Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities Promoting Quality in Life for People with Disabilities through Advocacy, Legal Services and Monitoring

Who are we? Created as part of a class action settlement agreement (Evans) Independent, Non-Profit Lay and Legal advocacy for Children and adults with DD Monitor services for people receiving services in DC.

Board Leadership Includes… Two family members Two non-legal advocates Three persons who have MR/DD Two professionals with 10 years exp. Two attorneys licensed to practice law Two citizens residing in DC

Vision and Mission Quality Trust's vision is a community where everyone is respected, belongs, contributes, is valued and shapes his or her own present and future. Our mission is to be an independent catalyst for change in the lives of people of all ages with developmental disabilities in DC. We partner with people and their families so they can succeed, thrive and experience full membership in the communities they choose.

How We Make a Difference Individual and Family Advocacy: • Professional Lay Advocacy • Family Navigation Monitoring: ensuring services meet accepted standards Legal Education and Advocacy: protecting people’s rights and access to services Future Planning and Personal Support : helping frame possible futures and providing support to realize plans Outreach and Training: informing people and crafting solutions for families and organizations

Individual Lay Advocacy For individuals on request Anyone can refer, person must desire advocate Focused on issue resolution Complimentary to other supports Time limited vs. Long Term

Role of Lay Advocacy Start with the person Identify issues for support Work with person and other people in the system to seek needed changes. Assist person to obtain legal representation whenever needed

Legal Advocacy and Representation Ensure access to appropriate representation Back-up advocacy supports Expand existing community resources Enhance quality of practice and representation Clarify best practices and set high expectations

Legal Education and Policy Advocacy Support for individual attorneys representing people Define best practices and provide resources Identify areas of law needing clarification or revision Review policies and advocate for changes needed

Monitoring Review of all serious reportable incidents and investigations for identifying: Immediate need for intervention Individual need for advocacy Trends in activity or practice QT staff may follow-up by phone, on site visits or both.

More Monitoring Individual in depth follow-up to identify issues and make recommendations for more effective supports Assess agency systems to measure strength of processes in support of positive individual outcomes

Promoting Systems Change Individual AND Collective advocacy Focused on common barriers to effective services and supports identified through advocacy Seek collaboration with other advocates (families and other community groups)

QT Basic Change Actions Using best practices as a benchmark Building a database Working with all identified stakeholders Building a common vision Supporting individual action Documenting progress (or lack thereof)

Connect with Us….. www.dcqualitytrust.org Like us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QualityTrust Check out the National Resource Center on SDM www.supporteddecisionmaking.org