Happy New Year 2014!
Happy New Year 2014! Take the time today to reflect on all that we have accomplished in this last
year. Our focus on “Person-Centered” thinking and practice has allowed us to shift from a “care” role
to that of a “support” role, meeting people where they are and assisting them to achieve a lifestyle of
dignity, respect, supportive relationships, competence and success.
Not only our training, but now our experience has taught us to recognize the right of people to make
informed choices, and to take responsibility for those choices and related risks. It has taught us to build
on the strengths, gifts, talents, skills, and contributions of the person and those who know and care
about the person. We are learning to create community connections in which people can develop
relationships, learn, work/produce income, actively participate in community life and achieve their full
potential.
As Person-Centered organizations we are valuing and supporting those who work within our
organizations. Our policies and practices are becoming efficient and effective in supporting people who
use services and we are focused on improving. We’re working to create a culture of partnership,
learning and accountability where we truly recognize and support partnerships among people we
support, their families, their communities, providers and other professionals.
imagine what this new year can bring to our work and to the lives of the people we
support. imagine what can be accomplished if, as we have promised, we listen and act on what the
person says, and we are honest when trying to balance what is important to and important for the
person.
Take the time today to imagine an exciting new year
Article By: T. Nicodemus
TABLE OF CONTENT
Listening & Learning Centers of Excellence (CoE)
Reporter:Dee Fountain
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Listening & Learning CoE
Person-Centered Thinking Coaches
Information Technology
What A Difference imagine Makes
OTHER RESOURCES
Looking for an easy and enjoyable way to learn or
share more about imagine? Try the following videos
featured on the
imagine blog, Facebook and YouTubepages:
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Activities Accomplished
1. A Listening and Learning
subgroup is working with
leadership in Region V and at
the Ohio Department of
Developmental Disabilities
(Kurt Smolira, Scott Phillips,
Chuck Davis and Chris Young),
looking at the examples
in imagine support plans that
center on supervision levels,
risks and supports. This group
will provide answers to the questions many have and those answers will be
published in the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) monthly update to
Region V.
Imagine - The Scope & Impact
2. Another Listening and Learning subgroup is doing work around the Quality
of Life concept, specifically focusing on the “important to me”items and how
present they are in the support plans. The goal of this group is to have
something to pilot or test by the end of January.
Activities in Progress
1. Developing FAQ around topics involving Unusual Incidents/Major
Unusual Incidents (UI/MUI)
2. Developing measurements for the Quality of Life indicators
Check out the latest imagine Communication Team
short video focused on the scope and impact of the
imagine project. Superintendent Steve Oster
Person Centered Thinking Coaches
provides the narration of this fun whirlwind of an
Reporter: Dee Fountain
overview of the connections being built in the state,
the commitment to the imagine changes and the ties
with national person centered thinking efforts.
Collaboration - What's in it for me?
Activities Accomplished
Based on information provided by Person Centered Coaches across the
region, the team is working on how it can provide necessary supports to them
in the New Year.
The team has also established meetings dates for 2014.
A look at the benefits of the new form of
collaboration happening through
Activities in Progress
theimagine project. This video answers the, 'what's
in it for me?' for county board staff, individuals and
1. Ensure adequate communication with all PCT Coaches
families when it comes to collaboration.
2. Work with imagine leadership to fund the supports needed by the
coaches
imagine - Discovery Success Stories - A Guided
Information Technology Update
Reporter: Kathy Casagrande
Tour
A guided tour of some of the success stories from the
new imagine discovery process. This features audio
and video from coaches' meetings.
Activities Accomplished
Check Out Our Blog
Find a cornucopia of imagine resources all in one
place at the imagine blog!
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the latest news, discussions and resources
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1. Significant work has been accomplished around the Information
Technology (IT) code to ensure that the Information System is
operating efficiently.
2. Security changes were put in place for the User Acceptance Test
(UAT) environment and are now ready for continued testing
3. The Development teams completed work on “Pre-UAT” issues
identified by the business team.
Activities in Progress
1. Business team is working to complete User Acceptance Test scripts
2. The Quality Assurance (QA) team continues to test the Release 1.0
application
What a Difference imaginemakes!
Positives emerging from the imagineProject in
December are courtesy of the CORE Center of
Excellence.
Lois related a story whereby a new Person Centered Thinking
Coach uncovered something that was not working in a
person’s life because of Discovery that took place with him and
his provider. She said it was nice to hear positive outcomes like
this reported by staff.
David noted that Planning is using data to move the
(Discovery?) process forward.
Tara reported on a meeting she had with OPRA (Ohio
Provider Resource Association). She said they are interested
and excited about the imagine Project. OPRA is a professional
trade organization for those who provide supports to people
with developmental disabilities.
Dee noted a positive that emerged from the County Buddy
Meeting. A provider revealed that she understands the process
better now and is very positive about the transformation.
Produced by The imagine Communication Team
www.justimagineit.me | imagine@meorc.com