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PEERS: Program for Enhancing and Establishing Relational Skills. URLEND Leadership Project 2010/2011. Sid Davis Megan Bell Sarah Francis Jacquelynn Bradley. Initial Project Idea. Partnership with the Best Buddies program
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PEERS: Program for Enhancing and Establishing Relational Skills URLEND Leadership Project2010/2011 Sid Davis Megan Bell Sarah Francis Jacquelynn Bradley
Initial Project Idea • Partnership with the Best Buddies program • Pairing of young adults with high functioning autism/Asperger Syndrome with neurotypical peers • Original idea involved 1 hour meetings to practice conversational skills • Target young adults or college students
Program Need • Existing service gap for adolescents with high functioning autism • One-to-one peer group settings have been shown to improve social skills • Utah State Office of Education reported serving 2,931 students with autism in the 2007/2008 school year • Individuals with autism loose structured social opportunities after graduation • Improving social skills in high school can ease transition after graduation
Switch to Easter Seals Program • Best Buddies • Different visions and goals • Limited funding opportunities • Smaller organization through University of Utah Best Buddies Buddies program • Northern Rocky Mountain Easter Seals agency • Similar vision plans • Opportunities for development and sustainability • Janet Wade, Director of Utah Services at Easter Seals Northern Rocky Mountain
PEERS Program Overview • Application process • Pairing with peer mentor • Orientation • Time commitment and expectations • Community service and volunteer sites • Progress Notes/Monthly Check-ins • Progress reports from supervisors • Email check-ins • Group socials • Provides data for Transitioning services
Program Elements • PEERS Proposal – Grant Opportunities • Program Application for Participants • Logic Model Worksheet • All documents approved by Easter Seals staff and legal representatives
Future Directions • Phase I: Creation of PEERS pilot project (2010/2011) • Phase II: Implementation of PEERS project in Paradigm High School (2011/2012) • Phase III: Project to expand to multiple schools and larger demographic area in the Salt Lake Valley (2012/2013) • Phase IV: PEERS to expand to include college and higher educational settings (2013)