Located in Troy, Pennsylvania, Martha Lloyd Community Services provides Residential, Day, Senior, Community Integration, and Lifesharing programs to support individuals ages 18 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities in achieving greater independence and quality of life.
Prior to Ukeru, their team was looking to address various challenges including elopement, physical aggression, and property destruction among some of their adults with challenging behaviors. Ukeru was appealing to them as a partner, due to its trauma-informed, hands-off approach. Since their regulations prohibit the use of restraint (unless there is an immediate threat to health and safety), Ukeru provided them with an alternative to manage challenging behaviors, while still keeping everyone safe.
After hearing positive feedback about Ukeru from other agencies and feeling like they had exhausted every option and resource without success, they decided to look into Ukeru and give it a try. Little did they know the profound impact that Ukeru would have on their organization.
Martha Lloyd began using Ukeru in February of 2022. Erica Coles, House Manager, and Kelsey Parsell, Behavior Specialist, were the first two trainers for their organization.
Erica was thrilled to share the positive impact that Ukeru has had on their organization and specifically, the breakthrough they have seen with one of their individuals.
“As a House Manager for an adult with very challenging behaviors, my team and I dedicated eight years to finding effective behavior supports for this individual. We worked with some of the best doctors in our state, participated in Dual Diagnosis Treatment Teams, created a detailed biographical timeline, attended numerous trainings, and spent countless hours conducting research.
Despite our efforts, one of the biggest challenges we faced was managing aggression and elopement. While the physical aggression and property destruction we encountered were relatively minor compared to what other Ukeru trainers from different agencies have shared, the elopement was intense. Our regulations prohibited the use of restraints unless an individual’s health or safety was immediately at risk, which left us unable to prevent this individual from running into the road—unless they were about to step in front of an oncoming vehicle.
Ukeru has been a game-changer for the individual mentioned above, as well as for the staff. It has also opened our eyes to so many other factors in care that we have now been able to address, leading to better outcomes for everyone involved.
Ukeru has completely transformed my approach to care, not just for this individual but for everyone I work with. It has reshaped my thinking in every aspect of my life and has had a profound, indirect impact on trauma-informed care for both the individuals and staff in our organization, even those not directly involved in Ukeru. Having attended five trainer trainings and conducted numerous user trainings, I still find the presentation moving every time.
My supervisor, Kelsey Parsell, who I have worked with for almost 13 years, and I were the first at our agency to attend Ukeru training in 2022. Together, we established a trauma-informed care committee. She worked previously as the Program Specialist Supervisor, working directly with this individual for 14 years. She has since gone on to earn her master’s degree and now serves as the Behavior Specialist for our company, bringing with her multiple years of Ukeru experience. Kelsey has always had a passion for behavior supports. However, I really think Ukeru sparked a whole new flame for her! She has been an inspiration to so many and has changed lives with her work.”
The Ukeru team is so proud of Martha Lloyd Community Services for being open to trying something new. Because of their courage, they have forever changed the lives of the individuals they serve. Now, some individuals may never even experience or witness the use of restraint in their programs.
