St. Nicholas has contracted with UCG Management Group LLC (division of Unified Care Group) to manage the operations of the group home. Key members of the team include:
Ben Peakes – President, Unified Care Group
Ben founded Unified Care Group in January 2006. Unified Care Group is a leading ICF/MR and HCS provider to roughly 250 consumers in the Greater Houston area. Unified Care Group delivers residential services through 40 community-based group homes, day habilitation at three different facilities throughout the Greater Houston area, and employs roughly 300 individuals in its various programs.
Ben currently resides in Dallas.
Sue Walker – Program Manager and QMRP, St. Nicholas ICF/MR
Sue has worked in the field for over 30 years. She comes from Hammer Residences in Minneapolis, Minnesota, an organization that has provided innovative care for people with developmental disabilities for over 80 years including group home and apartment settings, in-home services, case management and supported employment. Sue has facilitated opening new sites, supervised many staff teams, directed employee training and interfaced with a variety of professionals in the field.
Sue lives in Dallas.
Megan Carstens – Residential Director, St. Nicholas ICF/MR
Megan has worked in the field for over six years, including three in Minnesota with Sue at Hammer Residences where Megan was an assistant manager at an apartment program for adults with disabilities as well as working in their over 50 group homes. Megan is currently in graduate studies at the University of North Texas to receive her Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling.
Megan lives in Addison.
Direct Care Staff
Direct Care Staff members will be hired. These individuals will be trained in the following areas:
- abuse, neglect, and exploitation
- communicable diseases
- CPR and first aid
- infection control
- personnel policies and procedures, injury prevention, and any special needs training.
In addition, each newly hired staff member will undergo an extensive background and driver’s license checks.
