Project idea
The "Adults" project organizes educational supported living in training apartments for at least 12 young adults with mental disabilities aged 18 to 30.
Simultaneously, 2-3 young adults will be living during the session, and specialists from the project will help them manage household chores. The participants will be actively engaged in routine household tasks such as grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and various leisure activities.
Families will participate in the development of individual programs and work goals, as well as receive regular consultative assistance. To increase the program's effectiveness, team intervision and supervision meetings will be held; with the involvement of experts, a system for evaluating and monitoring results will be developed.
To raise awareness and provide methodological support for supported living projects, an open online discussion will be held, and a guide on educational supported living will be published.
Relevance
Families raising children with developmental disabilities encounter challenges at every life stage, with the period of growth for individuals with intellectual disabilities being particularly difficult.
According to the Federal Register of Persons with Disabilities, there are more than 470,000 young adults with disabilities in Russia, and more than 31,000 in Moscow alone. There are more than 740,000 children with disabilities in the Russian Federation, and more than 52,000 in Moscow.
According to the Ministry of Labor of the Russian Federation, the main causes of disability in children are mental disorders (3.6%), cerebral palsy and epilepsy (14%), chromosomal abnormalities, and nervous system developmental anomalies (4%).
State social service centers largely fail to offer adults with mental disabilities services related to cultural leisure, social adaptation, and support. There is not a single state program for supported living operating on a permanent basis. As a result, people with disabilities over 18 years old end up isolated within four walls and become socially "invisible."
Due to advancing age and the long duration of providing care and support, parents of people with special needs often face psychological and physical exhaustion. It is important to remember that the matter concerns not only the adults with special needs themselves, but also their parents.
The challenge of providing suitable life alternatives for young people with neuropsychiatric disabilities becomes acute. The possibility to lead a normal life, similar to that of people of this age in the community, is considered such an alternative. This includes living in apartments or small group homes with staff support, continuing education, and engaging in suitable work.
The Russian state medical and social system is not coping with existing needs. However, all over the world such services are provided not only by state institutions but also by public, non-profit, and commercial organizations. This creates an extensive system with healthy competition and improved service quality, public oversight, and active participation in building a supportive system.
Social effect
Improving the quality of life for adolescents and young people with mental disorders by participating in a supported living training program and comprehensive psychosocial support for families.
KPI
KPI
Project Results
The individual tasks and achievements of each participant are reflected in individual development cards, with goal setting and achievement assessment based on semi-structured interviews with parents (COPM). Goal-setting took place during the first month of participation in the project, an interim assessment was conducted in winter, and a re-evaluation was carried out at the end of the project. During the interviews with parents, problem areas were identified, their significance was assessed, and goals were set. During re-evaluation, we discussed the changes that occurred and the satisfaction with those changes. By comparing the COPM protocols at the beginning and end of the project, we can say that each participant achieved at least two set goals, and the parents' satisfaction increased by 11% thanks to the project.
We can judge the improvement in parents' quality of life as a result of the project, on one hand, based on data on increased parental satisfaction with the results of the sessions (see the previous item), and on the other hand, through regular consultations, which included psychological support for parents, where we received feedback on how participation in the project positively affects family life as a whole. Examples of such feedback are presented in items 10 and 11 of the report. Parents have repeatedly written and told us that they want the project to continue, and we will be looking for funding to maintain the apartment.
The project team regularly participated in meetings where various systems for evaluating and monitoring the results were explored, the progress of participants' goals was tracked collaboratively, and the training process was adjusted if necessary.
During the project, an online discussion involving 25 specialists and parents titled "The Transition to Adulthood for People with Developmental Disabilities" was conducted, and a methodological guide "Educational Supported Living: Experience of the Center for Therapeutic Pedagogy and Differentiated Learning in the Pskov Region" was published. The published video recording of the online discussion and the freely available methodological guide on educational supported living contribute to enhancing the competencies of both our team and a wider circle of specialists, service organizers, and representatives of the parent community.
Project progress after CSS funding
Upon completion of the project, it is planned to continue developing the training apartment by attracting grant funds and charitable donations from individuals and legal entities.
In addition, the qualifications of program specialists will be improved, methodological materials will be developed, and seminars and internships will be held for specialists and parents from other organizations.
Participation in the "Value of Everyone" Alliance working group on supported living allows for consultative support, expertise exchange, and staying informed about legislative and methodological initiatives needed to develop the project after funding ends.
