The My Life Program Berry Street Victoria

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The My Life ProgramBerry Street Victoria

• Provide intensive outreach support to young
  people with an intellectual disability whom
  display high risk behaviors and have complex
  needs.

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My Life ProgramPresentation Content

• Background
• Evolution of the program
• The My Life Program
• Target group
• Goals of the Program
• Service Specifics
• Conclusion

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The My Life ProgramBackground

• High Complex Needs Project 2000.
• The clients didnt fit into any existing service
  type.
• Thus DHS Disability Client Services funded the My
  Life Program as a 2 year pilot project.
• This program has now received ongoing funding and
  is now in its fifth year.

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The My Life ProgramMentoring Youth for Life

• Neil Morison - Manager Youth and Community
  Support Programs
• Georgina Sullivan Team Leader
• Dougal Braithwaite Outreach Support Worker
• Kellie Wishart Outreach Support Worker
• Adam Withers Outreach Support Worker

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Mentoring

• Qualified professionals employed to provide
  intensive outreach support by
• Modelling appropriate behaviours
• Assisting in daily problem solving
• Establishing a caring relationship
• Engaging in educational, cultural and
  recreational activities
• Assisting to access community support
• Encouraging community and family connectedness
• Advocating
• The workers care for, communicate with and
  provide advice to young people in need.

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My Life ProgramReferral Criteria

• Must be currently case managed by the Disability
  Client Services (DHS)
• Between the ages of 13 and 21
• Living at home or independently
• Willingness to engage in the program
• Borderline to mild intellectual disability

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My Life ProgramTarget Group

• Early exclusion from school.
• Unemployment.
• Low self esteem.
• Low motivation.
• Social isolation.
• Lack of social skills
• Anger management issues.
• Negative peer relationships.

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My Life ProgramTarget Group

• Family disorganisation.
• Victims of abuse.
• Offending behaviour.
• At risk of Juvenile/criminal justice involvement.
• Sexualised behaviour.
• Substance use/abuse.
• At risk of homelessness.

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Goals of the Program

• Provide a proactive response
• Support community inclusion
• Encourage ongoing development
• Move towards greater independence
• Supporting family connectedness

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Service Specifics

• A reliable, skilled resilient adult figure who
  can engage and stick with the young person no
  matter what.
• An outreach, less formal yet nonetheless, highly
  skilled intervention style.
• Advocacy and support.
• Assistance and mediation with or on behalf of the
  young person in relation to the maintenance,
  development and consolidation of family and
  social connectedness.

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Service Specificscont.

• A strong commitment to normalising the young
  persons experience.
• The skilled therapeutic use of activity based
  interaction to build relationships.
• Support the young person in regard to setting and
  reaching their goals they establish in their case
  plan.
• Focus on ensuring that the young person has
  access to information and assistance regarding
  their personal health and sexuality.
• Supporting and assisting the young person to
  attend appointments or educational/vocational
  opportunities.

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Working with the Department

• The regional DHS workers refer to the program via
  Northern Disability Client Services.
• After 3 months (if appropriate) case management
  is transferred to the My Life department case
  managers.
• Weekly phone contact with the case managers
• 3 weekly update meetings
• 3 monthly secondary consults
• Annual GSP (general service plan) IPP
  (individual progress plan) review

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Questions

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