Resources for
People with Special Needs
In Blair County
Steps to Recieving Services
•They are aware of which programs are licensed and in good standing.
Typically, you will be connected to the AE in the county you live in through the school. If not, this is still the first place you should contact.
•The AE manages and distributes funding to the agencies that provide services and service coordination.
Wait list for funding to become available
Home & Community Based Services
Examples: Day program, Caregiver to assist with daily living activities (bathing), transportation etc.
Determine Types of Services
Intermediate Care
Facility
Supports
Examples: Group Homes Residential Care
Administrative
Entities (AE)
Not Eligible
Blair County AE
To go to the SASMG Website click here.
Southern Alleghenies Service Management Group (SASMG)
Step 1: Referral
Call the Intake and Waiver Manager
For Blair County this is: (814)949-2912 Ext. 213
The Intake Manager will:
1. Get your contact Information
2. Set up an appointment to meet the person in need of services and their family.
3. Explain what information and documentation is needed to start
the process to determine eligibility.
You will meet with the Intake and Waiver Manager
At this meeting:
1. You will learn about eligibility requirements
2. The information and documentation brought will be reviewed
Step 2: Intake
Step 3: Review for Eligibility
Documentation will be reviewed to determine if the person is eligible for services.
Person will be notified in writing about determination of eligibility and if funding for services is available.
Eligible
Step 4: Eligibility
Determined
In an Emergency
While waiting for eligibility to be determined, a person will be referred to appropriate community resources to make sure their basic needs (housing, food, etc.) are met.
If it is believed the person should have been eligible, you will have assistance to appeal- which means someone will advocate on your behalf to have the documentation reviewed for eligibility again.
If ineligible, you will be referred to additional community resources
Not Eligible
The Administrative Entity (AE) will inform you about the Supports Coordinator Organizations in your county.
Centre County Administrative Entity
3500 E College Avenue
Suite 1200
State College, PA 16801
814-355-6786
Centre County AE
Bedford/Somerset AE
Bedford Somerset Developmental and Behavioral Health Services
Bedford Office
1243 Shed Road
Bedford, Pennsylvania 15522
Phone: (814) 623-5166
Toll Free: (877) 814-5166
Juniata Valley Behavioral & Developmental Services
152 East Market Street, Suite 105
Lewistown, PA 17044
Ph: 717-242-6467
Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata County AE
If you would like, you can interview supports coordinators from these organizations to find the best fit for you or your loved one.
To learn how to change supports coordinators or file a complaint go to: Client Assistance Program (CAP): https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/914 client assistance program.
Advice from a Supports Coordinator: How to prepare for meeting with your supports coordinator
The Intake and Waiver Manager may tell you that you need the following things to determine eligibility:
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A Psych Evaluation that has occurred within the last 2 years.
You could find your own psychologist, go to the school psychologist, or the AE may refer you to a psychologist.
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An IQ test (Score of 70 or below).
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If the IQ test is above 70, you will need an Adaptive Behavior Assessment that shows the impact of a disability on daily living.
Both the Psych evaluation and Adaptive Behavior Assessment are typically covered by insurance.
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Locate services, including those funded by other service systems, the individual needs.
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Monitor the services in place in order to make sure they meet the person's needs.
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Coordinate team meetings in order to develop, monitor and manage the individual Support Plan
What does a supports
coordinator do?
Providers who help people with disabilities and their families find needed services and supports. They help coordinate so people can begin receiving services and keep in contact with people and their families to make sure needs are being met.
Service/Supports Coordinator Organization (SCO)
Click here to download a worksheet that may help you consider some of this information:
Meeting with your Supports Coordinator: Create your Individual Support Plan (ISP)
During the initial meeting with your supports coordinator they will try to get to know you or your loved one
The SCO will help at no cost.
Your supports coordinator will get a copy of:
-Your IEP (Individualized Education Program)
-Psych Evaluation
-Basic Demographics
They will try to read these ahead of time.
Before your meeting, think about the path you would like your life to take.
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Your Supports coordinator will have to have something written under each category of the Individual Support Plan (ISP) (described below), so it is helpful to think through these categories before your meeting.
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Prepare a list of all medications taken and their dosages.
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Make a list of all your doctors, how often you see them, and of all your appointments.
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Think about your daily routine - Is there a schedule you follow? What does your typical day look like? Do you eat on a schedule?
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Can you go to the bathroom by yourself?
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Think about what you like and don't like.
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Have you thought about the living plans after graduation?
The Charting LifeCourse Domain can help you develop a vision for a good life.
