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Building a new generation of housing and community options for people with autism and other neurodiversities is good for everyone.
Join us for the ninth First Place Global Leadership Institute Symposium Webinar. Hear from pioneering developers, researchers and healthcare leaders. Inform your big visions and foundational plans, community outreach and engagement, and more…
Learn about the nonlinear path to real estate and community development that can help you save time and money—and stay the course!
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, First Place is offering these webinars at a reduced cost.
Inform your plans through this comprehensive report with co-authors Denise Resnik and Desiree Kameeka Galloway.
Be inspired by a new autism documentary and co-producers Caren Zucker and John Donvan.
Focus on health and life course outcomes with researcher Jessica Rast, MPH, A.J. Drexel Autism Research Institute.
Learn from pioneering leaders blazing new trails and expanding the marketplace of options.
Agenda
Wednesday, April 7
Driving the Future in Good Health
9:00 a.m. (PDT)
1. Fueling A New Marketplace of Residential & Community Options
Denise D. Resnik
First Place Founder and CEO; Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) Co-Founder; and Matt’s Mom
Discover how pioneering leaders are raising the bar on a new marketplace of options and ensuring that a diagnosis of autism or other neurodiversities does not stand in the way of friends, jobs, supportive communities—and homes. Through a broader and more robust marketplace, individuals will better match their needs and interests with homes they choose, combined with natural supports and long-term support services. Together, we can and will inform outcomes demonstrating what works, what needs to work better and how supportive policies can better align all sectors.
9:30 a.m. (PDT)
2. Empowering Our Future by Understanding Our Past
Caren Zucker and John Donvan
Pulitzer Prize Finalists for In a Different Key: The Story of Autism and Award-Winning Journalists
Mayor Kate Gallego
Phoenix, Arizona
See firsthand how the new documentary, In a Different Key: The Story of Autism, is positioned to change culture in the same ways such consciousness-raising, transformative movies as Roots, Philadelphia and Rainman resulted in greater awareness and acceptance. Be inspired by the courageous battles waged through the decades that continue today—and how they can empower you and your team for where we need to go next.
10:00 a.m. (PDT)
3. Advancing Your Plans: A Place in the World Study & Tools You Can Use
Desiree Kameka Galloway
Autism Housing Network Director and Coalition for Community Choice National Coordinator
Denise D. Resnik
First Place Founder and CEO; Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) Co-Founder; and Matt’s Mom
Get a firsthand look at the groundbreaking report, A Place in the World: Fueling Housing and Community Options for Adults with Autism and Other Neurodiversities, providing essential terminology for housing and service delivery models that further define market segments, establish best practices and guiding principles, and help drive crucial partnerships that address pressing needs resulting from the current housing crisis.
10:30 a.m. (PDT)
4. Moving the Needle on Outcomes: What Matters Gets Measured
Jessica Rast
Drexel University A. J. Drexel Autism Research Institute Researcher, National Autism Indicators Report on Health
With all the investment in early identification, intervention and education it is unconscionable that people with autism and I/DD slide backward after high school. Most people on the autism spectrum have some difficulty in the areas of physical and mental health. Because autism has been considered a childhood disorder for decades, the number of healthcare professionals currently trained to treat adults on the autism spectrum is limited. Rast shares more about the voids in our healthcare system and what must be done so that together we can move the needle on better life course outcomes for all. Rast’s work also addresses access to health and mental health services throughout the lifespan and the effect access—and lack of access—has on quality of life.
Denise Juliano-Bult, MSW
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Chief of the Systems Research Program and Division of Services and Intervention Research
Learn about the NIMH research portfolio of studies on the delivery of mental health and related services across a spectrum of settings, as well as the development and testing of autism services across the lifespan. Benefit from information on ways to approach and advance research enabling us to demonstrate better results.
11:30 a.m. (PDT)
5. Health Starts at Home: Advancing New Health & Wellness Initiatives
Denise D. Resnik
First Place Founder and CEO; Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) Co-Founder; and Matt’s Mom
Our vision is to build a healthcare equity model where no one goes untreated or is medically misunderstood because of autism and other related disorders in Arizona…and beyond. You’ll be introduced to the First Place Virginia G. Piper Health Spot operated by Dignity Health, Creighton Medical School’s new elective and the 360 Health & Wellness curriculum. This powerful triumvirate is designed to improve the continuity of care for adolescents and adults to positively impact life course outcomes for this underserved, underrepresented and far too often underestimated cohort of patients.
11:45 a.m. (PDT)
6. Panel Discussion: Pioneering Leaders Share What They Wish They Had Known
Debra Caudy, M.D.
Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board, 29 Acres
Jillian Copeland
Founder, Main Street; Founder, Diener School
Heather M. Tarczan
Executive Director, Urban Autism Solutions
Right turns, left turns and U-turns are all part of the visioning and development process. Hear firsthand from pioneering leaders what they wish they had known when they started the process. Don’t miss it!
Thursday, April 8
The Power of Our Examples
9:00 a.m. (PDT)
1. The Power of Our Examples: Tri-Sector Leadership
Denise D. Resnik
First Place Founder and CEO; Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) Co-Founder; and Matt’s Mom
Lead from wherever you are! Find out how First Place and the Global Leadership Institute are leading and helping others do the same through curriculum, toolkits, research, collaborations and counsel. First Place–Phoenix is also featured and exemplifies the impact of working together with public, private and nonprofit sector leaders.
