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Brooks-Lane #3

To be able to shift to utilizing these funding options for consumers, there 
really has to be a shift in skill sets.  It's very different to maximize 
resources through these systems, than what many people are used to through just 
the DD funding that comes from Medicaid waiver or block grant funding.  The 
first is that there really has to be a strengths model of support versus a 
deficit model.  Many systems do operate from looking at what the person is not 
capable of doing instead of what they are capable of doing.  Losing stereotypes 
through that process and having a competency based focus.  

It's very important to have a person-centered approach, driven by the customers 
passions, dreams, desires, likes/dislikes, preferred environments.  [It’s 
important to have] the supports that will be important for them to achieve their 
dreams, the resources that would be available, and the learning styles, and then 
self directed creative work teams.  We've got to really move how we support 
people into more of a modern business model and to support people in the best 
practice sort of way.  These teams need to be very innovative, creative, and 
offer the opportunity to have flexibility in how they support the folks that we 
work with.  

Outcome based planning is very important.  Holding folks accountable to obtain 
evidence based resource.  Also make sure that you give those individuals the 
support they need to continue to be motivated.  There's of course external and 
internal motivators. It's important that we focus on all of those aspects of 
what keeps staff energized to produce good outcomes.  Vocational profiling 
skills, knowing not only who the customer is but what they want, is very 
important. Typically, our system is focused on a very traditional assessment 
model that may come up with an IQ score/adaptive function score. It really 
doesn't produce practical functional information that can result in good 
outcomes for the folks with support.  The vocational profiling process is a much 
more data intensive process that you can actually use to create those customized 
opportunities for the folks with support.  

Community Connections.  You've got to know the community and the local resources 
to form partnerships and linkages.  Again that's a way to share the resources 
and the costs to be able to support the person in quality employment.  One thing 
that we did that was so helpful is to partner with the minority businesses.  We 
know that worked. We have achieved great outcomes through the folks we support 
in being employed in very innovative, interesting jobs, self-employment 
customized jobs, business within a business and resource ownership.  

Knowledge of business planning processes.  It's so important to be able to write 
business plans, do a market analysis, and continuous quality improvement 
processes. Many of us weren't trained in that.  That's a skill that's very 
important to develop in this whole process.  Then [there is] understanding 
benefits analysis.  Making sure decisions are within the scope of what benefit 
regulations require.  There must be somebody involved with the support team who 
has knowledge of Social Security Medicaid/Medicare regulations, the Medicaid 
Waiver Food Stamps, Section 8 Housing, Supported Living funds, annuities from 
insurance, and then Welfare assistance; or, you can really end up putting 
someone's benefits in jeopardy.

If I can leave you with just having very quickly run through some funding 
options for the folks that we support, and not scare you in the process, know 
that these really are very viable ways to expand financial resources for 
individuals to do customized employment and improve the quality of life of the 
folks we support.

End