VISION
All people have control over the lives they have chosen for themselves
PFSLO’S COMMENTS:
I’m not living the life I choose…
I need support to know and make my own choices…
Their definition of “life” sounds a little plastic…
SUGGESTION:
People receiving services will have support to understand their options, make choices, and control the lives they have chosen.
PURPOSE
To foster a global community that shares knowledge about supporting people in getting the lives they want.
PFSLO’s Comments:
What does “global” mean exactly? Does it mean “international”? Does it mean “unlimited”?
SUGGESTION:
State precisely what “global” means in this context. The rest is OK.
CORE VALUES:
Learning
We are a community of practice and learning.
PFSLO’s Comments:
Does “practice” mean that they have to keep doing something over and over? …that learning something means you have to repeat it? We think this word is a little jargonish here.
SUGGESTION:
We are a community of action and learning.
We all contribute to learning continuously.
PFSLO: Good!
We share learning generously
PFSLO: Great.
We engage in person-centered thinking.
PFSLO’s suggestion: We value people first.
(It’s saying the same thing, but easier for anyone to understand.)
We nurture creativity and resourcefulness.
PFSLO: Good, but “resourcefulness” is hard for some people to understand. How about: We nurture creativity and the ability to solve problems and come up with new ideas.
Respect and Trust
We put people first.
PFSLO’s SUGGESTION:
People are more important than programs, systems, or funding sources.
We communicate openly.
PFSLO: Good like it is.
We are a welcoming community.
PFSLO: Great
We conduct business transparently.
PFSLO’s comments:
Doesn’t “transparent” mean you can’t see something? Is that what they mean, or do they mean the opposite? It’s confusing what they actually mean.
SUGGESTION:
All can share in or know anything about our business.
We maintain the highest ethical standards.
PFSLO: Ethical is a hard word to understand.
SUGGESTION:
We maintain the highest standards of respect and dignity (or whatever is meant by “ethical.” Define it more .)
We foster a thinking environment.
PFSLO”S COMMENTS: ‘Thinking” is hard to exactly understand.
SUGGESTION:
In our environment, everyone is free to express their opinion, question, and explore new ideas.
We welcome and celebrate diversity.
PFSLO: Does diversity mean different races, ideas or what? How about:
We welcome all people with their individual ideas, thoughts and opinions.
We operate in culture competent manner
PFSLO: We have no idea what this could mean! We are stumped. Help!
Collaboration and Partnership
We value all members and partners
PFSLO: Good!
We identify and solve problems collaboratively
PFSLO: Some people might not understand “collaboratively” How about something like: We identify problems and work together to solve them
We share credit for our successes
PFSLO: OK
We celebrate our successes and failures equally
PFSLO: It sounds kind of unrealistic.
PFSLO SUGGESTION: We celebrate our successes and we learn from our failures to become better at the work we do
Leadership
We are guided by those who seek positive control over their lives.
PFSLO: It’s beating around the bush.\
SUGGESTION: We are guided by all people’s right to live the lives they want.
We are guided by visionary leadership.
PFSLO: “Visionary” is jargonish. What does it specifically mean?
SUGGESTION:
We are motivated by the vision of what could be, not limited by what already is.
We practice servant leadership.
PFSLO: We don’t like the word “servant.” How about:
We are directed by the choices of the people we support (or serve)
We utilize participatory management.
PFSLO: What about something like: All are welcome to contribute to our decision-making and management
We focus on outcomes and creating value.
PFSLO: If you’re not a professional you don’t know what “outcomes” and “creating value” mean.
SUGGESTION: We validate individuals and their person-centered goals.
Core Functions
Encourage, support, and disseminate learning on how to better assist people to get the lives they want.
PFSLO: We don’t know what “disseminate” means. Many people would not. How about using “share” instead?
Facilitate opportunities to share and develop learning through conferences, an interactive website, and list serves.
PFSLO: Isn’t this a lot like the one before it, except more specific about how learning will be shared? Could the two of them be combined? Also, the word”facilitate” is used a lot in a couple of different ways these days. It might get people confused.
Develop and disseminate training materials on best practice in helping people describe the lives they want and how they want to be supported, and the thinking that underlies the implementation of that support.
PFSLO: Again, the word “disseminate” doesn’t work for us. Also, this one is really long and complicated. Can it be broken down so all can understand
SUGGESTION:
To develop new resources and to inform others about training materials that will teach them the best ways to help people talk about the lives they want to have and to decide what supports they want to make these lives happen.
…And maybe a separate core function:
Raise awareness about the reasons it is critical to help people define the lives they want and decide what supports they need to live those lives.
Establish criteria for excellence for those who train others in the use of the materials developed and disseminated.
PFSLO: To ensure proper training for those who use the developed resources, so they can use them to the full advantage of those who receive services. (…“criteria for excellence” is not something everyone would understand without an explanation.)