Woodfords Family Services
Learn how Woodfords Family Services uses Kibu to enrich lives and empower staff
Customer Profile
Location: Westbrook, ME
Size: Serves 2,000+ members across Maine
Services Offered: Early Childhood, Adult Case Management & Community Supports, Residential Group Homes, Professional Training, Foster Care, Rehabilitative & Community Support Program, Behavioral Health Homes, & Shared Living
(Check out their annual video on services here)
How They Use Kibu: Content and Live Classes at Adult Community Supports Program
At Kibu, we are proud to collaborate with organizations making meaningful impacts in their communities. One of our most engaged partners is Woodfords Family Services, a Maine-based nonprofit that supports individuals with developmental disabilities and autism. We sat down with Sarah Hunt and Megan Doak to hear about their experience!
Introducing Kibu!
When Sarah Hunt, Program Manager of Community Supports at Woodfords, and Scott McKeough, Director of Adult HCBS Programs, first connected with Daniel Caridi, Kibu’s CEO and Co-Founder, they were seeking a solution to a longstanding challenge: empowering their staff with the tools and confidence to effectively lead educational programs.
Sarah says, “We needed something that fit our vision of the perfect program. We were already collecting a Google Drive folder of resources I had found from various websites, but it wasn’t cohesive, and staff weren’t always confident in presenting it.”
Kibu’s comprehensive lesson plans and videos provided exactly what they were looking for. “The lesson plans give staff the confidence to be educators,” said Megan Doak, a supervisor at Woodfords. “As Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), we wear so many hats. It’s hard to feel confident in all of them, but Kibu makes it simple and streamlined. Kibu gives staff the confidence to focus on engaging with the consumers instead of worrying about creating content from scratch.”
Integrating Kibu Live Classes into Daily Routine
Kibu has become a central part of the routine at Woodfords, especially their live classes. “Routine is so important for this population,” Sarah shared. “Knowing they’ll connect with Coach Colby and Coach Gage in the morning keeps them engaged and entertained. It’s like starting the day with friends!”
Megan expanded: “Our consumers love having someone to talk to live in the morning. It hooks them—they’re sitting right in front of the screen, fully engaged. This allows staff who previously carried the weight of curriculum development to shift their focus towards supporting and engaging with consumers, while the Kibu coaches take the lead.”
"The live classes are more than just fun. They provide meaningful content that sparks curiosity and conversation." Megan recalled, “We learn things we wouldn’t always talk about. The fun facts and topics are engaging not just for the consumers but for the staff too. It’s wholesome.”
Even small touches, like seeing Gage's baby girl or Colby's cat, have a profound effect. “It makes it feel so genuine and relatable!” said Megan.
Expanding Possibilities with Life Skills and Job Development Classes
Woodfords uses Kibu to go beyond state-mandated requirements, crafting a well-rounded program that addresses life skills, social engagement, and independence.
“Our consumers love videos like ‘How to Recycle’ and kitchen skills” Sarah explained. “These videos visually demonstrate steps they need to live independently, like using a microwave or handwashing dishes. It’s so cool to see them actually apply the learnings.”
Megan highlighted another example: “The ‘Value of Money’ video talks about budgeting $20 at the movies. We layered that lesson before going on an outing, and it clicked. The consumers understood—they got it.”
Advice for New Customers
Woodfords’ journey with Kibu offers valuable lessons for other disability providers looking to maximize their use of the platform:
Play Around First: “Start clicking around and exploring on Day 1!” Sarah suggested. “You’ll discover videos and think, ‘This would be perfect for the Cooking Club!’ or ‘Johnny would love this!’ The earlier you dive in, the faster you’ll see the possibilities for your program.”
Engage Your Staff: Megan emphasized the importance of getting staff excited: “Pitch it as a way to save them time and reduce stress. With Kibu, they don’t have to build a curriculum from scratch—they can focus on connecting with consumers. Print out a lesson plan, set up a TV, and show them how it makes their lives easier.”
Use Filters to Tailor the Content: “The filters are so helpful,” Sarah said. “You can narrow down options like seated-only exercise videos or content with lesson plans included.”
Looking Ahead
As Kibu grows, we’re thrilled to partner with organizations like Woodfords to continue making a difference! 💙 With a new production studio launching in 2025, we’re ramping up our content offerings, from longer videos to more interactive live classes.
“We’re so grateful for Kibu,” Sarah said. “It's helped us create the vision and dream of the best program we’ve been wanting to put together.”
Are you ready to bring Kibu into your program? Let’s connect and explore how we can work together to empower your staff and enrich the lives of those you serve.
Last updated