FIRST PLACE AZ - TOHONO OODHAM 2017.PDF

Last updated: 05/08/2017
General information
Organization First Place® AZ
Contact First name Denise
Contact Last name Resnik
Contact e-mail denise@firstplaceaz.org
Contact phone number 602-733-6525
Address
Street 717 E. Maryland Ave., Ste. 110
City Phoenix
State AZ
ZIP Code 85014
From what tribe is the Tohono O’odham Nation
organization requesting the
grant?
Total grant amount request 56250
1 / 1



®
First Place® AZ is a nonprofit organization established in 2012 that aspires to set new
standards for supportive community development, integrating adults with autism and
other neuro-diversities into the fabric of society through housing, employment,
healthcare, lifelong education, supportive systems and culture. Our goal is to ensure
that housing and community options are as bountiful for this population as they are for
everyone else.
Led by market principles, First Place is creating replicable residential and post-secondary
education models that promote collaboration among the public, private and nonprofit
sectors to serve as catalysts for advancing public policy focused on housing solutions for
special populations. Such advances support local economic development and create
opportunities for long-term employment and independent/interdependent living for
members of this population.
Set in the heart of downtown, our first property, First Place–Phoenix, broke ground in
December 2016 and is set for completion in spring of 2018. This unique 81,000-square-
foot development offers three primary components:
1) The First Place Apartments will provide access to various services and amenities—
with all the benefits of community-connected, independent living—for adults with
autism and other neuro-diversities who are transitioning out of the family home for the
first time.
2) The First Place Transition Academy will offer participating adults 18 and older a
residential, two-year, tuition-based program of 33 semester-length courses in life and
interpersonal skills, as well as career readiness, to help residents find employment and
live more independently.
3) The First Place National Leadership Institute will conduct additional research and
provide support, serving as a hub for learning and facilitating replication.
Leveraging the assets and benefits of the urban area—including health care, public
transit/light rail, lifelong education, employment and volunteer and recreational
opportunities—allows First Place to demonstrate the viability of a sustainable,
supportive community for people with different abilities, helping them overcome
existing barriers to greater health and independence.
Consider current data indicating lifelong challenges:
• Autism is the largest disability group among adults in the U.S.
• The incidence of autism today is 1 in 68 compared with 1 in 2,500 20 years ago.
• The unemployment rate among adults with autism is 86%.
• 500,000 children with autism are entering adulthood this decade.
• The lifetime incremental cost per individual in this population: $2.4 million
717 East Maryland Avenue, Suite 110 | Phoenix, AZ 85014
FirstPlaceAZ.org | info@FirstPlaceAZ.org
Ph: 602.733.6525 | Fax: 602.957.3159

a) Explain the perceived need and explain how the proposal will address that need.
First Place is seeking a 12% Gaming Distribution grant from the Tohono O’odham Nation
in the amount of $56,250 to fund the position of Community Development Specialist
(CDS).
The momentous decision parents make to facilitate their adult children’s move out of
the family home and into a home of their own can seem unimaginable, if not
impossible. But with funding for programmatic support from partners like the Tohono
O’odham Nation, First Place–Phoenix will indeed make this possible, leading by example
for a greater number of parents, families and communities beyond First Place.
Once the decision is made to take that daunting next step to First Place or another place
away from the family home, parents also face a whole new set of challenges: how to
ensure their adult children will thrive in a safe, supportive environment—and how to
ensure a successful transition for the entire family. These challenges are overwhelming
for individuals and families when they try to address them alone. We recognize strength
in numbers and the need for innovative solutions, including creating the CDS position.
First Place will be a first “home away from home” for many adults with autism and other
neuro-diversities. Their parents have been their lifelong lifelines of constant support.
Without access to jobs, people, places and activities, these individuals face limited-to-
nonexistent options for independent lives in their communities.
The First Place parent-coaching group LLNCS—or “links”—(Lifelong Networking for
Community Support) has been established to guide families in developing “peace of
mind” portfolios that include local community building, health/wellness, and financial
and legal planning.
The CDS will work closely with the First Place Community Life Manager and LLNCS as the
link between residential life at First Place and the broader community to create a
measurable, lasting sense of connection.
The Community Development Specialist’s main duties include:
• Working with families to identify local community sites for employment,
entertainment, recreation and health and wellness. These sites include restaurants,
retail shops, theaters, hospitals and sports venues, to name a few.
• Providing outreach to those sites through education, awareness and training to
encourage communication and create more welcoming environments, thereby
enriching daily life for adults with autism and other neuro-diversities who live at First
Place or elsewhere.
• Supporting sites with residents’ purchasing power, which directly and positively
impacts community businesses and employees benefitting from First Place
customers/clients/patients.
• Helping develop content for populating technology platforms (i.e., apps) that make it

