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Providers report program updates: First Step supported parenting and Morningside empowerment sessions
Summary
Community providers updated DDAC on programs: First Step described a supported parenting home-visit program for families where a parent has an intellectual or developmental disability; Morningside reported attendance and retention challenges and employment outcomes for its ION empowerment workshops.
Two community providers gave brief updates to the DDAC on ongoing programs aimed at inclusion, parenting supports and employment.
Krista Hannon, early learning director for First Step Family Support Center, described the Supported Parenting program, a home-visiting model that works with parents who have an intellectual or developmental disability. The program provides individualized parent education, helps families access community resources, aids with safety planning, and supports parents in pursuing employment and social engagement when appropriate. Hannon shared recent success stories including a family securing safer housing and another family attending a zoo outing facilitated by a family support specialist (00:52:31, 00:55:45).
Jonah, a job coach with Morningside, reported on the ION Empowerment Workshop (a 52-week training program). He said attendance this year included roughly 16 distinct participants and that one challenge is participants leaving the cohort when they secure employment. Jonah said he is experimenting with more frequent, smaller progress checks and direct outreach to potential attendees to improve retention and better measure outcomes over time (01:38:30, 01:40:12).
Why it matters: These programs support family stability, community inclusion and employment—key local priorities identified by DDAC members. Funded programs and local case managers rely on coordination between providers and county services to deliver supports.
Next steps: First Step and Morningside will continue outreach and report back on program results; First Step's Supported Parenting program was recommended for full funding in the RFP package included in this meeting.
