Community Services
Melwood's Community Support Services supports more than 1200 children, youth and adults of differing abilities to work and play where and how they choose.
The Day Service's programmatic focus provides a meaningful day.
We developed our Day Services program based on an experiential learning model that provides choices for individuals to live a fulfilling life. Each day we customize 6 hours of meaningful activities and we continually reassesses each individual and his/her preferences. Depending on personal preferences participants have the choice to participate in hands-on learning activities that occur both on site and in the community. This choice model allows participants to gain and/or maintain cognitive skills, refine motor skills, achieve measurable goals, encourage skill development, and emphasize continued growth in the community.
Through the program we connect people to community resources and meaningful activities following the best practices in quality day habilitation. We offer participants opportunities to engage in activities that include creative arts, culinary arts, fitness, horticulture therapy, life skills development, and employment readiness. Some of the activities offered include volunteering in the community, horticultural and art activities, exercise activities, community involvement, attending performances of music and theater, attending local senior centers, and participating in paid work.
Crossroads is a goal-oriented program that is personalized to an individual's interests and skills.
Crossroads is the largest of the Melwood day programs and is based at the Upper Marlboro campus. Melwood created the program to provide quality day habilitation support to the people with differing abilities that we serve by implementing 6 hours of meaningful activities that incorporate decision-making skills and personal growth into their daily activities. The program uses the experiential learning model that balances therapy, activities, and work opportunities to meet each person’s needs.
Melwood's Personal Enrichment Program (PEP) is a day habilitation service program is designed for program participants whose primary focus is activity-based learning. Our main objective is to provide opportunities for people with differing abilities to have a good quality of life.
The primary components of PEP are community integration, volunteering, life skills development, and support for activities of daily living. The services provided offer opportunities for growth and life satisfaction with a focus on the individual’s personal choices.
Workforce Development and Guidance is a service program at Melwood that provides employment advocacy and individualized support.
Melwood's Personal Enrichment Program (PEP) is a day habilitation service program is designed for program participants whose primary focus is activity-based learning. Our main objective is to provide opportunities for people with differing abilities to have a good quality of life.
The primary components of PEP are community integration, volunteering, life skills development, and support for activities of daily living. The services provided offer opportunities for growth and life satisfaction with a focus on the individual’s personal choices.
Melwood's Professional Development Program equips individuals with the tools they may need to enter/re-enter the workforce.
Our Professional Development Program takes place over a 12-week period. Job exploration is the beginning of the individual’s journey within our program. With job exploration, individuals discover both traditional and non-traditional careers and aspirations that only they have the desire to pursue. Another key component of the program is the development of their professional snapshot. Participants will learn how to build their resume and highlight their career strengths during this phase of the program. Participants will also learn how to conduct a proper job search, master the art of job interviewing, and gain knowledge on how to professionally conduct themselves within the workplace. We close the training program with an in depth session equipping them with the skills and knowledge to budget their hard earned paychecks.
Pathways is a three-year program designed to assist individuals transitioning from high school into the adult life path of their choosing.
Pathways offers a variety of career, education, and life exploratory options to aid in the decision making process of determining which path to take in their lives. This group consists of 10 individuals with varying abilities to 1 instructor.
These efforts will focus on classroom instruction and community integration. Classroom instruction will include instructing and mentoring individuals on independent and basic living skills. Community integration will include participation in local events, coordinating and monitoring Melwood participants at volunteer opportunity sites within the community, and providing coordination and oversight to social and recreational participation with Pathways participants.
For more information please e-mail communications@melwood.org or call (301) 599-8000.
