, President

Director of Supported Living Services, InAlliance

Donna began her work in the field in 1974 when she interned for her Masters in Social Work degree at Oakland’s Children’s Hospital Neonatology Department.  She subsequently worked as a service coordinator for Kern Regional and Central Valley Regional Center for over 5 years.  Joining InAlliance in 1980, she was instrumental in converting, over a 5 year period, a large sheltered workshop into a dynamic agency  providing only community based services.  She was a pioneer in developing supported employment services in California during the 1980’s serving as InAlliance’s first job developer and supported employment director.  When the California Supported Living Arrangement pilot program was initiated in 1992, Donna developed and directed the first supported living program funded through Alta California Regional Center.  Her continuing desire to share information and to keep SLS providers in touch with each other during the CSLA era resulted in her taking on the tedious, but pivotal, role of “CSLA Fax Network” Director during the 1990’s. She served as the second Chair of the California Supported Living Network and has been an active member of the Board of Directors since 1994. She currently serves as Board President for Housing Now, a non-profit affordable housing corporation for people with developmental disabilities, and co-chairs the Alta California Regional Center SLS Provider Committee.  In 2010, Donna will continue to serve as the Network’s Board President. InAlliance currently supports 75 individuals in homes of their own in the Sacramento, Yolo, Yuba, Sutter, and El Dorado counties.  She learns something new every day.

, Vice President

Co-Founder, Creative Living Options, Inc.

Joan Schmidt is currently the CEO of Creative Living Options, a supported living agency in Sacramento.  Joan has an extensive background in professional presentation and training and has organized and conducted workshops and trainings for teachers, administrators and families on inclusive education, facilitated communication and supported living services.  She has been a “Single Household ” vendor for her son Deron since 1990 and co-authored, the manual published by CIRCL/DDS on providing supported living services as a single household/individual vendor.  She has participated in various workgroups, system reform efforts, and development of the SLS Regulations. Professionally, Joan has a public relations, marketing and communications background. She has worked in the Special Education field as a professional and parent, providing training and technical assistance in the area of services for individuals with a wide range of developmental disabilities. Joan provides consultation to agencies, families and individuals interested in supported living.

, Secretary

Director of Supported Living, Jay Nolan Community Services Northern California

Jennifer has carried the above title for the past 12 years, and has worked for Jay Nolan for over 17 years.  Jennifer’s background varies with a BA in Liberal Arts and French and a multi-subject teaching credential from California Lutheran University.  In addition she holds a Master’s Degree in Management and Disability Systems from USF.  Jennifer has volunteered at Camarillo State Hospital with children with autism as well in Hollywood with homeless kids who were living on the streets. She “fell” into the field when part of her Liberal Arts education required a class completely outside of her major.  She ended up at Camarillo State Hospital for a one month class and stayed 2 years.  Jennifer is currently co-chair of the Membership Committee.  She is also working with the Training Committee to adapt a Quality Assurance Tool that can be used statewide.  

, Treasurer

Co-Founder, CHOICESS

Joe Donofrio began work in the human services field in 1980 as a volunteer for MERCI, a service agency for adults with developmental disabilities.  He was an instructor for that agency until 1984.  During that time he was promoted to Program Director.  In 1986 he assisted the agency to receive funding from the Department of Rehabilitation to start Supported Employment Services to obtain regular jobs for the developmentally disabled in the community.  In 1984, at the same time he was working for MERCI, he opened a Community Group Home with his wife for four adult males.  This experience of living with four individuals assisted them in developing and designing alternative living options for individuals with developmental disabilities so they could live in their own homes (CHOICESS).  CHOICESS was funded in 1988 as the first in the state to assist individuals with severe disabilities to live in the community outside a group home setting.  He is one of the founders of CIRCL in 1996 to provide technical assistance in California to enhance supported living services to individuals with developmental disabilities.  In 2006 he received certification from The Learning Community of person centered Practices to train agencies, Regional Centers, families and individuals receiving services in essential lifestyle planning and person centered thinking skills, Person Centered Teams training, Positive and Productive Meetings and Planning Ahead end of life wishes. He is currently the representative of the Vendor Leadership Forum for Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center responsible to provide training to all vendors in the Los Angeles Area. In 2008 he became an associate for Helen Sanderson Associates USA, dedicated to creating possibilities for individuals, families and organizations towards a person centered life and practices. He has an emphasis on leading conversations that matter through to all participants in our system by the process of the world café, appreciate inquires, open space, and wisdom circles types of dialogue to create a genuine community of belonging.

Executive Director, Independent Community Resources (ICR)

Nancy Bunker is a dedicated individual who has been providing support and friendships to people with disabilities for over 34 years. She began her journey working in a large children’s facility, moved on to teaching Special Education for 7 years, began working in an ILS program in the early 70's, she developed a HUD project for a semi-independent living-residential, and developed the first congregated living home in California to support parents with disabilities and their children.

Currently, Nancy is the the Executive Director of Independent Community Resources, Inc. (ICR), an independent and supported living agency, founded in 1992. During this time she has been able to overcome the ever-changing system and has progressively moved forward in an effort to support people with disabilities with residing in a community and receiving the supports of their choices.

Nancy became involved with the CSLN as an active member of the Board of Directors back in 1996 when the Network was first being organized. She has held the positions of Secretary and Treasurer. Currently, Nancy is the Network’s Historian. She participated in System Reform and the planning of the annual CSLN Leadership Conference. During the past 34 years, Nancy has proudly been an advocate and friend to people with disabilities. She has made every effort to work in partnerships with families, friends and other professionals on behalf of the people she serves.

