Agencies that are Converting to
Supported Living Services

An increasing number of agencies that have a history of providing residential services in congregate settings are developing supported living services. It is very challenging to develop this approach in many agencies. Certain circumstances or opport unities contribute to an agency's success:

  1. There must be opportunities for staff to try new things.
  2. Staff who are involved in developing this approach must have a clear understanding of the distinction between supported living and other services the agency provides.
  3. There must be the direct involvement of at least one person in authority who can bend or reinterpret rules to work through obstacles and pull in resources.

Given these circumstances, many agencies are successful in developing the approach at least for some people. The effort is vulnerable over time, however, if it is not given priority and viewed at an agency level as a direction for change. The follow ing two agencies have made a commitment to convert to supported living services.

Jay Nolan Community Services
25006 Avenue Kearny
Valencia, CA 91355
(818) 700-7897
Contact: Jeff Strully

In less than a three year period, from 1992 to 1995, Jay Nolan Community Services converted its group homes to support all of the 64 people it serves in homes of their own. This was particularly challenging in that the agency serves people with autis m who need a great deal of assistance. Change came about when the agency reached a crisis point, realizing that its current practices were not meeting the needs of these people.

After recruiting new leadership, the agency created the opportunity for people to live in their own homes as a first step or foundation to developing more supportive services. Now it is focusing on shifting decision making power from the agency to in dividuals and the people who know them well. In this effort, the agency is facilitating circles of support.

For a report describing this agency's conversion process, see Jay Nolan Community Services: The Challenges and Dilemmas of Quick Conversion from Group Homes to Supported Living listed in the annotated bibliography section.

Onondaga Community Living
Eastwood Office Complex
2827 James Street, Suite 215A
Syracuse, NY 13206
(315) 434-9597
Contact: Pat Fratangelo

Onondaga Community Living is a private non-profit agency that provides services to approximately 33 people. Though it has operated group homes since its formation in 1987, this agency has begun to develop supported living services. It has recently m ade the commitment to shift its services in this direction and, at the time of this report, had begun to close one of its three group homes.

This process of agency-wide change is occurring through a number of opportunities for members to reflect upon their work including discussions with outside consultants and an external evaluation.

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