According to Scott DeLong, president, CRSI has recently been awarded two separate grants from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) spanning fiscal years 2016-17. Each grant puts CRSI forward in Ohio’s policy-making efforts to improve services for individuals with developmental disabilities (IDD).
With the ICF (Intermediate Care Facility) Employment Pilot Grant totaling $354,765, the DODD seeks to support a systems transformation from facility-based to community-based delivery models.
“As the federal government is requesting that more community integration for citizens with disabilities occur, this grant will assist CRSI and its partners in attaining community employment opportunities,” said CEO Than Johnson.
Using this grant opportunity, CRSI will develop and begin implementing a strategic plan that can be shared with other Department service providers to assist them in meeting the same goals. The plan includes communication and outreach strategies along with the participation of key stakeholder groups such as employees involved in providing ICF services, parents and guardians, and community business representatives.
Currently, CRSI provides “facility-based” services (Strive@CRSI) for approximately 40 individuals in Champaign County. The goal is to integrate nearly 100 percent into a “community-based” setting and develop a “road map” document that outlines the strategies utilized to accomplish this systems transformation.
The Trauma Informed Care (TIC) Grant totaling $270,648 promotes the implementation of trained service approaches among Home and Community Based Service (HCBS) residential service provider agencies.
The DODD seeks a plan to reduce the utilization of emergency services, reduce admissions to developmental centers and state hospitals, and reduce the use of restrictive or aversive measures; with the goals of maintaining people in their current home/living situation and maintaining continuity of staff by reducing staff turnover.
CRSI commits grant dollars to increase the number of people served under its Trauma Responsive Care (TRC) program by training staff to recognize the effects of trauma on the brain and on relationships, and to recognize behavior and emotions in individuals with IDD. The grant will be used in partnership with the Champaign, Clark and Union county boards of DD.
CRSI will also rely heavily on the partnership with the Aldridge Palay Group and the professional experience of Kevin Aldridge and Lara Palay. See www.aldridgepalay.com on Trauma Responsive Care.
TRC training will enable direct care employees to manage their own stress responses to various situations and be able to better handle the needs of individuals; help care-givers to feel calm, competent and satisfied with their jobs; maintain staff consistency and increase well-informed services for people with complex needs.
According to DeLong, the long term goal is to increase job satisfaction and retention, and create a more meaningful life for individuals because of the opportunities being offered by the ones who interact with them the most – the direct care staff.
“The Trauma Informed Care grant will assist CRSI in the understanding and treatment of various challenges that many individuals with disabilities have experienced, so they can be successful as they live and work within the local community,” added Chairman Ed Corwin, CRSI Board of Trustees.
