Community Living / Service Coordination

The main areas of emphasis of the Community Living/Service Coordination Task Force are initiatives that enable an individual with a developmental disability to exercise self-determination, be independent, be productive, and be integrated and included in all facets of community life; control their environment by being as independent life possible; enable such individual to live, learn, work, and enjoy life in the community by having access to and use of housing and housing supports and services in their communities, including assistance related to renting, owning, or modifying an apartment or home.
 

 (At the discretion of the Council Chair, with the assistance of the Executive Committee, task forces may be appointed to accomplish special assignments required to implement the Council's mission and state plan. Once the Council approves these projects it is the members of the task force who are charged with overseeing and ensuring that the project is implemented and evaluated for effectiveness.)

 

Task Force Members

Executive Director Debra Dowds and Program Manager Latarsha Williams were interviewed in October 2011 for an article in the St. Petersburg Times dealing with guardianship.  Click here to view the article.

 

Community Living & Service Coordination Task Force
Overview of Current Projects

Guardianship Training for Attorneys & Families- The primary purpose of this project is to increase the knowledge of individuals with disabilities and their families about the various ways to provide decision-making assistance under Florida law. The Council has partnered with the Office of the Public Guardian, Inc. (OPG) to plan and host a series of two-day workshops (one day for individuals and families and one day for attorneys) on guardianship and other decision making alternatives. Workshops have been held throughout the state over the course of the last three years. At the completion of the 2011 series of workshops, the Council will have a web curriculum that will be uploaded to the Council’s website so that individuals and families will continue to be able to learn about this very important issue.

Transportation Feasibility Study- The Council has developed a partnership with the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research, the Able Trust and the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities to conduct a transportation feasibility study that analyzes needed systemic reform that may stimulate provider competition, customer service, better accessibility, and safety while allowing improved consumer directed choice in regards to transportation disadvantaged systems and services. The feasibility study will identify innovative transportation options including but not limited to real choice voucher models in other states and applicability in Florida. The final report was completed in June of this year (2010). An electronic copy of the report can be downloaded from the Council’s website.

Transportation Stakeholders Task Force- The Council has developed a partnership with the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research to develop and convene a Transportation Stakeholders’ Task Force. The task force participants will assist with determining the next steps towards the development and implementation of a transportation voucher pilot program for Florida. This will be accomplished through the utilization of a work group of individuals representing individuals with developmental disabilities and families and key transportation stakeholder agencies and organizations. This project will also provide the Council with detailed information on available grant funding opportunities that the Council and its collaborating partners can pursue for the specific purpose of implementing the transportation voucher pilot program outlined in the Council’s “Innovative Approaches for Increasing Transportation Options for People with Disabilities in Florida” report.

Next Chapter Book Club- the NCBC program is designed to provide adolescents and adults with disabilities the opportunity to read, learn, and talk about books, as well as make friends in community settings. Typically, the book clubs include a group of five(5) to ten (10) individuals with disabilities who meet weekly in local bookstores and cafes to read aloud and discuss books of their choosing. The members range from those who read well to those who cannot read independently; the age of members range from twelve years old to eighty years old. Volunteer facilitators assist the group, but the members choose how to structure their club and meetings. This creative program promotes social connectedness, literacy, and community inclusion for individuals with disabilities. The Council has partnered with the Ohio State University’s Nisonger Center to bring this book club pilot project to Florida. Implementation of this project model will be completed through a partnership with the Easter Seals of South Florida, Inc. and the ARC of West Palm Beach.

Developing Community Coalitions - The Council has developed a partnership with the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida to develop at least two (2) sustainable coalitions in Florida that eventually can support the development of informal and volunteer services available in their area to help meet identified unmet needs of individuals with developmental disabilities who are currently on Florida’s Medicaid Waiver waitlist. A long term goal of this project is to form grassroots coalitions throughout the state that are capable of identifying and increasing access to generic or shared services that can be utilized by the larger community.

DD Wait List Strategic Plan - The Council is in the process of starting this initiative which when implemented will serve provide for a process for stakeholders to assist the Council with developing a comprehensive written strategic plan that will be useful in providing verifiable information and recommendations about the Home & Community Based Services Waiver Wait List to key state decision makers such as the Governor and the Florida Legislature. This initiative will be a collaborative effort with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Family Care Council of Florida, the Arc of Florida, Disability Rights Florida, families and individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as representatives of other developmental disabilities organizations and other stakeholders.

Alternative Residential Options Guide – This Council initiative is designed to provide individuals with developmental disabilities, their families and their advocates with county specific housing information. The Council has partnered with the Florida Housing Coalition on this project. This is a new initiative designed to provide a resource that will educate individuals and families on all of Florida’s available residential options for people with developmental disabilities. This will be accomplished through the development of a Florida specific resource guide that can be used by individuals and families to evaluate their individual housing needs to determine the most appropriate residential option for their specific situation. It is anticipated that the guide will be completed during the Fall of 2012.

Transportation Guide – This Council initiative is designed to provide individuals with developmental disabilities, their families and their advocates with county specific transportation information that can be used to help plan travel in their communities. The Council partnered with the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research to develop this user friendly guidebook which includes local maps, fare rates and other transportation related contact information. This resource is currently available for distribution.

Disaster Preparedness Guide – This Council initiative is designed to provide individuals with developmental disabilities with Florida specific information on disaster preparedness. The guide is divided into three sections and includes a series of questions in a workbook format that can be completed by the user. Readers will be able to transfer their answers to these questions into a blank disaster plan, which is included as the last section of the guide. Topics include: Florida’s Emergency Management System, Disaster Supply Kits, Emergency Shelters, and the Special Needs Registry. This resource is currently available for distribution.

Management Services Guidebook - Entitled “Your Life, Your Way”, this Council initiative is designed to provide individuals with developmental disabilities, their families and their advocates with information on successfully managing their in home supports and services. This resource is currently available for distribution.

Guardianship & Guardianship Alternatives Guide - Entitled “Lighting the Way to Guardianship & Other Decision Making Alternatives”, this guide for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families provides up to date information about alternatives to guardianship. The guide also describes Florida’s guardianship and guardian advocacy process. This resource is currently available for distribution.