Day Habilitation
Day Habilitation: Midland Explores
An activity and community exploration program to offer choice, enrichment, and personal development to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Midland’s goal is to provide services and supports across the lifespan that help the people we serve reach their highest level of achievement and become contributing members of their communities. The Midland Explores program provides meaningful community integration, personal development, and social and leisure activities to adults with a range of intellectual and developmental disabilities. This comprehensive program offers an activity-based program centered on meaningful choice for adults, 21 years or older, who are better served by courses and experiences to further develop skills to help them live successfully.
The Patricia Murphy Work Center and Midland’s Employment Program have provided life-changing job training and employment opportunities for our students and adults for more than 40 years. Now, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the option to enroll in Midland Explores in lieu of our Employment Program, or in conjunction with it.
Daily Activities and Experiences at Midland Explores
All experiences and activities at Midland Explores are designed to promote self-direction, offer variety and choice, and be appropriate for adult participants.
Daily Life Skills
Topics can include nutrition and wellness, cooking and safety, money and budgeting, personal hygiene, and current events. During these activities participants have the chance to learn these skills with hands on activities in a classroom setting.
Problem Solving Skills
Various scenarios of real-life situations are discussed during these activities. Participants are able to then answer “what would you do” questions which lead to open discussion about such topics as community awareness and safety, self-advocacy, and appropriate social interactions with others.
Community Inclusion
All levels of interaction with our individuals and our local community are explored. Participants have the ability to deliver meals to senior citizens through the Meals on Wheels program, which is offered five days a week. Other activities can include shopping at clothing and food stores, buying supplies for the program, exercising at local parks, and visiting the local library. Community inclusion provides the opportunity for all participants to practice the skills they have learned in real-life situations.
Leisure Skills
A wonderful aspect of Midland Explores is the ability for participants to follow their passions. Leisure activities can include arts and crafts, movement class, book club, karaoke, music, movies, and games. Explores leisure activities are created around the participant’s and the staff’s interests which allows for a cumulative positive experience. Volunteers are also welcome to come in and share their unique talents with our participants.
Social Skills
Social interaction is an integral part of all Explores programming and is focused on during every activity. Community Specialists leading the activities not only promote social interaction between staff and participants, but also facilitate appropriate social interaction between all participants.
Self-Advocacy
The importance and opportunity for choice are experienced throughout all activities. Activities can include active decision making, full participation in the development of your service plan, development of self-awareness, recognizing self-regulation in themselves and others, and enhancing self-confidence.
Our Location
Located at the Old York School building in Branchburg, just a few miles from Midland’s main campus, the Midland Explores program operates from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., five (5) days per week.
Behavioral Support Services
Midland complements all of the services we offer to adults with the option of behavioral support. These services are provided by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who has over 10 years of related experience in the evidence-based practice of Applied Behavior Analysis.
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Services include: person-centered assessments, direct observations, individualized behavior support plans, and ongoing evaluation and consultation for each individual. Additionally, our Behavior Analyst works with and trains all of our direct care staff to assure for accurate data collection and plan integrity. The overarching goal of Behavioral Supports services is to foster learning, growth and independence in each individual we serve. The Behavior Analyst is responsible for both implementing the above services and monitoring the individual’s progress over time.
Nursing Support Services
Midland also provides nursing support for those adults whose care needs may require a higher level of clinical skill. Nurses are a critical partner in Midland’s team of professionals dedicated to holistic treatment and assessment of the people we serve.
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Midland’s nurse assist parents and caregivers to facilitate safe, consistent care and appropriate health support in the Explores program setting. Our nurses serve to educate the adults we serve on self-care skills, help them identify medical needs as well as act as liaison with both parents and other medical professionals involved in the individual’s care.
The Explores nurse is on site, every day during program hours. Our nurses support all of our adults to lead active, healthy lives in their communities.
For more information on Midland Explores, our Day Habilitation program, please contact us.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Midland’s Day Habilitation Services, you must be an adult who is at least 21 with a diagnosed intellectual and/or developmental disability (I/DD).
Referrals
Referrals for Midland Day Habilitation Services are accepted through the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)—Enrollment on either the Supports Program Waiver or the Community Care Program Waiver
Admission Process
1.
Complete our Application for Preliminary Assessment form.
2.
After we have reviewed the form, we will contact you to arrange a tour and to interview applicant. Tours should include parents and/or guardians, the individual, and their support coordinator. Tours will last approximately one hour.
3.
At the interview of the applicant, Midland’s team will perform an Intake Assessment. Please include/bring the following with you:
- Your most recent individual service plan
- A list of any medications you currently take
- New Jersey Comprehensive Assessment Tool (NJCAT)
- Most recent evaluations from all disciplines and present placements if available
4.
Once we have all of the above completed, Midland’s team will review the totality of the information you provide.
5.
You or the prospective parent/guardian will receive notification of the status of acceptance via email, along with our acceptance packet if accepted into the program.