Testimonials

"Your team have been a lifesaver in helping us navigate difficult issues regarding technology, relationships and sexuality. I’ve appreciated their depth of knowledge, positive attitude towards behavior and sexuality, and encouragement during difficult times." - Parent

"Among Friends has always been professional and knowledgeable with working with myself and my individuals. I would highly recommend their expertise in Behavioral Service supports."- Personal Agent (aka Case Manager)

"I appreciate how organized and thorough the team goes over everything for your client. Every step is explained and the team is willing to listen also to your concerns." - Support Team Member

"...you have been chosen for our Advocate of the Month Award for April 2022! Our program's Services Coordinators wanted to recognize you because of the outstanding work you do with so many of our ... clients and how strongly you have advocated for each one's individual needs as you have worked with them in 2022. Thank you for your passion for our clients, flexible thinking, and the above-and-beyond work you do to improve the quality of their lives!"- County Developmental Disabilities Program

"Team members seem to work like a well oiled machine! Everything is on time, accommodating and well prepared. Thank you." - Brokerage Supervisor

"Have very much enjoyed working with Among Friends. Friendly, attentive to client needs, well organized." - Service Coordinator (aka Case Manager)

Follow this link to find out more about Our Behavior Services Team

Things to Know About Our Behavior Services

Our Speciality

Among Friends, LLC specializes in social-sexual behavior services for children and adults - everything to do with relationships, sexuality, consent and boundaries, gender identity, sexual orientation, bodies, etc.

We can provide services to anyone, however, our expertise is in serving people who receive social services and experience intellectual and/or developmental diversity, learning disabilities, mental health issues, and trauma. And, while we can provide professional behavior services to support any challenging behaviors, we will prioritize individuals who are dealing with social-sexual related issues and need to keep their behavior safe, healthy, and legal.

The Areas We Serve

Among Friends, LLC can provide Professional Behavior Services (K-plan funded Behavior Services) for anyone in Oregon via zoom and/or phone meetings. In-person services availability depends on location and staff availability.

Contract Behavior Service, consulting and advocacy are available to anyone in the United States and are conducted via zoom or phone meetings.   We are based in the state of Oregon, so if you are in a different region or time zone we would simply need to make accommodations for that.

About Our Staff

Among Friends, LLC currently has a small staff of Behavior Professionals with plans to expand in the near future.  If you/your client/the person you support have/has a preference to work with a particular member of our staff we will do our best to accommodate that request.  However, it is important to understand that this may delay us being able to start services until that staff member has an opening in their schedule.  Click here to see our staff bios

Our agency  believes that it is important for our team to learn and grow together so we meet weekly to review behaviors, brainstorm strategies, share resources, and discuss any issues of concern.

Important Note Regarding Our Process for K-Plan Funded Services

Our goal at Among Friends is to have the client with the same Behavior Professional through the FBA, PBSP and Maintenance Services process; however, it is possible that due to staffing and availability, that an individual may work with more than one person throughout the course of services.  Our team meets weekly to discuss behaviors, strategies and any challenges that arise. All of these staff are supervised and the final documents are reviewed  by our Lead Behavior Professional, Karen Armstrong.  Staff are also given additional training, resources, and guidance by Shanya Luther.. Founder and Co-owner of Among Friends.

Our Behavior Services Options and Fees

Private Pay Consultation / Advocacy / Coaching

Available to Anyone Via Zoom or Phone; You Must Identify & Secure The Funding Source (these services are usually paid out-of-pocket by a family or the individual)

With this option, we can tailor our behavior services to what you/your client/you loved one needs most and set the time and/or cost limits to suit your specifications.

These services could look like:

• 1:1 coaching sessions between you and one of our staff to address issues you want to work on
• having one of our staff advocate for you at a meeting at your school, work, or faith community regarding a situation or topic you want support with
• Having one of our staff consult with you/your team on issues or incidents you’re dealing with

These services are $110 per hour.  Some reduced rates are negotiable for financial hardship. Among Friends, LLC does not take insurance at this time.

Contracted Behavior Services

Available to Anyone Via Zoom or Phone; You Must Identify & Secure The Funding Source

With this option, we can tailor our behavior services to what you/your client/you loved one needs most and set the time and/or cost limits to suit your specifications.

This option can also be used to create a “modified”, “supplemental”, or “abbreviated” Functional Assessment and Behavior Support Plan if needed. (for example, if a supported person isn’t eligible for DD Services and Funding, or if someone has a behavior support plan but needs to supplement it with information regarding sexualized behaviors)

These services are $110 per hour.  Some reduced rates are negotiable for financial hardship. Among Friends, LLC does not take insurance at this time.

K-Plan Funded Professional Behavior Services

Only Available to residents of the state of Oregon who experience intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and receive developmental disability services; This service is paid for by K-Plan funding - usually through a County DD Program or Brokerage Services.

• The benefit of this option is that DD funding pays for it; the downside of this is that there are rigid rules about how the State requires/allows these services to be offered and there are limitations to how we could work directly with your client/loved one.
• Some people ask if they can do a combination of K-Plan Funded and Private Pay / Consultation Services.  Under Oregon ODDS Rules these services must have at least a 1 year break between these two types of services to avoid having any conflict of interest. And while it is not impossible, it is very hard to get an exception to do both K-Plan Funded and Private Pay Services, so this option should not be considered viable for most clients.

