Opportunity Matters

Opportunity Matters "lifetime opportunities" are adult foster care homes that provide supportive services to 70 individuals with disabilities. In the homes, there is 24-hour staffing 365 days out the year. The individuals served create person center plans that help them work toward goals and dreams in their lives while maintaining and increasing their independence. For some, adult foster care is a stepping stone to gaining skills that could help them move to a more independent living arrangement. For others it provides the support and cares they require to live a fulfilling life. The occupancy level is at 99% in our 18 homes and there continues to be a great need for this service in the community.

Opportunity Matters "crisis respite service" provides short term residential services for people experiencing an emergency due to medical or behavioral issues. This service is provided for 90-120 days, but at times goes beyond that point due to various circumstances that the person is facing with finding long term housing and services. Currently the occupancy level for the crisis units has been 100% full in the one site and because of staffing issues, the second site was not used in 2022. There continues to be a large demand for this service.

Opportunity Matters "pathway to opportunities" consists of day services and supportive services. The day services provides individuals a place to be with others to socialize, cultivate their personal interests, engage in activities both cognitive and physical, exercise, and participate in community events. The program also provides caregivers assistance by giving them respite breaks from the care they provide. Currently we serve 10 individuals in our day program. The supportive services provide assistance to individuals in their own living environment or in the community. Services may include supervision for their daily living routines, assistance with accessing community education resources, managing finances, grocery shopping, community education classes, assisting with seeking employment, social events and becoming an active member of the community. Currently we serve 1 individuals in the supportive service program. Both services continue to be important resources in the community for those with cognitive/ physical disabilities and memory loss.

Opportunity Matters "behavior consulting" is a service that assistsindividuals with disabilities who have behavior challenges in theirlives. The objective of the service is to help the person and those whosupport the person, reduce or eliminate negative behavior. This is donethrough the completion of a behavioral functional assessment and thedevelopment of a behavior modification program. The amount of time aconsultant is involved in a case depends on how well a person respondsto a behavior modification program. Over the past year, opportunitymatters provided behavior consulting to about 14 active cases. The needfor behavior consulting service is increasing as the profession changesthe ways supports are provided to individuals with disabilities.