Community Inclusion

06/04/2026

🌟 Employee Spotlight: Meet Lindsey Neel! 🌟

We are incredibly proud to highlight Lindsey, a vital leader at Community Inclusion! Lindsey wears several important hats for our agency, serving as Case Manager, Case Manager Supervisor, and our iRise Director. 💼✨

💼 What She Does
Whether she is supporting individuals living with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) to live fulfilling, independent lives through our iRise program, or supervising case management across our CHILD, SCL, and MPW waivers, Lindsey ensures our participants receive top-tier, collaborative care.

🎓 Experience & Expertise
An Ohio University Psychology graduate and certified CDCA, Lindsey brings an incredible wealth of human services experience to Kentucky. Her background includes roles as a CPS Investigator, SUD Intensive Outpatient Case Manager, and Early Intervention Service Coordinator.

❤️ Driven by Purpose
Lindsey's passion aligns perfectly with our mission of moving from diagnosis to empowerment:

"I want people to be able to live their best lives and have the support they need to make their own choices and reach their goals. I want them to know they matter, that they are important, and that someone truly cares about them."

🏀 Beyond the Office
When she’s off the clock, Lindsey is a massive sports fan (especially basketball!). She’s also a true outdoor enthusiast who loves camping, kayaking, hiking, or relaxing in a hammock with a good book. 🏕️🛶

Thank you, Lindsey, for your amazing dedication, clinical leadership, and heart for our community! Help us show her some love in the comments! 👇💙

06/02/2026

🎄 LAUNCHING: Christmas in July! ☀️

We are thrilled to officially kick off our summer service initiative! Community Inclusion is teaming up with Bridges Christian Church for a Toy & School Supply Drive benefiting the students of Sonlight Academy in Port-de-Paix, Haiti.

Our Day Training (DT) members will be leading the way by sorting donations and using cash gifts to head out on community skill-building shopping trips!

🎁 How You Can Help Us Make an Impact:
Donate Items: We are collecting new, unwrapped school supplies, toys, and crafts.

Donate Cash: Funds our DT participants' shopping trips to buy items straight from the academy’s wishlist!

Coordinate a Drop-Off: Message us here or email Brandi to set up a convenient time with our team.

📅 Details & Deadlines:
🗓️ Deadline: All donations are needed by July 5th!

⛪ Local Drop-Off: If you're in the Ashland/Russell area, you can drop items directly in the church lobby at 1402 Kenwood Dr., Russell, KY.

✉️ Contact: Email [email protected] or send us a Facebook PM to coordinate!

Let’s work together to bring joy and empower students across the globe! ❤️

06/02/2026

At Community Inclusion, we believe every day is an opportunity to move from diagnosis to empowerment! 🌟

We want to make it as easy as possible for our individuals, families, and amazing Direct Support team to stay connected, organized, and excited for what’s ahead. Here is a look at our core weekly Direct Treatment (DT) Schedule:

🕒 The Weekly Layout
• Mondays & Wednesdays: Independent Living & Life Skills 🍳
• Focus: Cooking, budgeting, household organization, and personal goal-setting.
• Tuesdays & Thursdays: Community Engagement & Social Skills 🚗
• Focus: Local outings, volunteer opportunities, practicing social communication, and exploring our community.
• Fridays: Wellness, Recreation & Team Reflection 🧘🎨
• Focus: Fitness and movement, creative arts, and wrapping up the week together during our team connection time.

06/01/2026

Community Inclusion proudly celebrates the full spectrum of who we are together. Pride Month is a beautiful reminder of the power of belonging, acceptance, and community.

We believe that true community means honoring every identity, every ability, and every single person exactly as they are. When we create spaces rooted in empathy and visibility, we move closer to our mission of shifting from Diagnosis to Empowerment.

This month, and every month, we commit to building a world where everyone is seen, valued, and celebrated. 🌟

06/01/2026

🧠💡 Empowering the Next Generation

We love seeing initiatives like this across our state! Expanding mental health support for youth and young adults. When we strengthen support systems for students ages 13–24, we build stronger, more inclusive communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Check out this fantastic opportunity from Serve Kentucky and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services below to learn how organizations can get involved! 👇

Calling organizations in Kentucky serving youth ages 13–24: The Youth Mental Health Corps is here and we want YOU to be part of it. Together, we can expand mental health support for students across the state.
Learn more at youthmentalhealthcorps.org.

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services

06/01/2026

🔴⚾️ OUT AT THE BALLPARK: MAKING MEMORIES TOGETHER! ⚾️🔴

Take a look at these incredible smiles from Great American Ballpark! We love showcasing our amazing participants right alongside our dedicated staff, experiencing the magic of a Cincinnati Reds game together. 🎉

Outings like this are what true community inclusion is all about. We are so proud of our staff for constantly going the extra mile to ensure the individuals we serve are right in the center of the action—sharing ballpark snacks, cheering on the home team, and building lasting memories.

Thank you to our phenomenal team for your commitment to taking our mission from Diagnosis to Empowerment, one unforgettable experience at a time! 🌟

05/31/2026

💙 One of the most loving things we can do is be curious.

Curiosity invites us to listen before we judge, to seek understanding before making assumptions, and to connect with others in meaningful ways. It reminds us that every person has a story, experiences, and perspectives worth learning from.

Today, choose curiosity. Ask questions. Listen openly. Be willing to learn something new about someone else. You may be surprised by the connection, compassion, and understanding that follow.

05/29/2026

🎨 A Huge Thank You to the UK Art Museum! 🖼️

There is nothing more powerful than seeing the individuals we support actively engaging with the community and finding spaces that spark their true passions. Recently, he spent a wonderful afternoon exploring the galleries at the UK Art Museum, soaking in the incredible creativity on display.

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the museum for providing such an accessible, welcoming, and vibrant space for community members to connect with the arts. We also want to share our deepest appreciation for the incredibly talented artists whose work is currently being showcased. Seeing your masterpieces in person had a profound, direct impact on him—he shared that looking at the beautiful pottery and paintings gave him a wave of fresh inspiration and a ton of new ideas for when he works on his next pieces of art! 🏺✨

True community inclusion is all about these moments of connection, inspiration, and personal growth. Thank you for welcoming us and fueling the creative spirit of local artists!

05/28/2026

Spotlighting Our Team: Shawnna Powell, Director of Billing! 🌟

From navigating complex funding systems to ensuring our services run without a hitch, Shawnna is a driving force behind our mission. As our Director of Billing, she directly impacts the individuals we support, ensuring they have the reliable resources needed to thrive and build meaningful lives in their communities. In the world of waiver services, managing compliance is a highly complex puzzle, but Shawnna tackles it every single day with precision, passion, and a deep dedication to our entire team.

Her unmatched mastery of state regulations, state procedures, and precise billing codes is a vital part of how we drive community inclusion. By ensuring our documentation and processes are flawlessly aligned with state standards, Shawnna guarantees that the critical funding for our community programs flows seamlessly and without interruption. This meticulous behind-the-scenes leadership gives our frontline program teams the steady infrastructure they need to focus entirely on what matters most—fostering true independence and connection out in the community.

Navigating the financial and regulatory side of human services is its own profound form of advocacy, and Shawnna's sharp eye ensures that every single hour of community support is fully protected, compliant, and sustained. Shawnna, thank you for your incredible work ethic, your leadership, and for keeping our mission moving forward every single day. We are so incredibly lucky to have you leading our billing team! 💙