Dear Friends and Colleagues:
Helping people with developmental disabilities live richer lives is OPWDD’s mission, and PROMOTE training provides staff with the tools they need to accomplish that mission.
While many of you have heard the term PROMOTE, you may not be familiar with what it is. PROMOTE stands for Positive Relationships Offer More Opportunities To Everyone. The basic premise is simple: positive relationships PROMOTE richer lives.
PROMOTE is based on the understanding that people with developmental disabilities live fuller lives when relationship-based supports are provided, thus reducing the likelihood of challenging or dangerous behaviors that can result in injury and/or damage to self-confidence and relationships.
PROMOTE will replace Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention – Revised (SCIP-R) as the required training for staff in OPWDD operated and supported residences and programs. Much has been learned since the development of SCIP-R training, and PROMOTE incorporates the best practices from SCIP-R within the new curriculum. Staff certified in SCIP-R will need to be retrained in PROMOTE. Direct support professionals, clinical staff, and supervisors will be trained in PROMOTE at the level appropriate for the individuals they support beginning in 2013.
But PROMOTE is more than just a training course. It is a way of supporting people with developmental disabilities; it teaches staff the importance of forming connections with others, creating opportunities for relaxation and recreation, and building self-confidence. PROMOTE teaches these values by first stressing their relevance to staff and then applying them to the people they support. PROMOTE will enable us to:
· Promote richer, fuller lives for people with developmental disabilities
· Create a positive culture where team members work together effectively
· Support people who may be under stress or who are otherwise vulnerable
· Safely respond should a behavioral crisis occur
With PROMOTE training as a foundation, we will reach better outcomes in our goal of helping people with developmental disabilities lead richer lives. I hope you will take the time to learn more about PROMOTE on our website.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Burke
P.S. Communication is critical to our collective success, and OPWDD’s Facebook page is a great place for individuals, family members, employees, advocates, and other stakeholders to exchange thoughts and ideas. Please feel free to join the conversation.