easier and safer for First Place residents to navigate and become more familiar and
comfortable with—and integrated into—their community.
• Promoting collaborative community programs that foster kindness and understanding.
• Interfacing with the First Place National Leadership Institute’s Center for Real Estate &
Community Development and the Maricopa County IDA Center for Training, Education
& Employment to create programs that open doors to more residential options
supporting greater independence.
b) Describe the population who will benefit from the proposal if approved.
The target population is adults ages 18 and older with autism and other neuro-
diversities. First Place programs are also targeted to serve and support these adults’
loved ones—including parents, siblings and grandparents—through collaboration with
other nonprofit and public-sector partners for greater impact beyond First Place.
c) Include a budget of the requested funds, with the total amount requested clearly
notated.
Position 2018
Community Development Specialist $45,000
Benefits (25%) 11,250
Total Funds Requested $56,250
d) List any other funding requests that have been made for this or substantially
related proposals and provide the status of those requests.
First Place has applied for funding from the Gila River Indian Community and the United
Healthcare Foundation that includes support for the LLNCS program; however, the
Community Development Specialist position would not be funded through any potential
award from either organization. Both funding applications are currently pending.
e) Indicate whether the entity has already received a 12% distribution from the
Tohono O’odham Nation or other Arizona tribes, along with the amount and date
awarded.
In September 2016, First Place–AZ was awarded a 12% distribution from the Salt River
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in the amount of $120,000 to fund the purchase of
appliances (refrigerators, stoves/ovens, microwaves, washers, dryers) for the First Place
Apartments and the First Place teaching kitchens. This investment will support hundreds
of people with different abilities to build life skills, creating more opportunities for
greater independence. No funding has been received from the Tohono O’odham Nation.

f) Identify a designated contact person and alternate contact person for follow-up,
including e-mail address, phone number, mailing address, and fax number for these
persons.
Denise D. Resnik – First Place Founder, President & CEO
denise@firstplaceaz.org
Office: 602-733-6525
Cell: 602-228-3928
Fax: 602-957-3159
717 E. Maryland Ave., Ste. 110
Phoenix, AZ 85014
g) Indicate which priority area the proposal falls under.
This proposal to fund the position of Community Development Specialist at First Place
falls under the Tohono O’odham Nation’s priority area of education. This individual will
serve as the liaison between First Place and the local community, educating that
community about our organization and its goals to integrate residents by building
awareness and collaboration that support economic development through
opportunities for employment and communal participation, along with revenue growth
for local businesses.
h) If the proposal is from a non-profit organization, include the name of the city, town,
or county an agreement will be made with if funds are granted. A letter from the
governmental entity acknowledging its agreement to work with the non-profit is not
necessary for the initial proposal. However, it is necessary for those non-profits
selected to receive grant funding. First Place is working through Maricopa County,
which would accept the grant funding from the Tohono O’odham Nation on our
organization’s behalf.

