Reprinted from the Health District's quarterly publication mailed to district residents (summer 2000)

Most people aren't this happy to be anywhere first thing on a Monday morning.

But despite the day of effort ahead of them, those arriving at Foothills Gateway on a recent Monday morning are downright thrilled to be there. As they make their way into the building they high-five their friends, shout hello to every passerby and smile with recognition at staff members. 

In the hours ahead each will work on living, work and socialization skills, all with the end goal of independence and integration into society. 

Foothills Gateway was formed through a merger of the Foothills Activity Center in Loveland, which was a group formed by parents for their developmentally disabled children, and the Easter Seals Gateway Center in Fort Collins, which primarily offered programs for adults. A new facility was built at what was then halfway between Loveland and Fort Collins, 301 Skyway Drive, just west of Highway 287. The 80,000-square-foot facility is still at this location. 

Foothills underwent a major shift in the late 1980s when children with developmental disabilities were integrated into the public school system. Prior to the integration, the center had about 140 children attending school there. 

At about the same time the children were leaving the center for public schools, Colorado opened up its state-run institutions, allowing adults with developmental disabilities to move home. Foothills changed its focus to provide for these adults who needed support as they moved out of institutions and into the community.

"We were very aggressive with the programs we offered," O'Neill says. "We want to offer the chance to maximize people's potential and get them out into the world." 

Foothills continues to be progressive in providing people with developmental disabilities the skills and support they need to live with maximum independence. 

There are typically 15 caseworkers at Foothills, each with about 50-60 clients to serve. Services include everything from job placement to support for people to live alone in their own apartments. 

Foothills has an annual budget of $14 million, 95 percent of which comes from state and local government. The other five percent is raised locally, through United Way and fundraising efforts. Funding for the center falls short of the total need by about $2 million however, resulting in a regular waiting list of about 130 people.

The building itself houses work areas, work training areas, therapy pools and therapy rooms for people with high needs. 

But much of the work of Foothills is done outside of the building itself. "Community Participation" programs help individuals participate in the community at large through recreation and leisure programs, volunteer positions, working with civic groups and other forms of community involvement. 

"The more we can get people out in public, the more everyone can see that these people are just like them," says Diana Foland, Foothills Gateway's public relations coordinator.

Although maximum independence is the goal, Foothills Gateway remains a part of its client's lives forever. 

"They get to the point where they want to do for themselves," Foland says. "We're happy to see them have that success. 

"But we let them know we're there if they need us."