MESSAGE FROM LEADERSHIP

It has been another year of challenges and successes as we drive to extend our care mission to serve even greater numbers of individuals throughout Northeast Ohio. We continued to emphasize our strategic plan that focuses on three pillars: People, Access, and Growth. Together, they are the keys that enable Blossom Hill to further this mission.

People
We promise individualized, loving care for our individuals. It is our people who make those words come to life. We continually strive to be the employer of choice and our track record of employee longevity speaks for itself. We also must be ever vigilant to attract and retain the best people to care for our individuals.

Being an employer of choice is an initiative that has become hardwired into our organization. We focus on recruitment, retention, and overall employee satisfaction. Our investment in the CoachUp Care employee communication system keeps us connected. Our Bravo program gives staff the opportunity to nominate each other for a pat on the back, and engagement has increased by 100% in the past year. We plan regular appreciation events and budget for rewards at Thanksgiving and bonuses at Christmas.

We do all of this because, when we invest in people, we invest in the futures of the individuals in our care.

Access
Abilities Enrichment Center had its grand opening and has increased our access to the greater community. It gives us the potential to reach 100 individuals per day. That enables us to introduce 100 new families to the difference we can make in the lives of their loved ones.

Each day we have activities inside the building and others out in the community. Individuals and their guardians choose what they’d like to do, giving them a sense of control. We’ve partnered with other agencies to expand physical fitness services, pet therapy, and more. We maintain our own greenhouse and greenspace for outdoor and horticulture activities.

Abilities offers improved access to not only DD services, but in community integration and outings. Daily outside-the-center activities place our individuals in their community, visiting a museum or park and attending sporting events. They are a visible, active part of the community and are meeting their individual goals, wherever they might be that day.

Growth
We believe developing a transportation arm of our services is critical to growth. This came into sharp focus with the opening of Abilities. The people we serve often require specialized transportation. We have purchased our first van, received a grant for a second one, and will continue to look for opportunities to grow.

We have also invested in more robust marketing efforts to make the Blossom Hill and Abilities names more visible in the community. Visibility equals growth. You may have noticed our stepped-up social media presence and wider coverage in legacy media.

We’ve undertaken the Path to 100 program to track our progress toward our goal of serving 100 individuals per day at Abilities Enrichment Center. The center can act as a “tip of the spear” in engaging with the community about our intermediate care homes and respite services. We’re creating a holistic ecosystem with infinite possibilities.

We remain grateful and aware that none of this is possible without you, our donors and friends. A simple thank you seems so small compared to the magnitude of what your generosity creates. Please know that we’re thankful for you every day.

Also understand that we will continue to call upon you to support our mission. Future strategic initiatives will include addressing the aging infrastructure within some of our residential intermediate care facilities. We will keep looking for creative ways to be good stewards of our resources in the face of impending cuts to government reimbursements. It’s the duty of every one of us to do whatever it takes to keep providing loving care the Blossom Hill way.  

Here’s to the next chapter.

Lisa Kristosik, RN, BSN
Chief Executive Officer, Blossom Hill

George Swartz
2025 Chairman of the Board, Blossom Hill, Inc

Lisa Kristosik, RN, MSN
Chief Executive Officer, Blossom Hill, Inc.

Strategy #1: Significant Investment in Our Staff

Our business is loving, personalized care.

• Consistent and caring staff are the most important indicator of success in the DD/IDD industry.
• Adequate staffing is the biggest issue we face today.
• Investment in engagement, incentives, and employee recognition are all factors towards becoming a great place to work.

Strategy #2: Expanding access to services that we already offer

We provide essential services to those who need it the most.

• There is a significant need among family members and the DD community for respite and supported living services.
• We have been a leader in these services for many years.
• Blossom Hill can also offer a natural bridge to ICF and group waiver in the future