"Nothing About Me Without Me!"

Philosophy

~ Person Centered Service Delivery ~ 

Leon Advocacy and Resource Center administers its programs and develops implementation plans based on your dreams, preferences, and needs. The focus is on your own life wishes and encourages community involvement and achievement of your future view and personal goals as specified on your Individual Support Plan. Every attempt is made to break through the traditional "one size fits all" method of programming services to offer you a more individualized lifestyle and service selection.

As a Person-Centered Agency, Leon Advocacy and Resource Center Strives to:

Have a clear vision and mission, and live its mission; Listen to people; Ensure a culture of caring; Train, support, and value direct support professionals; Develop relationships with the community through education and coordination; and Stand behind efforts to give individuals greater control of fiscal supports and choice of provider.

Agency Direct Services Staff Seek To:

Create services for you based on your choices, desires, interests, and dreams; Focus and build on your interests, gifts, and capacities; Give you meaningful, informed choices, with decisions based on your own experiences; Facilitate access to community resources and associations by giving you a presence in a variety of typical community places; Coordinate services around you rather than around the needs of the staff or program; Recognize the abilities of your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc., to develop relationships, teach skills, and support community participation; Deliver training and supports in natural settings and environments, and help you learn "in the act of doing;" Use collaborative, recurring planning, and review when increased intervention or intrusion is required for preservation of your health and safety, and limit any intervention to the least amount necessary; and Consider your satisfaction with your activities, supports, and services as the most important quality assurance review.

Values

What We Believe and Practice In Supporting Your Rights

Leon Advocacy and Resource Center and its team members will support your right to

respect, and customer satisfaction

We will seek, in the interview and screening process, to recruit staff who come with a respect for the worth of every individual. We will make values based training a key component of all pre-service and orientation activities. We will conduct annual satisfaction surveys and use the information gained to improve the quality of our supports and services. We will use the principles of individual worth and customer service and the results of satisfaction surveys as components of annual employee performance appraisals.

employment at a fair wage

We will use our employment services to the fullest extent possible and with the most up-to-date methods to assist you in securing competitive employment and becoming successful in your job.  We will not allow our services to, in any way, infringe on your work schedule, jeopardize your employment, or diminish your status at the work site when you are engaged in competitive community employment.  We will coordinate our non-employment services with those of Supported Employment and assist in any way possible.  We will assist you in the development of social skills that will improve your status among your coworkers.

choose your support staff

staff support when you need it and ask for it,

we will schedule supports and services at times that are convenient to you

privacy

We will keep any personal information (transmitted or maintained in any electronic, written/printed, computer-related, or spoken format) secure and confidential unless we have your written permission to disclose it or unless the release of such information is consistent with HIPAA regulations. We will allow you to see and review anything in your records if you want. We will knock and receive an invitation to enter before going into your home or bedroom. We will give you privacy during phone calls and sending or receiving mail. We will respect your personal space by not touching you in private places or seeing you naked without your request for assistance.

determine your own relationships

We will not tell you who you can or cannot like, who you love, or who you choose as friends. We will teach you the necessary skills for developing and maintaining healthy relationships. We will provide sex education when requested - to help you learn about your body and relationship training - to learn about yourself and others.

assembly

We will not discourage or interfere in any way with your or others efforts to assemble with other recipients of services/residents to discuss common interests or concerns or to advocate for common causes. We will offer the use of Leon Advocacy and Resource Center facilities for such purposes if requested.

choose where you live

We will attempt to help you turn your dreams regarding where you want to live into reality. We will provide information, assistance, and education regarding housing issues when requested.

control your own money

We will not tell you where and how to spend your money unless you have requested us to serve as your fiscal agent. We will follow all required procedures and safeguards if we serve as your fiscal agent. We will provide sound fiscal advice when requested. We will encourage you to let us help you develop the skills necessary for personal money management.

freedom from discrimination

We will not treat you differently because you have a disability. We will respect you despite any ethnic, racial, gender, sexual orientation, religious, or lifestyle differences. We will be a passionate voice on your behalf against discrimination or unequal treatment from other organizations or individuals.

have access to and be involved in community activities of your choosing

We will clearly identify your interests, gifts, and capacities - those things that are your "tickets" into community life. We will help you discover potential welcoming places and community associations of similar interests. We will encourage you to learn the social skills necessary to be a fully participating member in your chosen groups/associations. We will work with community members to help build a solid base of acceptance and support in the community. We will be careful to observe when our presence is actually hindering community involvement, and back-off when necessary.

