• Money management and budgeting
• Monitoring of medications
• Personal hygiene and grooming
• Apartment maintenance
• Basic knowledge of First Aid
• Rights and responsibilities of community living
• Use of community emergency resources
• Recreation and leisure-time skills
• Transportation skills
• Appropriate social skills

Options for Families

Options for Families provides services to children and adults with disabilities. The focus of these services is to develop independent living skills within a family setting to prepare a person for possible future placement within the community.

Services begin after the completion of an initial assessment period. With the help of the family, an individualized plan is written. This unique plan is developed to meet the needs of each person, as well as the needs of the family and their schedule.

We pride ourselves on providing individualized services, as no two people are alike, no two service packages are alike.

Respite

Respite is a program that provides short term care for families of children and adults who have a disability or for families experiencing crisis. Our aim is to strengthen the family unit, as well as the person identified with the disability. Families typically request services for the following reasons: family vacations, illness, community orientation, doctor appointments, and other personal reasons.

Team Approach

The Options team truly understands the importance of working collaboratively. Individuals we serve have many community connections. Communicating with other professionals, agencies, and concerned individuals improves the quality of care. Options regularly teams up with the family, service coordinators, school systems, vocational providers, behavioral specialists, medical professionals, physical and occupational therapists, and mental health professionals to create personalized plans for each individual.

Options offers diverse supports for people of all ages living with a variety of disabilities. Options can be a stepping stone for those families currently receiving respite services in their home. The Residential Coordinators and Direct Service Professionals work as a team to increase independent living skills, social interactions, address personal boundaries, conduct physical therapy, improve money management, and in some cases prepare individuals to move out into their own home.

Community Involvement

CCRI encourages people to experience what our community has to offer. Direct Service Professionals participate with individuals to take part in a variety of community and leisure-time activities. Options has many unique ways to help individuals with disabilities enrich their lives.

“Camp H.E.R.O., (Helping Each other Remove Obstacles) is a three day overnight camping experience that we host at the Courage Center’s beautiful Courage North. The three-day vacation offers campers a variety of activities. There is always something to choose from: Tai chi chuan in the beautiful garden area, fishing, pontoon rides, nature walks, arts and crafts, camp cooking, mountain biking, and dancing. There is also plenty of time to sit back and take in the awesome view of Lake George in the accessible gazebos. Cabins have sleeping quarters, bathrooms and living rooms with quaint fireplaces. The cabins/camp are accessible. A person can come to Camp H.E.R.O. and keep busy or just relax. The choice is up to them. Come join us!”

In August we coordinated a 4-day camp experience for the cildren in our program.Day Camp is a 1/2 day "camping" experience designed just for kids. Each session's activities are planned around a daily theme chosen to appeal to the interests and curiosities of this age group. These this summer were: cultural diversity, track and field, farming, and camping.

“Hi. I’m Lynette Weber, CCRI’s Options Director. I am a Social Work graduate from Minnesota State University Moorhead. I have over 16 years of experience working with people with disabilities in a variety of capacities. I joined CCRI’s team in 1991 while I was a college student. I started out as a Direct Service Professional in the SLS department. After graduating from college I was promoted to a Residential Coordinator position in IHS. In 1996, I was promoted to Options Director. When I started, the department only served four people and my job was very part time. I am very proud to say that under my direction the department has grown tremendously. Today we serve over one hundred individuals. I’ve had the privilege to watch many of the people I serve gain greater independence.”

“One of the greatest satisfactions for me is assuring that each individual receives quality services. Many of the staff are long term employees and have built a close bond with the individuals they work with. It has been very rewarding to see each individual reach their personal goals.

Email me: optionsdirector@creativecare.org