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Attention All Care Coordinators!
The following is the summer 2019 edition of the Care Coordinator Connection quarterly
e-newsletter. Learn more about: Vocational Services, Community Habilitation, Afternoon Respite Services, Behavioral Health Services, Personal Development Mentoring, Environmental Modifications, new apartments and more.
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In Memoriam: This e-newsletter is dedicated in memory of Michele Bonafede, a valued former member of the People Inc. team, who passed away on June 6, 2019. Michele was an employee for over 25 years, most of which were spent in the MSC Department. Michele left a positive and lasting impact on hundreds of people’s lives. She is sorely missed and fondly remembered.
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| OPENINGS NOW AVAILABLE
Vocational and Supported Employment Opportunities
People Inc. has long been an advocate for vocational training and employment opportunities for people with varying needs and abilities. For decades, we have helped people train, prepare for, secure and maintain competitive employment. Here is more information about some of the services:
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| Prevocational Services assist people with developmental disabilities learn the skills necessary to obtain and maintain competitive employment.
- People Inc. Contract Manufacturing offers solutions to area businesses on-site at our Lincoln Street location in Depew, NY, as well as off-site at community businesses. People enrolled in this program will learn and practice vocational skills in an integrated environment. These services are intended to equip people with the tools necessary for transition to a less restrictive employment setting. Agency staff support people in making person-centered plans as they explore future services and supports.
- Learn, Educate, Volunteer, Employ, Lead and Succeed (LEVELS): People enrolled in LEVELS receive Community Prevocational services at both our Lincoln Street location in Depew, NY, and within the community. Exploration within the community occurs at a variety of sites and locations determined through person-centered planning. These include tours, volunteering and general observation and interaction in and around community locations and businesses. People learn the skills necessary to make educated short- and long-term vocational goals. Agency staff support people in the transition to less restrictive services and supports, or ideally, employment.
- Young Adult Life Transitions (YALT): This model is for people, ages 18 to 26, with services delivered through various Western New York college campuses, as well as businesses within the community. Activities are designed through person-centered planning to help prepare enrollees for career exploration and competitive employment.
Supported Employment Medicaid Program (SEMP): Our program serves a large spectrum of people with disabilities who live throughout Erie and Niagara Counties to help promote individualized job interests. The Supported Employment Program continues to utilize a person-centered placement model, which provides assessment of employment interest and choice, job development, job training, stabilization and long-term follow along. All placements are community-based in an integrated setting. Participants are employees of their place of employment and are paid the prevailing wage for their work.
Info/to make a referral: Call 716.817.5750.
Community Habilitation Accepting Participants
There are immediate Community Habilitation openings for people who need assistance to live an independent life throughout Western New York, including Niagara County. Community Habilitation services have valued outcomes that are skills-based and include life-enriching activities. Each service uses a person-centered approach to ensure an equal balance between support, skill-building and independence. Some of the more common goals are: Money management, cooking, home and community safety, personal organization, household responsibilities and developing community independence.
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| Afternoon Respite Programs Accepting Participants in WNY
and Rochester
People Inc. Afternoon Respite Programs at various locations throughout Western New York provide support for children and young adults with developmental disabilities. Activities are based on each person’s interests, such as music therapy, crafts and peer socialization including assistance with homework when needed, while parents work and do errands knowing that their loved one is well cared for. There are openings in various locations, including Buffalo, East Aurora, Kenmore-Tonawanda and Lockport.
There are now openings available at our Rochester Afternoon Respite Program, located at 1860 Buffalo Road in Rochester, NY, for people between the ages of 13 and 18. This program’s focus, held from 2 to 6 p.m., is on making friends and having fun! Planned activities, such as board games; outdoor play area (weather permitting); and community outings, like movies, parks, Homesteads for Hope Farm, bowling, laser tag and mini-golf take place throughout the year.
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| Behavioral Health Services Available
People Inc. Behavioral Health Services for people with developmental disabilities are provided throughout Western New York and the Greater Rochester region. Services in Rochester are mirrored after the programs provided in Western New York, except for the noted differences listed below. Please refer to the following information for people you support:
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| Western New York (Erie, Genesee, Niagara and Orleans Counties) and Rochester (Monroe County)
Intensive Behavior Treatment and Counseling is for people with developmental disabilities who reside with their families. Services include a functional assessment of problem behaviors, development of behavior intervention plans and psycho-educational coaching to the family in the use of effective treatment strategies. For people who are experiencing significant behavioral or psychiatric need, crisis stabilization and development of crisis response plans geared toward improving community-based support systems is also available. Consultation with educators, medical providers, day programs, respite and residential staff is made as needed. Skill-building groups are offered, which provide an opportunity for people to practice and generalize learned skills and for caregivers to learn with and from each other.
Through the Incredible Years Training Program, a series of sessions are provided that are designed for parents of children with developmental disabilities who may also be exhibiting disruptive behaviors. These families will acquire strategies to address and better manage the behavioral problems in their homes. The overall affect is a strengthening of parenting competencies and a fostering of parental involvement, in order to promote children’s academic and social competencies and reduce conduct problems.
