LifeNetCaseManagementProgram

JayO’Brien,MPA-ProgramDirector

AndreaLong,Psy.D.-ClinicalCaseSupervisor

1 ©2019AANE.

©2019AANE.

WhatisLifeNet?

•  Casemanagement/independentlivingsupportserviceforadultswithAsperger/autismprofiles

•  Keyquestionsaddressed:○  Parents:Whowillsupportouradultchildwhenwe’regone?○  Adults:HowwillIgetthesupportIneedtoliveonmyown?

•  “LifeNet”=supportnetwork,safetynetasanadultnavigatesadulthood

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WhatisCaseManagement?

•  Supportthatcoversafullrangeoflifelongresponsibilitiesandeverydaytasks:○  housekeeping,homeorganization,homesafety○  groceries,nutrition&foodsafety○  healthcare-appts.,referrals,ins./refillreminders,medicaladvocacy○  benefitapplications,bills&moneymanagement○  companionship&socialengagement○  shopping&errands○  recreation,exercise&personalhygiene○  transportation&travelguidance○  executivefunctioning&decisionsupport○  self-advocacy

•  Collaborativeassessmentofadult’sindividualneeds&goals○  Arrange,Coordinate,Monitor,Evaluate,Advocate(NASW)

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WhatmakesLifeNetunique

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•  Employsateam-basedcasemanagementapproach:

•  LeveragesAANE’sexpertiseinautism/neurodiverseprofilestodeliverindependentlivingsupportforadultsofanyage○  Youngest:21○  Youngestatheart:85

Frontlinestaff: PersonalAdvocate(PA) SupportPartner(SP)

Supervisory: ClinicalCaseSupervisor(CS) ProgramDirector(PD)

Volunteersupport: HostFamily(HF) Peer/Friend(PF)

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HowLifeNetisstructured

•  3ServiceTiersfeaturing:○  PersonalAdvocatecheck-ins(dailytoweekly)○  SupportPartnerin-homevisits(weeklytomonthly)○  Teamvisitstoreview/reviseLifeNetSupportPlan○  Hostfamilyand/orPeer-Friendactivities○  AccesstoPA/SPsupportin-betweenscheduledinteractions○  Afterhourson-callmessageservice○  Emergency‘flex-up’hours(forhourlyfeetocovercosts)

•  Privatepaymodel○  From$5K/yearto20K/year,plusone-timein-takefee○  Buildingevidencebaseforfunderstomakeaccessibletoall

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LifeNeteligibility

•  Geography:adultliveswithin~1hourdrivefromAANE

•  Age:21yearsandup•  Diagnosis:Aspergerorsimilarautismspectrumprofile

•  Co-occurringconditions:evaluatedoncase-by-casebasis•  Levelofneed:beabletoliveindependentlywithsupport• Willingnesstoparticipate:beopentoreceivingsupport

•  Resourcestofundprogram

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©2019AANE.

HowWeGotHere

•  FormedAdvisoryCouncil

•  Designedsustainableprogram&financialmodel

•  Preparedvideo&webpage(www.aane.org/LifeNet)

•  Distributedsurvey•  Followedup1-on-1withprospectiveclients•  Securedcommitsfrominitialgroupof~20LifeNetAdults

•  ReceivedboardapprovaltolaunchinJanuary2019

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©2019AANE.

PreparingtoLaunch

•  #1Priority:Hirerightteam○  ClinicalCaseManager/PersonalAdvocate:MelissaReganOTR/L○  ClinicalCaseSupervisor:AndreaLongPsy.D.○  SupportPartner:BetsyDeLorenzo

•  Created&signedClientServiceAgreements

•  ImplementednewcasemanagementCRMsystem

•  Performedin-takeassessmentsinclient’shomeorapt.

