Rappahannock Adult Activities Announces Hiring/Promotion

The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) is pleased to announce the hiring of DeWayne Yopp as the Coordinator for Day Support Services provided through Rappahannock Adult Activities, Inc. (RAAI). Yopp replaces Becky Clark who retired in 2012 following more than 25 years of service with RACSB. RACSB is also pleased to announce the internal promotion of Meri Brooks-Payne to be the Deputy Coordinator of RAAI. 

RAAI has provided day support services to adults with intellectual disabilities in their home communities for more than 35 years. Their services help keep individuals out of institutional settings and allow caregivers respite from care responsibilities.

DeWayne Yopp Hired as Day Support Coordinator
DeWayne Yopp brings a wealth of professional and personal experience to the Day Support Coordinator position. Originally an engineer, Yopp felt a calling to human services and obtained a second degree in psychology. He has more than 10 years of experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities including Autism as well as with individuals experiencing mental health challenges. As the guardian to an adult sibling with Autism, Yopp personally understands waiting for the Medicaid Waiver and the relief of families to receive that support. Yopp and his family have experience waiting for services, participating in the development of services, and benefiting from having services implemented. For the past year, Yopp has worked as the START Coordinator (Systemic Therapeutic Assessment Respite and Treatment) in Charlottesville. During this time, he has had the opportunity to work with several individuals requiring intensive supports from the greater Fredericksburg region. Yopp began his employment at RACSB on July 8, 2013.

Jim Gillespie, Community Support Services Director, shares “DeWayne is dedicated to the field of developmental disabilities. Individuals and their families served by RACSB, as well as our community partners, will benefit from the wide range of unique skills and experiences DeWayne brings to his position as the Day Support Coordinator at Rappahannock Adult Activities.”

Meri Brooks-Payne Promoted to Deputy Coordinator
Meri Brooks-Payne has worked at RACSB for a combined 21 years. In addition to working at the day support program, Brooks-Payne has experience as an Intellectual Disability Support Coordinator. From 2001 to 2012, Brooks-Payne served as a Lead Day Support Specialist and was promoted to Assistant Day Support Coordinator in 2012. Over the past year as an Assistant Day Support Coordinator, Brooks-Payne has demonstrated excellent leadership skills and took on the responsibility to perform assessments for individuals beginning services at RAAI. As Deputy Coordinator, Brooks-Payne will continue to direct the assessment and evaluation of individuals’ needs, including vocational, social, leisure, communication, physical, and community. She will work closely with the Coordinator and Assistant Day Support Coordinators in the development of existing and new programs at RAAI.

Gillespie expressed his appreciation for the leadership of Meri Brooks-Payne. “Meri and her team maintained a high level of dedication to the individuals served by RAAI during the extended search to fill the coordinator position. She is an invaluable asset to the program.”

Rappahannock Adult Activities, Inc. is a community-based developmental day program that promotes dignity, independence, individualization, inclusion, and productivity of people with intellectual disabilities in their home communities. They currently serve more than 150 individuals at their six locations in the City of Fredericksburg and Counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford.

RAAI is a program of Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) and is a partner agency of the Rappahannock United Way.

For additional information, call RAAI at 540-373-7643 or visit www.celebratemayfest.com.