Rochester (Monroe County)
The Behavior Management Program is for people with developmental disabilities who reside
with their families. Services include a functional assessment of problem behaviors, development of behavior intervention plans and psycho-educational coaching to the family in the use of effective treatment strategies. For people who are experiencing significant behavioral or psychiatric needs, crisis stabilization and development of crisis response plans geared toward improving community-based support systems is also available. Consultation with educators, medical providers, day programs, respite and residential staff is made as needed. In addition, skill-building groups are offered, which provide an opportunity for people to practice and generalize learned skills and for caregivers to learn with and from each other.
In the Autism Training Program, the same supports and services as the Behavior Management Program are provided with a specific focus on people diagnosed with autism.
Through the Intensive Parent Training Program, a series of sessions are provided that are designed for parents of children with developmental disabilities who may also be exhibiting disruptive behaviors. These families will acquire strategies to address and better manage the behavioral problems in their homes. The overall effect is a strengthening of parenting competencies and a fostering of parental involvement, in order to promote children’s academic and social competencies and reduce conduct problems.
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| Personal Development Mentoring
How it Works: The program uses one-on-one coaching to achieve personalized goals. It is built on a system of mutual accountability between the personal development mentor and participant as they develop a contract with expected outcomes and goals, as well as respective roles in moving toward achieving that goal. All goals are broken down into smaller achievable actions, while participants are guided through the steps necessary to complete their goal. The idea is for each participant to have gained the confidence and tools needed to move forward with the goal on their own.
Who’s Eligible to Participate? In order to qualify, the person must fit criteria for People Inc. Community Habilitation/Community Habilitation IRA. They must not require one-to-one supervision and not have intensive behavioral concerns. The person must also have a goal that cannot be met by traditional services. This is a mentoring relationship that remains short-term in nature and is intended to give someone a boost of extra support at a specific time in their life.
Info/to make a referral: Call 716.880.3700
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| MORE AVAILABLE RESOURCES….
We understand that a care coordinator’s schedule is busy, so we have made the process easier. Our newly enhanced process benefits recipients and service providers alike. Care coordinators now simply complete one referral packet to People Inc. We will then arrange most clinical, professional design and project management services. As the project develops, the care coordinator will receive a personalized monthly update regarding the status of the project. The People Inc. Community-Based Services Department draws on extensive experience in obtaining assistive technology funding and continuously delivers the highest level of expertise. People Inc. has established a network of the industry’s foremost experts to assist people increase their independence and safety.
Family Education and Training
People Inc. Family Education and Training (FET) enhances is for families of children with developmental disabilities, up to 18 years old. These programs are provided through funding of the Home and Community-Based Waiver schedule. The training enhances the decision-making capacity for families by providing orientation regarding the nature and impact of developmental disabilities, detailing service alternatives and assisting families with understanding developmental disabilities. To register, download the 2019 presentation schedule and registration form (PDF format). Family members or care coordinators may complete the form attached at the end of the PDF and mail it to: People Inc. FET, 3332 Walden Avenue, Suite 100, Depew, NY 14043 or by email at FET@people-inc.org.
Info: Email FET@people-inc.org or call 716.880.3867
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| Now Open: People Inc. Linwood Lafayette Senior Apartments
Do you have someone in your caseload who is 55 or older and in need of housing? Apartment applications are being accepted for People Inc. Linwood Lafayette Senior Apartments, which opened earlier this year at 637 Linwood Avenue in Buffalo, NY. There is an apartment unit currently available for people with developmental disabilities, age 55 years and older, who live independently. The mixed-income apartments are for older adults, ages 55 years and older, ranging from 30 to 100 percent of median income.
The building has 31 one-bedroom apartments and six two-bedroom apartments.
Features include: Kitchen with appliances; professional onsite management; accessible or adaptable apartments; onsite laundry facilities; central air conditioning; community room; smoke-free living; attractive grounds and outdoor space, as well as being close to public transportation, services and retail shops.
Monthly Rent
1 Bedroom: $545 - $1,035
2 Bedrooms: $620 - $1,230
Maximum Income**
1 person: $26,950 - $53,900
2 people: $30,800 - $61,600
2 Bedroom: $30,800 - $61,600
**Dependent on unit rent
Safety features include a secure entrance and a 24-hour on-call emergency service. Tenants may have one small pet. Apartment applications available and accepted year-round.
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| SUMMER FUN
Deaf Awareness Day at Fantasy Island
Are families you serve looking for a fun summer activity? Check out this upcoming event: Deaf Access Services, an affiliate of People Inc., will host Deaf Awareness Day at Fantasy Island, on Saturday, August 3, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The amusement park, located at 2400 Grand Island Boulevard in Grand Island, NY, has lots of rides and attraction for all ages. Families are encouraged to share a day of fun with Deaf Access Services at a discounted price for only $15.50 per person, which includes food and beverages (hotdogs, soft drinks and water from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Tickets may be purchased through July 27 on the Deaf Access Services website or at their office, Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main Street, Suite 446, Buffalo, NY. If purchased online, tickets may be picked up at the Deaf Access Services office or indicate if they should be mailed. Since these are discounted tickets, they will not be sold at Fantasy Island.
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| Survey Drawing Winner
Thank you to everyone who responded to the Care Coordinator survey that People Inc. conducted last month. We appreciate your thoughtful and detailed responses to our questions concerning website usage and preferences. The data from the survey will inform some of the changes underway with the agency website. Congratulations to Colleen Burr, care coordinator, Person Centered Services, who was randomly selected to receive the $50 VISA gift card for participating in the survey.
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