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The Adult Services and Community Living Program Area engages in applied research, policy analysis, program development and consultation, professional and paraprofessional training, and information sharing that address all aspects of community living for persons with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Particular areas of focus and resources include Direct Support workforce development, residential services, community inclusion, and family support.
Affiliated Center
 Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC) engages in research, training, and technical assistance on all aspects of community living for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. It is part of the national network of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers and operates in collaboration with the Center on Human Policy at Syracuse University, and the Coleman Institute on Cognitive Disability at the University of Colorado. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education, as the designated national center in community living and employment of persons with developmental disabilities. Contact: Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@umn.edu.
Current Projects
Agency Factors and Structures that Increase Successful Outcomes in Community Participation and Socially-Valued Roles of People with Disabilities examines how methods to increase community participation of people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities are integrated into a service provider's ongoing operations and what factors affect successful outcomes, including greater duration in relationships and community membership. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC) in collaboration with Minnesota State Operated Community Services and Lutheran Social Services. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. Contact: Angela Amado, 651-698-5565, amado003@umn.edu.
ANCOR Webinars on the Direct Support Workforce produces a six-part national Webinar series focused on interventions proven to reduce turnover rates among Direct Support Professionals. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC) in collaboration with ANCOR. Funded by ANCOR. Contact: Sheryl A. Larson, 612-624-6024, larso072@umn.edu.
Changing Landscapes: The Visiting Artists with Disabilities Project brings to the University campus for display over 75 pieces of artwork on loan from three community organizations that support artists with disabilities: Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Partnership Resources, Inc., and Courage Center. Funded by the College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota. Contact: Megan Dushin, 612-626-8649, dushi001@umn.edu.
College of Direct Support offers a nationwide, online, competency-based training curriculum to enhance the skills and knowledge of Direct Support Professionals, frontline supervisors, and managers working in community settings. A collaboration of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC) and MC Strategies/Elsevier. Contact: Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@umn.edu.
New!
Consortium to Enhance Postsecondary Education for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities operates as a nationwide resource for research-based knowledge, training, technical assistance, and materials about the participation of individuals with developmental disabilities in postsecondary education. A collaboration of the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts – Boston; the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) in Delaware, Minnesota, Hawaii, South Carolina, Tennessee (Vanderbilt), Ohio, and California; and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. ICI, as Minnesota’s UCEDD, has a training subcontract as a partner in the consortium, and the subcontract is funded by a grant from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts – Boston. Contact: Donna Johnson, 612-624-1143, johns042@umn.edu.
Consumer Directed Community Supports: Trends and Workforce Project studies the access that people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) and their families have to consumer-directed community supports (CDCS). It uses a participatory action research model with people who utilize CDCS to learn about their needs and challenges, how staffing needs are addressed, and how this compares to staffing patterns in traditional services. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC) in partnership with the Center on Human Policy, Syracuse University. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. Contact: Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@umn.edu.
New!
Develop and Field Test Participant Experience Survey Instruments to Evaluate HCBS Effectiveness and Quality in Minnesota assists Thomson Healthcare in supporting the legislatively-mandated development and implementation of an annual survey of service recipients with the goals of assisting in determining the quality and outcomes of the services and supports provided under the DHS Disability Services Division’s Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC). Funded by a subcontract from Thompson Healthcare Inc. Contact: Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@umn.edu.
Developing Exemplary Practices to Support Self-Determination identifies and studies a set of agencies currently using exemplary practices that effectively support self-determination of persons with a range of intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, and develops a self-determination training and technical assistance program based on the findings. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC). Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. Contact: Brian Abery, 612-625-5592, abery001@umn.edu.
Diversity, Disability and Access for Health and Wellness Project interviews immigrants with disabilities (or their guardians) from the Hmong, Hispanic, and Somali communities in the Twin Cities to gather data on their experience in accessing health and social services, especially focusing on how they found their care providers and difficulties that disability and culture posed in choosing providers with whom they feel comfortable. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC) in collaboration with Arc Greater Twin Cities. Funded by UCare Foundation. Contact: Matthew Bogenschutz, 612-625-0171, boge0021@umn.edu.
Effectiveness of Social Integration Approaches with Community/Civic Organizations and Faith-Based Initiatives studies community civic, service, and faith-based organizations that are working to increase community participation and social inclusion of persons with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. It documents outcomes related to increased social integration of people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, the perspectives of the individuals with disabilities about which social inclusion methods are more effective and satisfying with which types of organizations and activities, and what practices increase duration of membership and valued social roles. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC) in collaboration with the National Organization on Disability's Accessible Congregations Campaign, and Befrienders. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. Contact: Angela Amado, 651-698-5565, amado003@umn.edu.
Evaluating the Impact of Environmental Interventions on the Self-Determination of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities studies the exercise of self-determination among adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and the specific factors within the environment associated exercise of self-determination. A project of the Institute’s Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC). Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. Contact: Brian Abery, 612-625-5592, abery001@umn.edu.
