Community Integration
Community integration is designed to help persons to optimize their personal, social, and vocational competency to live successfully in the community. Persons served are active partners in determining the activities they desire to participate in. Therefore, the settings can be informal to reduce barriers between staff members and persons served. An activity center, a day program, a clubhouse, and a drop-in center are examples of community integration services. Consumer-run programs are also included.
Community integration provides opportunities for the community participation of the persons served. The organization defines the scope of these services and supports based on the identified needs and desires of the persons served. This may include services for persons who without this option are at risk of receiving services full-time in more restrictive environments with intensive levels of supports such as hospitalization or nursing home care. A person may participate in a variety of community life experiences or interactions that may include, but are not limited to:
- Leisure or recreational activities.
- Communication activities.
- Spiritual activities.
- Cultural activities.
- Vocational pursuits.
- Volunteerism.
- Educational and training activities.
- Development of living skills.
- Health and wellness promotion.
- Orientation, mobility, and destination training.
- Access and utilization of public transportation.
- Interacting with volunteers from the community in program activities.
- Community collaborations and social connections developed by the program (partnerships with community entities such as senior centers, arts councils, etc.).
Note: The use of the term persons served in Community Integration may include members, attendees, or participants, as appropriate.
Some examples of the quality results desired by the different stakeholders of these services include:
- Community participation.
- Increased independence.
- Increased interdependence.
- Greater quality of life.
- Skill development.
- Slowing of decline associated with aging.
- Volunteer placement.
- Movement to employment.
- Center-based socialization activities during the day that enable persons to remain in their community residence.
- Activity alternatives to avoid or reduce time spent in more restrictive environments, such as hospitalization or nursing home care.