Case Management of Michigan, Inc. Providing Placement Solutions

WHISPERING PINES

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, Inc.

P.O. Box 496 NEW BUFFALO, MI. 49117

269-469-3947 FAX 269-469-9447

WHISPERING PINES RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, INC. (WPRS)

WPRS is a licensed residential provider in the State of Michigan operating 1 six bed certified specialized program facility and 1 eleven bed certified specialized program facility located on 49 acres in New Buffalo, Michigan.

WPRS is a transitional / residential / educational provider that emphasizes job development and independent living program outcomes. Its target population are 18+ years old adults with mental illness and/or developmental disabilities. We have a 2 home cluster residential program that ranges from intensive one -on-one residential and program supervision, to a home that emphasizes the development of independent living skills (ILS). Once a consumer achieves competency in the ILS home they move on to our supervised apartments in the community with planned transitional services back to their home communities.

THE TRANSITION APPROACH

1ST PHASE - 6 BED FACILITY

COMPREHENSIVE DE-INSTITUTION SERVICES HOME

SELF ESTEEM BUILDING ACTIVITIES

PRE-VOCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

HIGHLY STRUCTURED

CLOSELY SUPERVISED RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT

LEARNING LIMITS AND CONSEQUENCES

ASSESS & DEVELOP SAFETY SKILLS

ASSESS & DEVELOP INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS

ASSESS & DEVELOP BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT SKILLS

ASSESS & DEVELOP MONEY MANAGEMENT SKILLS

DEVELOP CONSUMER CENTERED PLAN OF SERVICE

The Specialized Program is a comprehensive residential and habilitative / rehabilitative program with a strong vocational and transitional emphasis. The program consists of three phases.

Assessment Phase

During the first 30 days a resident’s abilities, strengths and weaknesses will be assessed in cooperation with the consumer, the referring agency and residential staff. The assessments are conducted within the facility and in the community. The assessments cover the following areas:

LEVEL OF SELF ESTEEM
PRE-VOCATIONAL INTERESTS AND CAPABILITIES
LEARNING STYLE CAPABILITIES
INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS ( INCLUDES ADL )
SOCIALIZATION SKILLS
BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT SKILLS
SAFETY SKILLS

The assessment information will assist in the development of an individualized plan of service (IPOS) which includes measurable and time specific goals and objectives.

Program Phase

The comprehensive habilitative / rehabilitative program offers facility based and community based services.

Entrance Criteria

Individuals with mental illness and / or developmental disabilities, 18 years or older.
Individuals wanting to make improvements in selected skill development areas provided.
Individuals wanting to participate in pre vocational activities that earn wages.
Individuals who are not an ongoing danger to self or others.

Services

ADL and Safety Skill Development - Daily hands on efforts are made toward the development of ADL and safety skill building. Residents will participate in a) 3 community outings per week which provide recreational, educational and vocational experiences, and b) daily ADL activities such as room chores, cooking and laundry. Weekly progress evaluations are provided to the resident which will be used to motivate for positive outcomes.

Behavior Management Skill Development - Residents are challenged daily with appropriate ways to dealing with challenging behaviors. As incidents arise the resident will be walked thru appropriate options while actual challenges are occurring. Once per week the resident will meet with the home manager to review and provide feedback to the resident on ways to improve the handling of challenging behaviors. Positive outcomes will be rewarded with scheduled and sporadic positive reinforcers such as outings, phone cards, additional snacks etc..

Medical Management Services - Residents are provided comprehensive medical management which include a) assessing medical needs by reviewing referring agency information, b) schedule and complete medical appointments identified in the IPOS, c) provide on going reviews by rehabilitation counselor and consulting nurse, d) provide monthly medical appointment logs

Money Management Services - Residents are provided budget planning services for use of their spending moneys and wages earned through work activities and employment. Arrangements have been made with local banks to assist in the opening of bank accounts. Resident funds are accounted for according to State Licensing Rules.

Pre Vocational Activities - Activities are developed in the home that assess and identify vocational interests and skills. These activities include house chores, home maintenance, farm chores and community service projects. Residents earn money thru our deviated wages program as approved by the Department of Labor.

Residents will spend between 9 - 12 months in our 1st phase home. Toward the end of their stay they will be allowed to visit and socialize with the residents of our Independent Living Preparation Home. These experiences assist us in evaluating the readiness of the resident to move to a less restrictive setting.

Exit Criteria

Resident has met the goals and objective of the IPOS.
Resident who no longer cooperates with treatment planning and execution.
Resident or their designated representative choose to exit the program.
Resident who is an ongoing danger to self or others.
Resident who habitually breaks house rules.

