This month's blog is provided by Claudia Bolton of NorthStar Services...........

Historical Perspective:

NorthStar Services, a supported living agency in California, have always strived to support each individual who receives services to have a great life and to be a valued community member. Our concern has been that while the individuals we support are living good lives in the community, for many people, their circles of support are made up primarily of people who are paid to be in their lives. Also, while the people we support are active, participating members of the community many of them do not have valued community roles.

 What we have Tried:

If you have been following this blog you know that we are attempting to imbed value based community connecting "tools" and subsequent skills for community building into our organization's culture.  Since Amanda George,  of HSA, came to our agency and did a "kick off" for the HSA community connecting tools we have tried introducing a "tool of the month" to each individual and their support teams.

In August 2011, we reviewed how our community connecting work is moving along.  We used a Person Centered Thinking tool, 4 +1, to evaluate; what we have tried, what we have learned, what we are pleased about, what we are concerned about and what our next steps would be.  Here are our findings and plans for the future.

What we've Learned:

1. Tool use is not the outcome - valued community roles and relationships are the outcome - Duh!!  The leadership team knew this however, by focusing on tool use we have to keep this in the forefront so that we never assume we are doing all we can just because we are using tools.  The tools help us build our work, just like a carpenter's tool only helps to build a home.  Having and using the tools is only the beginning.
2. We have layers of work and discovery to do.
3. The tools have helped us with the discovery about the person's gifts and the community opportunities.
4. The CSF's (managers/case managers) must have competence and confidence in using the tool prior to taking them to the individuals and their team.  The tools look easy to use but we have discovered that it takes some practice to really use them well.
5. On some teams - we are using the tools but we aren't sure that the staff and individuals are thinking more about community connecting.
6. The Community Support Facilitators cannot be the only implementers for using the tools and for supporting community building.  The direct support staff must participate.
7. We want our staff to have an entire toolbox of community connecting tools so they can decide which tool to use and when. Our goal is that the tools will teach skills and help the staff think more thoughtfully.
8. The team and individual are more interested if the tool and vision for an outcome are visible. For example if the "tool" is posted where it can be seen.
9. The behaviour of some people makes community connecting more challenging.
10. We knew this - but it is clearer for our staff now - that some people don't have connections outside of paid staff, other individuals who receive services, and superficial connections in the community. Recognizing this is a first step.  We are no longer in denial or distortion.
11. When things don't work out as planned we must view it is as a learning opportunity and ask: what worked, what didn't work, and what will we try differently? 
12. The staff and individuals on some teams are just "going for it" and this has resulted in some exciting outcomes for people (i.e., Michelle is volunteering at the library). 
13. Staff matching will be important to the success of our community connecting work. 
14. We need to get more "buy in" from the direct support staff. 

What We Will Try In The Future:

1. Provide support and training to the Community Support Facilitators, so that they are confident and competent in using the tool prior to taking the tool to the individual and their team.
2. Slow down in introducing the tools. We started by introducing one new tool each month and this did not allow everyone to learn about the value of the tool and how it could be used. 
3. Provide more staff training in the use or applicability of each tool before we support the individual's to develop the tool for themselves. For example have the staff try using the tools on themselves or with a team member.
4. Keep the tools visual - Post the tool in the individual's home (with permission of course) prior to their team meeting so that they and their staff will be thinking about the tool before the meeting.  Send the tool out with paychecks.
5. Review and work with the tools at Focus Meetings (like a Circle Meeting).
6. Develop an Action Plan that moves toward tool use implementation and a desired community or relationship outcome for the individual.
7. Recognize staff who take initiative, and who use creativity and judgment in community connecting work
8. Be intentional in staff matching: Discovering each staff person's gifts, capacities, interests and connections can help us make a good job match.  This is something we have been doing but we need to be more intentional about matching when there is an opportunity for community building.
9. We need to slow down, remember the purpose of community connecting work and find ways to share our learning:
10. We could use a Learning Log to record what was tried and what worked/didn't work.
11. We will share our stories - even when it seems like there isn't the time.  
12. We could put our stories and learning logs on the NorthStar server so we have a shared place to retain and share our learning.

In summary, the main things we have learned are:

1. The tool is not the outcome; valued community lives are the outcome. 
2. We must take action.  It's not enough to gather information (about the person and the community). We must go from gathering information and discovery to using creativity and judgment to take action. 
3. The tools appear simple to understand and use, but to use them well it takes practice, thought and sharing of experiences.
4. We must create opportunities within the organization and with others doing community connecting work, to share our learning, celebrate success and learn from what worked and did not work.