- Developing low-income housing units in Atlanta through Green Building practices
- Developing competencies for self-sufficient living.
- Develop platinum level green housing facilities.
- Build at least 140 units by the end of 2012.
Create strong partnerships with at least 5 housing authorities, and/or other social service agencies during 2009.
Service Plan Steps for Life
Description of Project
Steps for Life Inc, is a supportive service and housing development organization offering affordable supportive housing and social services to an array of special needs populations, including, individuals and families, youth and young adults aging out of Foster Care, seniors, grandparents raising grandchildren and persons living with disabilities throughout the state of Georgia. The facilities owned and operated by Steps for Life Inc, will provide quality, life enriching services to all residents.
Steps for Life services program will be dedicated to serve residents who meet the criteria for placement as defined by Steps for Life policies and procedures on Intake.
Statement of Purpose
The program will provide services to all special needs groups who have experienced housing disruption or are at risk of housing disruption. The program will cater to all special needs populations. The facilities will provide safe, decent, affordable housing, social services planning and household management services to facilitate increased personal and economic self-sufficiency and self-determination among residents.
Target Population
It is expected that the target population served will be comprised of young people aging out of Foster Care, families, seniors, individuals with one or more special needs. Successful applicants will have a full disciplinary team working on goals set forth by the resident. Service delivery will be implemented within a culturally-sensitive framework that minimizes the environment barriers to self-sufficiency.
Overview of Services
Working collaboratively with other area providers, Steps for Life will implement a divers program of on and off-site supportive services. Among the key services:
- Full scale assessments within 30 days of residency
- Addiction recovery services and support as needed
- Referral for job placement
- Life skills training
- Benefits advocacy, as appropriate
- Social and recreational activities
- Mentorship
- Education Support
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- Case Management
- Independent Living Skills
- Case Management
- Independent Living Skills
- Mental Health Linkages
- Household Management
- Clothing Bank
- Food Bank
- Furniture Bank
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Steps for Life is a full service organization offering an abundance of services, meeting residents “where they are” and motivating them to take control of their lives and achieving self sufficiency.
Implementation Plan
Outreach
Steps for Life Staff will promote the availability of occupancy to established area agencies that serve special needs population.
Resident Involvement
Program members will participate in the services plan and the housing operations in two distinct ways:
- Each individual will co-author their Personal Success Plan and sign off on this goal-based contract for addressing specific issues of addiction recovery, mental health stabilization, healthcare, income, transportation, education, family needs, employment, support systems and other specialized needs.
- Steps for Life will respond to interest from residents and assist in the formation of a Resident Committee for the purpose of providing a forum for residents to organize socially and address their concerns regarding on-site resident services, activities and/or property operations.
Description of Support Services
Steps for Life Inc, staff will directly provide or arrange for the delivery of a variety of services to meet the general needs of Steps for Life residents. Primary services will focus on four key areas: self sufficiency, education personal enrichment and community building. The range of services to be offered will include:
Self Sufficiency:
- Professional Manager with an emphasis on community resource advocacy, i.e., entitlement procurement assistance, client connectivity to healthcare resources, transportation assistance, utilization of United Way 211 hotline, etc.
- Substance abuse recovery services including on-site peer-led groups, as well as referrals to off-site treatment inpatient, outpatient and detoxification services, as appropriate.
- Community resource advocacy, i.e., entitlement procurement assistance, client connectivity to healthcare resources, transportation assistance, etc.
- Mental health linkages and follow up
Education Support Services:
- Assistance with school requirements
- On site tutorial services
- Introduction to post high school activities
Personal Enrichment:
- Personalized life skills development workshops and groups
- Referrals for vocational training and job placement services, as appropriate.
Community Building:
- Community organizing supports to assist clients in forming resident associations and participating in civic and community activities
- Promotion of client involvement in volunteer activities.
Residents will have the opportunity to progress through three program phases before achieving complete independence from services. It is important to note, however, that for some residents, remaining successfully housed while still requiring intensive services may be a success in itself.
The Success Plan also referred to as Personal Success Plan, will focus on individual and family strengths to achieve self sufficiency using a number of basic guidelines:
- Professional Management personnel will be based onsite and services will be provided in person during all hours of the day that accommodate the resident/family.
- Professional Management activities will be based on an individualized Personal Success Plan (PSP). PSP content will be based on client needs and assessment information. Clients will participate in an assessment process up front through 1) utilization of data retrieved from referring agency and 2) through Case manager assessment of client functioning.
