Creative Supports that Work:Values, Principles, and Processes

John Lord

Presentation to:

Guelph Spring ConferenceCreative Supports for

Vulnerable Adults

April 29, 2005

Stories that Break Your Heart

Traditional supports involve compliance and clienthood

This reflects an OLD STORY

Many stereotypes

Waiting List is a metaphor for the old story – WAITING for professionals and for programs to fix or solve our problems

Finding a New Story

New Paradigm Provides Foundation for Creative Supports

New Stories emerging everywhere

“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we

were at when we created them” (Albert Einstein)

Finding a New Story

Foundation of Creative Supports

New Paradigm Values Self-determination Community

Vision of a Good Life Citizenship Inclusion

The Essence of Support in the New Paradigm

A new metaphor:

LIFE ITSELF

The Essence of Support in the New Paradigm

Purpose Relationship Process

Eight Key Principles for Building Creative Supports

Principles are guideposts to implementing

the values & vision

Without principles, there is no grounding

Eight Key Principles for Building Creative Supports

The power of decision-

making about supports rests primarily with the individual,

& family & friends

Principle # 1

Eight Key Principles for Building Creative Supports

Community is seen as a first resort in building a good life

Principle # 2

Eight Key Principles for Building Creative Supports

Dreams (intention)& strengths

(identity) guide what supports

we need

Principle # 3

Eight Key Principles for Building Creative Supports

Planning support is independent from

service providers,

is transformational, with facilitation built on genuine

dialogue

Principle # 4

Eight Key Principles for Building Creative Supports

Networks of people aresupportive, connected,

& empowering

Principle # 5

Eight Key Principles for Building Creative Supports

Funding for support is

individualized and portable

Individual and family decide where, when, and how they want

their support

Principle # 6

Eight Key Principles for Building Creative Supports

Principle # 7Direct practical support is context oriented & seemingly spontaneous

Principle # 8Autonomous groups for families & individuals expand the possibilities for peer support, collective initiatives, & advocacy

Eight Key Principles for Building Creative Supports

These principles work most coherently & benefit more people

when all levels practice them – government, community agencies, &

individuals & families

This coherence is rare

Discerning the “What” of Creative Supports

A Template for Discerning Supports

Planning Supports (facilitation)

Community Connecting

Supports

Direct Practical Supports

Peer Supports

Intentional networks, Community associations

Individualized,Context oriented

Autonomous Family/consumer

groups

Being Creative with the “How” of SupportsPlanning and Facilitation Support

Know the person well

Know the community well

Listen deeply

Dialogue with respect

Plan with the principles

Being Creative with the “How” of Supports

Community Connecting Support

Know the person well

Know the community well

Build relationships with community members

Ask, ask, ask – you are a connector!!

Use the principles

Being Creative with the “How” of Supports

Direct Practical Support

Know the person well

Read the context, trust the process

Honour the directions of individual & family

React with deep respect & mindfulness

Work from principles

Being Creative with the “How” of Supports

Peer Support & Autonomous Family & Consumer Groups

Deep listening

Story telling

Providing information

Education on New Paradigm

Advocacy

Policy Implications for Building the New Story

Provincial Policy Needs to Reflect the New Paradigm by:

Basing policy on self-determination, community & citizenship

Ensuring that portability of funding and supports exists for all

Funding planning support that is separate from service provision

Providing individualized funding Funding autonomous family groups &

autonomous consumer groups

Creative Supports that Work

“There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come”

(Victor Hugo)

“It is within everyone of us to be wise”(Song by Anne Mortifee)

Creative Supports that Work

Let us build the NEW STORY

by nurturing our creativity & mindfulness

And by connecting with others who can help us

expand & refine the story