• Form 990 Tax Return - 2005 (PDF)
  

• Audited Financial Statement - 2006 (PDF)
  Audited Financial Statement - 2005 (PDF)
  
  
• Annual Report 2005-2006 (PDF)
  

• Or by calling: (707) 524-6600

Tours of the BI Santa Rosa Campuses may be arranged by calling 524-6600.

Who Becoming Independent Serves What is a "developmental disability"? How does a person enroll in BI's services? Are Becoming Independent's services fully funded? What communities does BI serve? What are the issues of people who receive BI services? How does Becoming Independent help families?

Art by Jean Mullane

• Occurs before an individual reaches 18 years of age. Is expected to continue indefinitely. Constitutes a substantial handicap. Developmental disabilities include:
  • Mental Retardation
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Epilepsy
  • Autism
• Involves disabling conditions closely related to mental retardation or requiring similar treatment to that required for individuals with mental retardation.
  
  For more, please go to North Bay Regional Center's "About Developmental Disabilities" web page.

How does a person enroll in BI's services?
Typically, a person receiving services from BI has been referred to us through the North Bay Regional Center, The Department of Rehabilitation or other regional center. The regional center will determine eligibility, the specific services required, and arrange for the payment of these services. It is also possible for a person to enroll directly with BI and pay privately. Families can also contact BI directly for information and referral services for adults and children.

Are Becoming Independent's services fully funded?
No. State and federal funding sources go a long way but they do not provide all the funding necessary to maintain quality services. Often, BI must find extra funding for services that are mandated by government agencies. BI must also find ways to be competitive in recruiting and maintaining quality staff, the critical element of our services. Some valuable services, like evening and weekend transportation, are funded entirely by donations.

What communities does BI serve?
BI serves nearly 1,100 people throughout Sonoma, Napa, and Solano Counties. BI operates day services in Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Sebastopol, and Healdsburg. People who receive Community Living Support services and Employment Services live in virtually every city and town in the three county area, including those named above as well as Napa, Fairfield, Calistoga, Guerneville, Petaluma, St. Helena, Vacaville, and Cloverdale.

What are the issues of people who receive BI services?
Most people with developmental disabilities are interested in securing a job; however, many are unemployed or underemployed. This is generally due to the fact that many employers are not aware of the skills, abilities, and talents these people possess. This lack of employment leads to other issues including low incomes, difficulty in securing housing, transportation, and even discrimination because of their disabilities.

How does Becoming Independent help families?
Every person has the responsibility of assisting his or her child, sibling, grandchild, niece, or nephew in living the richest life. Developmental disabilities often make this responsibility even harder to fulfill. As one parent of a BI client puts it, "BI helps ease the pressure." BI provides services to relatives and support groups by means of information and referrals.

BI provides services to any person with a developmental disability who asks for them, regardless of the level of their disability. BI teaches people how to cook, work, groom, read, pay bills, balance a checkbook, resolve a difference, change a diaper, ride public transportation, talk to a teen-and so much more. Family members can rest assured that BI will provide their loved one with opportunities to gain the skills they need to be a valued and valuable member of our community.

In January 2006, CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) announced that Becoming Independent received accreditation for a period of three years in the following programs:

• BI/Employment Services
• BI/The Middle Way
• BI/Healdsburg
• BI/Santa Rosa
• BI/Sonoma

The following services received accreditation:

• Job Development
• Job Supports
• Job-Site Training
• Organizational Employment Services

CARF is an independent, non-profit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served.