•  CreatedpersonalizedLifeNetSupportPlans(LSPs)•  BeganPAcheck-insandSPsupportvisits(Jan.‘19)

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5CaseExamples

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Caseexample:Emma

•  26yrs.old,liveswithparents•  Sharp,happy,friendly,engaging;hasAS,anxiety,trauma•  Interests:volunteering,music,dance,art,travel,boyfriend,pets

•  Emma’spriorities:○  Gainingcomfortwithideaofmovingintoherownplace○  Havingsupportinfindingandadjustingtonewjob○  Seekingopportunitiestomeetfemalefriends

•  LifeNetsupportactivities(Introductorytier):○  Learning/practicingcooking,laundry,&otherhousekeeping○  PursuingjobatCollettey’sCookies○  AttendingnewAANEsocialevents,e.g.Women’sSocialGroup

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Caseexample:Marshall

•  71yrs.old,livesindependently•  Quiet,kind,cultured;ASprofile(noformaldiagnosis)•  Interests:finearts,museums,science,MITopencourses,walks

• Marshall’spriorities:○  Creatingmoreartworkandfindingnewsourcesofinspiration○  Addingexercisetohisdailyroutine○  Meetingpeoplewithsimilarinterests,likeart,physics,orchemistry○  Havingextrasupport/companionshipforerrands

•  LifeNetsupportactivities(Basictier):○  SigningupforandattendingAANE’sSundayoutingtotheMFA○  Accompanyinghimtolocalgym,askingquestions,gettingtour○  Encouraginghimtoinviteseniorcenterbootcampclassmatetocoffee

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Caseexample:Michael

•  34yrs.old,livesinagroupresidence•  Smart,wasathletic;hasAS,socialanxiety,weightissues•  Interests:entrepreneurship,writing,art,web,family,tennis•  Michael’spriorities:

○  Gettingoutofhisroommore(95+%oftime)○  Keepinghisweightdown○  Sellingmorebooksandart

•  LifeNetsupportactivities(Basictier):○  Held2ndSupportPartnervisitonporch;next:walkingaroundblock○  Buildingcommunityschedule:walktomuseum;starttennisinSpring○  Brainstorming/pursuingmarketingideas,newcollaborations

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Caseexample:Jonas

•  21yrs.old,transitioningtoownapartment•  Cool,dapper,polite;hasAS,executivefunctioningissues•  Interests:fashion,walks,goodatIT•  Jonas’spriorities:

○  Developingskillstoliveindependently(withroommates&supports)○  Findingrighthousing&applyingforbenefitprogramshe’seligiblefor○  SecuringacompetitivejobinIT

•  LifeNetsupportactivities(Comprehensivetier):○  Helphimcookhisseafoodrecipe;startusingtheTaroundBoston○  Exploremanyhousingoptions&facilitateintroductions/evaluations○  GuidecompletionofMRC,DDS,SSI,Section8programapplications○  ReinforcetheworkofhisLifeMAPjobcoachtohelphimstayontask

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Caseexample:Bill

•  37yrs.old,livesindependently•  Gentle,caring,funny;hasAS,OCD,LD,hearingloss,anxiety•  Interests:wordplay,politics,writing,movies,cats,Starbucks•  Bill’spriorities:

○  Makingsureeverythingisworkingathome;generalmaintenance○  Seeing“blindspots”-suchaswhenheneedstoexerciseorgetahaircut○  Takingonmoreofresponsibilitiesstillmanagedbyparents○  Budgetingandbuildingconfidencetousecreditcard

•  LifeNetsupportactivities(Comprehensivetier):○  IdentifymissinghearingaidTVpart,goonline,priceshop,andbuy/shippart○  Motivatinghimtousestationarybikewhileoncheck-incallsw/CaseManager○  Buildingstrategiesforstayingontopoferrandsandlaundry○  Makingsmartershopping/buyingchoices

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WhatFamiliesSay...

“Ifweweretowriteoutwhatwe'relookingfor,thiswouldbeit.””Weneedsomeonewetrusttolookafterhimlikewedo.”

“Thissoundslikeexactlywhatwehavebeenlookingfor,aswehavebeenconcernedhowoursonwillmanagewhenwearenolongerabletohelphim.Wefeelheneedstostarthavingasupportsystemandpeopletohelphimoutsideourfamily.”“Icantellyouguysreallygetwhat'sneeded.Sothoughtfulinunderstandingwhatthechallengesare.Knowingthatsomething'sinplacemeansalottome...aperfectfit.”“Wesawthisandit'sexactlywhatwe'retryingtoputtogetherforhim.”

“Thisiswhatwe'vebeenwaitingfor.”

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Questions&Answers

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Thankyou!

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jay.obrien@aane.orgor617-393-3824x60

andrea.long@aane.orgor617-393-3824x38