Formative and Summative Evaluation of the College of Direct Support measures the benefits, guides the development, and informs the revisions of the College of Direct Support (CDS), its administrative functions and its platform for delivery through the results of formative and summative evaluations. The CDS is a comprehensive, national, Internet-based training program for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and frontline supervisors. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC). Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. Contact: Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@umn.edu.
New!
Health Care Coordination for Individuals with Physical Disabilities creates new knowledge about health care coordination and its impact on the lives of people with disabilities by (1) identifying the critical elements of effective care coordination, and then generating and testing a conceptual framework based upon these elements; and (2) examining the extent to which the various components of the framework enhance access to health care, improve health outcomes, and create cost savings. A collaborative project with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Special Needs Basic Care Program. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. Contact: Brian Abery, 612-625-5592, abery001@umn.edu; Sherri Larson, 612-624-6024, larso072@umn.edu.
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Lewin Personal Care Attendant Project conducts evaluative research on Minnesota’s personal care attendant (PCA) program by (1) analyzing legislation, rules, regulations, and policy documents to identify program changes and their impacts; (2) conducting quantitative analyses on PCA program data, including reviews of expenditures over time, changes in utilization rates and patterns, and other important program components to identify changes in expenditures, participants and program integrity; (3) evaluating other state experience with PCA programs under the state plan option and with cash and counseling programs; (4) analyzing Medicaid Management Information System data, particularly as it relates to understanding how, to what extent, and by which consumers PCA services are being used; and (5) gathering qualitative data from consumers through focus groups and surveys. A project of the Institute’s Research and Training Center on Community Living through a subcontract from the Lewin Group. Funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Contact: Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@umn.edu.
Literacy as the Path to Employment: A Model Demonstration Project to Improve the Literacy and Employment Outcomes of American Indians with Disabilities works to improve the literacy skills of vocational rehabilitation clients so they can find better jobs and keep them. A collaborative project of ICI, the Minnesota Department of Education’s Adult Basic Education program, and the Minnesota Literacy Council. Funded by a Rehabilitation Services Administration, U.S. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services grant awarded to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and subcontracted to ICI. Contact: Jean Ness, 612-625-5322, nessx008@umn.edu.
MacArthur Foundation Mental Health Court Study investigates the effect on offender recidivism of adjudication for offenders with mental health diagnoses in the Hennepin County (Minnesota) Mental Health Court, in contrast with adjudication in the regular county court. Findings from this study will be combined with those of three other mental health court studies being conducted by researchers around the country and the data made available nationwide by Policy Research Associates. A collaborative project with Policy Research Associates. Funded by the MacArthur Foundation. Contact: Pam Stenhjem, 612-625-3863, huntx010@umn.edu.
Minnesota State Profile assists Thomson Healthcare to prepare reports for the Minnesota Department of Human Services through assisting with collection of qualitative and quantitative data from the Department of Human Services and other key stakeholders, and writing draft sections of the State Long-Term Care Profile Tool regarding supports for people with developmental disabilities and people with brain injuries. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC). Funded by a subcontract from Thompson Healthcare Inc. Contact: Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@umn.edu.
New!
Multi-State Study of Service Outcomes and Their Predictors analyzes data from a representative sample of 15 states and 10,300 randomly
sampled individuals with developmental disabilities to examine lifestyles
and service outcomes, and individual program and service factors that
predict them. The study will also evaluate and refine measures and methods
of the National Core Indicators Program, the most widely used program of
outcomes assessment and service evaluation in the U.S. A project of the
Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC), in
partnership with the National Association of State Directors of
Developmental Disabilities Services and the Human Services Research
Institute. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research, U.S. Department of Education. Contact: Charlie Lakin,
612-624-5005, lakin001@umn.edu.
National Direct Support Workforce Resource Center brings together in one place the nation's premier resources on the topic of Direct Support, with the goal of improving the quality, recruitment, and retention of the Direct Service workforce nationwide. A partnership of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC) and The Lewin Group, Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, The Westchester Consulting Group, the Institute for the Future of Aging Services, and The Annapolis Coalition. Funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Contact: Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@umn.edu.
New!
National Gateway on Self-Determination for Persons with Developmental
Disabilities establishes training programs nationwide to assist persons
with disabilities in practicing self-determination in their lives. ICI is a
member of the National Self-Determination Alliance that is part of this
project, and has a subcontract to develop Web based training that enhances
the capacity of Direct Support Professionals to support the exercise of
self-determination by individuals with disabilities. The Gateway project is
funded by a grant from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to the University of
Missouri-Kansas City Institute for Human Development and the Kansas
University Center on Developmental Disabilities. Contact: Brian Abery,
612-625-5592, abery001@umn.edu.
National Residential Information Systems Project and Policy Studies (RISP) continues and expands over 20 years of national data collection efforts on residential and Medicaid-financed services in all states and nationally for persons with developmental disabilities. A project of the Institute’s Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC). Funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Health Care Financing Administration. Contact: Sheryl A. Larson, 612-624-6024, larso072@umn.edu.
