More Than Support
A Family’s Journey with CVNQuinte
“Once families get accustomed to the interactive way we deliver services, it can be challenging for them to go back to the traditional models,” reflects CVNQuinte Executive Director Terri Korkush. “For us, it’s really important that they know we’re out there and that we offer different services than our colleagues in our community.”
That difference, Terri explains, comes down to something fundamental:
“We offer people what they want, when they want it and how they want it. We’re very unique across not just our area, but across the province, in which people really do get to design what their services look like.”
For Lisa, a mother whose son Lucas has been living independently with CVNQuinte’s support for over six years, this philosophy is the foundation of her family’s peace of mind.
Stepping Up When It Mattered
Lucas’s path to CVNQuinte began during the pandemic, when the agency that had been supporting him had to withdraw services to intensify care in their group homes. Lisa remembers that uncertain time clearly.
“CVNQuinte stepped up at that table,” she recalls. “They took Lucas on so that he would have the support that he needed because he was relying at that point on family support. And that only lasts for so long when people are doing other work as well.”
What began as a response to a crisis has become something deeper: a partnership that has transformed Lucas’s ability to live the life he chooses.
Even trips to the library have become part of Lucas’s supported independence. “He knows where to go to get the books that he’s interested in,” Lisa shares. “Would he go there by himself? Probably not. But with that little bit of prompting, he brings home books that he enjoys reading. I see them in his living room. For a teacher, that just warms my heart.”
Not Done For Him, But Alongside Him
Lisa is careful to distinguish what CVNQuinte provides from a more transactional model of care. “CVNQuinte has worked hard to develop an understanding of what an individual actually needs beyond just having things done for them,” she explains. “Tasks are not just done for him or done to him or even done with him, but it’s done alongside and inviting him to participate in his own life.”
She describes the practical ways this plays out in Lucas’s daily life. His planning skills need support, so employees help him pursue his passions. “Things like visiting the train station when trains come in is really important to him because it’s one of his passions,” Lisa shares. “He loves big trains, and he loves getting the conductors to acknowledge him with a train whistle. His support helps him with that, making sure he gets there at a time when there are trains passing through the station. That’s pretty neat.”
The support extends to the rhythms of home life as well. Lucas plans weekly menus with one support worker, creates a grocery list with a different staff person the next day, does his shopping, and then prepares meals together with staff. “Ideally, if he’s choosing to cooperate,” Lisa adds with a knowing laugh.
The Power of Support and Growth
For Lisa, there’s something profound about watching her adult son continue to develop with the right kinds of support.
“He’s in his 30s now, but he still has potential for development that can occur with the right supports,” she reflects. “And who wants Mom dragging them around everywhere? He would like to attend an event, but maybe not with Mom. He would like to go with someone who’s kind of like a friend, but a supportive friend, that can help his life move forward.”
Lisa uses the metaphor of coaching to describe what effective support looks like. “Lucas could sit there and say, ‘You need to do this, could you please do that,’ and that might make his life run tickety boo, but it actually doesn’t help him develop as an individual. So we like to see him still growing and developing.”
Experiencing Contentness
When asked what it means to know these supports are in place, Lisa pauses to find the right words. “There’s a tremendous security in knowing that he’s not just floundering and waiting for me to show up and rescue him,” she says. “It’s huge. And it’s hard to put into words.”
She draws a comparison to what parents of neurotypical adults experience. “There’s a contentness within yourself knowing that they’re fine and they may make some mistakes, but generally they can manage. Whereas someone living with developmental disabilities needs that coaching ramped up quite a bit more. Their life may not be so fine if there aren’t enough coaches in their life to make that happen.”
But the most striking thing Lisa describes isn’t the practical support or even the peace of mind. It’s the relationships.
“Having a predictable schedule with people that are trustworthy who come in and are part of my son’s life on a regular basis… it’s hard to put a value on that,” she says. “I know that for my son, knowing that a certain person is showing up on any given day, it brings light into his life. It is something to look forward to. It brings a sense of security and safety for him.”
She notices the way Lucas says his support workers’ names. Each one is slightly different, each carrying its own warmth. “There are gifts that each staff person brings that are unique to them, and I think in some way he recognizes and is grateful for that. I can tell by the way he says their names. There are bonds that are created there.”
A Trained, Professional Extension of Family
Asked what she would tell another family considering CVNQuinte, Lisa speaks with the clarity of someone who has lived this journey.
“CVNQuinte has a unique approach to making sure that people who are wanting to live independently get the attention and support they need in the way that they need it,” she says. “I think they’re still honing their craft, too. And I appreciate that there’s an ongoing dialogue between family members and the employees of CVNQuinte.”
She describes hitting a “sweet spot” of communication, connecting on the most important points even when hours are limited, ensuring Lucas has as rich and full a life as possible. “It’s a trained professional extension of the family. Caring supports that you can count on, that you can rely on. It’s a safety net. That brings a whole different comfort level to the idea of allowing your family member to live in an independent setting.”
The Cadillac of Choice
Terri Korkush knows that what families like Lisa’s experience isn’t accidental. It’s built into how CVNQuinte operates.
“Families have the opportunity to interview who their support staff would be,” she explains. “They have the opportunity to give us feedback on how things are working and not working. Our community support workers work very closely with the family unit, not just the people they’re supporting, but their families.”
It’s what Terri calls “the Cadillac of services in terms of choice,” and it’s grounded in something simple: listening.
“We’re willing to listen. We’re willing to maneuver whatever we need to do to make services be exactly what the person wants. I think that’s what really makes our services successful.”
For families wondering what’s possible, Terri’s invitation is direct: “We really don’t want you sitting on a waitlist wondering what to do. Call us. We’re here to help.”
As Terri is fond of saying, “It’s ❤️ work,” and for families like Lisa’s, it’s work that changes everything.
