INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COLLABORATION

Goal:

The Individual and Family Collaboration Domain assesses the success of the agency’s efforts in engaging and collaborating with individuals and family members around the transformation to integrated, community-based employment opportunities.

Learning Objectives

The Individual and Family Collaboration domain focuses on gaining a better understanding of developing effective approaches that ensure the meaningful participation of individuals and families in the transformation process: 

• Clarifying communications processes and protocols to ensure the sharing of accurate, timely information;
• Understanding the value of Peer Mentors to support individuals through the transformation;
• Effective individualized assessment and service plan development processes to ensure smooth transition in support of the individual’s goals.  

Audience

• Executive Team,
• Board of Directors, 
• Program Directors/Supervisors
• Individuals and Families
• Direct Support Professionals
• Medicaid Service Coordinators (MSCs)
• Care Coordinators/Care Managers

Tools and Processes

Group Discussion Exercise – Individual and Family Collaboration          

The following group discussion exercise is structured to help the agency identify and implement approaches that are effective in engaging and ensuring the meaningful participation of individuals and families in the transformation process.

1.

Get a sense of the agency’s baseline score by completing the Mini ESTA.

2.

This brief podcast defines the “Individual and Family Domain” and why the questions in the full self-assessment are important.     

3.

Complete the ESTA or move to the next step.

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4.

Assemble a group of your agency’s key stakeholders, including Executive Leadership (e.g. CEO, CFO, HR, COO), Board of Directors, Peer Mentors, and Individuals and Families. For a more expansive group include other individuals (other program staff, MSCs, community partners, etc.).  
  
A.) Note: This process may also be conducted using multiple groups with each group comprised of discrete stakeholders (e.g. Board members only; Executive Team only).

5.

Review the self-assessment of Individual and Family Collaboration from the Mini ESTA (or ESTA if completed).

​A.) By reviewing the rating/score from the assessment, the agency will see where they fall on the continuum of progress towards transformation in the Individual and Family Collaboration Domain. Keep in mind the responses to the individual items in the assessment during discussion.

6.

Continue discussion using the prompts below. During discussion, consider potential actions that may be undertaken to make further progress in the transformation process.

​Approximate Time for Exercise:
​60-90 minutes

A). Discuss activities undertaken to engage with individuals and families.    

B.) Discuss the experiences that have occurred when working with program individuals and their families regarding the transformation — consider all efforts in clarifying the transformation process and responding to questions and concerns, as well as the agency capacity to offer/access additional supports and resources.  

C.) Discuss process being used for individualized assessment and service plan development, including any challenges in implementing the individual’s desired services plan and actions to address these challenges.

D.) ​Describe agency activities related to developing Peer Mentor resources and activities — have any Peer Mentors been developed? Does the agency work with a self-advocacy group?

Download Discussion Prompts