From 1975 into Tomorrow

Casa Allegra Community Services (CACS) is a non-profit agency that has been providing innovative support to children, adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities and their families in Marin County and San Francisco since 1975. It is our belief that each person is entitled to live his or her life with the full dignity of a developing human being as a self-reliant and productive member of society. Our primary purpose is the provision of services that center around each individual’s unique needs and that allow the person to live, go to school, or work in environments and with a life-style that is typical for all people regardless of the severity of the disability.

• We offer person centered planning
• We offer individualized support
• We offer recreational activities in the community
• We offer support to the individuals families and friend

Casa Allegra was founded by CACS’ Executive Director, Chris Bonfiglio and her friend Eileen Falvey, when a local long-term care home was closing and several people with significant cognitive and physical challenges were about to become homeless. It is to their credit and foresight that Casa Allegra is now assisting 46 individuals with disabilities to live, work and participate in their community.

In the early '90's CACS started the first community-based day services program in Marin County called Pacific Diversified Services. It included wage-based employment. Within a few years it spun off as a separate agency called Pacific Diversified Services, Inc. (PDS) with a focus on wage-based employment. CACS staff and CACS Day Services participants serve on their board. A number of CACS Supported Living and Adult Community Services participants are employed through PDS.

CACS assists 46 individuals in one or more overlapping and integrated service areas. We schedule and provide door-to-door transportation to social activities, jobs, school and medical appointments. CACS collaborates with agencies and businesses throughout Marin to meet the schedules of educational and recreational interests as well as employment choices and therapeutic needs of our participants. We have over 70 full-time and part-time employees, most of whom have been with us for many years. CACS has chosen not to expand its number of participants despite an active waiting list. We remain intentionally small so that we can provide the individualized choices and the high level of support that our participants and their families prefer. We can be creative and flexible because we are small by choice.

Other local agencies follow CACS' lead. CACS staff and Chris Bonfiglio, our Executive Director, have mentored other prospective agencies who want to replicate our model of person-centered support. With the support of the Golden Gate Regional Center (GGRC), CACS is expanding CACS-based Income Opportunities Unlimited (IOU), our groundbreaking and innovative customized employment service with the goal to provide income for all. Business consultant Dale Dutton designed the IOU model for CACS. With the support of CACS, Dale mentors agencies in the IOU model and has designed a business plan template that will be used by other similar agencies throughout California. We are currently collaborating with Cedars of Marin, Cerebral Palsy Center of Oakland and ARC of San Francisco. Our Day Services page has more information about IOU, including Keep Marin Green, registered as the first cooperative owned and govererned by people with developmental disabilities in California.

Casa Allegra Community Services supports individuals through separate but integrated services:

Living Services

• Residential Living is provided in two long-term care homes located in San Rafael. See Residential Life
• Community Living Services (CLS) supports individuals to live safely and successfully where and with whom they choose. See Supported Life
  

Adult Day Services See Adult Day Services

• Adult Community Services (ACS) offers support for college, adult education and employment opportunities, and community activities.
• Community Inclusion for Adults (CIFA) provides integrated education and community inclusion for those who require additional support due to therapeutic and medical needs.
• Income Opportunities Unlimited (IOU) assists CACS participants to earn income through customized employment that may include business ownership or membership in a coopoerative.
  

The State of California Department of Developmental Services definition of developmental disability refers to “a severe and chronic disability that is attributable to a mental or physical impairment that begins before an individual reaches adulthood. These disabilities include mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and disabling conditions closely related to mental retardation or requiring similar treatment.” This is a category that is by definition, people who are disabled for life and typically underserved, underemployed and low income. In addition, our participants may have multiple physical disabilities including vision and hearing impairments. Some of our participants require minimal support; others require total assistance with basic care needs. Additional challenges faced by CACS participants may include cerebral palsy, seizure disorder, communication issues (unable to use spoken language), lack of hearing and/or vision, insulin dependent diabetes, and mild to profound retardation. The age range of our current population is between 23 and 64. CACS participants represent extreme poverty in the Bay Area exacerbated by Marin County’s high cost of living and shortage of affordable housing. GGRC Funding levels have not increased during recent years while the cost of living has risen. Many of our participants have caring family members who live nearby. For others CACS is the only family they know. Less than half of our participants have family available to assist them. In some cases the parents are deceased, in others the family has abandoned their children to the care of the State. CACS is proud of our ability to support individuals who are developmentally disabled at a cost that is far below traditional institutional settings.

Cary is a 61-year-old woman who moved into one of our residential homes over two years ago after her sister, her only surviving relative, could no longer care for her. Cary who has cerebral palsy, is subject to seizures and uses a wheelchair. Cary’s sister says, “Cary has retreated into herself over the years but when I bring her back to her house I see her sense of security and happiness being there."

"Casa Allegra is a miracle, I see Cary surrounded by warm and loving people. If the person’s health or situation is problematic, the organization’s people stand by them and find a way to make things better.”

CACS Board of Directors

Dale Dutton, President
Larry Mason, Vice President (Supported Living participant)
Lynn Holbrook, Secretary
Peter Murphy, Treasurer
Jacki Anderson, Board Member
Jane Scurich, Board Member

Finance Committee

Al Farbstein
Peter Murphy
Terry Nevin
Allen Peters
Michael Scurich

Lead Staff

Chris Bonfiglio, Executive Director
Debbie Falvey, Administrative Assistant
Socorro Gallardo, Director of Supported Living
Eny Campos, Director of Residential Services
Daniel Reichling, Director of Day Services
Jeanne Santangelo, Development Director
Cindy Evans, Day Services Manager
Alison Falvey, Volunteer Manager
Theresa Eisenberg, RN
Al Farbstein, Financial Consultant

Membership

Cal-TASH, Advocates for Equity, Opportunity and Inclusion
CAMEO, California Assosiation of Micoenterprise Opportunities
CSLN, California Supported Living Network
CDCAN, California Disability Community Action Network
MPCC, Marin Paratransit Coordinating Council, Voting Member
GGRC, Golden Gate Regional Center, Advisory Committee

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