Another parent is Kristen, who was living with her daughter
Michelle, her boyfriend, and some of his relatives. In this
situation, she had responsibility for caring for a number of other
children in addition to her daughter, including one with multiple
disabilities. She was eventually found neglectful by the courts,
and Michelle was put in foster care. Kristen has since moved out
of that living arrangement. Orleans County Arc staff facilitate
visits with Michelle. Staff members feel that Kristen may always
need intensive supports in order to adequately care for Michelle.
They have thought about options such as open adoption, but found
out it was unavailable in New York State. They are exploring with
Kristen the possibility of finding a paid roommate to assist her in
the care of Michelle. Overall, agency staff are committed to doing
whatever they can to help Kristen and Michelle stay together in a
well-supported way.
In their work, staff members place priority on the development of
strong, trusting relationships with the people they support. These
relationships are formed based on their close involvement in
people's lives--an involvement characterized by emotional
connection and closeness versus the detachment traditionally
associated with professionalism. Agency staff work closely with
generic service agencies, such as the Department of Social
Services, assisting them to better support people with
disabilities. Finally, staff members spend time together
supporting each other--sharing struggles, dilemmas, and successes,
and brainstorming further strategies to better assist people.
Jeff, in his late 40s, and labeled as severely mentally retarded,
lived with his father in a small village in Orleans County. Here,
Jeff was seen as a member of the community, knew many people, and
had particularly close relationships with the woman who lived next
door and with the minister of the church across the street. After
his father's death, the agency used the Medicaid waiver to pay the
neighbor to provide live-in support for Jeff. In Peter's case,
after his mother died, the agency paid for in-home support for
Peter's father to help him keep Peter at home. Jeff has since
died, and Peter has moved into an apartment. However, the initial
support at home for both men helped to prevent further trauma and
separation from familiar people and surroundings at crisis points
in their lives.
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