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May News & Updates

Danielle's Book

By Benni Versaci

President, Spectrum CMC

One of our Social Work interns, Nicole, who is with us learning the ropes to be a Support Coordinator went on a visit to meet Danielle and could not contain her enthusiasm when she came back to the Spectrum office. She wanted to do anything and everything for Danielle. I had to ask her to slow down so we could go through everything one at a time. Nicole kept mentioning Danielle’s book. When she slowed down, she explained that a visit like this is what she hoped social work could be. Meeting Danielle and doing whatever she could to help her achieve her hopes and dreams is exactly what she wanted to do. Danielle definitely made an impact on Nicole.

Danielle has been receiving Support Coordination services from Spectrum CMC for several years. I felt the same way Nicole felt after my first phone call with Danielle. It was this first interaction with Danielle when she called to vet our agency to be her Support Coordination agency. By the end of the phone call we were fast friends. I just loved her exuberant personality and eagerness to express what she wanted out of the Supports Program.

So having this history with Danielle, I needed to know for myself what was in this book that she was talking so much about. I arranged a visit to Danielle’s house and was welcomed by Danielle and her family. We talked about so many things and then I was given a copy of “Danielle’s Book” to read and understand more about Danielle’s journey.

Danielle is a 34 year old woman with a bubbly personality, who loves being around her family and friends. She enjoys life by making deep connections with others and having intimate conversations. She likes being around people who are patient, kind, sweet and helpful but she especially likes being around those who take time to understand her. She wants others to know that she is a nice person who cares about other people and looks out for others. She likes to write, talk on the phone, go out to dinner with family and friends and play basketball with Special Olympics.

Her book is a diary of how it feels to live with a disability and her journey through acceptance of the wonderful person she is. She tells me that her goal is “to change the world for the better”. She says. “I am proud of me”, but this wasn’t always the case. She describes that it was difficult to come to terms with her differences and she has had to overcome adversity but she explains that her supportive family and friends have helped her understand that her differences are nothing to be ashamed of. In her book she explores the differences of all people. She states, “everyone should believe in themselves”.

Acceptance is a common theme in her book. Having others accept who she is, has helped her accept herself. Having an understanding of her differences, led to a curiosity of other types of disabilities. There have been times Danielle has felt down but she wants to be a role model for others who may have difficulty accepting their differences so that they too can say, “Yes! I can do anything”. In the book she speaks on her feelings of travel, war, about people less fortunate and a host of other life observations and is always thankful for those who have supported her.

Danielle has had the same job for 18 years, she has mastered the public transportation system and in the future she would like to live independently. Right now she enjoys spending time with her friends, parents and adorable nieces and nephews. She says her biggest job is to help others realize how everyone's differences make them special.

As the owner of a Support Coordination agency, I would like to think that we have made as much of an impact on Danielle as she has made on us. Thank you Danielle for being such a special part of our Spectrum family.

What is Supports Brokerage and how does it differ from Support Coordination?

Support Coordination-

Services that assist participants in gaining access to needed program and State plan services, as well as needed medical, social, educational and other services. Support Coordination is managed by one individual (the Support Coordinator) for each participant. The Support Coordinator is responsible for developing and maintaining the Individualized Service Plan with the participant, their family, and other team members designated by the participant. The Support Coordinator is responsible for the ongoing monitoring of the provision of services included in the Individualized Service Plan. The fee for Support Coordination is covered by Medicaid, not the individuals budget.

Supports Brokerage-

Service/function that assists the participant (or the participant’s family or representative, as appropriate) in arranging for, directing and managing services. Serving as the agent of the participant or family, the service is available to assist in identifying immediate and long-term needs, developing options to meet those needs and accessing identified supports and services. Practical skills training is offered to enable families and participants to independently direct and manage program services. Examples of skills training include providing information on recruiting and hiring personal care workers, managing workers and providing information on effective communication and problem-solving. The service/function includes providing information to ensure that participants understand the responsibilities involved with directing their services. There are many ways this service can be useful. This is a paid service through the budget and relieves some of the work an individual/ family/guardian may have to do when exploring services with the Support Coordinator. For more information, please speak to your Support Coordinator. This service is available only to participants who self-direct some or all of the services in their Service Plan and is intended to supplement, but not duplicate, the Support Coordination service. The extent of the assistance furnished to the participant or family is specified in the Service Plan. The Supports Brokerage services cannot be paid to legal guardians, parents, or spouses of the participant. Legal guardians or other natural supports can provide the service at no cost to the state.

Communication with your Support Coordinator

In order to maintain confidentiality and protection of information, Spectrum CMC Support Coordinators do not use their personal cell phones to contact clients/families/guardians or providers. Please make sure that you call one of our 4 phone numbers when trying to reach a Support Coordinator.

Support Coordinators monitor the clients we serve by making monthly phone contacts and quarterly visits. For services to supplement this, a Supports Broker may provide additional assistance as mentioned above. Please keep in mind the responsibilities that each participant or guardian signs in order to participate in the Supports and Community Care Programs listed below and if you have any questions, as always, please reach out to us.

RESPONSIBILITIES

I am responsible for maintaining/keeping Medicaid coverage to continue services on my Waiver program.
I am responsible for making sure that I can meet with my support coordinator and provide all information necessary to ensure that my NJISP can be created within 30 days of my support coordination agency selection.
I am responsible for participating in the development of my NJISP and sharing in any decision making associated with the plan.
I am responsible for what is included in my NJISP and for following my budget according to Waiver guidelines.
I am responsible for all required paperwork and following all Waiver program policies and procedures.
I am responsible to contact my support coordinator in the event that I want to change any of the service providers listed in my NJISP.
I am responsible to contact my support coordinator if anything changes in my life that may require a change to my NJISP or services that I receive.
I am responsible for participating in monthly phone contacts and quarterly visits with my support coordinator. I understand these visits are mandatory and may occur in my home, day program or place of employment as agreed upon with my support coordinator. I understand that at least one of these quarterly visits per year must take place inside my home.

Email Validation:

Many of you have seen email validations emails come across your email. It is important to validate your email account so that the DDD, as well as Spectrum, has the correct contact information to reach you.

Please see below for an example :