PA Family Network

The PA Family Network serves three critical roles:

1. 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
2. Provide networking opportunities and the ability to connect with other families, which such networking is vital through all of life’s transitions and stages.
3. 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.

Community Engagement:

When COVID-19 rocked Pennsylvania, we learned some very important things about ourselves as families and our ability to adapt. The most important thing that we learned is that family matters more than we realize, and families did – indeed – rise to the occasion. In the wake of the pandemic, we’re eager to offer a host of workshops, summits, and microlearning opportunities geared towards helping families and individuals reengage with their communities. Every three months, we will focus on a new topic with the overarching themes of Wellness, Resilience, and Community Engagement. All workshops are presented by individuals with disabilities and family members. The themes include:

• Future Planning and Living Options
• Pandemics, Health Equity, and Being Prepared
• Maximizing Potential- Technology and Remote Supports
• Doing it My Way- Participant Directed Services
• Wellness and Resiliency

Click here to read more about our Community Engagement initiative 

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:

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

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

Trayectoria para Explorar