A LifeCourse Nexus Chapter provides an opportunity to engage and unite local, regional and/or statewide stakeholders around a shared vision, common language, and commitment to person-and family-centered practices with others around the country.
The CtLC enables individuals and organizations to stay connected and continue to learn about the latest CtLC innovations and practices. State and Local Members will have the opportunity to practice applying their knowledge and skills, and receive feedback from others that develops and enhances personal practices, as well as potential programmatic, organization, or systematic procedures. The Chapter structure is designed to provide opportunities for every member to gain knowledge and skills that will enhance their overall quality of life, improve their professional skills, as well as drive sustainable systems change as a result of participating in the network.
LifeCourse Nexus Chapters are formed by leaders or CtLC Ambassadors that want to lead the development and implementation of a local, regional, or statewide network for scaling and sustaining person-and family-centered practices in their local or statewide community. Team members are typically CtLC Early Adopters within their own lives or organizations, who are committed to and have time for statewide and/or systems-level transformation efforts.
LifeCourse Nexus Chapters are made up a variety of members with varying levels of familiarity with and commitment to the CtLC Framework. LifeCourse Nexus Chapters will likely include:
LifeCourse Nexus Chapters identify a Leadership Team, who are responsible for strategic planning and implementation of Chapter goals and activities. The Chapter Leadership Team:
LifeCourse Nexus Chapters include key components that provide infrastructure at state, regional and local community level that brings together personal and professional practice enhancements, program and organizational changes, grassroots efforts that will result in sustainable systems change.
Charting the LifeCourse Community-Wide Events are opportunities for the CtLC framework to be shared with a larger audience. Events are typically interactive and generate a lot of excitement surrounding the possibilities that CtLC might bring to their lives, as well as the lives of those whom they interact with. Attendance can vary greatly in both numbers and demographics. One of the best things about CtLC Community-Wide Events is that they are basic and general, suiting virtually every audience. They are meant to be an introduction to CtLC and to entice attendees to dig deeper into the CtLC framework.
Charting the LifeCourse Stakeholder Events are opportunities for individuals, families, and professionals to share information with each other, and serve in an advisory capacity to the network. Additionally, the LifeCourse Nexus Leadership Team is able to share the current work of the network and receive feedback from stakeholders for continued development and action planning. Attendance can vary greatly in both numbers and demographics. Attendees are introduced to CtLC principles, tools, and implementation examples throughout the meeting. Stakeholders provide feedback on person-centered systemic change and for identifying specific needs or implementation strategies for CtLC tools and capacity building activities. Stakeholder events are best held quarterly and in person, but it is still effective to offer a virtual component. Building on the concept of “ALL” Stakeholder events are open to any interested stakeholder (community members, state systems representatives, organizations, self-advocates, families).
Charting the LifeCourse in Action events are interactive peer learning collaboratives that allow for hands-on learning, piloting, and identifying strategies for application and implementation. Attendees have an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals and organizations utilizing the framework in a variety of ways. Events are often hosted monthly or bi-monthly, either virtually or in-person. It is recommended that learners have a basic understanding of the CtLC framework, and are starting to use the principles and tools. Attendees are encouraged to participate in the meeting by sharing how they are utilizing the framework or bringing a case study that is proving difficult.
LifeCourse Nexus Chapters are formed with the support of the LifeCourse Nexus National Team through the development of a Chapter Charter. This Charter details the plan for developing and launching the Chapter, including the training, technical assistance, resources/materials, and other support that will be provided by the LifeCourse Nexus National Team to the local, regional, or statewide Chapter Leadership Team.
