Balance Inc

DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE AND RESPOND TO EACH PERSON'S GOALS, DREAMS, AND NEEDS.

ADULT FAMILY HOMES - BALANCE OWNS AND OPERATES EIGHT ADULT FAMILY HOMES THROUGHOUT OZAUKEE COUNTY. THE GOAL OF EACH HOME IS TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A BALANCE BETWEEN SUPPORT AND INDEPENDENCE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL BY PROVIDING A SAFE, EMOTIONALLY STABLE AND HOMELIKE/FAMILY ENVIRONMENT FOR RESIDENTS, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEM, THEIR FAMILIES, GUARDIANS AND SUPPORT TEAMS. AN INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT PLAN IS CREATED AROUND THOSE GOALS AND NEEDS AND IS USED TO DEVELOP AND ENHANCE THE INDIVIDUAL'S LIFE SO THEY CAN BECOME A VALUED, CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN BALANCE'S ADULT FAMILY HOME ARE ENCOURAGED TO GROW DAILY AND HAVE MAJOR INPUT IN EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR HOME LIFE; INCLUDING MEALS, RECREATIONAL EVENTS, PERSONAL GOALS AND ADVOCACY.

SUPPORTED LIVING - BALANCE HAS BEEN SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN OZAUKEE COUNTY SINCE 1991. ONE OF THE MANY PROGRAMS BALANCE RUNS IS ITS SUPPORTIVE LIVING PROGRAM. THIS IS A FLEXIBLE PARTNERSHIP THAT ENABLES A PERSON NEEDING SUPPORT TO LIVE IN THEIR OWN HOME WITH INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE FROM BALANCE. MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WISH TO LIVE IN THEIR OWN HOMES OR APARTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND DO NOT REQUIRE ASSISTANCE AROUND THE CLOCK. COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE LIVING ENABLES PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THEIR OWN HOME, NOT A PLACE THAT BELONGS TO AN AGENCY. HOME IS AT THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES. IT IS HOME BASE FOR OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. WE CHOOSE WHO WE LIVE WITH, WHO WE INVITE INTO OUR HOME, AND HOW WE SPEND OUR TIME. WE CHOOSE WHAT WE DO WITHIN OUR HOME, HOW WE CREATE OUR PLACE WITH OUR OWN PARTICULAR MIX OF DECORATIONS, COLORS, PICTURES, AND CHERISHED ITEMS.

BALANCE DAY PROGRAMS - BALANCE PROVIDES COMMUNITY BASED ADULT DAY SERVICES FOR ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES FROM BIRTH. OUR DAY PROGRAM CONSISTS OF TWO SITES, EACH LOCATED IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH EASY ACCESS TO COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES. BOTH PACE LOCATIONS MEET OR EXCEED ADA STANDARDS. BALANCE ALSO OFFERS A 10-WEEK SUMMER DAY PROGRAM, RUNNING FROM MID-JUNE THROUGH MID-AUGUST, FOR INDIVIDUALS AGE 18 AND UP, THAT HELPS WITH TRANSITIONING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL INTO AN ADULT DAY PROGRAM. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE SUPPORTED IN 1:1 CARE, 2:1 CARE (2 PARTICIPANTS WITH 1 STAFF), OR A GROUP OF 4-5 INDIVIDUALS WITH ONE STAFF MEMBER. INDIVIDUALS MAY BEGIN PROGRAMMING WHEN THEY TURN 18 YEARS OLD. THE PHILOSOPHY AT BALANCE IS TO MAXIMIZE EACH INDIVIDUAL'S INTEGRATION INTO COMMUNITY LIFE. PARTICIPANTS ARE INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES TAKING THEM OUT INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES TO INTERACT WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT LEAST ONCE PER DAY. THESE ACTIVITIES SERVE TO ENRICH HEALTH AND WELLNESS, ENRICH CREATIVITY AND SOCIALIZATION, AND GIVE PARTICIPANTS OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH VOLUNTEER JOBS. SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF DAY PROGRAMMING TIME IS SPENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS - BALANCE'S SOCIAL SKILLS PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN CAME ABOUT AS AN ORGANIC RESPONSE TO THE RESOUNDING NEED FOR MORE SUPPORTIVE OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM WAS FIRST PILOTED IN JANUARY OF 2019, AS A ONCE-A-WEEK SESSION FOR CHILDREN AGES FIVE TO SEVENTEEN, AND HAS SINCE EXPANDED DUE TO THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS. THE SOCIAL SKILLS PROGRAM CURRENTLY RUNS WITH THE SCHOOL CALENDAR, OFFERING 14-WEEK SESSIONS FOR BOTH THE SPRING AND FALL SEMESTERS. TUESDAY EVENINGS RUN FROM 4:006:00 P.M. AND ARE OPEN TO CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF FIVE AND TWELVE, WHILE THURSDAY EVENINGS RUN FROM 3:455:45 P.M. FOR CHILDREN TWELVE THROUGH SEVENTEEN. IN ALIGNMENT WITH BALANCE'S MISSION AND VISION, THE PROGRAM STRIVES TO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONAL GROWTH THROUGH SOCIAL CONNECTION AND NEW HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES. CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN THIS PROGRAM ARE PAIRED 1:1 OR 1:2, ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE THE MOST SUPPORT POSSIBLE, AND A TAILORED EXPERIENCE TO THEIR OWN PERSONAL GOALS. STAFF IN THIS PROGRAM ARE BALANCE STAFF, AS WELL AS VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY MENTORS, WHICH PROVIDES A UNIQUE MENTORSHIP EXPERIENCE. THE SOCIAL SKILLS PROGRAM FEATURES A VARIETY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS ACTIVITIES WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO ARE SKILLED IN THE ARTS, SCIENCES, AND ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS.THE BALANCE CHILDREN'S SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAM OFFERS A SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES BETWEEN THE AGES OF FIVE AND FIFTEEN. CHILDREN IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE AND ADVENTURE AT LOCAL AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY RECREATION SITES WHILE CONNECTING WITH PEERS, VOLUNTEER MENTORS, AND STAFF. THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY OFFERS TWO DIFFERENT THREE-WEEK SESSIONS, ACCOMMODATING APPROXIMATELY 48 KIDS. THE SUMMER PROGRAM USUALLY BEGINS THE THIRD WEEK OF JUNE AND RUNS THROUGH THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SWIMMING, VISITING MUSEUMS, ZOOS, NATURE PARKS AND PRESERVES, WATER PARKS, PICNICS AND SO MUCH MORE. THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED TO CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THROUGHOUT OZAUKEE COUNTY, AND IS CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH THE OZAUKEE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.