Best Practices – Provider

Practice
The Agency collaborates with various employers within the community (i.e. Vitas Hospice, FAU–Barnes & Nobles, Home Goods, TJ MAXX, Petsmart, Pest Control, Walgreens, and Lowe’s) to set up job training sites at each location in order to train people on the skills needed for positions within the Company. People who are involved on the job training sites are paid.

Who Benefits? How?
Both the communities and the people served, benefit from this collaboration. People are being provided with paid on the job training. In addition, people are interacting with people in the local communities and visa versa.

Practice
The staff of Communicare, Inc. wanted to be able to present options to people receiving services of activities that are for the general population and to learn of people’s preferences related to integration. In order to address this, they created a form that they call: Community Activities Directory. This form is broken down into three columns. The first column is for identifying an area of interest: dancing, tennis, etc. The second column addresses details/information about resources for the general population related to this interest (i.e HYA –Handicapped Youth Activities). The third column addresses details/resources for special needs population related to this interest (Shepards Bar and Grill). In the second and third column details such as the name of the place, address, phone number, days of operation and cost are included. The staff and individuals make a practice of researching this information by looking through newspapers, by picking up flyers while out in the community at places such as the local library, researching and obtaining information on various activities through the use of the Internet, etc. Any literature, brochures, pictures or additional information pertaining to the area of interest is then attached to the form. The form along with any attachments are maintained in a binder with each page having a page protector on it. The binder is maintained in the home for easy access by the people who live in the home. At any time, individuals and staff can add information about any new area of interest or add additional information to an existing area of interest. This tool is used by staff to present options for integration and to have discussions with people to learn what their preferences are. The staff intend on exposing people to the different activities both in an integrated and a segregated setting so that the person can make an informed choice as to what their preference is for integration. During government meetings, new activities added will be presented to the individuals who live in the home. This tool will also be used to determine what people’s preferences are for community activities and to support them to learn of possible valued roles that are available within their community.

Who Benefits? How?
Individuals benefit in many ways by this best practice. They are educated and exposed to options of integrated and segregated activities based on their preferences so that they can make an informed choice as to what their preferences are. They are also learning where to locate information about what is available and what activities are occurring within their community. Through education, exposure and experience people are presented with options to pursue valued social roles within their communities based on their preferences.

Support Plan Checklist [doc]

Practice
The provider has a system to track claims submitted and paid/unpaid. The agency has a spreadsheet with detailed information about service authorization amounts, as well as limits and claims submitted. Once the remittance vouchers come in, the provider enters that information into the spreadsheet, which allows the agency to see what has been paid and unpaid.

Who Benefits? How?
The Agency. The spreadsheet is maintained in the front of the provider’s billing back up (invoices, remittance vouchers) which allows agency staff to view claims billed/paid or unpaid, by individual, without going back through volumes of documentation to find a particular claim.

Practice
Provider solicits persons’ preferences regarding volunteering to prepare and serve a dinner for cancer survivors as part of the American Cancer Society Relay for Li8fe celebration. Persons who choose to participate in this community event were transported by natural or paid supports to the event where they worked together to prepare, serve and clean up after socializing with their communi8ty members who were appreciative of the efforts to recognize their challenges of overcoming cancer.

Who Benefits? How?
This assists persons in learning how to help others and serve their community while learning about teamwork and gaining the satisfaction of taking care of others who are in need. They were able to see friends and learn new skills because they were also responsible for decorations and planning the meal. Staff also had the opportunity to learn more about the persons they serve because they were peers contributing to their community together.

Practice
Provider found a community center in Pensacola that offers services to mature adults age 40 years and older instead of just seniors who are much older.

Who Benefits? How?
This Fricker Community Center offers an alternative to Adult Day Training programs that meets persons need for a meaningful day activity that is integrated and allows them to socialize with persons close to their own age in their community. It also helps persons conserve APD funds or services that are not available in the community.

Practice
This provider offered individuals the opportunity to become certified in CPR. The agency staff were in need of CPR certification/recertification so they asked the individuals if any of them would be interested in this as well. Several were and attended this class alongside the agency staff.

Who Benefits? How?
This assists persons in learning how to save a life and also supports the teamwork aspect of service delivery. Staff also have the opportunity to learn more about the persons they serve because they have opportunity to see them as peers learning with them.

Practice
The provider found a web site that allows a person to create a personalized medication card. They used the site (www.drugdigest.org) under the interactive tool heading to create medication cards for individuals and gave one to individuals to keep with them for use when necessary.

Who Benefits? How?
It is a great way to assist individuals in managing their own health care, and advocating for their personal health needs, and gaining independence.

Practice
The provider has color pictures and brief statements explaining the various Rights and Safety concepts depicted. A & E then prints out the picture and text, attaches it to an index card. These cards are then attached together by punching a hole in them and stringing them together for easy access & flip. They give one of these to each staff member so they can review rights and safety whenever it seems appropriate and/or to take advantage of wait times during doctor’s appointments or other times.

Who Benefits? How?
It is a great way to discuss rights with concrete examples that are referenced with pictures.

Practice
The provider celebrated a wedding for two individuals at the group home. The provider organized the event over several months and networked with other entities to ensure that the individuals would have the most memorable experience of their lives. The provider stated that approximately sixty people attended the ceremony including people from APD, Support Coordinators, family members and friends. The provider indicated that the ceremony and after party took place at the group home. The wedding was also conducted by a Public Notary and then recorded at the Local Civil Court. The provider stated that they are now planning with the individuals a honeymoon to Cancun, Mexico.

Who Benefits? How?
Individuals benefit by celebrating their marriage. By making the individuals dream come true, helping through the process and by supporting them with natural supports.

Practice
This adult day training provider implemented an opportunity for individuals to use “curriculum boxes” during ‘down time’ at the ADT. There are several boxes throughout the facility. These boxes contain activities that include worksheets and games related to money skills and cooking skills. The boxes also contain maps and information from around the world, worksheets to learning how to apply for a passport for a trip outside the country and many other interesting skills. The organization has also partnered with Suntrust bank to create a model ‘bank’ in their library where individuals learn how to open a savings/checking account.

Who Benefits? How?
All persons benefit. Individuals benefit by having interesting and productive information to learn from. Provider and staff benefit by assisting individuals to build on their interests and abilities which will lead to individuals having a sense of greater independence.