The Evergreen Center has been providing living and learning environments for persons with developmental disabilities since 1982. Building on this experience, Evergreen Adult Supports has expanded to include a range of successful residential and day programs for individuals served by the Commonwealth's Department of Mental Retardation. Evergreen's approach stresses individualized supports targeted to full community integration. DAY SUPPORTS PROGRAMS Evergreen Center's Division of Adult Supports offers day programs providing life enrichment, personal skill development and community activities that are meaningful to the participant and emphasize personal growth. Community access and integration, activities of daily life, speech/communication, physical and occupational therapy and vocational skills are all supported through highly individualized programs. GUIDES TO EMPLOYMENT - A Day Supports Program with Two Components 1) Supported Employment Component ACQUIRING SKILLS - This program component provides practical vocational skill development that allows individuals to train for a job. FOCUS ON LEARNING - Programs focus on work performance, work habits, person-to-person relationships and job awareness, assessed and taught according to an individual rehabilitation plan. ON THE JOB EXPERIENCE - Individuals gain valuable experience through on-site employment and training, community-based employment and/or community-based training and volunteer programs. This unique program teaches social and work skills in a supportive environment and allows participants to gain valuable employment experience. QUALITY PROGRAMS - Evergreen considers a quality program to be one that provides opportunities for real work to a wide range of people, including those who may be able to participate in work activities for short durations or those who are approaching readiness for competitive employment. Through skill assessment, personalized supports and ongoing evaluation, the individual is able to become a valued member of the workforce. 2) Community-based Day Supports Component LIFE SKILLS - This program aims to increase individual self-sufficiency and self confidence. Support is offered in areas such as activities of daily living, meal preparation, socialization and communication, adult literacy, self-advocacy, community integration, leisure activities and health and safety. SOCIAL INCLUSION - Evergreen Center's goal is for our participants to achieve greater personal independence. Volunteer work and other means of becoming productively involved in the community are stressed in the program. THERAPY SERVICES - Individuals are also linked to occupational, physical and speech therapy services as needed. Many individuals take advantage of both components of the Guides to Employment Program and combine vocational pursuits with recreational and therapeutic services. LOWER MILLS DAY SUPPORTS PROGRAM - A Day Habilitation Program INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORTS - Lower Mills Day Supports is an innovative Day Habilitation program located in Mattapan, Massachusetts. Participants take part in custom-designed programs that keep in mind each individual's medical, physical and behavioral needs, skill levels and interests. Emphasis is placed on encouraging communication, providing a safe environment, addressing each individual's goals, informed choice-making and developing self confidence and self esteem. Individualized staff to participant ratios support a broad range of individuals and provide a wide variety of activities including arts and crafts, horticulture and food preparation as a means to explore, develop and refine skills. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - Participants are also involved in volunteer work, which provides valuable experience and an opportunity to interact with other members of the community. In addition, a full range of consulting services is available to participants including nursing, occupational, physical and speech therapy.

	EVERGREEN CENTER
345 Fortune Boulevard Milford, MA 01757 USA 1-508-478-5597 services@evergreenctr.org
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