The PA Family Network was created under the leadership of Vision for Equality and is supported by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) as part of Pennsylvania’s Community of Practice: Supporting Families Throughout the Lifespan. The mission of the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is to support Pennsylvanians with developmental disabilities to achieve greater independence, choice and opportunity in their lives.
PA Family Network Family Advisors are located across Pennsylvania and are all people with disabilities or family members. Through our peer-peer workshops, mentoring services, and systems navigation we help families learn what they need to know and do, across the lifespan, to develop the supports and services needed to achieve an Everyday Life for the WHOLE family.
In 2016, ODP joined the national Community of Practice: Supporting Families throughout the Lifespan. The Community of Practice initiative involves working to transform state policies, practices and systems to better assist and support families that include a member with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. The goal of the collaboration is to support families in ways that maximize their capacity to facilitate the achievement of self-determination, integration and inclusion in all facets of community life for their family members.
The core belief of the Community of Practice: Supporting Families throughout the lifespan…
“All people and their families have the right to live, love, work, play, learn, and pursue their life aspirations in their community”
To support ODP and the major elements of the Community of Practice goals, the PA Family Network was created under the leadership of Vision for Equality.
InVEST
The Pa Family Network is part of the Pa Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Integrated Vocational Engagement Support Team (InVEST). OVR’s New InVEST Model is a Team Approach to Help People Connect to the Supports & Resources Needed to Get and Keep a Job!
- Family Advisors specifically trained to help plan for Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE)
- Family Advisors working together with families, OVR, and employers to plan and problem solve.
- Workshops specifically developed to assist individuals and families to learn more about CIE.
- Assist in collaborating/coordinating services across systems to support everyone’s needs.
- Family Advisors use their lived experience to demonstrate how anyone interested can successfully achieve their goal of competitive integrated employment!
Expand to Learn More About Our Activities
The PA Family Network serves three critical roles:
- Supporting families’ needs using the “Charting the LifeCourse Tools” to:
- Develop a vision for an Everyday Life
Assist families in finding the information they need, when they need it.- Discover what it takes to have the full and meaningful lives they envision
- Provide networking opportunities and the ability to connect with other families, which such networking is vital through all of life’s transitions and stages.
- Assist families in navigating the Intellectual Disability and autism systems, while helping to identify and/or develop the supports and services needed to achieve an everyday life.
PA Family Network Family Advisors are located across Pennsylvania and all have a loved one with a disability. Through our workshops and mentoring services we will help families to Create a Vision for an everyday life and help develop or identify the services and supports to achieve a Good Life.
Family/Individual Mentoring:
Through our Mentoring Services you can schedule individual and small group mentoring session, with a Family Advisor in your area. The Family Advisor can meet with a family, individual or small group of families at their convenience. During these sessions we can we help individuals & families find the information, supports and resources needed to live a good life. We will also help families develop their own vision, create their LifeCourse Portfolio, find and/or develop supports and navigate ODP’s disability service systems.
InVEST
The Pa Family Network is part of the Pa Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Integrated Vocational Engagement Support Team (InVEST). OVR’s New InVEST Model is a Team Approach to Help People Connect to the Supports & Resources Needed to Get and Keep a Job!
- Family Advisors specifically trained to help plan for Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE)
- Family Advisors working together with families, OVR, and employers to plan and problem solve.
- Workshops specifically developed to assist individuals and families to learn more about CIE.
- Assist in collaborating/coordinating services across systems to support everyone’s needs.
- Family Advisors use their lived experience to demonstrate how anyone interested can successfully achieve their goal of competitive integrated employment!
Click here to learn more about the InVEST project
Workshops:
Our workshops are developed for families by families. They focus on specific topics through the lens of the LifeCourse Framework, with an emphasis on the importance of having a vision. Workshops can be held virtually or in person and can be scheduled for support groups, family groups, school districts and others in the community who need information and assistance. Please see our webpage for the following workshops scheduled near you:
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Creating a Vision for a Good Life:
- Develop a vision for a Good Life
- Think about what individuals/families need to know and do to achieve their good life
- Identify how to find or develop supports
- Discover the experiences and opportunities that are possible in life
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Transition to Life After High School:
- Learn what families & individuals need to know & do during Transition
- Consider all the important areas of life or Life Domains
- Address questions and concerns specific to Transition Age
- Identify supports and services needed to achieve your vision for Life After High School
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STAR Power (Limited availability)
- The importance of having a Vision
- Brief introduction to the LifeCourse Framework
- Learn how using the Integrated Supports Star can assist families in finding and developing supports
- Learn how the STAR can address needs as well as problem solve
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Living Safely In the Community
- Creating a strong vision for living safely in the Community.
- Learn strategies & skills, for any age, to increase your safety.
- Use the LifeCourse Framework to identify necessary experiences, services & supports to build safety skills
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L.E.A.D. the Way to Healthy Relationships & Sexuality
- Creating a strong vision for a good life in your community
- Develop & learn strategies to encourage healthy relationships and sexuality
- Use the LifeCourse Tools to Learn how to mitigate risk
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Peace of Mind Planning: Long Term Planning for a Good Life
- Learn the importance of succession planning for your loved one.
- Explore how to identify and/or develop services and supports across the lifespan.
- Identify the legal & financial considerations in planning for the future.
- Experience hands on practice with the LifeCourse Tools, planning worksheets, and the take home Planning Workbook provided for your ongoing use.
If you or someone you know is interested in speaking to a Family Advisor please call or email us using the information above.
Our services are free and available everywhere in Pennsylvania. We are proud to offer family mentoring and some workshops in Spanish.
Expand to View LifeCourse Foundational Tools
Person Centered Tools
Integrated Support Star
Trajectory for Exploring
Trajectory for Planning
Life Domain Vision Tool
Reciprocal Roles
Mapping Relationships
Family Perspective Tools
Life Trajectory: Family Perspective
Life Domain Vision Tool
Mapping Relationships
Marco de Referencia en Español
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Upcoming PAFN Events
Events
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Waiver Basics, Part 1
Join the PA Family Network in part-1 of this 2-part workshop to learn how waivers can support your loved one. Target Audience: Families with individuals just entering the system. Address…
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Using The LifeCourse to Plan and Problem Solve – Part 2
Join the PA Family Network in part-2 of this interactive 2-part workshop to… Identify service/supports so your loved one can live an Everyday Life Learn to use the LifeCourse framework…
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Transitions Through the Lifespan – Siblings
Join PA Family Network Sibling Advisors in this interactive workshop to… Obtain information and identify services, supports, and resources Utilize the LifeCourse Framework to plan for transitions in early childhood,…
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Caregiver Support Group
We have a safe place, meeting EACH MONTH, for you to connect with other caregivers who understand the things you are dealing with and find the support you need as…
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Waiver Basics, Part 2
Join the PA Family Network in part-2 of this 2-part workshop to learn how waivers can support your loved one. Target Audience: Families with individuals just entering the system. Address…