Day Solutions celebrates opening Fulton location

A crowd is gathered outside Day Solutions Callaway to cut the ribbon and celebrate the opening of the location. (Anakin Bush/Fulton Sun photo)
A crowd is gathered outside Day Solutions Callaway to cut the ribbon and celebrate the opening of the location. (Anakin Bush/Fulton Sun photo)

Day Solutions held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday in celebration of opening its Fulton location.

Day Solutions is a day habilitation program for adults who have developmental disabilities. Day Solutions in Jefferson City opened April 1, 2015, with only one client and three staff members. As of 2021, the Jefferson City facility has 38 clients and 19 members on staff.

The Jefferson City location accepts clients from Callaway County, as well as Cole, Miller and Osage counties. The Fulton location was opened to more easily provide services to those in Callaway County.

Leah Cave, program director for Day Solutions Callaway, was hired in May after retiring from teaching special education at a school. Cave said she wasn't ready to be fully done teaching.

She said she chose to join Day Solutions because of the feeling she got the first time she went to the Jefferson City facilities.

"When I walked into the building in Jeff City, the feeling it was very comfortable," Cave said. "It was just a good feeling, a good atmosphere. I said, 'I want that here, we can do that.'"

Prior to the ribbon cutting, Cave took guests on a tour of the building. It includes a full kitchen and several areas for clients to relax and learn.

Cave said she isn't sure the maximum amount of clients they can have here, as it depends on the needs and factors of each individual. She estimated maybe 20-25 people.

Currently, there is one staff member for every two clients. At maximum capacity, it could be one staff member for every four clients.

Cave said they have a long list of people interested in joining Day Solutions. They brought four clients from Jefferson City to be at the new Fulton location. She said they are all very happy to be here, as some live close to here.

Personalization is a large aspect of Day Solutions, Cave said. Each student designs his or her own learning objectives. They have a set of goals they want to meet, and Day Solutions helps make them possible through field trips, activities and guest speakers.

One example Cave gave was an under the sea theme, for which they went to the St. Louis aquarium. When thinking of themes, Cave said they have to think outside the box for adult learning. They want to treat the students like adults.

A big goal of Day Solutions is to have the clients be part of where they live and a member of the community. They have been going to the local Fulton businesses to meet owners and experience the local shops.

Cave said they try to go somewhere every day. The have already gone to Trends, GoPo Gourmet Popcorn and nearby banks.