- Comprehensive client demographic information will be gathered in addition to detailed paper files that incorporate background, family and educational history, placement entitlements and identification data. Initial data collection will also include baseline information which captures data from the prior three years with relation to services and treatments, hospitalizations, periods of active addiction, arrest/incarceration episodes and mental health admissions.
- Every individual will participate fully in their own Personal Success Plan (PSP) setting attainable goals supported fully by the case manager.
- PSP goals will be strictly attended to through regularly scheduled face to face contact between the client and the Professional Manager, and Personal Success Plans will be formally reviewed bi-monthly
- PSP goals will be regularly revised and customized in accordance with goal attainment and individualized needs on a continuum from move in to move out to help guide goal of self sufficiency
- PSP goals will be solution-focused in nature with an initial concentration on client stabilization followed by a focus on client self sufficiency, both levels targeting primary areas of intervention such as:
- Addiction Interventions and support
- Mental Health Care
- Health Stabilization
- Referral for job placement
- Life Skills
- Entitlement Procurement
- Child Care Services
- Legal Issues
- Literacy
- Professional Management staff will make every effort to increase each client’s “circle of support” by incorporating community resources and mainstream services as part of the Personal Success Plan. Eco-mapping exercises will identify important community resources such as employment centers, healthcare and recreational facilities. In addition, referrals to local civic groups, retail establishments, places of worship, support groups, and volunteer opportunities, will be made.
- When applicable, circles of support will be complimented by mentorship activities which will be incorporated into the PSP through the use of peer support individuals secured from other programs and the community at large.
- If determined appropriate and functional, other family members and support persons will be incorporated into the client’s network of support.
Quality of Service Design:
Steps for Life will customize each service design to accommodate the needs of the resident being served, taking into consideration the site design of the properties being inhabited and strongly incorporating the resources in the surrounding community. As each PSP is unique, so are the community resources that can assist each client to achieve their particular goals.
Steps for Life onsite staff will operate out of an established “residential social work” model that is notable for 1)its healthy working relationship 20 fostering positive relationships with community resource providers incorporating them into the facility where possible, and 3)making intentional efforts to be good neighbors in their respective communities.
Steps for Life is fully supported by Steps for Life Inc, Board of Directors through 1)regularly scheduled staff meetings which serve as a forum for project design coordination, problem solving, case conferencing, staff in-services and other project support elements as needed, 2)through individual supervision provided by clinical social work personnel.
Values of Professional Managers services to be provided:
The core value of the Professional Managers services provided by Steps for Life will be based out of a client-centered empowerment model that focuses on each resident’s strengths, personal skills and positive personality traits. Professional Managers activities will empower clients to recognize ALL of their options and value of personal choices. Through intently assisted by Professional Management staff, clients will be encouraged to increase efficacy by achieving goals as independently as possible, with consideration to their current functioning level, thus steadily attaining a level of self confidence that can be applied to future endeavors. This approach seeks to address any detrimental issues of learned helplessness clients may have assimilated over time in their personal journeys and struggles. Personal growth plans will ultimately function to increase the self-sufficiency of each client extending that increased independence to areas of meaningful employment whenever possible. Case Mangers will also incorporate resident access to relevant employment readiness, training and placement programs.
Competencies of Clinical Staff:
Steps for Life staff will be selected for the crucial combination of credentialed scholastic training, relevant employment experience, and familiarity with specific populations, excellent interpersonal skills, knowledge of community resources, comprehensive client assessment skills, and ability to leverage available resources. The Executive Director and Professional Management staff will be equipped with the skill set to provide intensive, individualized, client-centered Case Management services beginning “where the client is” in a way that problem-solves immediate needs and ultimately increases the optimal independence of each client.
Staff Plan
This program is designed to provide a safety net of care to residents requiring specialized assistance in coping with their special needs. That said services will be provided through one full0time Director, Recreational Specialist at least on Case manager per 25 families, and 1 Resident Care Specialist per 50 residents.
Program Evaluation
Steps for Life will complete monthly reports. Other or alternate reports will be prepared as per criteria established by placing agency, and program funders. In addition, Steps for Life will conduct an annual program evaluation to coincide with the anniversary.
Performance Measures
- 90% of residents will be maintained in a traditional housing setting.
- 90% of residents will remain successfully housed during the first six months
- 90% of residents will have secured a regular source of income within twelve months of placement.
- 75% of eligible residents will gain employment
- 90% of residents will engage in on-site services
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