These services are based on the current ODDS rate per hour which can be found in the Expenditure Guidelines.

More About K-Plan Professional Behavior Services...

As a reminder, K-Plan Funded Professional Behavior Services are specific to residents of the state of Oregon who experience intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and receive developmental disability services.

The Services Available Using K-Plan Funding

Temporary Emergency Safety Plan (TESP) - avg. of 3- 5 hours

The state allows 15 days from the date of the signed contract to complete a TESP.

• Phone interviews and writing the TESP
• Team meeting to review the TESP

Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) - max. of 15 hours

While the state allows 45 days for this service, we attempt to complete it in 30 days.

• Initial Team Meeting via Zoom
• Interviews via Phone/Zoom & Home Visit via Zoom
• Writing the FBA
• Team Meeting to Review the FBA via zoom

Positive Behavior Support Plan (PBSP) - max. of 12 hours

While the state allows 90 days for this service, we attempt to complete it in 30 days.

• Writing the PBSP
• Team Meeting to Review the PBSP via Zoom

Maintenance, Training, and Revision of the Plan (MTR) - max. of 18 hours in a client’s ISP year

While the state allows 1 year for this service, our intent is to complete it in 6 months following the finalization of the PBSP.

• Monthly sessions for 6 months with the primary caregiver and the client to learn how the client is experiencing the implementation of the plan
• Monthly team meetings for 6 months with all members of the support team to track the progress of the behavior plan
• Editing / revising of the plan as needed
• Creating resources, developing tools and designing strategies to support positive behaviors, as needed
• Additional training on the plan, as needed

Our Travel Policy for K-Plan Funded Services

For everyone’s protection, at this time we are conducting a majority of our services, including team meetings, via Zoom and interviews are conducted by phone.  The method used to conduct the home visit/client will vary based on client’s choice; however, Among Friends prefers virtual sessions for the safety of our clients, support staff and families, in addition to our team members.  At this time Among Friends will not travel outside of Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Marion Counties, without prior conversation/planning.

What We Require of PA’s/SC’s and all other members of the Support Team for K-Plan Funded Services

A team approach is required for Behavior Services to be successful. For this reason we require that personal agents, service coordinators, and all other members of the core support team attend 2 team meetings for the FBA, 1 team meeting for the PBSP, and monthly team meetings for the Maintenance, Training, and Revision of the Plan.

Since we have to schedule all interviews to complete the FBA, we depend on Personal Agents and Service Coordinators to arrange the team meetings.  Our staff will offer available times in our schedule to the case manager and ask them to confirm with the other team members.

For us to do our job, we need the members of a support team to set up appointments with us, be on time, and to follow up on phone calls or emails from us in a timely manner.If Among Friends, LLC does not get the responses we need to schedule meetings and interviews or to complete our work, we will email 3 warnings of possible suspension of services to the case manager and any other key members of the team.  If we do continue to not receive the contact/responses we need, we will suspend services and give the client’s slot to someone else.

Behavior Services Intake Steps

The following information is for K-plan funded Professional Behavior Services (FBA, PBSP and Maintenance Services) funded through a County DD Program or Brokerage Services.

If you are interested in private pay positive support services, please simply fill out the intake form using the link in Step 1 and we will be in touch.

The following is what we, Among Friends, need in order to begin Professional Behavior Services:

Step #1

If you have not done so already, please fill out our intake form: Behavior Services Intake Form

To fill out this form, you will need:

• The client name (or initials)
• The client prime (if applicable)
• The client date of birth (DOB)
• The client’s current age
• The client’s guardianship status
• A brief description of the challenging behaviors
• A rating of the severity of the challenging behaviors

Once you submit the form we will follow up with the case manager to gather the remaining items we need.  If the case manager does not hear from us within 1 week, please call us at 503-610-3335.

Step #2

Please email us all documents scanned separately and labeled to clearly identify what they are:

• A Completed and Signed “Contract” (Service Agreement and/or Change Form)
• A Current ISP
• If the behaviors of concern are not clearly outlined in the ISP you will need to email us any additional documents where the behaviors are clearly described.
• A Completed and Signed ROI (use this link)
• Please type or print clearly when completing the form
• Please include a phone number AND e-mail address for each contact person, or indicate that one is not available
• Please include each contact person’s relationship to the client.
• Please include anyone the team feels we would need to talk to during the FBA process. (ie therapist, family members, day program employees, skills trainer, teacher, family friend, etc.)

Once we receive all the items in Step 2, we will contact you with potential dates for a first team meeting.  Please be aware, there may be a wait list.  Clients are placed on the waitlist once all documents are received,

*Please note: We start services once all of the documents are received.  If there is a waitlist at that time, we will begin services based on the order of first contact and severity of behaviors.

Step #3

In order to do the best job we can for you, we will need any documents related to the challenging behaviors for the past 2 years.  Please prepare the following documents and have them ready before the first team meeting.

Please note: All documents must be scanned separately and labeled to clearly identify what they are.

• Copies of Psychological Evaluations
• Copies of Behavior Support Plans
• Copies of Incident Reports - related to the current challenging behaviors
• Copies of Police Reports
• Copies of CPS Reports
• Other relevant documents