Community of Practice Supporting Families- Charting the LifeCourse
The Maryland Community of Practice (CoP) Statewide Leadership Team met for its quarterly meeting on Feb. 26th at the MD Center for Developmental Disabilities. The guest speaker, Ms. Amy Milar, Supporting Families Statewide Initiative Coordinator from Pennsylvania’s Office of Developmental Disabilities, shared compelling stories and relevant information pertaining to the structure of PA’s CoP and it’s initiatives to better support families across the lifespan. Pennsylvania’s structure consists of 26 Regional Collaboratives (with four 4 more to join) and their Family Network organization. The PA CoP has made significant strides along its trajectory to transform its state and local communities. Utilizing Charting the LifeCourse Framework (CtLC) it has increased cross systems training and collaboration including training for support brokers and providers; developed trainings in Spanish; hosted Listening (to Families) Tours and other family events throughout the state; held employment focused activities and piloted programs focused on intake and supporting families, etc. Ms. Milar’s presentation was timely in that it offers the MD CoP’s Leadership Team pertinent information, tools and ideas as moves forward to transform Maryland’s policies, regulations, programs and practices to better support people with disabilities and their families across the lifespan.
Jamie Stoner, Director of Community and Family Supports, The Arc of the Northern Central Region (The Arc NCR) shared a presentation the myriad of ways the Arc NCR has imbedded the principles of CtLC throughout its program. Please check out the Arc’s website, in particular their Family Supports page https://arcncr.org/programs-services/family-support-services-home to see how the it is utilizing the CtLC to support their families!
To learn more, please contact Mary Anne Kane Breschi at mary.kane-breschi@maryland.gov or via phone at 410-767-8880.
Maryland’s Local CoP are meeting on the following dates in March:
