Supported Community Living team exhibits at Shared Living/AFC Conference
October 24, 2018
Three of our Adult Services team members participated in the 25th Shared Living & AFC Conference last week in Marlborough, Mass. The mission of the Shared Living & AFC (Adult Family Care) event organizers is to educate and promote best practices of all forms of shared living options through a national annual conference. Latham Centers exhibited at the event for the first time this year; our table was staffed by Gina Sheehan, Director of Adult Services; Greg Powers, Supported Community Living Manager; and Melissa Soares-Zariqi, Assistant Supported Community Living Manager.
Greg said more than 600 people attended, and participants exchanged information and innovative ideas that promote shared living. The shared living model of support is growing at Latham Centers; we currently support several individuals who are living happily in the homes of providers (including families, couples, and individuals). Greg, Gina, and Melissa answered many good questions about Shared Living. The service area for Latham’s Shared Living program currently includes Cape Cod and Plymouth, and because many of the conference participants were from central and western Massachusetts, Greg said many of his conversations included questions about Cape Cod. Latham’s programs and expertise in Prader-Willi syndrome were also the topics of many inquiries. In fact, news that we recently published a specialty “Living Healthy with PWS” cookbook with nutrition tips was of interest to several visitors to our table.
The conference was the perfect opportunity for us to network with other organizations and individuals committed to enhancing the lives of adults with disabilities. We are grateful to our colleagues from throughout Massachusetts who organized the event, including the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services, HopeWell, Nonotuck Resource Associates, Seven Hills Foundation, Alternatives Unlimited, Pathlight, Advocates, and the Massachusetts Council for Adult Foster Care.
Pictured above: Greg Powers, Gina Sheehan, and Melissa Soares-Zariqi answer questions at the October 16th Shared Living & AFC Conference; and Gina congratulates the conference attendee who won Latham Centers’ raffle for a fitbit