Dungarvin Opens Services in Fairfield, California

Dungarvin California is expanding its range of services with the addition of the new Resource Center in Fairfield, California.

Dungarvin California is expanding its range of services with the addition of the new Resource Center in Fairfield, California. This program has been developed in partnership with the North Bay Regional Center, and is a new program design for Northern California in which services will be provided primarily within the local community, using a resource center for planning and preparation. This program is highly anticipated as it is designed to support an under served population, including but not limited to people who have developmental disabilities as well as co-occurring mental health needs, complex behavioral challenges, and/or legal involvement.

Dungarvin California’s new Resource Center in Fairfield, California.

The Resource Center services will be provided by specially trained staff working in a 1:2 ratio, which will promote integration into the local community and flexible supports that allow for more creative planning. The program will support the persons served to build upon their skills and interests, setting and achieving goals, including gainful and meaningful employment. Many of the people who will be served here have been unable or unwilling to receive services at more traditional programs in the past as their interests were not well-aligned with the purposes of those programs. This program, however, is designed to meet their needs through a wide array of community learning opportunities, job skill development, and community connections.

The Resource Center will be a hub of support and information regarding volunteer opportunities, public transportation, career development courses, pre-vocational development, and ongoing education regarding community living. A key feature of the program will be the travel training program where individuals will partner with staff to learn how to use public transportation in their daily lives in order to access the center and other community destinations. As individuals grow in this skill area, they will move on to using this transportation to access potential employers, public services, and community events with a goal of reduced reliance on paid staff to assure typical community involvement.

The Dungarvin Resource Center in Fairfield will serve up to 30 people. As of May 2016, the program is accepting referrals, and anticipates services to begin in June 2016.

Contributing author: Travis Goldman