Community Integration Training Program (CIT) was created to attract the participation of our clients with training, inclusion and activities that emphasize unity. CIT is designed to train youth, and adults with developmental disabilities to be integrated into the community and achieve their goal and sustain good health; our clients will have opportunities to increase educational skills, mobility skills, social skills, self-help skills as well as leisure and recreational outlets. Our goal is to train individuals become more productive citizens in their community.

CIT is an individualized person-centered training program (1:1 ratio); it offers services for youth, teenagers (ages 13-17) and adults (ages 18-70) with mild to moderate challenges in areas as basic as self-help skills to communication and related behavioral needs. Encompassing a broad-range of services for our consumers, our program is also geared to serve youth and adults who may have mental health challenges, as well as physical. The program enables individuals to overcome a variety of barriers, focusing on inclusion and their strengths within a community setting, where they may not otherwise have the chance to be integrated. Persons with developmental disabilities are significantly less active than the general population and their leisure involvement tends to be much more passive. CIT will train consumer(s) to prevail over barriers in the community and be integrated into everyday living situation, such as attending a college class, participating in advocacy group, health club or organization, educational programs, public services, after-school programs, and recreational activities. CIT will help the individual lead a more active and healthier life by actively training the consumer in the following areas:

• CIT staff will train and assist your love one, upon request how to utilize public transportation such as MTA, Metro link, OCTA and other local transit agencies.


• CIT program will train the consumer to access all resources available when participating at an afterschool and summer program, etc. At a time when more teenagers are spending the time between 2 and 6p.m. unsupervised, there is definitely a need for integrated after-hours programming.


• CIT will train consumer to get the education and training they need. We train and help our consumer enroll in adult classes so he/she can learn new skills. Our program will train the consumer to set up a step-by-step plan to learn new skills at college or occupational center, or trade.


• CIT will train your love one to be part of activities such as jogging, biking, swimming, lifting weights, soccer, basketball just to name a few. This enables the consumer to meet new friends who share common interests. CIT encourages our consumers to participate in sport leagues that afford them the opportunity to get together with friends and help maintain social relationships.


• CIT will train and help our elderly consumers with developmental disabilities in obtaining resources in the community. Our staff is trained in utilizing referral services so that our elderly consumers receive services in the community. Our program is designed to assist our elderly consumers with transportation needs, meals assistance programs and care services when out in the community. Our trained staff will help obtain generic services to our elderly consumers that will delay or eliminate the need for nursing home placement. CIT will help the consumer in making their own choices


• CIT can make a big difference in the life of our consumers by providing him/her assistance in how to receive services in counseling and health care services in the community, how to access some medical services free of charge such as, health screening, lectures, workshops, referrals, blood pressure etc.


• CIT will encourage and train the consumer how to participate in volunteer services at local recreational centers, senior centers and/or public libraries.


• CIT provides encouragement and training to our consumers and gives them the confidence to participate in local neighborhood and community activities and functions such as shopping at local malls, museums, bowling, movies, and excursions, social dance, community walks, and socialization skills. Other neighborhood inclusion participation includes market places, restaurants, hair salons, church and garage sales.


• CIT will provide self-advocacy and client’s rights experiences for people with developmental or physical needs. We train in self-advocacy in order to know how to use the referral services. Our trained staff will teach the individual how to communicate his/her own interests, exert control over his/her environment, and avoid exploitation and/or abuse. We focus on the consumer’s unique gifts, talents, and specific desires to provide him/her with as many options as possible. CIT encourages the consumer to be assertive about his/her rights, and to attend self-advocacy meetings, access to Regional Center meetings and encourage our consumers to attend these meetings and gain valuable knowledge of their rights.


• CIT emphasizes on community integration training services, which will include support in behavioral intervention, self-care, and self-advocacy that promote or enhance the individual’s participation in a teenager or adult’s normal lifestyle.


• Since CIT is a community integration training program, it will afford much flexibility in the services that we offer to better accommodate the client and the family’s needs.

With the flexibility of the program, the services offered can be tailored to fit individual consumers instead of forcing the consumers to fit the program. Various training sessions are provided in scheduling activities, transportation, learning more about a subject or interest and empowering an individual to join groups and organizations.

Through the program, the individuals can learn how to connect with other members of the community. This enables them to enhance their socialization skills through activities that involve interaction with other people. By practicing group dynamics, a sense of belongingness, respect and cooperation are imparted into the individual.

The training may address an individual's social abilities such as:

• starting a conversation
• greeting another person
• using topics of interest for discussions
• creating a sense of trust and sharing
• being sensitive to the needs of others and offering help
• cooperating in a group setting

Each individual will be encouraged to meet their neighbors or join activities that will expand their Circle of Support. This will allow for the person to use and become more confident in their interpersonal skills and to learn how to interact with a variety of people outside their circle.

• Accessibility:

  Support and instruction to locate and utilize appropriate generic and individualized resources such as; college classes, libraries, peer groups, professionals, advocacy groups, clubs or organizations, social security, after-school programs, and recreational activities.

• Awareness:

  Knowledge, direction and support with community safety communication with public and private professionals, encouraging independence.

• Mobility:

  Training on how to access and utilize transportation resources such as MTA, Metro, Dial-A-Ride, and Access Services.

• Inclusion:

  The program enables individuals to overcome a variety of barriers, focusing on inclusion and their strengths within a community setting, where they may not otherwise have the chance to be integrated.

People's Care created this program to encourage unity among different individuals. With the alliance built, there will be bigger accomplishments realized – a multiple fold of what a single individual can do.

For additional information or to schedule an intake please contact:

Service Code: 055/Community Integration Training (CIT)
Vendor Number: PE1489

For additional information about the CIT program call 562.693.6780 or speak to your regional center Service Coordinator on how obtain these services.

Service Address:
7355 Greenleaf Ave., 2nd Floor
Whittier CA 90602

For additional information about Customized Employment contact the PAS/CIT offices.