History

Promoting Change
A Brief History of Persons With Disabilities

Promoting Opportunity

Promoting People

In the not too distant past, people with developmental and other disabilities were isolated in large institutions and deprived the right to be a part of their community.  The late 1970's brought a profound change in thinking about people with disabilities. With legislation and lawsuits, compassionate officials and aggressive advocacy, a new philosophy of care and treatment was born. The philosophy held that people with mental retardation and other disabilities can and should live, work, and enjoy the normal flow of life in their community. This philosophy is central to the mission of LARC. Our mission is to provide services and support to enhance the effort of community in creating a place where all persons are valued and contributing members. Opportunities for gainful employment, the ability to have social relationships, and the chance to live in a house or apartment in the community are inherent rights that can't be deprived solely because someone has a disability. People with disabilities must have the training needed and the opportunities for as much independence and self-sufficiency as possible. Promoting opportunities and services that enhance independence is central to the role of LARC.

Over the past four decades, the lives of people with developmental and other disabilities, their care and services available as well as the opportunities to be part of a community have improved immeasurably. Public attitudes have continued to change as well, recognizing the rights of people with developmental disabilities to live in ordinary neighborhoods, hold meaningful jobs, and enjoy the benefits afforded to all citizens. Leon Advocacy and Resource Center (LARC) takes pride in having been part of these changes over the last forty years in Tallahassee, FL. LARC's programs and services enable persons with developmental and other disabilities to: Gain and use skills to live as independently as possible   Develop work and social opportunities   And gain acceptance in their communities. These have been the most important challenges and successes of our non-profit agency.

Services

Supported Employment (Preferred Placements)

Are you ready for employment? Do you have the skills and work ethic needed for competitive employment? Are you willing to be an active participant in your job search? If you answered "yes" to these questions, there are Employment Consultants ready to assist you in meeting your employment goals. Preferred Placements helps people with disabilities succeed in the work place by assisting them in finding a job matched to their skills, abilities and interests. The Employment Consultants perform such functions as job development, job placement, career enhancement, reemployment, identifying natural supports and extended services. All of these services are provided to ensure job success and retention. Preferred Placements receives referrals from Vocational Rehabilitation and Department of Children and Families for various services, such as: Supported Employment, Employment Services (time-limited), Situational Assessments, and Follow-Along. As a division of Leon ARC, Preferred Placements is a member of the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, Accredited by CARF (The Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission), and a participant of the United Way of the Big Bend. So remember, if you are interested in becoming a contributing member of your community by becoming employed, then Preferred Placements can help you reach your goals.

Community Facilitation

Community Facilitating is a unique program that enables people with disabilities to enrich their lives through service to others and social interaction. The program helps people get involved in the community as paid workers, volunteers or participants in a club or sports program. How it works: A LARC counselor works with individuals to identify their interests and abilities and then assists them in finding a related community program or leisure time activity. For example, someone may want to learn to bowl, while another person might be interested in working with animals. A counselor may help to find a neighborhood bowling league or volunteer opportunities at a junior museum. The counselor accompanies the person to the activity until he or she feels comfortable enough to pursue it alone and establishes his or her own support system in the volunteer setting. The social and civic involvement fostered through community Facilitating not only benefits the community, but it also helps participants learn more about their unique skills and interests. And, it provides people with opportunities to build self-esteem and to succeed. Services are available for weekend and evening activities. Places at which you may volunteer or receive training include: American Red Cross ARC Florida East Hill Baptist Church Small Business Development Center Northwood Baptist Church Participants must be referred through the Department of Children and Families (850) 488-6500

Residential Services

At Leon Advocacy and Resource Center, we've served people with developmental disabilities for over 40 years. Our roots are in residential facilities. We have a long history of operating licensed group homes. Residential Services is here to support your needs in the community of your choice.

Supported Living

This program helps people with developmental disabilities find a living arrangement that's best suited to individual needs, preferences, and resources. Alternative living arrangements differ mostly based on the level of supervision and services provided. The goal is to enable people to live in the least restrictive environment possible so that they may experience and enjoy the daily pattern of community life. Supported Living enables adults with disabilities to increase their self-reliance and independence, while receiving assistance and guidance in managing a home and being financially responsible. When individuals enter the program, they work with a counselor to determine the most suitable community living arrangement. After a living arrangement is selected, the counselor helps the person with the usual tasks associated with setting up a household. The process includes selecting an apartment in a desirable location, finding a roommate if desired and securing household items. Factors they consider in choosing a specific apartment would include the individual's preference, location in the community, affordability and access to mass transportation. As individuals make the transition to new living arrangements, the counselor may assist with grocery shopping, meal preparation, and provide guidance on daily living issues. Further, counselors are on call 24 hours per day to help with unexpected problems or questions. At the start, the counselor may check on the person daily. professional support is gradually reduced as the individual begins to master daily living skills and becomes increasingly self-reliant and connected to natural supports in the community. LARC's Supported Living Program provides the support and assistance needed during this exciting time of transition for developmentally disabled adults. The program enables people with disabilities to gain the experience and develop the skills needed to enjoy the freedom of independence and the satisfaction of self-reliance.

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