Empowering Self-Advocate Leaders: Safe and Free Project Insights

Safe and Free in the Living Well Project JUNE 2021

Overview of Safe and Free structure and content Evaluation Findings Lessons Learned from Self-Advocate Leaders

Safe and Free Safe and Free Adapted from Green Mountain Self-Advocates basic Self- Advocacy workshops and their Stay Safe curriculum In-person series of 6 meetings @ 2 hours each Virtual series of 12 meetings @ 1 hour each Starting point for additional peer group meetings Co-facilitated by Self-Advocate Leader and agency staff

Topics Topics Knowing Yourself Being Part of Your Community Problem Solving Rights Voting Communication Safety at Home Safety in the Community Abuse Awareness Healthy Relationships

SOAR: 2 rounds APTIV: 4 rounds LOV: 2 rounds Number of Sessions Completed by Living Well Pilot Sites DSAW: 1 round Headwaters: 1 round ODC: 1 round Opportunity Inc and C Renee Consulting have not yet implemented Safe and Free

Evaluation Findings - Reach The series has been taught 12 times by 7 agencies 12 5 30 87 total 11 4 12 Aptiv DSAW HWI LOV ODC OPP SOAR

Evaluation Findings - Satisfaction I have enjoyed these meetings and appreciated participating in them Did you like the session? 450+ responses I like my teacher. Great class. Good time laughing. I like your smile. 91% 8% 1% U did a wonderful job running these workshops. I was so excited for today because I missed you all When are we gonna do it again?

Evaluation Findings - Learning I should always go with my gut instinct, regardless of the circumstances. I know more about 450+ responses Try to open up more when something is bothering me. 78% 18% 3% Keep myself safe; stand up for myself Use my voice to help someone Talk to them (people) about wants, needs and dreams I can do this!!!

How People First Oversees the Implementation of Safe and Free Self-Advocate Leaders are contractors with People First. Self-Advocate Leaders are paid a rate of $25 per hour for prep and delivery of Safe and Free (as well as attending project meetings and professional development opportunities) People First is giving self-advocates the opportunity for employment and to build employment skills. People First checks in with Self-Advocate Leaders monthly. Self-Advocate Leaders have monthly group check-in meeting calls. It is important for Self-Advocates to co-lead the training. People First and being paid for their work.

Self Self- -Advocate Advocate Leader Goals Leader Goals

Gingers Goals Finding the materials in the binder. Leanne helped reorganize the binder. Get another group started to do virtual Safe and Free (Fox Cities, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac People First groups) group in-person later this spring/summer) Get peer meetings going.

Nathaniels Goals Reading people during the virtual sessions Do outreach to and mentor the other self-advocates that are People First members Start up a People First chapter (in Baraboo, Reedsburg, WI Dells area) Possible idea teach Safe and Free series with Ashley Mathy, without pilot site.

Ashleys Goals Keep learning to be a better advocate. Listen to other people s ideas. Continue to get more confident being a teacher/peer mentor. Get People First chapter back up and running. Do presentations in schools. (There is interest in doing a sign language session for schools). Getting People First members involved in self-advocacy activities.

The Arc WI Self-Advocacy Series Healthy Relationships and Sexuality Series with ODC Professional Development Opportunities Presentations and Webinars Living Well Wednesdays, AUCD Conference, Self-Determination Conference Self-Determination Videos

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND What we ve learned .

We find out what people want to learn and need to learn. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

We use plain language, visual aids and present information in different ways. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

Teenagers are tough to teach! We need to make changes to Safe and Free activities for teens. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

We are generating conversations people have not had before. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Guardians and Rights Self-advocates want more education for guardians, parents and service providers about individual rights so they understand when they are limiting people s rights. As people learn about their rights, we are hearing how they are being restricted in unjustified ways.