Best Practices – Provider

Practice:​ ARC Walton County developed a theatre group named, No Limits. No Limits directs, writes, and performs theatre productions in  Okaloosa and Walton County.  No Limits has performers with and without disabilities and is completely inclusive. No Limits offers membership to all community members.

Their recent production  at Fort Walton Beach Civic Center, “We were soldiers too – voices from the home front” featured stories about life and love from surviving spouses of retired military heroes  residing at Air Force Enlisted Village communities in Okaloosa County.   This fundraiser event benefited both the ARC Walton County and the Air Force Enlisted Village.

Who Benefits? How? ​​The entire community benefits from the integration.

How could others apply this in practice? ​​Performing arts can be used to enhance entertainment and education for all members of any community.

Practice: This provider has implemented a new process for their monthly house meetings.  The residents have elected officers for the their meetings which include a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer and a Secretary.   The provider and residents both report  satisfaction with the process and the outcomes. They look forward to the next election.

Who Benefits? How? ​The residents have increased their ownership, independence and empowerment.  They are very excited about the process and are extremely proud of their accomplishments.  For example, when they chose to attend an event the treasurer researched the cost of the tickets, transportation, food,  etc and then brought  it back to the group for discussion. This provided her with the opportunity to use previous skills and learn new ones.  Everyone is involved but each person has a responsibility which increases their self esteem.  This process increases their self-worth,  their involvement in the success of the outcomes and their decision and choice making skills.

How could others apply this in practice? ​Anyone could apply this practice to their settings.

Practice: This is a Group Home provider located in Broward County that understood that most of the individuals residing in their homes wanted to have keys to enter their homes but they were concerned about safety and losing their keys or ending in the wrong hands. The provider purchased key lock boxes for each home through Amazon and each individual gets trained on how to use the box with a private code and trained on how to open the front door with supervision. The locks are modern ones similar to those used by Realtors.

Who Benefits? How? ​The individuals residing in their homes by accessing and entering their homes.

How could others apply this in practice? ​Following on their initiative and modeling after them. This is all about the individuals receiving services.

Practice: A Quality Council member, Patty Houghland, shared a current practice of a provider organization she visited regarding community inclusion. Patty described how the provider organization had started selling fruits and vegetables at their home location, but realized they could reach more people and be more part of the community they live in if they went to a community venue such as a local Farmer’s Market. The group of residents started selling their fruits and vegetables at a community Farmer’s Market.

Who Benefits? How? Everyone benefits from the utilization of this practice. Instead of a segregated fruit and vegetable stand on their own property, it is an integrated fruit and vegetable stand utilizing the same community resources as their local community residents. This practice relates to person-centered practices important to all people and links people to community life in their own geographic community.

How could others apply this in practice? Others could use this practice by looking at events and happenings in their local community and seeing how they can be a part of those events instead of hosting separate events for those with disabilities.

Practice:  JRFS has established and provides the following services to their clientele:  Life Planning; Psychiatry; Support Groups; LCSW’s provide group and individual counseling; and there’s a Medical Director who attends weekly consultations.  The Life Planning services offers education, advocacy, individual consultation and emotional support to families who care for an adult relatives with disabilities.

Who Benefits? How? The people that benefit from these services are the people served by Jewish Residential and Family Services, and their local community.

How could others apply this in practice? This provider Agency is the first known provider who offers all of these types of services in-house.  Typically, people would need to go to several locations to get these services.

Practice
At least weekly the provider has a “pop quiz” with the individual receiving services to make sure they remember what their goal is. (Can you tell me what your goal is/do you remember your goal…) The answer is documented on the service log under a”pop quiz” category.

Who Benefits? How?
Most people are familiar with the “pop quiz” concept. This is a simple and quick way to ensure the person and the providers remember the goal.

How could others apply this in practice?
Other providers could follow the same procedure and put a “pop quiz – what’s your goal” line on the service log.
The pop quiz idea could be used for other purposes depending on the individuals need – such as – who do you call if you need help, where do you keep your wallet, what day do you go to work…. The question could change as needed.

Practice
This provider uses the attached form to prompt employees to document how they address goals, choice and community preferences. They plan to modify it to address service log requirements and use it for that purpose as well.

Who benefits? How?
The provider benefits by increasing the likelihood that employees will document these required elements. The participants benefit because the employees are more likely to address goals and offer choices and attend to preferences because the form prompts them to do so.

How could others apply this in practice?
Instead of reinventing the wheel, other providers could use it to accomplish the same end.

Choices & Goals Report Form [doc]

Practice
Providers, WSC, and Individuals/Families have increasingly utilized Hospice resources for people who wish to remain in their homes toward the end of their lives. Additional social work, nursing, CNA, grief counseling, and personal care services can be provided in the person’s home whether the situation is supported living, group home, individual, or family home. This empowers an individual to resist being sent to a nursing home or rehab center against her/his will.

Who Benefits? How?
Persons served, Provider, Family/Loved ones, WSC, APD
Persons served benefit by influencing direction over their own healthcare during the end of life while continuing to receive support coordination services. Persons served also benefit from having important people in their lives surrounding them at a difficult time when social support is crucial. Providers benefit by having additional support outside the DD Medicaid Waiver funding stream and access to grief counseling as needed or desired. Loved ones and housemates benefit by having access to grief counseling and the respect of participating in real life situations. WSC benefits by continuing to provide support coordination services to the individual during a crucial time in the person’s life. APD benefits by sharing the funding with other entities including Medicare and private insurance.

Practice
Each year, the provider focuses on a particular theme to address throughout the year (i.e. Environment, Education, Service delivery, Community Inclusion, Family Involvement, etc.). The theme for 2008′ was Family Involvement and the Agency focused on family visits, family interactions, family oriented activities, staff assisting family and friends in any way to ensure more frequent visits for everyone, etc. This dedication is not only for people and their families, but also includes staff and their families, as well. In addition, the provider has worked with people on the Special Olympics Ski Team since 2005′, to prepare for the Ski Competitions in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. They have practices several days per week at local beaches, parks, and at the residences. Families and the local community will attend practice at the beaches and parks, to cheer on the group. Practice occurs from November to January of each year. The team raises money for the trip throughout the year by doing car washes, bake sales, parties, etc. They also take donations. The Ski Team is known as Cool Runnings, after the film which inspired them to become involved with this Winter sport, since they reside in South Florida. This past year they came home with all gold medals with the exception of one silver medal.

Who Benefits? How?
Everyone benefits from both activities occurring within this Agency (i.e. People, families, the community, provider and staff, etc.). These activities benefit everyone by bringing communities together and promoting inter-connectedness.