Director of Day Services and Supported Employment, Jay Nolan Community Services (JNCS)

Rebecca has been with Jay Nolan Community Services in Mission Hills for over 12 years.  A Southern California native, Rebecca holds a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Women’s Studies from California State University, Northridge (CSUN).  While at CSUN, she worked as a counselor/advisor in the disabilities office, to educate others about autism.  Rebecca began her work at JNCS as a direct support staff member in the Supported Living department.  She then transferred as a Case Manager for Supported Employment as well as working as the day program staff.  She returned to Supported Living to accept the position of Community Support Supervisor and soon she accepted the position of Director of Supported Living.  While she held her position as a Community Supported Supervisor she became a roommate to an individual with disabilities.  She has been a roommate for over 10 years.  In 2005, Rebecca received her Masters Degree in Counseling from CSUN.  Rebecca has concurrently been a Director on several crisis hotlines as well as being an active volunteer and presenter for several humanitarian and animal rights organizations. She has been a part of the Board of Directors for over three years and is a Co-Director for the Membership Committee for CSLN.

Founder, Networx

Deborah Callahan was born and raised in Massachusetts. She graduated from Westfield State College with a bachelors degree, and from Fitchburg State College with a Masters degree in Education.  She has now been providing support to people with developmental disabilities for over twenty years, beginning as a teacher for students with Autism on Cape Cod.  Since relocating to San Diego, she has provided services through two supported living agencies before founding Networx.  Networx is a small supported living agency dedicated to serving individuals with complex support needs. Deborah is now a member of the CSLN Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the CSLN Training Sub-Committee.

CEO and Executive Director, S.T.E.P. Inc.

Jacquie has been a part of the CSLN Board of Directors since 1996. She has served with Carol McKinney as Co-Chair of the Network. She currently serves with Carol as Co-Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee. In 2009 she represented CSLN on the Budget Advisory Group for the state of California, and has also been a Provider Representative for ACRC, Alta California Regional Center. STEP has been providing SLS since 1994. Currently, STEP serves 165 consumers in SLS with a majority receiving 24/7 support. STEP has 500 employees and has worked diligently to provide a comprehensive benefits package to the employees of the agency. STEP specializes in serving folks that are Deaf and/or Deaf/Blind.

Over 125 of STEP's employees are Deaf and they provide the support to their Deaf and/or Deaf/Blind consumers. STEP has made a concerted effort to focus on its Vision and Values in all of its training. STEP is proud of its Human Resource Department, and has become proficient in labor laws, IHSS issues and Workers Compensation. STEP also provides a Supervisor Training Course to ensure its staff have the tools they need to meet the needs of consumers while still having a full understanding of the labor laws.

Founder, Trinity CHANGE, Inc.

Kim Dodd is currently the Executive Director of Trinity CHANGE, Inc., a supported living agency in San Jose. Kim was introduced to the concept of supported living at a parent-vendor workshop she attended in 2000. She was seeking alternatives for her adult son, Christopher, to live in his own home rather than continuing to live with mom and dad. The next year was spent researching the philosophy and concepts of supported living. Kim decided  to leave her 20 year career as a human resources professional, and focus on creating a small agency committed to positively impacting the lives of the people requiring support to create a life of their own. The opportunity to merge her interest in person-centered supports for individuals with disabilities, staff development, and sound business practices laid the foundation for Trinity CHANGE.

Trinity CHANGE opened for business as a non-profit in 2002, and currently serves 20 individuals in Santa Clara County. Kim is passionate about sharing the opportunities that are provided to individuals utilizing supported living services and passionate about advocating to ensure these opportunities continue to be available to future generations.

Founder, Life Works

Beth is the owner of Life Works. Life Works was founded in 2004 after Beth moved to San Diego from Chico, CA. Her work with people with developmental disabilities began just weeks after graduating from California State University, Chico in 1986 with degrees in Child Development and Psychology. While for over 2 decades her emphasis has been on creating personalized services, she began her career operating group homes for persons with behavioral support needs and/or medical concerns. The vast majority of her career has been focused on creating unique support situations for individuals with severe reputations. Because Beth has chosen to work with people that have been historically under-served, she has spent a great deal of time studying person centered planning methods that allow people to be heard and understood as individuals. Beth is a strong proponent of collaborative endeavors geared towards creating dynamic opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Beth has served on the California Supported Living Network for over 10 years and is a past Co-Chair of the organization.

Co-Founder, Harmony Home, Associated

Carol is the co-founder and Executive Director of Harmony Home, Associated.  She began working with people with developmental disabilities in 1976 when she was a high school volunteer in a Special Day Class.  It was during that time Carol realized her lifework would be to advocate and provide services to people with developmental disabilities.  Carol's plan was to teach; however, while working her way through college as an aide in a Special Day Class she realized the classroom was not for her; the community was where she wanted to be.  Harmony Home was co-founded in 1982, originally to provide residential services.  In 1990, Harmony Home started providing Independent Living Services.  In 1994, Harmony Home participated in the Community Supported Living Arrangement (CSLA) pilot project and began providing SLS in 1996.  Currently, Harmony Home supports approximately 300 people. Carol served as co-chair of CSLN, with Jacquie Dillard-Foss, for four years, and currently continues working with Jacquie as Governmental Affairs Co-Chair.  Carol’s education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies, with an emphasis on Special Education, from San Francisco State University, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from St. Mary’s College.