Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Fall 10-2017
Keywords
Community Life Engagement, CLE, Supported Living, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, I/DD, Developmental Disabilities, ThinkWork, # H133G140150, #90DN0295
Disciplines
Community-Based Research | Disability Studies | Rehabilitation and Therapy | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling
Abstract
Avenues Supported Living Services of Valencia, California was founded in 1997 by a husband- andwife team, Scott and Lori Shepard. The agency provides supported living and community life engagement (CLE) services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Key to Avenues’ success is a staffing approach that is grounded in client relationships. The agency limits staff hours to two shifts per week with the same individual. This is done to facilitate clientstaff matching and relationship building, but also to prevent potential burnout and frustration by ensuring both the clients they support and their staff have variety in their schedules. Avenues staff have expanded what they do by mentoring other agencies from within, thereby increasing service choices for individuals with IDD and their families. As of October 2016, Avenues provided CLE support to 26 individuals with IDD. Of those, 23 also received supported employment. Avenues does not have any supported employment funding per se, but provides job coaching in combination with individualized day services / CLE.
Recommended Citation
Boeltzig, Heike and ThinkWork! at the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston, "Service Provider Promising Practice: Avenues Supported Living Services: a Staffing Approach Based on Client Relationships" (2017). ThinkWork! Publications. 46.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/thinkwork/46
Included in
Community-Based Research Commons, Disability Studies Commons, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Commons