Our Person-Centered Approach
At Families Matter Inc, we believe every individual has unique goals, interests, and dreams. Our approach centers on understanding each person’s vision for their life and creating personalized support that helps them achieve independence, build meaningful relationships, and actively participate in their community.
Our philosophy is simple yet powerful: adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are capable individuals who deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and genuine care. We reject the notion that disability defines limitations. Instead, we focus on each person’s strengths, interests, and potential for growth.
Every individual we serve becomes part of our extended family. This isn’t just a philosophy—it’s lived out daily through our long-term staff relationships, our 3:1 support ratio, and our commitment to seeing each person as a whole individual with unique contributions to make.
Building Independence Through Three Core Areas
1: Life Skills Development:
We work with individuals to develop practical life skills that increase independence and confidence. Our staff provides hands-on support and guidance in areas like money management, problem-solving, self-care, safety awareness, and healthy eating. Each person’s goals guide which skills we focus on developing together.
2: Community Integration:
Every day, our individuals actively participate in shaping the community. Through regular community outings, volunteer opportunities at local organizations, and participation in community events, individuals build real relationships and make meaningful contributions. We believe true integration means being valued community members, not just visitors.
3: Social Connection and Relationships:
Building authentic friendships and social skills is central to our approach. We create opportunities for peer interaction, help individuals develop communication skills, and support them in forming lasting relationships both within our program and throughout the community. Many of our participants have maintained friendships for years or even decades.
The Power of 3:1 Support
Our 3:1 staff-to-individual ratio isn’t just a number—it’s fundamental to our person-centered approach. This ratio ensures that:
• Individual attention: Each person receives personalized support tailored to their specific goals and needs
• Safety and security: Staff can provide appropriate supervision while encouraging independence
• Flexibility: We can adapt activities and support levels throughout the day based on individual preferences
• Relationship building: Lower ratios allow staff to truly know each person and build meaningful, lasting connections
Your Goals, Your Journey
Every individual begins with our person-centered planning process, where the individual, their family, and our staff collaborate to identify personal goals, assess current skills, create an individualized support plan, and establish measurable objectives. This ensures all activities are therapeutic and goal-based.
Our programming strikes a balance between structure and flexibility, incorporating therapeutic recreation, skills development, social activities, and Special Olympics training. Each activity is designed to develop specific skills while providing enjoyment and offering meaningful choices.
Real Community Partnerships
We’ve developed lasting relationships throughout central Maine where individuals volunteer regularly at the Augusta Food Bank, local nursing homes, and animal shelters; participate actively in Special Olympics; and engage meaningfully in community events. These aren’t just field trips—they’re opportunities to build relationships with community members who see our individuals as valued contributors.
- Experience the Families Matter Approach Firsthand
Ready to see how our person-centered approach can support you or your loved one?
We'd love to show you our programming in action and discuss how we can work together to achieve meaningful goals.