Today, we’d like to introduce you to Lori Baker.
Hi Lori, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up with a mother who had Multiple Sclerosis. My first driving experience was driving her to her physical therapy appointments. During this time, I decided to go into Physical Therapy (in the 1970s – a much different field than it is today).
Over the years, I had a chance to work in many different settings, with a heavy emphasis on developmental/neurological patients – hospitals, home health, outpatient rehabilitation, nursing homes, and the Cherokee County School System. It was while I was in the school system I became aware of the lack of services for those students who aged out of school but, due to developmental disabilities, were unable to get a job, safely stay at home, or care for themselves. This created a huge impact on families – some of which I had experienced firsthand growing up and caring for my mother.
While working at one of the hospitals, I went back to school (Kennesaw State College – before it was a University) to work on and receive an MBA degree. This was critically important in learning the business end of providing care.
While working as a physical therapist in the Cherokee County Schools, I became aware of the lack of services available for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) aging out of school, especially those requiring specialized care. On a mission trip to Argentina with our church orchestra (FBCW), as I was trying to figure out how families could manage this problem, the Lord impressed on my heart that I should start a day program for these families.
He reminded me of my personal background with a family member, the physical therapy background, connection with the schools, and the business degree. After three months of arguing with God about why I couldn’t do it, and our pastor seemingly preaching to me over several sermons (“God equips the c!alled, He doesn’t call the equiped!”) we got started. It took close to 2 years to be ready to open, find a location, developing programming, staffing, etc.
Next Step Ministries has been serving our IDD population and their families for 15 years on April 1st. It has taken a lot of good people (staff, volunteers, donors, families, community) and God’s guidance to reach this point. It is a blessing to watch our clients grow and thrive as adults in their community!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road, but we learn and develop with the challenges. My faith in God has certainly strengthened! Developing a non-profit business from the ground up has definitely been a “learning experience”.
Adapting to changes in employment law, employee expectations of work, shortage of healthcare workers, COVID, changes in funding sources and procedures for our clients, inflation (especially with rising payroll expenses), and how to do more with less, time to do everything that needs to be done, funding to support our care for our special clients.
As you know, we’re big fans of Next Step Ministries, Inc. For our readers who might not be as familiar with the brand, what can you tell them about it?
Next Step Ministries provides various therapeutic day care services for special needs clients, and their families, primarily once they have aged out of school. We focus on a unique population – those in the low moderate to severe and profoundly intellectually and developmentally delayed (IDD), as well as those who are medically fragile. Our Mission is to serve and nurture our clients by providing enriching and therapeutic day programs so they can maximize their inclusive place in the community.
Our clients are very unique in that they tend to be very complex in their care requirements. Many are in wheelchairs, some are fed by a tube, some have seizure disorders, and many are non-verbal or very limited with communication skills – but all have unique personalities and want to interact with others! To meet these needs, we staff with not only the Direct Support Professionals but also a nurse, a physical therapist, several teachers, and an Activities Director. And we love our volunteers!
During the day, our clients are involved in activities to work on gross motor, fine motor, activities of daily living, self-care skills, socialization, communication, and adaptive skills. We also get out into the community to learn about the resources available (parks, stores, libraries, activities) and to use the community as a classroom (supply runs, money handling, communication, navigating barriers, safety awareness).
We love to share our blessings with others – interns (KSU, Chatt Tech), volunteers, and people who just would like to come for a tour. If the readers know of anyone who might need our services, please let us know! www.NextStepMinistries.net, 770-592-1227, nsm@NextStepMinistries.net
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and can you share any important lessons or epiphanies with us?
Challenges make us stronger by forcing us to rethink our processes and how we get things done and prioritize (and I don’t want to ever go through that again!)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.NextStepMinistries.net
- Facebook: facebook.com/NextStepMinistriesInc/
Image Credits
Company Photos
