have access to the two incredible services we offer to help them reach their personal goals. It's because of these common life goals that we designed our program to offer a Personal Development service AND an Employment Assistance service. Program participants can choose to access either one or both services we offer. In doing so, each participant works with their individual support team to create a support service customized to them and the goals they hope to achieve.
Unlike traditional job placement assistance programs, Breaking Barriers uses Customized Employment methods to create opportunities for applicants to experience their own individual employment process that is customized to maximize the success of their career goals.
WHAT IS CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENT?
The Customized Employment method guides each applicant through a 6-8 week assessment process, known as the Discovery Process, in which we can establish who they are, what they are good at, what they enjoy doing, and how these things can be applied to their unique career goals. Using the information obtained through the Discovery Process, our program assists qualified applicants in partnering with local businesses who's practices match the information contained in their individual career profile to create fulfilling employment relationships.
DCC and Covid-19
During this trying time, the DCC is making every effort to abide by Humboldt County and CDC guidelines regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. As such, we have modified our safety, sanitation, and social distancing protocols. These protocols will remain in effect until the shelter in place order has been lifted or CDC Covid-19 Guidelines have changed.
Due to our continued adherence to advised Covid-19 guidelines, our hours of operation may be affected. To ensure service in a timely manner, please call our office before arrival. Guests who have not obtained prior authorization will not be allowed to enter the premises for any reason. This policy will remain in effect until further notice.
I like coming to the center because I like going on walks and seeing my friends. I like Breaking Barriers because I like going out in the community, going shopping, and going on the computer.
- Moriah, Program Participant
What I like about this program is that it works hard to find or create circumstances for job opportunities and helps remove some of the anxiety of the employment process. There are jobs everywhere and Breaking Barriers will find them.
- Chad, Program Participant
I like being at the center because I can work, earn money, and color when I want to.
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- Jeremy, Program Participant
Based on the updated Lanterman Act of January 2020, individuals who have an intellectual or developmental disability have access to many services in California. Many of these services are paid for by state and federal funds from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Under the Lanterman Act, agencies that provide services for individuals who have a developmental or intellectual disability must comply with the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Final Rule. HCBS are long-term services and supports provided in home and community based settings, as recognized under the federal Medicaid (Medi-Cal) Program. These services can be a combination of standard medical services and non-medical services. Standard services can include, but are not limited to: case management (i.e. supports and coordination), homemaker, home health aide, personal care, adult day health services, habilitation (both day and residential), and respite care. States can also propose "other" types of services that may assist in diverting and/or transitioning individuals from institutional settings into their homes and community.