CONFERENCE BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS

MORNING WORKSHOPS

1.1 End of Life Care in Group Home Settings: One Agency's Experience

Presented by: Sara J. Goodrich RN, BSN; Leanne Bragdon MBA; Judith Fongeallaz, Bay Cove Human Services   
Audience: Program Managers & Direct Support Professionals

People currently supported in group homes are aging and agencies have to deal with end of life care more frequently. In this presentation we will discuss ways to support individuals at end of life as well as ways to support the staff.  We will also discuss the impact of caring for dying individuals on staff morale and staffing patterns including the monetary implications for additional staffing. We will share ideas for how to support and talk with staff, guardians, and families as they cope with caring for the individual. We will touch upon ethical questions such as when to focus on quality of life versus quantity. In our presentation we will share case studies to demonstrate how we have handled end of life care in some of our homes.  We will discuss when to consider implementing hospice services in the home and how to talk about it with the care team (guardian, doctor, service coordinator, etc).  We will also share ideas for talking with staff, preparing them for hospice, and addressing their fears including supporting staff who say they “can’t do it.”  We will also share ideas for working with staff and individuals after the death.

1.2 Conflict Resolution: Prevention, Identification, and Resolution

Presented by: Dylan Dalton & Charley Matera, Catalyst Collaborative   
Audience: Program Managers & Human Resources Staff

Conflict and differences is a daily part of organizational life. Leaders are responsible to set tone, provide skills and set examples for resolving issues. When they are able to do so, they can make a significant contribution to the organization while enhancing their own credibility and build greater trust. Through a highly dynamic, interactive style participants will learn how to distinguish prevention, identification and resolution of unproductive and productive conflict. Leadership styles and a personal styles preference diagnostic will provide base-line tools for each attendee. This program is designed for staff and managers/leaders at all levels, in any sized organization. Participants will take away practical tools and conceptual frameworks for making them more skilled at resolving conflicts as leaders and as third party interveners. They will also learn about their own preferred conflict approach style, the additional four styles and how to maximize their effectiveness by using all five.

1.3 Beyond The Headlines: Learning from the root causes of high profile incidents

Presented by: Tom O'Neill, M.A.,  Hanover Insurance   
Audience: Execs, Program Managers & Human Resources Staff

On a daily basis, the media reports on horrific tragedies and abuses within the non-profit world, and in almost every instance the question arises: How could this have happened?  In this interactive workshop, participants will look in-depth into some highly publicized incidents with the aim of identifying the root causes of the incidents,the  potential similarities within their own agency, as well as steps to take to prevent such occurrences from ever happening in their own places of work. After this workshop, participants will be able to identify the root causes of real life tragedies in the human service field, identify the potential risks for similar tragedies that exist within their agencies, use concrete strategies for minimizing potential risks through engaging, strengthening, and maintaining a collaborative and safe program team.

1.4 Your Voice Can Be Heard: Effective Advocacy With Local And State Government

Presented by: Scott M. Bock,  Riverside Community Care   
Audience: Direct Support Professionals

Participate in a fast paced workshop led by a long-time healthcare and human service CEO who is has effectively advocated with state government for decades.  During the workshop, you will gain an understanding of how our funding levels are determined, how to get to the right people at the right time, and what to do if nothing is working.  He borrows from his experience as an anti war and anti nuke activist and provides concrete direction so that your advocacy is targeted and effective; and he urges the involvement of families and people served as one key to success.            

1.5     Difference Maker in Organizational Profitability: Cultural Competency as Product and Process

Presented by: Ralph W. Edwards, TASH & DDS; Jay Vega, Vega Associates; Paula Kelley, U.S. Trust  
Audience: Managers & HR Staff

In our multi-ethnic, diverse society, organizations manage diversity of staff, consumers, and stakeholders. By embracing and mastering cultural competency skills, organizations are better prepared to interact effectively with various cultural groups, (e.g., elderly, disability, socio-economic, philosophical/spiritual, gender identified, etc.) in addition to ethnic communities. While committed to address physical barriers, commitment to attitudinal, policy and programmatic change is needed to keep an organization competitive, adaptive, and thriving. This interactive workshop provides an organizational context and business rationale for cultural competency. Perspectives are provided by a corporate executive, acultural competency expert, and a disability advocate. Specific tools and concrete strategies will be introduced for consideration by organizations to establish and sustain cultural competency. Learning opportunities are maximize by participant problem-solving through sharing their concerns, challenges and experiences. Participants will explore ways in which cultural competency can help an organization “do good” - provide quality services - by “doing well” - profitability.

AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS

2.1 Best Practices for Supported Home Care and Shared Living: A Culturally Diverse Approach

Presented by: Anita Monestime; Alex Jean-Baptiste; Greg Treadwell,  Advocates, Inc
Audience: Program Managers & Direct Support Professionals

This presentation will focus on a brief overview of "Supported Home Care" (Mass Health funded Adult Foster Care) and "Shared Living" services.  We will focus on eligibility, clinical and financial for Mass Health.  We will elaborate on Medicaid definitions, clarify Activities of Daily Living (ADL), financial reimbursement and provide examples of the levels of AFC.  We will then discuss how to educate culturally diverse populations about the benefits  of "Supported Home Care" and "Shared Living" for their families and loved ones.   Participants will understand: an overview of Supported Home Care and Shared Living Services, techniques for working with  diverse populations, and new information about MassHealth Funded Services.

2.2 Best Practices in Human Rights and Self-Advocacy

Presented by: John Byrne, M.S.,  CLASS, Inc.
Target Audience: Program Managers & Direct Support Professionals

This presentation will review the Human Rights initiatives that CLASS has implemented over the years. CLASS has been commended as having an exemplary practice by CARF in the area of Human Rights, and we will discuss some of these practices throughout the presentation. The presentation will be interactive and discussion based. There will be a video and slide show presentation as well as small break out group discussions designed to provide other agencies chances to collaborate regarding their practices, and then share with the larger group. Following this presentation, attendees will have a more well-rounded view of self-advocacy; learned about creative ideas to implement Human Rights related activities, and will be able to develop strategies to encourage self-advocacy with program participants.

2.3 Speak to be Heard - "It's not what you say it's how you say it"

Presented by: Tom O'Neill, M.A.,  Hanover Insurance
Target Audience: Program Managers & Direct Support Professionals

This workshop is for the administrator who wants their policies to be understood and followed, for trainers who want their content to come to life outside the training room, for the supervisors who want to develop their employees skills, and for the direct support workers who want to be heard. Most importantly this workshop is for anyone who has ever thought "There ain't no point in talking if there's nobody listening." After this workshop, participants will be able to identify the most prominent communication road blocks that hinder collaboration and keep teams from providing those they support with the best care, identify their own personal communication road blocks that hinder their ability to provide those they support with the best care, and have an understanding of techniques that can improve how real collaborative teams support others.

2.4 The Powerful Three: Music, Movement & Reiki: Incorporating them into your program

Presented by: Kathleen Downey & Mieko Hayama-Betten, RN,  Miracle Moments
Audience: Program Managers & Direct Support Professionals

This interactive, experiential workshop will show participants from all professions how to engage, connect and interact through the therapeutic interventions of music, movement and touch. Activities will include singing, playing musical instruments, group parachute play, wheelchair dancing, learning ASL to music, participating in gentle movement to music, dancing, and conducting to classical music as well as learning relaxation techniques. This workshop is a dynamic group experience where everyone can participate at their own level. There will be dialogue on how to integrate meaningful, person centered activities into your current programming. After this workshop, participants will have the knowledge to:

1. Facilitate music activities that will stimulate physical, social, psychological responses.
2. Facilitate movement that will stimulate physical, social, psychological responses.
3. Facilitate activities incorporating touch that will reduce stress and promote relaxation.

2.5  Building a Collaborative Response to the Duals Demonstration: A conversation with leadership from the Commonwealth Care Alliance

Presented by: Robert J. Master, MD, Commonwealth Care Alliance; Respondents:  Bruce Bird, President & CEO, Vinfen, Inc. ; and Leo Sarkissian, Executive Director, Arc of Massachusetts; Facilitated by: Jean McGuire, Ph.D.
Audience: CEOs, Senior Leaders

Commonwealth Care Alliance and its primary care practice, Boston Community Medical Group (BCMG), have a 20-year history of working with people with disabilities and elders in comprehensive medical and long term supports services provision.  A consumer, provider, and advocate -governed organization, CCA serves over 3500 dually eligible elders through its SCO sites and 800 younger people with complex physical disabilities, half of whom who are people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.  CCA has been helping to lead the state and national progressive conversations about creating new coordinated models of care for <65 dual eligible and has been building both consumer and human service provider relationships here in Massachusetts in anticipation of creating effective and responsive models of care for younger duals.  Join this conversation with CCA leaders to learn more about opportunities to build this new future together.