Personal Choice Network Evaluation Study evaluates the Personal Choice Network pilot project of Mt. Olivet Rolling Acres for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. A collaborative project with Mt. Olivet Rolling Acres and the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Funded by Mt. Olivet Rolling Acres. Contact: Brian Abery, 612-625-5592, abery001@umn.edu.
Policy, Environmental and Individual Factors Associated with Full Participation and Integration in a Large Multi-State Sample involves a secondary analysis of the integrated multi-state Community Living Outcomes database to examine the contribution of policy factors (e.g., state, funding source, costs); environmental variables (e.g., home size, staffing patterns, services received); and individual variables (e.g., functional skills, challenging behavior, secondary disabilities and support needs) on community participation, social integration, independence, and other outcomes. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC) in collaboration with the Center on Outcomes Analysis. Contact: Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@umn.edu.
Qualitative Case Study of Best Practices in Direct Support Staff Workforce Development conducts two in-depth case studies of best practices in Direct Support Professional workforce development in the United States each year, focusing on programs and initiatives advancing the goals of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and making the organizations/agencies eligible to be considered for the Moving Mountains Best Practice Awards given each year. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC), conducted in partnership with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. Contact: Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@umn.edu.
QualityMall.org Web Site on Person-Centered Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities provides resources and information from sources nationwide for use by individuals with disabilities, families, advocates, and service providers in promoting delivery of person-centered supports. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC). Funded by the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, the Human Services Research Institute, and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Contact: Angela Amado, 651-698-5565, amado003@umn.edu.
Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of a Model Community Quality Assurance System Designed, Managed and Staffed by Community Members gathers quantitative and qualitative formative and summative evaluation data on, and develops a documentary film about, the outcome-based quality assurance system for community services, Minnesota's Region 10 Quality Commission, which has been designed to be of the community, by the community and for community members with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC). Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. Contact: Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@umn.edu.
New!
Ramsey County (Minnesota) Physical Activity and Nutrition Training provides training to Ramsey County’s Developmental Disability service team, county case managers, contracted vocational and residential providers, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities about the role each can play to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in living health lifestyles (focusing on physical activity and nutrition). A project of the Institute’s Research and Training Center on Community Living. Funded by U Care Minnesota. Contact: Pat Salmi, 612-625-9700, salm0054@umn.edu.
Refining and Establishing Benchmarks for Workforce Instruments identifies, refines, and establishes benchmarks for tools that organizations can use to measure or improve Direct Support Professional and frontline supervisor recruitment, retention, and training outcomes. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC). Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. Contact: Sheryl A. Larson, 612-624-6024, larso072@umn.edu.
Reinventing Quality: An Annual Conference on Person-Centered Supports showcases best practices in person-centered supports from across the nation. A joint project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC), the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), and the Human Services Research Institute. Contact: Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@umn.edu.
Self-Advocacy Online: Research and Development to Bridge the Digital Divide develops a model for making Web sites accessible for people with intellectual and related cognitive disabilities, and launches an educational and networking Web site for teens and adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities targeted at those who participate in organized self-advocacy groups. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC). Funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Contact: Jerry Smith, 612-624-4336, smith495@umn.edu.
Status, Trends, and Innovations in Medicaid Support for Community Services integrates Medicaid HCBS ("waiver"), ICF/MR, and Nursing Facility data collection and national data systems of the Institute’s Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC) to maintain a national and state-by-state program of current information on status and trends in Medicaid and related programs that finance and support access to community services. A project of the RTC, in partnership with the Coleman Institute on Cognitive Disabilities at the University of Colorado. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. Contact: Charlie Lakin, 612-624-5005, lakin001@umn.edu.
New!
Strengthening the Capacity of Minnesota State College–Southeast Technical creates an AA degree in radiography, and certificates in pharmacy, phlebotomy, ultrasound and mammography at the college. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Office of Postsecondary Education to Southeast Technical, with ICI as a partner in the program development. Contact: Jean Ness, 612-625-5322, nessx008@umn.edu.
Twin Cities and Zambia Disability Connection partners with four local disability organizations (Arc Greater Twin Cities, Fraser, St. David's Child Development and Family Services, and Opportunity Partners) to provide advanced leadership training in disability advocacy, policy, and services for a delegation of nine government officials, missionaries, educators, and advocates from Zambia in southern Africa. Contact: Amy Hewitt, 612-625-1098, hewit005@umn.edu.
Use of Web-based Technology to Increase Recreation, Leisure and Life Opportunities for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (LifePages.org) develops and maintains an interactive Web site designed to enhance the quality and quantity of recreation and leisure opportunities available to Minnesotans with developmental disabilities, and to provide users with opportunities to connect with others with similar interests. A project of the Institute's Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC) in partnership with Partners in Community Supports. Funded in part by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Projects of National Significance program, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Contact: Angela Amado, 651-698-5565, amado003@umn.edu.
Project Archive
The projects in the archive have ended, but their Web sites continue to provide access to data, resources, and other information from their work.
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