For nearly 20 months, state health Secretary Aldona Wos has wrestled with the bureaucracy of the $18 billion Department of Health and Human Services.
As part of that, Wos has been taking tours of health facilities over the past few months to connect with the people who use – and provide – services.
Thursday’s visit brought her to The Enrichment Center, an arts-based program that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities find jobs or get more training.
The center, founded in 1983, serves more than 500 people at its site at 1006 S. Marshall St. About two-thirds of its funding comes through Medicaid and one-third through state appropriations and local support.
It has a full-time staff of 75.
Wos marveled at the facility’s offerings during her hourlong tour, talking with students and instructors and asking questions at every stop. She was given sneak peeks of dance and percussion ensemble performances, insight into how an internal newsletter is compiled by students, and how the doors to the Internet and email communication are opened for students.