EAST PALESTINE, Ohio – For 50 years, Threshold Residential Services has served the community by providing quality service for people with developmental disabilities.
On Wednesday, the agency will celebrate not only the half-century milestone but also $470,000 in renovations to its Open Door Opportunities Day Program facility on Market Street. The renovations were done by Brock Builders of North Lima.
Pulling together funding resources from the Special Needs Pooled Trust of Arlington Heritage Group, the Threshold Foundation and TRS capital investments, the upgraded space is an even bigger asset for those served by Threshold. It features a spacious, modern kitchen area; a laundry area; a seating area with tables; and a technology office room with regular equipment.
And when things become overwhelming, the facility now has a sensory room.
“Previously, it was a hardware store, so two stories, basically a very large open room with wood floors,” said Chris Page, Threshold CEO. “It wasn’t too inviting for our purposes. So now with our renovation, we certainly aim to improve our program, service offerings and teach workforce skills.”
Each client has a goal and a plan with staff members to learn new skills. At the Open Door Opportunities facility, they can learn kitchen skills and how to work on their resume for employment. Many in this program just want to gain skills to live more independently.
The outside front of the building got a facelift too.
Besides the Open Door Opportunities Day Program, Threshold offers employment training at The Corner Store, a second-hand retail store down the street; and at the Threshold Detail Shop, which provides vehicle washes and inside cleaning services.
Additionally, Threshold has nine residential homes in East Palestine and 20 across Columbiana County, where clients can live with assistance and have both communal living spaces and private bedrooms. Waivers pay for their care and the services they receive during the day.
Over the past few years, Threshold has invested more than $1 million in buying and improving houses for clients’ use.
“We always want to be part of this community,” Page said. “I know there are a lot of folks who’ve wanted to pick up shop and move out of town, but that’s not going to be what we’re about. We’re going to be a staple of town moving forward.”
Village Administrator Antonio Diaz-Guy said he joined the Threshold board because he believes in the investments the organization is making, showing its commitment to East Palestine and the local area and serving a vulnerable community.
“They are members of our community that are often forgotten, and Threshold does a really nice job not just caring for those people, but for really putting them visibly at the forefront of their program,” Diaz-Guy said, adding that Threshold serves its clients in a “dignified” manner.
About 70 individuals are served through Threshold. Nearly 125 people are employed through the organization, which makes them the second largest employer in East Palestine, behind the school district, Page said.
Threshold partners with the Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disability, Insight Counseling, the Columbiana County Resiliency Center and others to help provide services. Page said what Threshold has been able to accomplish recently isn’t possible without a good board and collaboration with other partners in the community.
The past few years have been challenging for Threshold. Differences between board members ended up in civil court for a while. Privatization of services for those with developmental disabilities forced the organization to change its focus. The Covid pandemic, followed by the Norfolk Southern train derailment, created uncertainty for employees and clients alike.
“It’s been one thing after the next,” Page said, “and you know, we don’t use that as an excuse. We just look to the next challenge and how we’re going to try to strategically tackle it and move forward.”
Going forward, Page said the strategic plan is aggressive. Threshold has been leveraging technology and remote support to help not only local clients but also more people outside the village and county. He hopes the organization soon will be able to help people outside Ohio.
Another program called environmental accessibility adaptation allows the organization to assist with home modifications, such as making a home wheelchair accessible or creating a wider doorway and accessible shower for a bathroom. Threshold has provided the adaptation services as far north as Lake Erie and west to Delaware County.
Threshold helps maintain a Community Sensory Garden in East Palestine, as well.
Though some people may always require 24-hour care, Page said the overarching goal is to make sure clients can live independently, despite their personal challenges.
“We’re not doing our job unless we’re graduating people from our care,” Page said. “So that’s the goal, to provide them services, teach them the skills so they can live independently and then, from a workforce perspective, be able to help folks work in the community.”
Pictured at top: Chris Page, CEO of Threshold Residential Services.