Small Group Service Delivery Model
Community Services program is dedicated to providing individualized services throughout the course of the day. Currently our staffing ratio is three participants to one staff member. Not all participants attend every day, allowing us to maintain our staffing ratios. Each participant who attends Community Service works with the staff to develop an individualized service plan outlining the goals that he or she would like to achieve while attending the program.
At this time, Pine Tree Society’s Community Service is happy to offer the opportunity to learn in three different small group environments. Each group has two staff members who are there to assist participants. Groups are limited to seven participants. Each participant is given the opportunity to attempt the project of the day and help is provided upon asking. The goal of the groups is to empower each participant, not do the task for them. Groups meet from 9:30 am. to 11:30 a.m., Tuesday through Thursday.
Our cooking group is one of the most popular. The focus of the cooking group is to learn how to prepare a meal or dessert step-by-step. The group focuses on researching recipes and shopping for those items. Participants learn about proper kitchen hygiene and safety around appliances. Each member of the cooking group is given the opportunity to prepare the recipe in mixing bowls and using an oven. All activities are monitored. The goal here is not necessarily for something to taste delicious, but for each participant to learn how to prepare meals on their own and to have a feeling of accomplishment when seeing the finished project.
Our money skills group focuses on learning different money denominations, price comparison and basic budgeting skills. Our participants will learn how to compare their change to a receipt and practice making purchases in the center and in the community. Basic math addition and subtraction skills are built into this group exercise to ensure our participants are not taken advantage of monetarily. Every three months the money skills group hosts an auction where participants bid on items donated after earning “money” at the center. It is a very successful event that many of the participants enjoy.
Our fine motor skills/arts group focuses on a variety of activities. Encompassed in this group is using art to express thoughts, wants and desires. Our participants will manipulate clay, use paintbrushes and many other mediums during the course of their art work. Participants will visit local museums to learn about different types of culture. Within the fine motor skills group participants also will have access to computers to learn basic web browsing and email skills. The goal of this group is to help participants express creativity through different mediums and learn how to manipulate smaller items.
Pine Tree Society is dedicated to individual growth towards personal goals. Our small group vision enables participants to not only learn from their staff but rely on their peers for instruction, teamwork and friendship.
