Overview

The founders and principle staff of Networks were instrumental in the birth, use, and growth of Person Centered Planning throughout Pennsylvania in the late 1980's. Since that time, additional experience in providing direct planning facilitation and support, training, and adding a Life Coach to our team has helped us to expand and become more specialized in this area of expertise.

Networks is often asked to help with Personal Planning during times of transition and major change that we all experience in our lives… graduating from school, seeking and/or shifting employment activities, moving, and generally exploring new directions in our lives. It might be suggested, or requested, during times of dissatisfaction, because others are at a loss with how to help further and sometimes because it's just time to really listen to our inner voice rather than continue on a path of relying on professional or other judgments.

What Networks can offer you:

• Direct assistance through Life Coaching to help people use Personal Planning and make changes in their lives. Examples of those who might benefit include: Young children with various medical issues and their families to plan for and coordinate help and belonging; students, their teachers, and peers to plan for more inclusive academic and social experiences in school and community; students transitioning from school to adult and/or work life; adults who seek life changes in work, leisure, home and/or community life; seniors making decisions about their health, living conditions, and active participation in community life.
• Assist people to decide what supports they need to live more fully and pursue their dreams, advertise for these supports, hire, train, and supervise them.
• Both large group and team training in the history, styles/formats, and use of Personal Planning.
• Mentoring or co-facilitation with others in Personal Planning and Life Coaching to increase their awareness of tools, and improve skills and confidence.
• Assistance to organizations, government offices, or other large systems to develop and utilize Personal Planning as a method to change policies, procedures, and practices to reflect a more customer-driven system.

To request Technical Assistance, complete a Training and Technical Assistance Request Form, email Jill Gromen, or call 1-866-683-3651.

Projects & Activities

Our current projects and activities include:

• Individual Personal Coaching Services.
• Team Development and Facilitation.
• Person Centered Trainers' Training.
• The Art of Community Connection Training.
• Dreamcatching: Finding Your Own Personal Future Training.
• A Person Centered Planning Training Curriculum available for purchase.
• Career Planning Workshops.
• Transition Planning Workshops.

Photo Gallery

Enjoy our slideshow of Personal Planning images. Please check back frequently, as more pictures will be added as they become available!

Upcoming Events

• Personal Empowerment and Leadership for Youth - A Trainers' Training (A Certificate Course)
• The Philadelphia Transition Planning Project

Visit our Upcoming Events Calendar to see which events are happening this month!

How Can I Get Involved?

Donate to the Nancy Cordon Trust (described below) to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during times of transition to meet immediate needs.

The Nancy Cordon Trust was created to honor the memory of Nancy Lynne Cordon who died in June of 2005. Nancy had many friends and was a cherished member of her church and home community. Those who knew Nancy described her as sweet, loving and impish. To continue those qualities in the lives of others, the Trust was established to enhance opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and help them to be part of their community by helping them, and those who love them, over some hard times. Funds from the Trust have been used to purchase washing machines, assist with paying rent, buy clothes and food, assist with payment to an integrated camp experience and many many other situations that have challenged people because they were 'down on their luck.'

If you are interested in making a contribution to the Nancy Cordon Trust, please make your check payable to "The Nancy Cordon Trust" and send to Networks for Training and Development, Inc., 1220 Valley Forge Rd., PO Box 206, Valley Forge, PA 19481. Contributions are tax deductable.

The Personal Planning Team

• Jill Gromen, M.S.W.
• Rosa McAllister, M.Ed., A.T.P., R.M., L.M.T.
• Beth McKeown, MS.Ed.
• Joe Murphy