9:20 a.m. (PDT)
2. Leading Affordable Housing 2.0: National & Local Initiatives
Dave Brown
Home Matters® Co-Founder; Home Matters to Arizona Advisory Board Member; Valley Leadership CEO
Denise D. Resnik
Home Matters to Arizona Advisory Board Member; First Place Founder and CEO
Home Matters® is uniting America around the true concept of home by building awareness and raising funds for more affordable homes and better communities across the nation. Empowered by a coalition of more than 350 partner organizations—corporations, government agencies and nonprofits—working together on ambitious but necessary goals over the next decade to make the new American Dream a reality for all. Dave and Denise share details about the first statewide Home Matters initiative in the nation focused on a new generation of affordable housing, connected communities, and healthier individuals, families and economies—for individual success, education, health, public safety and a strong economy—and how special populations can be part of a community’s diverse housing portfolio.
10:00 a.m. (PDT)
3. Successes, Pain Points: Lessons Learned & Navigation Tips
Debra Caudy, M.D.
Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board, 29 Acres
Jillian Copeland
Founder, Main Street; Founder, Diener School
Heather M. Tarczan
Executive Director, Urban Autism Solutions
Marlene Sotelo, BCBA-D, MT-BC
Chief Operating Officer, Els for Autism Foundation
This panel of pioneers shares their experiences with various models, as well as approaches to recognizing there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
10:45 a.m. (PDT)
4. Speaking the Same Language: Applying the New Narrative/Nomenclature
Desiree Kameka Galloway
Autism Housing Network Director and Coalition for Community Choice National Coordinator
A Place in the World is designed as a user-friendly resource to enable you to better express your needs and interests using terms others representing the private, public, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors will understand. Tools are featured to help you formalize and refine your plans, ensuring that the home you want or want to develop is the best fit for the people who will live there. As marketplace leaders, we’re eager to understand better what’s working and what needs to work better.
11:00 a.m. (PDT)
5. Exploring Your Next Steps: Case Study on Transition Programming
Brad Herron-Valenzuela
First Place Transition Program Managing Director
Paige Raetz, PhD, BCBA-D
SARRC Director of Teen and Adult Services
At the residential First Place Transition Academy, we utilize a structured curriculum and targeted support for real-time learning—a combination critical for student success. The 32-course Learn4Independence® curriculum provides the structure for learning, while daily application led by our sister nonprofit, the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), helps students build crucial independent living and career-readiness skills. Outcomes include 81% employment at graduation and 84% living in their community of choice, with roommates or on their own. Join Brad and Paige to learn more about Transition Academy operations and the comprehensive Learn4Independence curriculum, including licensing and an implementation toolkit.
11:30 a.m. (PDT)
6. Building Healthy Communities: Asset Mining in Your Own Backyard & Community
Denise D. Resnik
First Place Founder and CEO; Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) Co-Founder; and Matt’s Mom
Denise reflects from the trenches on what it took to build “the most autism-friendly city in the world” with collaborating partners from the public, private, philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. Benefit from tips and strategies for creating authentic, inclusive communities:
- Ingredients for a sustainable model
- Mapping your community assets
- Strategies to advance your plans
- Housing, community and job development
- Creating a powerful pitch
Gain hands-on tools you can use for your vision, from early exploration through property development and operations.
Fueling A New Marketplace of Residential & Community Options
Empowering Our Future by Understanding Our Past
Advancing Your Plans: A Place in the World Study & Tools You Can Use
Moving the Needle on Outcomes: What Matters Gets Measured
Health Starts at Home: How Do We Define Home?
Pioneering Leaders Share What They Wish They Had Known
The Power of Our Examples: Tri-Sector Leadership
Leading Affordable Housing 2.0: National & Local Initiatives
Successes, Pain Points: Lessons Learned & Navigation Tips
Speaking the Same Language: Applying the New Narrative/Nomenclature
Exploring Your Next Steps: Case Study on Transition Programming
Building Healthy Communities: Asset Mining in Your Own Backyard & Community
Tools You Can Use: From Early Exploration Through Development & Operations
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (PST)
Transitions and Real-Time Learning
At the residential First Place Transition Academy, we utilize a structured curriculum and targeted support for real-time learning, a combination critical for student success. The Learn4Independence® curriculum’s 32 courses provide the structure for learning, while the daily application led by our sister nonprofit, the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), helps students build crucial independent living and career-readiness skills. Outcomes include 94% employment at graduation and 88% living in their community of choice, including with roommates or on their own.
Join Marci Muhlestein, First Place Director of the Global Leadership Institute Center for Education, Training & Employment and Managing Director of the First Place Transition Academy, and Paige Raetz, Director of Teen and Adult Services for SARRC, to learn more about Transition Academy operations and the comprehensive Learn4Independence curriculum, including licensing and implementation.
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (PST)
Firsthand Lessons Learned: Implementing the Vision for First Place–Phoenix
Denise D. Resnik shares a wealth of knowledge and experience on the following topics:
- Beyond the Real Estate – Building community within the property and beyond
- Celebrating Diversity – Creating a culture and an operational plan that support individual needs
- Becoming Lifelong Learners – What we’re learning alongside our residents
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (PST)
Virtual Breakout Sessions
Choose one of the following discussions:
- Transitions and Real-Time Learning
- Lessons Learned
Featured Industry Leaders
Click to view bios.
Denise D. Resnik
Founder & President/CEO
First Place AZ
Desiree Kameka-Galloway
Director
Autism Housing Network
John Donvan &
Caren Zucker
Pulitzer Prize Finalists & Journalists
In A Different Key–The Story of Autism
Jessica Rast, MPH
Research Associate
A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
Denise Juliano-Bult, MSW
Chief of Systems Research
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
David C. Brown
Co-founder, Home Matters;
CEO, Valley Leadership
