Columbia
Montour
Snyder
Union
Counties
of Central Pennsylvania
Service System
WHAT MENTAL RETARDATION SERVICES DOES CMSU OFFER?
Family Driven Family Support Services
Supports Coordinator
Residential Services
Private Licensed Facilities
Community Living Arrangements (CLA)
Family Living
Boarding Homes
Domicilary Care Homes
Community Supports Program
Vocational Rehabilitation
Supported Employment
Sheltered Employment
Adult Training Facility
Community Unity
Behavior Therapy Team
Options
EPSDT Wrap-Around Services
Parent to Parent
Generic Community Resources
Registered Nurse
Family Driven Family Support Services (FDFSS) - Family Driven Family Support Services is a program to provide funding in specific categories of services to promote and strengthen the individual/family and decrease stress on caregivers. This could include things like respite care, specialized therapy, homemaker services, equipment to make the home accessible, adaptive equipment, and recreation. Families choose the services they want to purchase based on their family member's needs.
Supports Coordinator - Person who helps plan, locate, coordinate, and monitor supports and services for an individual and who informs individuals of and helps individuals exercise his/her rights. Supports Coordinators are located at the CMSU Developmental Supports & Services Office.
Residential Services - An Intermediate Care Facility for people with mental retardation (ICF/MR) is a facility which can be operated by the state or privately owned and is licensed by the Department of Health. Most ICFs/MR are large facilities serving 40-100 individuals; however, there are also some ICFs/MR that are homes of 4-8 people in the community. Funding for these programs is through the Office of Medical Assistance.
Private Licensed Facilities - Residential 24-hour care is provided in a number of private licensed facilities for individuals with mental retardation who need specialized services or are awaiting placement in a Community Living Arrangment (CLA). Many private licensed facilities provide services in large group settings that more closely approximates an institutional setting. Residential services in private licensed facilities are purchased on a per diem basis.
Community Living Arrangements (CLA) (Group Home) - A home in the community in which care and support services are provided to one or more individuals. Services in the home include assistance in the activities of daily living that support a person's personal and intellectual development, physical and personal care, recreation and socialization in the community.
Family Living - A living situation in which an individual is matched with a family so they can share their lives. Support is given to meet the needs of the person living in the new family situation.
Boarding Homes - Boarding homes are private facilities that are licensed by the Department of Public Welfare, Boarding Home Division. These facilities provide room and board, personal assistance, and laundry; and are responsible for ensuring that the individual's medical needs are met including medication administration. Boarding homes vary in the amount of direct care provided, i.e., assistance with bathing, and the availability of recreational activities.
Domicilary Care Homes - Domicilary Care is a program of support for adults age 18 or older in a private home. Domicilary Care provides the participant with activities of daily living as well as emotional support. These homes are licensed by the local Area Agency on Aging.
Community Supports Program - An individual may receive various types of assistance needed to live in the home and community. The focus could be on providing support so that the individual could remain living with his/her family. These supports could be in the form of habilitation, respite, recreational activities, specialized therapy and/or behavioral intervention. Another focus could be on assisting the individual in locating housing and assistance with budgeting, shopping and independent living skills.
Vocational Rehabilitation - Vocational rehabilitation services are provided on a fee-for-service basis. Individuals generally complete a vocational evaluation to determine their vocational potential. Individuals who need to develop necessary job related skills and work habits for competitive employment enter the Personal Work Adjustment Program.
Supported Employment - A job match is made in the community based on the individual's skills and interests. A job coach provides intensive support during the individual's learning period. Once the person begins to master essential job functions, an agreed upon systematic fading plan begins. The Mobile Workforce or Cleaning Crew provides training and the opportunity to work in a supported and more integrated environment through cleaning local businesses. The Custom Car Care Center, operated by Suncom in Bloomsburg, provides individuals with vocational training in a supported environment through an auto cleaning business.
Sheltered Employment A facility-based program for people with mental retardation and other disabilities that focuses on the development of good work habits by providing the opportunity to work as the primary training method.
Adult Training Facility (ATF) - A place where day supports are provided to adults who need help in developing skills related to meeting personal needs, and basic daily activities.
Community Unity - A recreation program operated by Suncom which allows individuals to experience typical community leisure time activities such as arts and crafts, gardening and volunteer work.
Behavior Therapy Team - CMSU contracts with a psychiatrist to provide psychiatric services to individuals who are dually diagnosed (MR and MH). The psychiatrist is an integral member of the professional team which includes three psychologists who provide intelligence testing (IQ), behavior intervention and supportive counseling to enrolled individuals. This team works with the individual, family/caregiver, support staff, supports coordinator, and other professionals to analyze symptoms and behaviors and provide or recommend treatment interventions.
Options - Options is a chronic partial hospitalization program for seriously mentally ill individuals and dually-diagnosed (mental health and mental retardation) individuals who need long-term care in a therapeutic setting. Programs are located in Bloomsburg and Sunbury.
EPSDT Wrap-Around Services - A wide variety of mental health services are available for children under 21 years of age who receive medical assistance and have a diagnosis of emotional disturbance or mental illness and/or mental retardation. A physician or licensed psychologist must prescribe the "wrap around" service as being medically necessary. The Supports Coordinator is involved in the planning for behavior health services for the child, monitoring the progress, and redetermining the needs.
Parent to Parent - Support network for parents who are meeting the challenges of having a family member with special needs. A one-to-one match is made between a parent who calls and an experienced parent who has a family member with similar special needs.
Generic Community Resources - Generic community resources are educational, recreational, social, cultural, spirtual, and other organizations, programs, services, and facilities available to the general public. Information on or referrals to these programs and supports can help meet identified needs of consumers.
Registered Nurse - The Health Care Coordinator is available for health and medical consults for any individual, family or staff within the CMSU service area. Duties of the registered nurse include: assisting staff in trainings in areas of health and wellness; mediating health-related issues between consumers, families, providers and other health care professionals; participating in IPPs, especially with individuals with complex medical needs; advocating on behalf of consumers regarding health care needs; insuring direct care staff receives "hands on" instruction; attending physician appointments upon request; working with Quality Improvement Specialist; and development, implementing and monitoring wellness programs for individuals receiving residential and community support.