Friday, January 20, 2017
Hello everyone and welcome back to our blog this week! Thank you all for taking the time to visit our website today.
2016 was a huge year for Integrated Living Opportunities (ILO). As we mentioned in our Year In Review blog, we achieved many of our goals over the last twelve months. We launched our Internet presence, kicked off fundraising initiatives, created social groups and expanded community pods. As we welcome 2017, we pledge to continue to work hard to grow and improve ILO, and to continue to facilitate the creation of intentional communities for adults with disabilities.
Looking forward into the New Year, one of ILO’s primary goals (in addition to those mentioned above) is to expand our networks of support. The first step is to recruit and welcome new families into our organization, and connect them to the resources needed to build intentional communities. To this end, ILO staff and volunteers have been meeting with new families, working to educate them on how ILO helps adults with disabilities achieve independent living.
In order to facilitate the welcome of these new participating families into the ILO network, we are offering a New Futures Initiative™ training this spring.
New Futures Initiative™ Training – What is it?
The New Futures initiative™ training is the first crucial step in becoming part of the ILO community. Designed and developed by Center for Independent Futures®, this training is intended to help families open doors to community-based, supported, independent living options within one’s own neighborhood. The program guides participants through the steps necessary to create community and independent living options. It focuses on Center for Independent Futures® core values of community, choice, assessment, person-centered planning, family, etc. Note: To learn more about Center for Independent Futures®, please visit their website.
All ILO participating families are required to take the New Futures Initiative™ training. The families that take this training together form a core group, and work together in an innovative partnership to create full life futures for their self-advocates. The training also provides the necessary supports to create a future based on the Center for Independent Futures® Full Life Model™.
The New Futures Initiative™ Training Process
Families that commit to participating in the New Futures Initiative™ training must first meet with ILO staff and volunteers for an orientation and introduction into the organization. This meeting is a general overview of the organization, complete with an introduction to the Participating Family Handbook. During this meeting, families are helped to prepare for their upcoming New Futures Initiative™ training.
The New Futures Initiative™ training itself takes place over the course of four days, broken down into two sessions. The first session, days 1 and 2, take place in Washington, D.C. The second, days 3 and 4, takes place in the hometown of Center for Independent Futures – Evanston, Illinois.
Day 1 and 2 – Washington, D.C.
The first two days include an introduction to the training program and the basics of beginning to build an intentional community. Topics such as Center for Independent Futures® Full Life Model™ and Skills Inventory™ are covered, as are MD and DC supports, funding options, and resources. During these two days, trainers walk participants through community building concepts, creating personal networks, housing matrixes, etc. Participants are also introduced to community pods and take part in housing tours of self-advocates living independently.
Day 3 and 4 – Evanston, Illinois
The third day of training takes place at Center for Independent Futures® headquarters. During this session, participants are introduced to Center for Independent Futures philosophy, sustainability and community building concepts. Community Living Options are also covered, complete with housing tours. The fourth and final day concludes the training by reflecting on what has been learned throughout the process, and by guiding participants through the Readiness Development Process.
If you would like to learn more about this training program and how it helps families with special needs create independent living options in integrated, inclusive and intentional communities please contact us for more information. Specifics on Center for Independent Futures® and their programs can be found by visiting their website, www.independentfutures.org.
Interested? Contact ILO to Learn More
Again, thank you for dropping by our blog today. We are happy that we were able to share our goals for 2017 and discuss how we prepare families and self-advocates to build intentional, integrated, and inclusive communities for adults with disabilities. If you would like more information about the New Futures Initiative™ training, please contact us. You may also wish to browse our website or blog archive; simply search New Futures Initiative™ in the search bar on our blog’s webpage. If you are interested in joining ILO and taking part in this training program, please reach out – we would love to welcome you into our network!
