1. It’s Time to Come Home Choosing Where and With Whom to Live—SDS and Supported Living By Deanna Yost for “InControl Wisconsin Conference” October 13, 2009 TRY Companies, LLC dlyost@centurytel.net

2. Presentation Introduction Toby’s yellow house story The inevitable questions New considerations Basics Lessons learned A few stories from Up North-video Q & A and what stuck?

3. Supported Living: what it is, is not A home of one’s own—not agency owned or controlled A respectable home—not unclean, or unsafe A real place to live—not a test to see if the person can “make it” Flexible and personalized—not driven by procedures and requirements

4. The simplicity of it I decide where and with whom I want to live I make decisions regarding my services and supports I decide how I spend my day

5. How we can complicate it Placing people instead of creating home and supports around the person’s preferences and needs Locating slots or beds Delivering services instead of designing services Justifying less supports than needed based on “choice” rather than adjusting supports based on current needs

6. Toby’s Yellow House Story—and his family’s Co-Evolution—Hybrid of SDS Cooperation or allying with an agency The agency is the employer but the person and family “Have say.”

9. A Picture Person and Family Role: In charge of house partnering with New Horizons North in supervision of staff Agency Role: In charge of staff, partnering with family in supervision of house

10. What evolves?  Division of duties based on strengths of each party, for example:  Person/parents—day to day supervision and training  Person/parents--Management & Supervision of staff  Agency—general training  Agency—billing and payroll

11. Mutual respect and trust ◦ Open dialogue ◦ Differences of opinions don’t deter the outcomes ◦ Successes are celebrated to gather energy from each other Needed Elements

12. What about regulation? The person, their families, the agency and staff together work towards the best practices of what is typically regulated now in group homes, such as: ◦ Activities during the day—what to do and even whether to do them ◦ Needed personal and medical cares ◦ Ethics ◦ What staff need and should learn to do their jobs well*

13. What about….? Liability, insurance, licensing, risk, inappropriate behaviors, charting and paperwork, returning behaviors, bad neighbors, transportation, zoning…. Always ask, “Which issues do people have without disabilities who live in the community?” Deal with those as you would for anyone.

14. Consider new issues Relationships, power and control balance, matching with paid staff, inclusion in the community, family roles and negotiations, staff autonomy, staff isolation, values… Supported living is new territory, but as for anyone, respectful relationships and strong networks are key. (Handout.)

15. Yes, you gain weight! Everybody Eats When They Come to My House Have a banana, Hannah, Try the salami, Tommy, Give with the gravy, Davy, Everybody eats when they come to my house! Try a tomato, Plato, Here's cacciatore, Dorie, Taste the baloney, Tony, Everybody eats when they come to my house! Cab Calloway, 1947

16. How it works—the basics 1) Vision. People are different—homes are different. 2) Funding. (Handout.) Social Security payments are typically used for rent and living expenses. Long-term care funding is used for staff support. 3) Help. A roommate may help care costs but there may be negotiations when visions merge. Staff are needed. 4) Place. There is a search for a place and a community. 5) Learning. There is a lot to learn.

17. Lessons learned and learning Training never ends, never…and it is time consuming There is no perfect schedule—schedules are starting points for negotiations Staff need authority—if you set core values and train on that you can let go easier. Supported living is not for control freaks. Always ask, “what’s going well?” before you ask about concerns

18. A few stories VIDEO: Northern Wisconsin examples of supported living prior to family care

19. Any questions?