The Positive Futures Project

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The Positive Futures Project

• Assisting Ageing Carers, People With Disabilities
  And Their Families To Plan For The Future

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The Positive Futures Project

• In 2003, The Australian Government, through the
  Dept of Health and Ageing offered funding for
  projects which aimed to meet the needs of older
  carers in the community

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The Positive Futures Project

• The Positive Futures Project was funded in July
  2003
• A Coordinator was appointed to manage the project
• A Reference Group supported the early development
  of the project

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The Positive Futures Project

• The planned model would involve
• trained part-time casual workers, called Family
  Facilitators, who would join with
  carers/families on a regular basis and assist
  them to plan for the future.
• The FF may assist with linking to other services,
  undertake research etc
• The PFP Coordinator and FF team would work
  together to develop the PFP

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The Positive Futures Project

• An Action Research approach would be used.
• The AR would allow for regular review,
  development and trialling of new strategies,
  continued refinement of the process etc
• Carer consultation would take a high priority in
  the development of the project

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Issues For Ageing Carers

• Isolation lack of social and community networks
• Fear of the future no plans in place
• Lack of knowledge about available services
• Negative experiences with helping agencies in the
  past
• Affects of ageing and carer stress

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The Positive Futures Project

• This Positive Futures Project sought to work with
  carers, people with disabilities and their
  families using a Strengths Perspective.

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Strengths Based Practice

• Strengths Based Practice
• - Shifts the focus from problems and lack of
  resources to individual/family strengths and
  resources that already exist
• - Once these resources and strengths are
  identified they become the foundation for growth
  and positive change

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Principles of S/B Practice

• Respect
• Self Determination
• Social Justice
• Sharing of Power
• Partnership
• Focus on Strengths and Capacities
• Transparency

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S/B Practice the PFP

• Each carers experience is acknowledged and
  validated.
• Assisting the carer to see common themes in their
  story and the experience of other carers
  (normalising)
• Assisting the carer to reframe their
  story/dominant themes so that they see their
  experience from a different perspective

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S/B Practice the PFP

• The FF assists the carer to separate themselves
  from the problem as much as possible
  (externalising)
• The carer directs the process as much as possible
• The carer directs the pace of work undertaken
  (The FF does not jump to solutions or fix the
  problem).

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S/B Practice the PFP

• The carer identifies and defines the issues,
  strengths, goals and steps towards change. The
  FF assists with the identification of issues,
  strengths, goals and steps.
• The focus is on the carer/familys strengths and
  solution finding abilities. The FF encourages a
  focus on strengths etc and assists the carer to
  mobilise them.

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S/B Practice the PFP

• Agency and community resources are accessed, when
  necessary in ways that complement carer/family
  strengths and resources
• The FF assists the carer/family to notice and
  measure change
• The FF ensures that practice is transparent ,
  honest and participatory

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S/B Practice the PFP

• Confidentiality, rights, roles and limitations
  are explored and made explicit
• No records are hidden from clients and FFs
  enable ownership of and participation in
  recording where possible.
• The carer is regarded as the expert. FFs do not
  have all the answers but actively assist the
  carer to take responsibility for change

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S/B Practice the PFP

• Celebration of strengths and achievements is
  promoted and encouraged throughout the future
  planning process

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Future Planning Roadmap

• Referral
• Initial Meeting PFP Coord
• Return visit with FF
• Build Rapport
• Hear the Story
• Identify Strengths from story
• Identify the Dream
• Explore the Dream

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Future Planning Roadmap

• Compare dreams for the future (carer, person with
  a disability, nominated family members)
• Create goals and take small achievable steps
  forward
• Reflect upon each meeting
• Evaluate progress
• Celebration

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Challenges for Carers

• Carers were not used to working in this way
• Most families were familiar with doing for
  approach and not a joining or doing with
  approach
• Carer expectation of government response to their
  need

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Program Challenges

• FF needed to learn to adapt a strengths approach
  their work
• At times it was difficult to determine progress
  and outcomes or even know what this should
  look like
• Students often worked in FF roles, which brought
  a range of positive expertise but also a somewhat
  high turnover of staff

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What Have We Learnt?

• Most carers were able to move forward many
  commented that this was only program that
  focussed on carer needs
• Group meetings were generally welcomed by carers
  who appreciated the opportunity to meet with
  others in similar situations
• Guest speakers who addressed topics of interest
  were well received

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What Have We Learnt?

• Aged carers are generous and courageous
• Many carers moved from a position of stuckness
  or being lost in the maze to a place where they
  felt more in control
• When people are adequately resourced they are
  able to develop creative responses to their own
  needs.

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The PFP At Present

• Worked with 50 families in the last financial
  year
• Stage 1 Carers who are in the initial stages of
  future planning
• Stage 2 Those carers/people with
  disabilities/families who are ready to develop an
  alternative community based accommodation option

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The PFP At Present

• Carers in Stage 2 are working together in a small
  group that meets on a monthly basis to support
  each other as they move towards the development
  of their future plans
• We plan to create opportunities for all carers in
  program to participate in a small group if
  desired.
• Large group meetings occur every 3 mths

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New Challenges

• We are seeking to support Stage 2 families to
  develop Circles of Support that will assist the
  alternate community based home to be
  sustainable into the future.
• We have been working on an Education Resource
  that will assist carers to move more easily
  through issues that can hinder their ability to
  move forward.

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Speedbumps and Roundabouts

• Roads are not always smooth and straight - at
  times we may encounter speedbumps and
  roundabouts. We may need to slow down and
  negotiate carefully, so that we do not become
  stuck
• Section 2 of the Ed. Resource is designed to
  assist carers to identify and engage with
  barriers to moving forward.

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PFP Education Resource

• Thinking About Change
• Understanding Generational Differences
• Generational Differences and Disability Issues
  from a Historical Perspective
• A Celebration of Caring

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PFP Education Resource

• Exploring a Strengths Approach
• Working Towards Independence
• Families Working Together In New Ways

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PFP Education Resource

• Suggested modules for one-on-one work with FF and
  carers, family groups or groups of carers
• Incorporates discussion and hands on activities
• Provides DVD carer stories
• Skits
• Tools

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The Positive Futures Project

• Assisting Ageing Carers, people with
  disabilities and their families to plan for the
  future