Out of the Day Program and Into Community

1. Out of the Day Programand Into Community Aaron Johannes and Susan Stanfield Vancouver B.C.

2. Spectrum Society for Community Living – Vancouver, B.C. • Institutional downsizing projects • 1988-1996 • Alternative to traditional services • Residential (40 people) • One 5-bed group home • Community inclusion (80 people) • No centre-based day programs

3. 1989

4. Competitive employmentSupported employmentWork crew / enclavesSheltered workshopPre-vocational / day activity centre

5. One person at a time • Build on strengths and interests • Normative options • Paid employment • Volunteer work • Recreation • Adult education • Generic resources • Local businesses • Community organizations • Recreation centres • Colleges

6. 2004 Budget Cut • What would you be willing to do differently? • Shared Living • Cluster Housing • Group activities

7. What to do? “If anyone can run a good centre-based day program, we can...”

8. The Plan • Drop-in option for people with limited funding • 6-8 participants per day • 50% of time on-site, 50% in community • Each person planning and leading an activity • No new referrals

9. If you build it, they will come

10. Rules crept in... • Program start / end time • Posted activity schedule • Fee structure • Attendance sheet • AWOL protocol • Bathroom protocol • Lockers • Behaviour programs • “Quiet space” • Paperwork • Conflict resolution

11. 3 years later • 20 participants • People with 1:1 staff were coming to the program • Whole new team • Majority of time on-site • Calls for a bigger room • Staff were fundraising for a bus • Funders were offering $ for more space • Children’s videos on the donated big screen tv • Friday music group

14. “Any ‘institution’ (in the sociological sense) that has much momentum but no viable rationale is likely to strive for self-perpetuation on the basis of its previous rationales and practices.” - The Origin and Nature of our Institutional Models (Wolfensberger, 1969)

15. The rationale • They’re having fun • We’re all friends here • It’s safe • They love doing arts and crafts • We can serve more people this way • Staff can support each other – we’d have no support in the community • It’s more cost-effective • The families like the routine of M-F, 9-3 • Some people NEED a centre

16. The reality • It was boring • They weren’t all friends • Some acted out (which made it unsafe for others) • Only one person loved doing arts and crafts • Staff conflicts were ongoing • Families wanted more flexibility

19. If you build it, they will come

20. Strategic Plan 2010-2013:“Commitment to Partnership” 1. Strengthen the capacity of individuals to develop and tap relationships, networks and community partnerships; 2. Shift to a more person-directed approach to service; 3. Become recognized as a model of excellence in supporting self governance, locally and beyond; 4. Nurture a culture of learning and leadership; 5. Develop a self sustaining social enterprise / business arm of Spectrum

23. www.101friends.ca

24. Planning • Strategic planning day with leaders • Informed Spectrum’s new strategic plan • “Rallying people to a brighter future” • Met with each family individually • Context of ongoing person-centred planning • Series of meetings with staff team • Training and dialogue • “Changing role of community support workers”

25. Job Posting:Day Program Transformation Manager This exciting leadership opportunity will appeal to someone with a passion for community inclusion and relationship building. We are seeking a strong leader who can articulate a vision of best practice for community living and engage multiple stakeholders to work collectively toward that vision, consistent with Spectrum's strategic plan. Outstanding communication and facilitation skills, with an emphasis on working proactively with persons served, families and staff to build concensus and a shared sense of purpose, will be critical. The successful candidate will work under the direction of Co-Directors Aaron Johannes and Susan Stanfield to facilitate the transformation of Spectrum's day services from a program model to an individualized, community-based model of support. This is a singular opportunity for someone to contribute to a process of change within Spectrum's largest (and growing) service area, while developing their own leadership skills. The position will involve extensive training, project management, and team-building opportunities that will position the Project Leader for future opportunities within Spectrum or outside the agency. It will involve working closely with representatives from all levels of the agency, as well as families, funders, community partners and persons served.

27. “We’re closing the day program!” X

28. One person at a time • Personal support networks • Build on strengths and interests • Normative options • Paid employment • Volunteer work • Recreation • Adult education • Generic resources • Local businesses • Community organizations • Recreation centres • Colleges

30. Circles – Person Centred Planning Tool for one person“who do you care about and want in your life?”

31. Thinking of an individual’s goals and challenges rather than those of a group

32. Compare program approaches. What’s possible for... One person... A group of people... Where one person likes to socialise but... Another person wants to be alone Another person is triggered by talking Someone else wants to go do something else... Someone isn’t feeling well Someone... • Who likes to socialise; this is their gift and they enjoy it

34. And then another person...

35. Then match up the goals of one with another person (and another and another)... If your planning is good enough, you can support dreams with the same money. This is happening all over the world.

37. Then start making lists of actions that will meet the objectives of the person...

38. So part of our job is working as an effective team... To dream, do, debrief, assess and problem-solve...

39. Our Vision • Everyone doing things they want to do, with preferred others • Enlist natural supports (not just staff) • Individual safeguards • Flexible scheduling • No-one left behind

40. One person at a time

41. One person at a time

42. One person at a time

43. One person at a time

46. Collingwood Neighbourhood House

48. Today • Everyone is doing things they want to do • Natural supports are everywhere • Behavioural issues have lessened or disappeared • People’s overall health and mobility have improved • No-one wants to go back

49. www.spectrumsociety.orgwww.101friends.ca