Promising Practices ECS - Veterans in the justice system are provided treatment and employment opportunities - PDF - 2013 
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is making a systemwide effort to
ensure access to VA services for veterans who are in the justice system. Without
intervention, these veterans are at high risk for homelessness, substance
abuse, mental illness, and physical health problems.
Promising Practices ECS - Drama therapy encourages persons with disabilities to share their stories and talents - 2013 - PDF
"Powerful" and "inspirational" were among theatergoers' comments as they experienced emotions
ranging from sorrow to joy in response to the I Am You series of original monologues written and staged by
individuals with developmental disabilities in Bloomington, Indiana.
Promising Practices ECS - UCP Suffolk and American Red Cross partnership empowers persons with disabilities to help others - 2013 - PDF
Long before Superstorm Sandy cut a swath of devastation across Long Island, persons with disabilities at United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Suffolk, Inc., recognized a need for disaster preparedness education among their peers.
Promising Practices ECS - Restructured agency focuses on strategies for success on the autism spectrum - 2012 - PDF
Responding to an increasing demand for services
for persons with autism spectrum disorder, the management of Greene County
Board of Developmental Disabilities in west central Ohio agreed that its
services for children and adults must reflect best practice models when it
began a multiyear restructuring.
Program proves to be a 'goodChoice' for individuals in financial crisis
To help break the cycle that traps borrowers into repeated
reliance on payday lenders, Goodwill, Serving Hampton Roads and Central
Virginia partnered with two other organizations to create the goodChoice
program, which provides borrowers with a short-term loan with important distinctions
to help borrowers transition from a dependency on predatory lending.
Promising Practices ECS - Program increases access to care and quality of life for persons with dual diagnosis - 2012 - PDF
Clinicians are rarely
trained in the specialized behavioral health approaches to treat persons with a
developmental disability who also have a psychiatric disorder. To address this
gap in services, the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Services created the Mental Health Supports and Services (MHSS) Program.
Promising Practices ECS - Private sector and government partnerships build community housing - 2012 - PDF
Today's residents with disabilities often have complex
care issues, and their options to live independently in the community are
limited. Without care support in a group home, these individuals likely would
end up in an institutionalized setting. Vancouver Resource Society creatively
fills the need for residential living for persons with a wide range of
disabilities.
Promising Practices ECS - Summit galvanizes community partnerships to curb homelessness among veterans - 2012 - PDF
Summit participants were selected because of their knowledge of homeless issues, ability to take action, and authority to make decisions.
Promising Practices ECS - Dream team approach emphasizes volunteerism - 2012 - PDF
When Life Skills Centers,
Inc., began serving more high-need and medically fragile persons, it struggled
with finding ways to close its institutional settings and integrate its diverse
clientele into the community. This story illustrates how parents and guardians,
consumers, and staff volunteered to work together.
Promising Practices ECS - Surge in aging disability population unlocks the door to innovative housing - 2012 - PDF
The current generation of aging caregivers never imagined that their children with a developmental disability would outlive them -- but many are, thanks to advances in medical technology. Organizations like the Marc Center of Mesa are opening their doors to serve this aging population.
Promising Practices ECS - ProAct provides Life Opportunities
ProAct, Inc., of Eagan, Minnesota uses the expertise of family members, guardians, and professionals of persons served in a unique way to create a new and innovative program. The program, called Life Opportunities, teaches life skills to better equip young adults with disabilities for productive lives.
Promising Practices ECS - NY Goodwill provides consolidated services
Goodwill Provides Consolidated Services. Bringing agencies together created painless referral process. In 2004, the vocational services staff of Goodwill Industries of Western New York realized that clients who were receiving employment instruction onsite often had to interrupt their training to participate in other services.
Promising Practices ECS - Amazing Every One - Stark MRDD
Amazing. Every. One. The Stark County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (Stark MRDD), located in Canton, Ohio, takes the challenge of changing attitudes very seriously. Stark MRDD learned that you get more bang for your buck if you invest in event marketing instead of general marketing. Consequently, Stark MRDD and The Workshops have created partnerships with area media and businesses that have greatly benefited individuals with developmental disabilities.
Promising Practices ECS - Mount Kilimanjaro climb tests endurance of persons with disabilities - Prince George Association for Community Living
Mount Kilimanjaro climb tests endurance of persons with disabilities. Cerebral palsy fails to deter climber’s determination. The journey to Mount Kilimanjaro, in northeast Tanzania near the Kenya border, was sponsored by the British Columbia Association for Community Living to raise awareness about the capabilities of persons with disabilities. Prince George Association for Community Living (AiMHi)
Promising Practices ECS - Sometimes life does come with a manual - North Shore Disability Resource Centre
Sometimes life does come with a manual. Life skills manual breaks learning down into manageable and attainable goals. In response to life skills staff members’ requests, North Shore Disability Resource Centre produced a Life Skills Training Manual.
Promising Practices ECS - Consumers can guide human resource decisions better than anyone else - Supported Community Living
Consumers can guide human resource decisions better than anybody else. An Ohio-based supported living organization creates harmonious housing situations using consumer input. Supported Community Living developed a system that gives consumers a say in the initial selection of staff, as well as a say in who will serve as substitute staff.
Promising Practices ECS - A new haven to open at University of Arizona - Chapel Haven
A new haven to open at University of Arizona. Organization to bring 35 years of experience to program serving persons with autism spectrum disorders and mild developmental disabilities. Chapel Haven’s traditional program, founded in 1972 in New Haven, Connecticut, uses a teaching model for its residential life skills, employment services, recreation, and education programs. Because of its national reputation for services to individuals with disabilities, the University of Arizona in Tucson was a logical starting point for its new program, Chapel Haven West.
Promising Practices ECS - California makes a STAR program - Community Mental Health of California
California makes a STAR program. Collaborative effort between the county and job resources turn a community concern into a community solution. The County of Marin court system and Community Mental Health of California decided change was done best through collaborative efforts and formed the Support and Treatment After Release (STAR) program.
Promising Practices ECS - To be or not to be was never a question - Maryhaven Day Habilitation Program
To Be or Not to Be was Never a Question. Maryhaven Day Habilitation Program opens a performing arts program that allows consumers to fulfill their acting aspirations.The idea of a performing arts program started small at Maryhaven Day Habilitation Program, with a small group of staff members and consumers writing short skits that they performed in various elementary and middle schools on Long Island.