Agencies Russell Nesbitt Services and WATCH

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Russell Nesbitt Services and Watch (a division of RNS)

Contact Information:

Address: 

RNS – 431 Fulton St
Wheeling, WV 26003

WATCH – 2600 Main St
Wheeling, WV 26003

Name of Programs Funded through UW:  RNS residential transportation services and WATCH vocational transportation services

Contact Name: RNS:  Tamika Jones, Executive Director. Watch: Lynn Wallace-Dick

Phone Number:  RNS-304-232-0233    WATCH-304-232-1750

Email: info@rns-watch.org

Website: www.rns-watch.org

What are Russell Nesbitt Services and WATCH?

Russell Nesbitt Services provides support and services to individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities.

The agency began as a cooperative agreement among parents who wanted to ensure their children got an education. The agency is named after its founder, Mr. Russell G. Nesbitt.

Russell Nesbitt had a son with disabilities who needed educational services. That need prompted Mr. Nesbitt to join with a small group of parents and supporters of children with disabilities to make an initial investment of $200.00 apiece. With this investment, The Ohio County Council for Retarded Children was formed in 1958.

Russell Nesbitt Services has grown from a small school formed by parents to a Behavioral Health Center to offering a variety of supports and services to individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. These services include residential and vocational services, Case Management, Supported Employment, Behavior Support, and social interaction through our Peer Support program.

Our Mission:

To provide life opportunities for people with disabilities and enhance their career growth and potential for those who share their journeys.

Our Vision:

To embrace personal care and quality consumer services while maintaining our financial wellbeing within constraints of the service delivery system, be compassionate are to the needs of the consumers and their families while promoting employee growth.

How does the United Way support RNS and WATCH?

United Way funding enables Russell Nesbitt Services to participate in a lease program for vehicles in our residential and vocational programs. This funding ensures the individuals we serve are provided safe, dependable transportation to and from all activities of daily living. This funding is critical as West Virginia does not fund vehicles’ purchases and/or lease under the Title XIX Waiver Program. The budget defrays gasoline and maintenance costs for cars already owned/operated. Because of this lack of funding, many other providers require their direct care staff to provide transportation in their vehicles.

Individuals in our residential program depend on us to provide transportation to every community activity, such as physician and therapy appointments, visits with family members, recreational activities, employment, and day habilitation services.

Our Watch vocational program provides many individuals with transportation to and from community employment and prevocational services. Individuals are often picked up at the Watch location then transported to and from their worksites. Several others are also picked up at their home to participate in a variety of programs offered by Watch. Programs include document disposal through Watchdog services, Liberty distributors manufacturing, and workshop assembly for companies such as Silgan Industries.

Check out our other member agencies here!

About the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley

The United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley supports Ohio County, Tyler County, Marshall County, Wetzel County, Brooke County in West Virginia, and Belmont County and Monroe County in Ohio. Donating through your local United Way is the best way to reach the most people in need. 

The United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley is an organization that supports nonprofit organizations in our area through annual campaigns, payroll deduction fundraising efforts, and individual donations. These community-minded people combine donations from employees and businesses alike to help assist those who need it most. The support from the annual campaign is then allocated to nonprofit programs through our volunteer allocations panels. We support 40 programs (and counting) in the upper Ohio Valley that tackle the toughest needs in the Ohio Valley. Consider giving to the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley today.

Community Success Stories

Check out the following Community Success Stories for examples of how Russell Nesbitt Services and WATCH has impacted our community.

Susan

Susan is a 56 year old female who resides in one of our residential homes. She is transported daily to and from work by RNS staff. She has been employed with Watch for 14 years. She has been diagnosed with mild mental retardation and seizure disorder controlled by medicine. Her speech is somewhat difficult to understand, and shows articulation difficulties. She receives speech therapy one day per ...

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Suzanne

"Suzanne is a 57 year old female who resides in Wheeling with her sister and brother-in-law. She has been employed with WATCH for 11 years. She is diagnosed with Mild Mental Retardation and becomes easily frustrated and agitated at times. When she sees you, she automatically will say “Good Morning,” ask how you are doing. She will always give you a hug to let you know she is happy to see you. ...

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Earl

"Earl is a 59 year old male who resides in Wheeling with his sister and her family. He has been employed with WATCH for 24 years. He has impaired vision, but it is corrected by wearing eyeglasses. He does communicate verbally, but his speech is difficult to understand due to poor articulation. When he becomes excited about something he tends to stutter. He also can become easily frustrated if you ...

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Life Saving Transportation

"At Russell Nesbitt Services, Inc. we serve the intellectually and developmentally disabled population, however, there are many times in which the clients are faced with severe medical diagnosis. Recently, one of our clients was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation and RVR (rapid ventricular rate), and the client was admitted to the hospital for three days. When both of these medical conditions are ...

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Transportation Mobility

"At Russell Nesbitt Services, Inc., a variety of ages, diagnoses, and skill sets are served. However, as the years go on, we are finding ourselves serving an aging population in a society in which there are limited services for someone that is both aged and developmentally disabled. Within the past year, we have seen two of our clients drastically decline in health and mobility. Currently, one cl ...

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