URSA’s Supports for Community Living Services (SCLS) program is for brain injury survivors and is a short term, goal-based program for individuals who require minimal supports to develop or relearn skills in order to maximize their independence.
This program is designed to provide an equal partnership between the client, their family and/or support system and URSA. A meaningful rehabilitation support plan is implemented that enables the client to monitor their challenges and provides them with teaching opportunities to develop skills or strategies to achieve success in their day to day life.
Services are provided in individuals’ homes and in the community. This program is run in collaboration with many community partners and referring sources, such as Alberta Human Services (AHS), SABIS, and ARBI.
Through assessment and individualized rehabilitation planning, number of hours of support required for each individual is determined in partnership with the individual, family members, and support networks. This service is a two year program with a maximum support of 10 hours per week. Hours will decrease as skills are developed and natural supports are acquired.
Staff support brain injury survivors so they are able to function successfully within an independent living situation in their community. Staff help facilitate access to community amenities and to develop a natural peer support network.
The program is designed to serve individuals for up to two years. As such, URSA has recently developed an affordable fee for service program schedule for those brain injury survivors who have graduated from the program but continue to benefit from the social aspects of the program.
The program focuses on:
- Communication skills.
- Community awareness.
- Use of public transportation.
- Household management.
- Money management (money skills, budgeting and banking).
- Menu planning and food purchase.
- Safety issues.
- Personal hygiene.
- Literacy.
- Self-advocacy.
- Leisure/recreation activities.
This program is primarily funded by Human Services – Alberta Brain Injury Initiative.
Eligible individuals for SCLS include individuals who:
- Have an acquired brain injury.
- Do not require services for more than 10 hours/week.
- Able to develop and work on goals with minimal staff support.
- Live in a safe environment.
- Do not rely on overnight paid supports.
Referrals
There are several ways to be referred into the SCLS program. Referrals can go to URSA directly from the individual, their support person(s), through a community or health funded Agency or Programs (SABIS, AHS, Calgary Brain Injury Program and ARBI).