20 Autism & Treatments
 Breaking New
Ground — Phoenix
Mayor Greg Stanton
captures the moment on
his cell phone as (L to R)
Denise D. Renik, First Place
founder, CEO and SARRC
co-founder, her son Matt
Resnik and his dad Rob
Resnik break ground on
First Place–Phoenix.
Stephen G. Dreiseszun/Viewpoint Photographers
ince the first day the school bus ar-
Breaking S rived, I have been dreaming about
a future residence for our son Matt
and others like him. I have spent the
better part of two decades researching,
New Ground evaluating and exploring residential
concerns. Throughout this time, with
broad-based public- and private-sector
in Supportive, support, I have worked to build an or-
ganization dedicated to addressing the
housing needs of adults with autism
in our community. Late last year, we
Integrated
celebrated the groundbreaking of our
first new property, First Place–Phoenix,
set in the heart of our urban area. As
Housing co-founder in 1997 of the Southwest
Autism Research & Resource Center
(SARRC) and founder in 2012 of First
First Place–Phoenix provides a model ASD Place® AZ, my focus has been on resi-
residence for the rest of the country dential and community development. I
have remained committed to an early vi-
b y D e n i s e D . R e s n i k sion and belief that if we could do what
was right for adults living with autism in
our community—the nation’s fifth-larg-
est metropolitan area—then we could
do what was right for adults living with
autism in communities everywhere!
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Autism & Housing 21

“As history has demonstrated, only with the help of passionate volunteers, generous
corporate contributors and dedicated professionals will we realize our vision: to provide
a secure home for adults with autism, where individuals can live with respect, dignity
and independence based on their unique needs and abilities; where they will be able
to choose from among a diverse range of educational, recreational and vocational
opportunities and living options; and where they will be integrated with the community
just as the community will become part of and take pride in them.”
—Excerpt from 1999 Housing Strategic Plan Prepared for SARRC by then-board chair and co-founder, Denise D. Resnik

About Our Nonprofit involving more than 100 family members and individuals
First Place AZ (firstplaceaz.org) was created in response to with special needs. Over the past two years, the First Place
the looming question: “Who will care for my child when I’m Transition Academy, a beta-site property demonstrating the
no longer able to?” An independent 501(c)(3), it is a leader value of community integration, has also provided support
in the movement to transform our society’s approach to for the First Place–Phoenix model. The First Place Transition
housing and community development for individuals with Academy is operated by SARRC (autismcenter.org), our sister
neuro-diverse abilities. nonprofit.
Our first new property, First Place–Phoenix, will open in In 2016, First Place AZ emerged as one of three recipients
the spring of 2018. It is backed by extensive research, includ- of the international Hero X “House to Home Prize,” sponsored
ing an evaluation of more than 100 residential properties by Autism Speaks, for our “breakthrough” housing concept.
and programs across the U.S. and a series of focus groups (Learn more at autismspeaks.org/HouseToHomePrize.)
 Sign of the Times—Adults with autism hold up signs that describe what home means to them.
Stephen G. Dreiseszun/Viewpoint Photographers
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22 Autism & Treatments
Stephen G. Dreiseszun/Viewpoint Photographers
 Teamwork — (L to R ) Denise D. Resnik, First Place founder, and Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton join adults with autism in breaking ground
on First Place–Phoenix. (R to L) Arizona Department of Housing Director Michael Trailor, First Place capital campaign cabinet member and
former ULI Arizona Board Chair John Graham and First Place Board Chair Sara Dial join in with First Place Transition Academy participants.
Collaboration Is Key

The First Place initiatives are supported by a $21.3 mil-
lion capital campaign, underway since 2014, comprised of
charitable, private and public sources. The campaign in- “Together, we can build a new market
cludes start-up operational funding, along with fellowships
for Teach For America alumni and Arizona State University that transcends old ways of thinking and
doctoral and postdoctoral students. Early funding made the ensures that housing options for people with
current First Place Transition Academy beta site possible,
along with its collaboration with SARRC, which serves as autism and other neuro-diversities are as
the Academy’s operating partner.
Led by market principles, First Place promotes collabora- bountiful as they are for everyone else.”
tion among all sectors and a sustainable, replicable residential
prototype that allows greater choice based on individual —Denise D. Resnik, First Place AZ Founder,
needs and interests. We share the credit for our steady prog- President & CEO
ress with 90 local and national collaborators. First Place
also seeks to serve as a catalyst for advancing public policy 
focused on housing solutions for special populations.
Together, we have an unprecedented opportunity to
pioneer innovative housing and community development On the Ground Today
across North America. We can start responding to the Three primary components of First Place’s $15 million,
500,000 U.S. children with autism who are transitioning 81,000-square-foot model property—located in the heart of
to adulthood this decade—and even more who are already the urban region at 3001 North Third Street in Phoenix—
adults. We can give families of young children diagnosed are opening doors to special populations seeking more
with autism greater hope, helping them envision a future independent residential options:
that includes friends, jobs, a home of their own and a com- Residents of the First Place Apartments will enjoy a
munity that supports them—not just by telling them what’s variety of services and amenities, with all the benefits of
possible, but by showing them. community-connected living: transportation, healthcare,
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Autism & Housing 23
employment, continuing education and recreation. Upon models that connect home, work, education, healthcare,
completion, the property will include 56 studio, one-, two- services and how we play and worship.”
and four-bedroom units for lease by residents.
Students enrolled in the First Place Transition Academy

