The mission of the Harvesting Occupational and Personal Excellence (HOPE) Program at Allaire Community Farm is to provide an integrated approach to supporting individuals to develop functional socialization and work skills.

The HOPE Program was developed to provide our Interns with a solid foundation in which to develop pre-vocational skills. The foundation of the program is to identify and nurture the communication skills, social skills, and self-regulatory/executive functioning skills, which are essential for competitive employment. Our Interns develop these skills while working on a variety of tasks on the farm. Lessons are taught daily to support each area of work. Individualized goals and objectives are utilized to monitor their progress. Progress is evaluated by informal assessment and task analysis. 

About Us: The H.O.P.E. Program's goal is to provide experiences and support for future employment through their pre-vocational program at Allaire Community Farm. The foundation of the program is to identify employment interests and nurture communication skills, social skills, and executive functioning skills which are essential for competitive employment.

The HOPE Program cannot accept anyone who:

• Has significant medical needs or needs access to nursing care
• Would need to be taking medication throughout the day
• Has a behavior support plan in their ISP
• Is not able to use the bathroom, feed, or drink independently
• Is allergic to animals

HOPE Participants Must Be Able To:

• Walk on uneven and soft surfaces without assistance
• Remain with the group with verbal prompts
• Demonstrate behavior appropriate for a family-friendly environment
• Able to learn how to use farm tools such as a shovel, rake, and wheelbarrow
• Comfortable working near farm animals
• Remain safe on the farm around animals and machines
• Tolerate the noises of tractors and farm animals

For More Information: Please contact the program director, Janice Palmadesso, at [email protected]

Eligibility	Adults, 21+
Age Groups	Adults
Community Services	Employment / Training Job Training

Last Updated: 02/05/25