CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Cornerstones of care: Deep-rooted community support buoys successful development of Key Training Center

Citrus County Chronicle - 7/9/2017

As you can see by the photo collage consisting of newspaper articles and headlines dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, the Key Training Center is a creation by its community, as they were and continue to be the leading stakeholders that understand the importance of embracing persons with developmental disabilities fully so that they have the opportunity to be full citizen partners. If every community was in a place like Citrus County, we would not have a waiting list of 30,000-plus people with developmental disabilities for support services in the state of Florida.

Through the guiding force of Harry and Elsie VanNortwick, the Key Training Center was established in 1966. Retiring to Citrus County in 1958 from Detroit, the parents were driven to establish services for their developmentally disabled daughter, Marilyn. They took their vital message to the community to garner public support for the Key Training Center.

As community support grew, Schuyler and Ruby Orvis donated the original 40 acres in Lecanto to be used as a school and workshop. In 1967, the Key Training Center school and workshop building was dedicated by Floyd Christian, superintendent of education in the state of Florida, serving seven individuals. Florida Gov. Rubin Askew dedicated the Karla Rooks vocational service building in 1973, made possible through a federal grant matched by funds raised.

During the 50-year time span, there have been only four executive directors, with the longtime director being Chet Cole who started in 1971 and became the executive vice president in 2014 until his unexpected passing on April 23 of this year.

Cole brought a unique prospective to Key Training Center, as he grew up with his developmentally disabled sister, Dorothy, in a time where there was nothing for his sister other than putting her in an institution to be kept.

His overall passion has entwined into our community: When you are fortunate to have a relationship with an individual with a developmental disability, you will find out what is really important in life and you develop a neat perspective, providing for a much richer and diversified community that is so very important. You will have a friend for a lifetime and you will be in love with them for a lifetime.

At the Key Training Center we believe - as do our board of directors, staff, volunteers, supporters and other community stakeholders - that those who are supposed to be the least of us, the most fragile, are the best of us; we need to make sure they have the care, protection, and services they need, but also our friendship and enduring love, making sure that no one goes without what they need every day.

Our commitment is to every family that has and continues to walk through our doors with a child 21 years or older, we are going to do everything we can to make sure they get the supports and services they need. This dedication is underscored by the story that, for 34 years, the VanNortwick's daughter Marilyn learned, worked, blossomed and called Burnes Cottage her home until her passing in 2000 as one of the original seven program participants.

Key Training Center services have grown with its county to meet the needs of persons with developmental disabilities. The Citrus County population in 1960 was under 20,000 and today has expanded to nearly 140,000. It is a preeminent home and community based waiver service provider in the state of Florida, providing year-round vocational, educational and residential services to over three hundred individuals. Currently, the Key Training Center operates 20 group homes and four apartment complexes serving 148 residents located throughout Citrus County. Many are living the "American Dream" by working in their community and driving cars.

The Key Training Center provides scholarships to 60 people who are on the state's waiting list for services that are unfunded or partially funded, made possible by community donations and support. With Florida ranking 50 out of 51 states/territories per capita dollars spent in human services, Citrus County always answers the challenge.

Since 1966, thousands of men and women have benefited from the Key Training Center's services as a place to learn, work, play and live. Our mission and ministry is simple, to enhance the quality of life for our developmentally disabled friends with the cornerstones of kindness, love, dignity and respect.

In 1975, the Key Training Center launched a long-range plan and community capital campaign to build homes and add more training areas on the Lecanto 40-acre property. At the time, it was an old concept with a forward looking new twist for a home for the developmentally disabled who did not have a home, or whose present living conditions were inadequate, or who had special requirements that the Key Center's residential services could provide.

It was distinguished that persons living in the home will live in a "family atmosphere" and will be given all the advantages in such a situation, including involvement with the community. This movement was embraced by the community and through donations, Franklin Cottage opened in 1977 to serve eight residents.

In 1978, the Key Training Center received a $1.86 millionHousing and Urban Development (HUD) loan for six additional family style homes on campus; with the combination of community and family donations and support, Spooner Cottage opened in 1980 to serve 10 residents, followed by Burnes and Simons Cottages in 1987 and Davis Cottage in 1989.

Contento Cottage, a six-bed, specialized Long Term Residential Care home, was constructed near an adjacent neighborhood in 2005, funded by community donations and grants. Other group homes and apartment complexes are located in communities throughout Citrus County operating as any other single-family residence would. Many of the homes have been newly constructed through Florida Housing and State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP) grant funding.

The Key Training Center has experienced many great losses this past year with the passing of Phil Royal during the first day of the run suffering from 100 percent heart blockage; Dorothy Cole, the beloved sister of Chet Cole; and Chet Cole, longtime leader and visionary of the Key Center.

We thank our community for its loving outreach during these times and its remarkable commitment to these people and our mission to continue to prove that with the power of potential, the promise of possibilities and given the right opportunities, persons with developmental disabilities can become productive citizen partners and be embraced by their community as fellow human beings.

Melissa Walker is the executive director for the Key Training Center.

RUN FOR THE MONEY

WHAT - The Run for the Money is a grueling 180-mile journey along U.S. 19 from the steps of the state capitol building in Tallahassee to Key Training Center's Lecanto Campus and to date has logged in a total of 7,380 miles equating to one round-trip plus from Florida to Washington State.

WHY - Runners subject their bodies to the agony of U.S. 19's hard, hot and lonely stretches of asphalt to help the Key Training Center tell the story not in words but in a way more meaningful, by showing that each leg-pounding step of this grueling run is small in comparison to the struggles developmentally disabled individuals face every day. Their lives can be difficult, but their spirits remain undaunted, never complaining and always giving their best, setting an example of how to live our lives. Each year, the Key Center clients and the community gather for a celebration of the runners return.

KEY CENTER THROUGH THE YEARS

1976 - Chet Cole started an annual tradition that has been embraced and supported by thousands of individuals all with the one goal to bring awareness to the daily challenges adults with developmental disabilities face every day and raise funds for the Key Training Center operations.

2001 - Chet Cole hung up his running shoes for health reasons and a community of runners simply laced up their sneakers and headed south, step by step to continue this monumental, challenging and inspirational run each year.

1998 - Long-time volunteer advocate, Phil Royal, took on the role as lead organizer and runner to assure the legacy Chet Cole put in place would continue.

2013 - Volunteer Bryan Melhado took the reins as lead organizer and runner understanding the importance of the run to the Key Center, clients, and the community.

2016-17 - Citrus County grieved with the unexpected loss of both of these visionary leaders of our community. The signature run will continue as others volunteers have and will continue to fill in the leg where Chet Cole and Phil Royal should have been.

Nationwide News