Moving Out –Taking a Next Step

Carrie and John Forster

Kaukauna, WI

Contact: forster@new.rr.com or 920-540-6432

Early Dreams….

Imagining the Future…

Making a Plan…•Started thinking about transition in middle

school.

•Part of the school IEP process, but also part of our family thinking and planning.

•Involving county social worker.

Transitioning to Adult Services…•IRIS

•Family Care

•Family Care Partnership•https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disabilities/dd.htm

Working with your Social Worker...•The goal of adults services is to keep the

individual in their own home. What that looks like for an 84 year old frail adult is quite different from a 22 year old developmentally disabled adult.

Choosing the type of facility/support…Through legislation, the State of Wisconsin has created three types of assisted living facilities: Adult Family Homes (AFH), Residential Care Apartment Complexes (RCAC) and Community Based Residential Facilities (CBRF).

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/guide/glossary.htm

Choosing a Provider…•Once you choose IRIS or Family Care, your

social worker will help you with resources.

•ADRC

•Family Care – we’re assigned to Community Care and have a care manager.

Visits…

•Our first visits were with a CBRF.

•Dinner visits, overnight visits, plan for move in.

•Trust your gut.

•Feedback from your family member.

Making the move…

•Visits

•Social stories

•Transition

Transition….

•We waited a month for an overnight visit.

•We visited at least once every 5 – 7 days.

•We vary when we visit so Alex doesn’t develop a rigid expectation.

Working with Staff…•Initial transition

•What do you want for communication?

•Six month reviews.

•Dealing with special circumstances that arise – Alex’s cancer.

Communication…

•Trickier when your family member is nonverbal.

•Set expectations.

•Work in progress.

Benefits…

•Independence

•Skills

•New relationships