[0:06] My name is Poston. I live in Fountain. [0:11] My first snack is dried fruit. [0:16] I always call him an old soul. He gets [0:17] up and has a cup of coffee with his [0:19] meds. [0:21] Takes Glue the big dog for a walk down [0:23] the driveway just to get some energy [0:25] out. And then he usually works on a [0:27] puzzle for a little bit. He has uh [0:30] Pderwilly syndrome which is mainly known [0:32] for he never feels full. So we have to [0:35] lock up the refrigerator, you know, all [0:37] food pantry. He can have severe behavior [0:40] problems which started probably when he [0:42] was about 3 years old. As he's gotten [0:46] older, he's gotten bigger. Um so we've [0:48] definitely need more help. My name is [0:50] Kathy and I am Preston's mom. He needs [0:53] more care than what we were able to do. [0:56] Um, so we thought group home placement [0:58] was the best route to go. Um, given that [1:00] they have staffing and there's somebody [1:02] there 24 hours a day and just with his [1:05] behaviors, they weren't able to deal [1:07] with them appropriately [1:09] and he ended up in the hospital a few [1:12] times as a border. Just trying to figure [1:14] out another placement. There weren't a [1:16] lot of options for him. He would hit um, [1:19] break things, elope out of the house. [1:22] Cognitively, he's probably maybe like a [1:24] six-year-old level. So just putting him [1:26] in a group home away from his family was [1:28] really hard. He didn't understand why. [1:30] It's hard for me as a mom to do that. He [1:33] ended up boarding at one of the local [1:35] hospitals here. And um while the county [1:38] worked to get this plan in place, um we [1:41] brought him home. We hired staff and he [1:44] has 2 to1 staffing. He's doing really [1:47] well. Um behaviors have decreased [1:49] tremendously and I always say he's [1:51] living his best life here. [1:54] What's your favorite car? [1:59] Because of the county and the services [2:01] that uh they're able to offer us, [2:03] Preston was able to move back home um [2:06] where he loves to be and uh he's just in [2:09] a better place. It has been a lifesaver [2:12] just as far as kind of allocating those [2:15] funds and tailoring it to what Preston [2:17] needs. [2:18] How about what do you do on a daily [2:20] basis with them? What's your favorite [2:21] activities to do with the staff? [2:24] Dave and Busters. [2:26] Busters. [2:29] What do you do at Dave and Busters? [2:31] Play games [2:35] and win [2:37] prices. [2:40] I'm Kristen Salig. I am the program [2:42] coordinator at Dakota County that [2:44] oversees the consumerdirected community [2:47] supports program. We often refer to that [2:49] as CDCS. CDCS is what the state refers [2:53] to as a self-directed program. The state [2:56] issues an individual budget and people [2:59] are able to self-design their supports [3:02] within that budget. [3:03] It gives you more flexibility as far as [3:06] what you can and can't do. It's hard to [3:08] find good staff and I'm just thankful we [3:11] were able to pay them a really decent [3:13] wage so it's not as hard. I feel like it [3:18] it's more family orientated just being [3:21] able to keep Preston in the home, get [3:23] the services he needs um and help him [3:26] just kind of his just daily life. He's [3:30] here. I can see what is going on. If [3:32] he's sick, I can take care of him. It's [3:34] just so nice to be able to kiss him good [3:36] night every night like I wasn't able to [3:38] before. [3:41] [Music] [3:42] They had a class where you could go [3:44] attend and it was going to tell you like [3:46] what your life was going to be like. And [3:48] I think I went one day and was like, [3:51] "This isn't going to be my life." I'm [3:54] Jordan Bolton and I'm from Apple Valley, [3:56] Minnesota. It was a C4 or C5 injury [4:00] which left me paralyzed from the neck [4:03] down and no sensation. Before the [4:06] injury, I was like a three sport athlete [4:09] growing up. sports really was my whole [4:12] life. [4:14] Through CDCS, [4:16] I've been able to gain a lot of the [4:18] function back. I've now have full [4:20] sensation through my toes, the different [4:23] equipment and exercise programs I've [4:27] been doing through the plans that we put [4:30] out has made it so I'm able to just [4:32] continue to get stronger. I think my [4:35] mental health would be really bad if I [4:37] wasn't able to work out. You know, [4:39] throughout the week, I'm seeing [4:41] different personal trainers, which were [4:43] usually doing like different full body [4:46] workouts. [4:47] I use my CDCS plan to be able to stay at [4:52] home, get the proper care that I need [4:55] from the people that I would want. I'm [4:57] also able to get the adaptive equipment [5:00] I need to be able to continue to [5:02] progress. [5:03] Jordan and Preston are two individuals [5:06] living in Dakota County that are using [5:08] the consumerdirected community support [5:10] program. The CDCS program really allows [5:13] flexibility for people and families to [5:15] choose what supports are important to [5:18] them. [5:18] I have probably one of the best support [5:21] teams out there with my family and I [5:24] love being able to be home. I'm glad I [5:27] can have trusted people that care for me [5:31] being paid to help. Usually, I'm working [5:34] out with a trainer like at least 4 hours [5:36] and then doing more training at home [5:39] with the adaptive uh devices we have. [5:42] I've been working on sit-ups, so it be [5:45] stemming the abs, the obliques. The goal [5:48] is to be as independent as possible and [5:53] staying out of the hospital. As I get [5:55] stronger, the more independent I become. [5:58] I do work. I'm a social media strategist [6:01] for a spinal cord injury organization. [6:04] Actually, I've always kind of had a [6:07] positive mindset because my thought is [6:10] like when you're mad or sad about [6:13] anything doesn't really make the [6:15] situation any better. And I've kind of [6:17] learned that it would be better to think [6:20] on the optimism side than negative [6:23] because usually positive thinking [6:26] creates positive outcomes. So I've came [6:28] a long way since that 8 years being on [6:32] this program and I'm seeing the results [6:35] on a dayto-day. 3 2 1 [6:43] My different trainers, I see physical [6:45] trainers and mental, they help me with [6:48] both and that's what keeps me going. [6:52] If you think CDCS might work for you, [6:55] contact your case manager for more [6:57] information. If you don't have a case [6:59] manager yet, contact Dakota County CLS [7:02] intake.