Jami’s Story
14 years ago, we supported Jami Barger at one of our ICF homes. Jami had a lot of challenges and significant behaviors that resulted in several hospital stays, law enforcement involvement, expulsion from school, etc. After multiple placements and unsuccessful attempts at community living (including a period where she lived independently with 2:1 staffing), Jami ended up in a developmental center (SODC). For many years she was viewed as someone that could not succeed outside an institutional setting.
Four years ago, ResCare was approached by the county board about exploring possible supports to Jami again; this time in a Waiver setting. After a two-year transition involving numerous visits, building trust, and fostering a relationship with Jami, she moved into her ResCare Waiver home on May 15, 2024.
Since then, Jami has flourished! Within her first year, several targeted behavior goals were removed entirely from her ISP. She now has ZERO restrictions and SODC is no longer part of her support team. Jami has worked on her independence, phone safety, and community awareness (all of which were challenges for her previously), and she now has 20 minutes of alone time in the community! She has also committed to her health and fitness by joining both the YMCA and Planet Fitness, working out every day, and even waking up early twice a week to hit the gym before heading to her job at Goodwill.
At Goodwill, Jami is earning her own money and has now entered a specialized program once a week focused on building life skills and increasing independence. She stays active in her community, participating on a baseball team and volunteering at Top Soccer, where she assists her roommates during wheelchair soccer! Within her home, Jami has become an advocate and friend for her roommates. She brings a sense of humor and joy that the home didn’t know they were missing until she moved in.
