Jay Nolan Community Services: The Advantages and Dilemmas of Converting Quickly from Group Homes to Supported Living Services.

This report describes the experiences of one California nonprofit agency which evolved, in less than 3 years, from supporting 65 people with autism and other challenging behaviors in 13 group homes to supporting 57 people who live in their own homes. The report describes the program's initial focus on providing integrated services in the group homes and providing community living services for individuals desiring them, and then the eventual decision to close all the group homes. Opportunities and strategies which contributed to this rapid transition are briefly summarized, noting the agency tradition of parental involvement, willingness to consider many alternatives for individuals, and utilization of diverse sources of funding. Current efforts in the evolutionary process are explained, including implementation of "circles of support" (in which the individual, family, and staff meet regularly and share decision-making); rearranged staff responsibilities (with emphasis on matching living assistants with clients); and continuous formal and informal staff development activities. Two case studies of individuals who live independently but receive support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week are presented to illustrate the positive effects of the change on the lives of individuals. (DB)