MOVING TO A NEW HOME : producing a guide for parents whose intellectually disabled child is moving to a group home

Abstract

Kuusela, Anna. Moving to a new home. Producing a guide for parents whose intellectually disabled child is moving to a group home. Fall 2013. 21 pages. 3 appendices. Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Diak South, Degree Programme in Social Services. Degree: Bachelor of Social Services.

The aim of this thesis was to produce a guide for parents whose intellectually disabled child is moving to a group home. The purpose of the guide is to offer most of the information the parents might need in this situation. The guide introduces relevant legislation, training for moving, legal guardianship and other matters to consider, and also offers further information in the form of internet links.

The data was collected via a focus group interview of parents whose children have moved to a group home, as well as literature research. The thesis also relies on my own previous and current experiences in working in group homes for the intellectually disabled.

The guide was done in association with Kepakoti group home. In order for the guide to be of use to Kepakoti and other Finnish speaking group homes, I intend to translate it to Finnish after the initial thesis process. The Finnish guide will possibly be produced by Keski-Uudenmaan Kehitysvammaisten Tuki ry., which is an organization I have been in contact with professionally earlier.