ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE
At SPACS, Each Individual Consumer Is Important.
- SPACS focuses on the whole person, in four major areas:
work, independent living, social development and self-esteem,
and community involvement.
- Each consumer has a instructor to assist in developing and
achieving individual goals.
- Participants, their families and SPACS’s staff form a team to
ensure successful attainment of goals.
- Vocational services are an integral part of the program, as SPACS
works with each individual to foster awareness of their strengths
and weaknesses.
- All staff help consumers establish satisfactory relationships
and develop positive self-esteem.
- Consumers at SPACS are considered to be a family and are
taught to trust and respect each other.
- The need to be interdependent with one’s community is as
important as the skills of independence.
WE ARE DEDICATED TO…
- Supporting individual control by empowering individuals to take control of their life choices, as evidenced through meaningful and informed choices in relationships, employment, where and with whom to live and community participation.
- Promoting community membership by supporting individuals to become valued members of recreational, political, educational, cultural, and religious organizations.
- Encouraging relationships with families, friends, neighbors, and merchants, through everyday involvement in the neighborhoods and communities in which one lives.
- Ensuring personal well being by supporting individuals to make appropriate financial decisions and healthy practices part of their daily routine.
- Advance one’s personal growth and accomplishments through a combination of personal choice and creative support.
- Zealously guard individual rights (civil, human, and legal) and guarantee that individuals are treated with dignity through ongoing training supports and creative and effective administrative practices.
MISSION
Our mission is to support people with mental and physical challenges in a respectful, safe and productive environment that enables them to reach their highest level of individual independence while collaborating with families and other service organizations to expand each individual opportunities to engage in community activities that would otherwise be out of reach.
GOAL
Our goal is to be the most sought after community-based program for the developmentally and intellectually challenged in the state of Georgia by fulfilling everyday dreams, learning necessary functional, vocational, academic, community, and daily living skills, and having a positive place in the world-are the goals of SPACS. In order to achieve the ultimate goal, there several areas of improvement that are intended to be addressed in the coming years. Those things include, but aren’t limited to:
- Strengthening our community relationships
- Broadening our community connections
- Increasing our participant numbers by 60%
- Create new and fully functioning work programs for our participants
- Deepen our social media scope to bring awareness to our center
- Improve the vitalization and beauty of our building
- Update our adaptive equipment, programs, and processes.
HISTORY
Established in 2001 by Executive Director, Teresa Punzi, we continue to make an everlasting imprint of compassion on individuals we service. When asked, Teresa Punzi states, ” I believe the community of individuals we serve are unique and they impact our community in a positive manor.“
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Teresa Punzi and her talented team collectively have over 20 years of experience in the human services industry. The board of directors works diligently with Teresa to establish and fortify relationships in the community for our continued fundraising efforts.
TERESA PUNZI
Founder & Executive Director
JONATHAN MITCHELL
President
CONSTANCE DIAZ
Secretary
KENT WADE
Vice President
DR. IAN MULLINS
Board Member
MARILYN LEWIS
Treasurer