will learn independent living skills, integrating into the
fabric of the community as recognized citizens, neighbors,
employees and friends. This two-year, tuition-based resi- First Place–Phoenix will be
dential training program is focused on independent living
community connected, transit oriented
skills, career readiness and interpersonal relations. A beta
site has been operational since 2015 and is demonstrating and sustained by a variety of amenities
promising results.
The First Place Leadership Institute is our catalyst and supportive services.
for promoting replicable options and serves as a center
where families, people with autism and thought leaders col-
laborate on housing solutions through training, education, 
research and advancements in public policy. The future
First Place–Phoenix property will also serve as a robust site First Place is not a group home; nor is it a licensed, con-
for research and public policy advancements. Its five cen- gregate-care or assisted-living facility. It is not reliant on
ters include Maricopa IDA Center for Education, Training government resources. It is a unique residential development
& Employment; Center for Real Estate & Community designed to enhance the quality of life for adults with autism
Development; Colonel Harland Sanders Center for Applied and other neuro-diversities through jobs, homes, friendships
Research; Mulzet Center for Expression/Communication; and a supportive community that addresses the independent-
and Center for Public Policy. living needs of individuals today and in the future, when
The First Place Leadership Institute is focused on ad- family members are no longer able to care for their loved ones.
dressing 10 priority concerns: “Phoenix is proud to be an inclusive place to live and on
1. Quality of Life: compromised the forefront of pioneering new housing options for people
of all abilities,” says Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton. “By lead-
2. Isolation: handicapped, dependency mindset ing, collaborating and finding creative solutions such as First
3. Housing Crisis: limited options; high cost/ Place–Phoenix, we continue to be worthy of PBS NewsHour
demand; dwindling government resources calling Phoenix ‘the most autism-friendly city in the world.’”
Hardison/downey construction of Phoenix is the general
4. Business Models: scarcity of proven outcomes,
contractor; building design is by RSP Architects of Tempe.
replicable programs and private capital
Residents are expected to move into First Place–Phoenix
5. Support Services: low wages, limited training, in 2018. Those interested in the First Place Apartments or
high turnover the First Place Transition Academy may apply online at
6. Public Policy: dated; limits innovation and firstplaceaz.org/the-process-2/.
community integration
Purposeful, Multigenerational Living
7. Research: need for large-scale initiatives defining “First Place models housing innovation,” says Michael
best practices Trailor, director of the Arizona Department of Housing.
8. Adult Medical Care: unacceptable; few “Its Transition Academy beta site is situated in a multigen-
practitioners on cutting edge of autism and service erational, affordable-housing property and continuously
to/support of patients demonstrates the benefits of supportive neighbors, friend-
9. Technology Platforms: varied and ever-changing; ships and learning among different age groups and abilities.
need to leverage and maximize With the development of First Place–Phoenix, another
option is being added to the mix and informing the market-
10. Heterogeneity: broad range of diversity; no form of place through its thoughtful and leading-edge approach.”
segmentation Also known as “independent living classrooms,” resi-
dential opportunities are currently offered through the
“For people with autism and other special abilities, the First Place Transition Academy, situated on an affordable-
experiences we have as citizens in our own communi- housing property co-locating 13 apartments primarily
ties are all too often an experience of fragmentation,” says for seniors with eight two-bedroom units for First Place
Valerie Paradiz, Ph.D., director of the First Place Leadership participants. As a development of the Foundation for
Institute. “Through the work of First Place, we’re creating Senior Living—in collaboration with First Place, SARRC,
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24 Autism & Treatments
RSP Architects
 The vision becomes reality — First Place–Phoenix, a new $15 million residential property for adults with autism and different abili-
ties with a one-of-a-kind approach to combining apartments, a residential training program and a national leadership institute to advance
more independent and community-integrated living options.
