3 Sessions

Crowne Plaza Princeton - Conference Center

900 Scudders Mill Rd.

Plainsboro Township, NJ 08536

• 9am-12 pm: Whose Life Is It, Anyway? Risk Takers and “Trouble Makers”
• 1:30pm-4:30pm: Making Connections: Building Bridges to Community Life
• 6pm-8:30pm: Touching the Heart of Our Work

2 Sessions

Califon Fire Company

41 Main Street

Califon, NJ 07830

• 9am-12pm: Supporting Ourselves and Each Other to Discover Our Best Work
• 1:30pm-4:30pm: Accept Every Offer!

RESERVE YOUR SEAT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Tuesday April 16th - 3 Sessions

Crowne Plaza Princeton - Conference Center

900 Scudders Mill Rd, Plainsboro Township, NJ 08536

9am-12 pm: Whose Life Is It, Anyway? Risk Takers and “Trouble Makers”

In this session we will look at power and control in support relationships.

Many people being supported feel that others are too often telling them what to do. Many supporters feel that guiding and deciding are expectations of their job or supervisor. We talk about choice all the time, but what does choice really mean? And does it differ from person to person?

We will look at situations where to do the right thing by supporting people to do what they want means taking a risk, breaking a rule, or being considered a troublemaker. We will ask “From whose point of view is this the right or wrong thing to do?” What if the plan that a supporter is supposed to enforce seems unethical or harmful? Is a person being supported “non-compliant” or assertive when they breaks a rule? Who created the rule in the first place? When have you risked being called a troublemaker?

1:30pm-4:30pm: Making Connections: Building Bridges to Community Life

Paying attention to a person’s community life is a fundamental part of our work. Many people served in our system are lonely or disconnected. Through real stories this session explores strategies for making connections and building relationships, the barriers to community connecting, and how we can make and keep a commitment to the important work of community building when there are so many other issues that seem urgent.

6pm – 8:30pm: Touching the Heart of Our Work

Think of a time when you felt “YES! I love my job!” or “Today was a great day at work!”

Chances are these emotions did not come from filling out forms. While paperwork, regulations, and layers of bureaucracy may have necessary places in our work, let’s admit it: This is not why most of us do what we do!

The heart of the work is relationships and valued social roles. The heart of the work is helping people live a good life that has meaning. The heart of the work is making someone’s day, and having your day made by them.

The heart of the work is sharing your gifts and receiving the gifts others bring to the relationship. We need to keep the joy, the love, the HEART in our work!

In this interactive session we will acknowledge with intention what this means in our own work, on our own team, in our own workplace. We will be inspired by each others’ stories and experience. Peter will also share examples of specific strategies and practices that help us find the heart and profound joy in our work.

Wednesday, April 17th - 2 Sessions

Califon Fire Company

41 Main Street

Califon, NJ 07830

9am- 12pm: Supporting Ourselves and Each Other to Discover Our Best Work

We have seen again and again how important it is to have well-supported supporters. (Say that 3 times fast!) The right match matters.

People in direct support roles and those who supervise them need to be heard and respected in their work environment – or else the quality of support declines. Good teams lead to good support.

Often, people who work in direct support roles do not feel heard. This is an opportunity to think together about some common themes, questions, and concerns of direct support workers.

Quality support often reflects what support workers bring into the job (and relationship) that is not part of the job description. The work is relational. The match means a lot. Who shows up makes a huge difference. When we hire "good" staff, we should think about how their life experience, networks, and interests may benefit the person being supported.

This is a conversation about staying person-centered while recognizing the gifts that paid supporters bring to their work, and how everyone benefits when we listen collaborate, and celebrate with each other.

1:30pm - 4:30pm: Accept Every Offer!

Working together to build community, find new ideas for connection, and boost morale. One of the rules of improv comedy is to accept every offer. To switch from “yes, but” to “yes, AND”.

We will not be performing in this session -- but rather learning how improv skills can be used in our work. Improv provides a supportive environment that allows participants to take risks, try out new ideas, and build their confidence. And it invites us to imagine new possibilities for connections, valued social roles, and inclusion. Bringing the benefits of improv into team meetings, person-centered planning meetings, and family conversations is not about comedy, but it’s usually fun!

This session will provide specific takeaways, including:

• Generating more creative ideas in less time
• Moving closer to desired outcomes
• Building more respectful relationships with people supported and with co-workers
• Deepening listening skills
• Increasing engagement and motivation of stakeholders

Admission is FREE to Eiros Group Employees and Families. We are asking all other community Members to “Pay What You Can”, with a suggested donation of $20 per session.