Independent Living Simulation Program

Resident programs are set up to simulate real life demands in the areas of bill paying, food buying and cooking, laundry, community access and movement, medication taking, and developing social relationships and supports. Measurable performance data is collected on each of the above skill areas. This data is used to determine the kinds and levels of supports a resident will need when moved on to supported living arrangements in their home communities.

Entrance Criteria

Individuals with mental illness and / or developmental disabilities, 18 years or older.
Individuals successfully completing 1st phase program or demonstrated independent living capabilities.
Individuals wanting to participate in facility or community based employment or activities.
Individuals wanting to evaluate and/ or make improvements in independent living skill areas.
Individuals who are not an ongoing danger to self or others.
Individuals with a commitment to a home community transition plan.

Services

Independent Living Skills Development - Residents will receive daily training and evaluations in the necessary skill areas to live in supported living environments. One - on - One skill trainers will work to achieve the maximum capabilities that a resident has by skill area. This information will then be used to write a resident supported independent living plan which will outline the kinds and amounts of supports the resident will need when transitioned to a supported independent living program.

Community Access Development - Residents will be encouraged to access community recreational and social services at least 3 times per week. Transportation will be provided or arranged by staff. The outings will be used to develop and evaluate community movement skills and the comfort level a resident has in different social settings.

Job Skills Development - Our program offers job simulation projects that offer deviated wages and employment opportunities which pay competitive wages. Facility based jobs include the areas of general maintenance and repairs, animal husbandry ( pigs and rabbits are raised for sale to public ), snow removal work crews for the elderly, and lawn maintenance work crews. Community based jobs include present and past employers from restaurants, supermarkets and general labor employment opportunities. During the work experience phase residents are continually working on improving their job skills thru the use of job coaching and regular performance evaluations.

Our program works actively with Michigan Rehabilitation Services in efforts to seek comprehensive employment services for our residents. Our program is supervised by a Masters Level Rehabilitation Professional with vast experience in developing employment / transitional programs for adults with mental illness and / or developmental disabilities.

GED and Continuing Education - Residents who are able to do so are encouraged to take advantage of community based GED and Continuing Education courses. We provide transportation and tutoring support to residents enrolled in these programs.

Residents will spend between 6 - 9 months in our 2nd phase home. Toward the end of their stay they will be allowed to visit and socialize with residents in supervised apartments. These experiences assist us in evaluating the readiness of the resident to move to supervised apartment settings.

Exit Criteria

Resident has demonstrated to reach their maximum capability in skill functioning and needed supports have been determined.
Resident who no longer cooperates with skill training.
Resident or their designated rep choose to exit the program.
Resident who is an ongoing danger to self or others.
Resident who habitually breaks house rules.

3RD PHASE = SUPERVISED APARTMENT LIVING

JOB OR DAY PROGRAM PREREQUISITE

PROVEN SUCCESS WITH INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS / SUPPORTS

COMMITMENT TO HOME COMMUNITY TRANSITION PLAN

The WPRS transitional program emphasizes the following approaches.

Consumer Centered Program Planning

Upon arrival consumers are assured that they will be allowed to make real choices for their future, and how those choices will be accomplished utilizing WPRS and outside resources. Active participation and agreement on the development of an individualized plan of service (IPOS) translates into personal ownership of the growing process and its outcomes. This planning process is the first step to building self esteem and awareness of each person’s uniqueness, interests and rights. The goals and objectives are measurable and time specific.

Ongoing Consumer / Manager Reviews

An essential part of this program is the ongoing evaluations conducted by the consumer and their residential coordinator. This process allows opportunities to build and assess the following skill areas:

a) Processing Information

b) Decision Making

c) Self Awareness

d) Initiative

e) Resource Utilization

This process begins to teach that all actions have outcomes and that as adults they take responsibility for those outcomes (good or bad).

Cooperative Learning and Living Environment

WPRS seeks to create a cooperative learning and living environment. This is accomplished thru the development of resident planning committees, work group projects, community service projects and a cooperative learning environment. This allows us to assess and build the following skill areas:

a) personal and group interactions

b) expressive abilities

c) listening abilities

d) pre vocational abilities

e) independent living abilities

Developing a Support Group

WPRS has learned that a vital component of any successful program is the development of positive adult role models (family and non family). Once identified, the adults will be provided with ongoing mentoring skills training, promote visitation on and off site, and regular outings.

Other Program Components

Exercise conditioning program with physician approval.

House and farm chores that help assess functional and pre vocational capabilities.

Summer recreation activities.

Winter recreation activities.