the Arizona Department of Housing and the Arizona care through St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center/
Community Foundation—this property has been in op- Barrow Neurological Institute, plans include delivering
eration for two years and is positioned to demonstrate the adult, patient-centered care.
benefits of integrating older generations and a population Education: First Place and SARRC are developing a
with special needs in a supportive environment. curriculum focused on independent living and vocational/in-
terpersonal skill development that includes 33 semester-length
Healthier and More Independent Living courses. Portions of the curriculum are currently offered at
First Place is focused on developing new residential models GateWay Community College in Phoenix. Other special learn-
that maximize independence, community integration, per- ers will have access to the curriculum in the future.
sonal enrichment and quality of life by supporting adults
with special needs to live more independently. At the same What’s next
time, First Place is also building on-ramps with community As reported in a chapter I contributed to “The Challenge
partners to increase the capacity for more individuals to and Promise of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Mid
enjoy the same opportunities and experiences. and Later Life,” edited by Scott D. Wright, Ph.D. and
Employment: The design of First Place also promotes entre- published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, the following
preneurial pursuits—and the location connects residents and are lessons learned from our 20-plus years of experience:
students to competitive employment opportunities throughout ` ` Conduct extensive discussions with potential
the region. First Place Transition Academy students experience collaborators, including public and private disability
paid internships and engage in volunteer activities, exposing service agencies, employers, philanthropic funders,
them to different types of jobs and building their skills and capital investors, real estate developers, family
resumes while reinforcing the value of individuals with autism organizations and advocacy groups, among others.
and other neuro-diversities in the workplace. ` ` Explore the range of existing support options for adults
Transportation and community connections: Engaging with autism and their families.
individuals with special needs with the broader community ` ` Identify models within and outside the region. What’s
is a huge part of the First Place mix. They have access to working? What’s not?
Valley Metro Light Rail and City of Phoenix public trans- ` ` Develop a SOAR (strengths, opportunities, aspirations,
portation, which connect them to jobs, volunteer work, arts results) analysis with internal and external sources.
and culture, recreation and much more. ` ` Build your bench: Who’s on our team? Who should be?
Wellness: From healthy daily living habits and regi- ` ` Create your vision and identify desired outcomes.
mens to a medical model empowered with subspecialty ` ` Construct your plan.
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Autism & Housing 25
 A bright future — Denise D. Resnik: “I know Matt can live a happy, productive
and fulfilling life—and that his new home will be a place where he can dream with
or without a pillow.”
services that must transcend outdated, lim-
ited models. We are focused on matching the
interests and needs of these individuals with
the right property, design and amenities that
are rooted in communities. A new generation
of dynamic housing models is only possible
by collectively tapping business, government
and charitable interests.
We’re committed to energizing an era that
brings together public, private and nonprofit
stakeholder interests and provides adults with
autism and their families with more choices in
residential options based on individual needs.
Our aim at First Place is to advance public pol-
icy that supports new models based on positive
outcomes, evidence-based research and sound
financial frameworks facilitating the successful
replication of future developments. 
To begin developing your own roadmap for what’s
next, join the First Place Leadership Institute Symposium Find out more
in Phoenix, April 26 to 28, and experience our support-  For more information or to get involved, email info@firstplaceaz.org
ive community and properties firsthand. Learn more at or visit firstplaceaz.org.
firstplaceaz2017symposium.splashthat.com.  Watch “First Place AZ® Looks Up to Find New Housing Solutions”
We are today where senior housing was 50 years ago. on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39OrZorgLUI.
We have a burgeoning population in need of homes and
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A u t i s m F i l e | A P R – M A Y 2 0 1 7