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: [email protected]

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.

We provide these services in many settings including, but not limited to, family homes and residential homes provided by our agency. 

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?

Our Residential program provides safe, affordable housing which includes daily living support, medical supervision, transportation, behavior intervention, and other life skills supports. This service is provided to individuals aged 18 or above.   

Our Vocational program provides employment opportunities in a wide range of settings from a sheltered employment site to individualized community placement.  In addition, we work closely with our local and State Department of Rehabilitation Services to provide employment opportunities to citizens of the Wheeling area regardless of their disability. Our agency also maintains constant contact with our local Veteran’s association to recruit veterans.  In addition, our agency provides transition

services for local high school students with disabilities moving from the education system to the adult world. These transitional services focus on self-advocacy, social skill building, vocational education and exploration, and hands on work experience for students with various support needs.  

Our in-home support and case management programs provide much needed clinical assistance as well as linkage and referral to community services.  Our case managers assist families with loved ones as young as 3 or 4 up to seniors to access community resources and services.  Our agency provides staffing and respite services, as well as behavioral support programming for families in desperate need of guidance to address maladaptive behaviors and to build life skills for their loved ones.  

Our Peer Support program provides social activities and opportunities for peer interactions for families in the community free of charge.  This program provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to engage in activities within their community, increasing integration efforts 

Russell Nesbitt Services provides transportation services for individuals who receive various services from our agency in addition to our residential program.  Transportation is a critical service within the Ohio Valley and is often a barrier to services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  We help bridge that gap for the individuals we support. 

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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