Select your Supports Coordinator
1. Name and contacts
2. Individual preferences
- Like and Admire
- Know and do
- Desired Activities - Important to and for
- What makes sense and what doesn't make sense
3. Medical Information
- Medications/Supplements
- Allergies
- Health Evaluations
- Medical Contacts
- Current Health Status
- Developmental Information
- Psychosocial Information
4. Health and safety
- General Health and Safety Risks
- Fire Safety
- Traffic
- Cooking/Appliance Use
- Outdoor Appliances
- Water Safety
- Safety Precautions
- Knowledge of Self-Identifying Info
- Stranger Awareness
- Sensory Concerns
- Meals/Eating
- Supervision Care Needs
- Behavioral Support Plan
- Crisis Support Plan
- Health Care
5. Functional information
- Physical Development
- Adaptive/Self Help
- Learning/Cognition
- Communication
- Social/Emotional Information
- Educational/Vocational
- Information
- Employment/Volunteer
- Information
6. Financial
7. Service and Supports
- Individual Outcome Summary
- Outcome Action Plan
i. Current needs
ii. Actions needed
iii. Who's responsible
iv. Frequency and duration
The ISP is a standardized format that contains but is not limited to the following information:
Emergency Need
Services needed in the next 6 months
An example of this is if there is a death in the family and there is no other family member available to provide support.
Planning for Need
Services needed in more than 2 years but in less than 5
Examples of this are when a person is eligible for services, is not currently in need of services, but will need service if something happens; or the person or the family has expressed a desire to move; the person is living in a large setting and needs community services; or the person or caregiver wants increased supports.
A PUNS will be completed as unmet needs are identified or change and if categories change.
The PUNS form can be updated at anytime that an individuals' needs change.
How does the PUNS help? It helps the Administrative Entities (AEs at the top of this page) prioritize who will receive a waiver opportunity. (Waiver opportunities cannot be guaranteed a date or time due to availability).
Critical Need
Services needed after 6 months but within 2 years
Some examples are when a person has an aging or ill caregiver who soon will be unable to continue providing support; there has been a death in the family or some other family crisis reducing the capacity of the caregiver to provide care; or a person has a single caregiver who would be unable to work if services are not provided.
What is the individual Support Plan (ISP)?
A document that results from the person-centered planning process and is based on assessments that allow for the gathering of comprehensive information concerning each individual's preferences, individual needs, goals and abilities, health status and other available supports.
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Helps identify the types of services and the frequency and duration of those services that are best for the individual.
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Building the ISP may take multiple meetings.
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The ISP can be updated as your needs change and will be updated at least once a year.
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An agency to provide the necessary supports will be selected.
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You can tour different agencies to make sure a certain type of service is the type of service you need.
Individual Support Plan (ISP):
Developed by:
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Person who will receive services.
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Supports Coordinator
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Family
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Others identified as part of the team (For example: A Job Coach )
Prioritization of Urgency for Needs of Services (PUNS)
The PUNS is a form that your supports coordinator will complete. It indicates the urgency of need for services or how soon the services are needed. The information provided by you will reflect the current or anticipated need for services.
The Urgency of need is identified in 1 of 3 categories
Denied Waiver
Determining how soon services are needed: The PUNS
Everyone can contribute to the information gathering and the support coordinator will help identify information needed and enter it into the ISP through the Home and Community Service Information System (HCSIS).
Based on the ISP and PUNS, your supports coordinator will write up very detailed information about the types of services needed, including:
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# of hours
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Transportation
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Days per week
The supports coordinator will submit the ISP to your AE for approval and authorization of services- services will begin within 30 days of ISP approval.
Based on the ISP and the Supports Coordination more details on services and supports are provided. They will list certain organizations that provide these resources. If you are interested, your supports coordinator can help set up tours at these organizations so you can learn more about the services they provide. The coordinator can also inform you about the different types of funding available including Medicare waiver program.
The Administrative Entity (SASMG for Blair County) will then review for eligibility
Based Waiver
Consolidated Waiver
Person/Family Directed Supports (P/FDS) Waiver
To read more about the requirements of a consolidated waiver click here.
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"Very Small Waiver"
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Very minimally available and typically for a very small amount service.
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Supports Coordinators must complete at least one monitoring visit per year.
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"Small Waiver"
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SC must complete monitoring visit every three months.
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Can fund a day program a few days per week-but not enough for 5 days/week
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"Big Waiver"- the largest fund
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A supports coordinator must be involved.
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There will be an annual ISP meeting.
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This waiver is needed for an individual who needs PAID support 24/7, or close to that.
Sometimes waivers are not available. Your Supports Coordinator can discuss availability and timelines. The AEs have to determine the highest need.
If you are eligible and need assistance, but do not receive a waiver, you can continue to work with your supports coordinator to access resources and your supports coordinator will keep trying to help you receive the needed waiver or change the waiver request if you were denied for a reason. You can ask your cooredinator about community resources
Selecting which type of waiver you are eligible for
Approved to Receive Waiver
Tour different services to find the best fit for you or your loved one
If you have already graduated from High school and are interested in services, contact your county's courthouse office of disability resources.
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"Medium Waiver"
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SC must monitor every other month.
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Can typically fund a day program 5 days/week.
Community Living Waiver (CLW)
Being open with an SCO is required for all of these levels of funding and an ISP must be created and updated every year.