PEACE Promoting endless possibilities by Expanding knowledge and Achieving personal outcomes through Community integration that Enriches lives.

Where We Are Today 3-Day Program 10 Students Tuesdays & Thursday Mornings at the Community College Afternoons at the YMCA Wednesdays McKenna Children’s Museum volunteer work and educational program McKenna Gymnasium Students are with CLASS, HCS, Tx Home Living, etc. What’s working? What doesn’t?

January 27, 2017 Increase student numbers 4th Day added City of New Braunfels Westside Community Center Athletics Library Volunteer opportunities Arts and Crafts Greenhouse

March, 2017 Increase student numbers 5th Day added City of New Braunfels Recreation Center Landa Park Fischer Park Volunteer work

Building PEACE What is your vision and be willing to alter it Someone willing to lead and work Supporters willing to brainstorm and work Take it slow Understand the clients you can support Controlled environment vs semi-regulated environment Physical handicaps Staff to client ratio Staff abilities For 3 summers the local cc allowed us to hold a class. 2 summers local potters came in and taught. 1 summer a local hospital taught

Building PEACE Build Support Who are the community leaders that need to be involved? Start with one-on-one meetings to brainstorm ideas and build support. Identify programs/facilities that currently exist Space ADA Compliance Liability insurance MOU’s What can you accomplish there For 3 summers the local cc allowed us to hold a class. 2 summers local potters came in and taught. 1 summer a local hospital taught When you take the time to meet one-on-one and brainstorm, everyone feels they are a part of something. Few of us like to be invited to a group meeting of our peers and told what to do. For PEACE, my one-on-ones were with the county commissioner who happened to be on the MHDD board, Head of CTTC, City Manager and AACOG, McKenna Foundation. It might be different for me as I run the UW which provides open doors.

Building PEACE Schedule Group Brainstorming Meetings Who should be there? What does it have to look like/sound like/include for it to be covered by: Medicaid Waiver Programs: HCS, Texas Home Living, Class, Etc. Ideas for daily programs in the community Education: art, technology, math, socialization, Physical Activity Volunteer Opportunities What’s in your community Don’t leave without action items for all and a set date/time for next meeting Volunteers Transportation Always coming back to the group to discuss what works and what doesn’t. How can we grow – Bridges, DARS, etc. Volunteers are the lifeblood of any successful program

PEACE Brainstormers County Commissioner Donna Eccleston Alamo Area Community College/Central Texas Technology Center Hill Country MHDD Alamo Regional Transit/Alamo Area Council of Governments Health and Human Services Commission (DARS & DADS) New Braunfels YMCA United Way of Comal County McKenna Foundation Bridges (Comal, New Braunfels, and Seguin ISDs) ARC of the Hill Country City of New Braunfels: City Manager, Parks & Rec, Public Library Service Provider (Advantage Care Services) Parents For New Braunfels, our brainstormers were

What’s in your community? Community Center Community College YMCA Museum City Parks and Recreation Public Library Volunteers Senior Centers Food Banks

Take it slow Limit the number of participants initially Determine staff to client ratio Start with 2 days/week Then 3 days Then 4 days Then 5 days Find local grants Keep partners coming back to meet and manage You will make mistakes