From Outings to Inclusion: Transforming Agency Supports to Social Capital

Are you ready to help individuals experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) consciously cultivate deep roots and a true sense of belonging in their local communities?

The history of services for people with disabilities has been dominated by separation, congregation, and institutionalization. Even today, despite a widespread focus on inclusion, most people with disabilities remain encased in separate programs and segregated services and supports. Well-intentioned agencies frequently fall into the “caretaking trap.” They send Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) into the community to visit malls or coffee shops without training or preparation, logging these efforts as “community outings” while failing to position the individuals they support to build true, lasting relationships. Community engagement is one of the most challenging assignments a DSP can be given. Doing it effectively requires a deliberate, macro-oriented strategy.

The landscape is changing rapidly. State and national funders, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), are now mandating that human service programs become explicitly intentional in providing viable, community engagement opportunities.

Led by renowned disability advocate and author Dr. Al Condeluci, this intensive hybrid training equips you with a precise blueprint to shift from traditional, segregated services to authentic, relationship-driven inclusion. You will learn how to center every single action around building Social Capital — the network of social connections that shatters isolation and fosters true belonging.

Organizations are highly encouraged (but not required) to send multiple attendees to form a collaborative internal “Innovation Team.” Together, your team will engage in a focused, three-phase demonstration project designed to establish baseline data, apply macro-engagement strategies, and analyze real-world outcomes. Attending solo? We welcome you to the table of learning!

Phase 1: The Interactive Masterclass (In Person) A half-day in person training introducing the macro-oriented community engagement approach. You will learn to define social capital and master four deliberate steps: discovering individual assets, mapping community clubs and groups, understanding community expectations, and leveraging community gatekeepers.

Phase 2: Demonstration & Group Coaching Blocks (ZOOM) Your Innovation Team will select one "Target Person" to participate in a hands-on demonstration. You will use data-driven tools to baseline their social capital, actively apply your new community-building skills, and utilize dedicated, private coaching blocks with Dr. Condeluci to troubleshoot real-world roadblocks.

Phase 3: Live, Face-to-Face Evaluation & Learning Circle (ZOOM) Gather in with others for a collaborative "learning circle." We will report on progress, share lessons learned, and strategize how to permanently integrate these social capital frameworks into ongoing, everyday support models.

📌 September 30: Kick-Off Session (In Person)

• Location: Doubletree by Hilton at the Airport (4509 Island Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19153)
• Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Note: Continental breakfast and a light lunch will be provided.

📌 October 21: Coaching Session (ZOOM)

• Time: 15-minute private blocks available via scheduling from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

📌 October 28: Coaching Session (ZOOM)

• Time: 15-minute private blocks available via scheduling from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

📌 November 4: Coaching Session (ZOOM)

• Time: 15-minute private blocks available via scheduling from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

📌 November 18: Wrap-Up & Evaluation Session (ZOOM)

• Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• Secure Funding & Compliance: Gain the precise tools and frameworks required to meet shifting state (ODP) and national (CMS) funding compliance mandates for intentional, community-based outcomes.
• Master Data-Driven Frameworks: Learn how to use established benchmarking tools—including the Social Capital Benchmarking Survey (SCBS), the UCLA Loneliness Survey, and Cultural Profiles—to measure real progress and prove your strategies are working.
• Build a "Community Map": Stop guessing where to support people to go.... Learn how to construct a localized database of civic associations, clubs, and informal groups that match the genuine passions and affinities of the people you support.
• Navigate Social Infrastructure: Learn how to analyze unique community cultures, including their unwritten rules, rituals, and jargon, so that those you support can navigate new environments seamlessly.
• Engage Neighborhood Gatekeepers: Discover how to identify and enlist the help of key community insiders who can authentically introduce, welcome, and embed those you support into sustainable social circles.
• Influence the Field: Findings and takeaways from this project will be used to help frame future offerings within the Networks Online University, putting your agency at the forefront of field-wide innovation.

Do not let your agency get left behind in the "caretaking trap." Shift your focus from merely getting people "out and about" to building genuine, life-changing social capital. Register today to build a unified front that turns the promise of true community inclusion into an everyday reality.

Seats are strictly limited to ensure high-quality coaching and collaborative dialogue.

Networks for Training and Development, Inc. (Networks) hopes that everyone who registers for trainings and courses will be able to attend; however, we understand extenuating circumstances do occur. All requests for cancellation must be submitted in writing.

To read the full policy, please visit: https://www.networksfortraining.org/cancellation-policy/