Out of the Day Programand Into Community

Aaron Johannesand Susan Stanfield

Vancouver B.C.

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

1989

Competitive employment

Supported employment

Work crew / enclaves

Sheltered workshop

Pre-vocational / day activity centre

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

2004 Budget Cut

• What would you be willing to do differently?

– Shared Living

– Cluster Housing

– Group activities

What to do?

“If anyone can run a good centre-based day program, we can...”

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

If you build it, they will come

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

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

“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)

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

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

In a program… In a person-centred service…

Decision making is driven by staff and professionals

Decision making is driven by the individual and his/her support network

Planning occurs as a singular event, according to a prescribed format

Planning is ongoing and individualized

The person’s goals are defined within the context of the program

The person’s goals are defined within the context of a holistic plan

Specialized supports are the first response to meeting individual needs

Generic supports are the first response

Staff take the place of natural supports Staff augment natural supports

There is a pre-set schedule of activities that people take part in (or don’t)

Individuals develop their own personal schedule based on their goals

Staffing is provided at pre-set times according to a fixed schedule

Staffing is provided flexibly

Focus on participation Focus on increased independence

Focus on group needs

Focus on individual needs

Staff skills determine the selection of activities Preferred activities inform the selection of staff with appropriate skills

Support is tied to the program – the person can’t take their support with them if they leave the program

Services are portable – the person can take their support and change service providers if they so choose

If you build it, they will come

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

www.101friends.ca

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”

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.

Job Posting:Day Program Transformation Manager

“We’re closing the day program!”X

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

Circles – Person Centred Planning Tool for one person

“who do you care about and want in your life?”

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

group

Compare program approaches. What’s possible for...

One person...• Who likes to socialise; this is

their gift and they enjoy it

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...

And then another person...

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.

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

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

problem-solve...

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

One person at a time

One person at a time

One person at a time

One person at a time

Collingwood Neighbourhood House

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

www.spectrumsociety.org

www.101friends.ca