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Ryan Takes on Colorado!

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Today we would like to recognize one of our Family Caregivers (FCG), Yuko, and her son Ryan. Yuko is an exceptional FCG who cares deeply for her son and his health. Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure that he is happy and healthy. Yuko credits a healthy diet and the level of involvement in community and extracurricular activities to the low level of medications that he takes every day. Ryan enjoys staying active and doing fun things with his friends and family. Ryan works very hard to accomplish his healthy active lifestyle goals. Every year he trains for Special Olympics bicycling in the 25k and 10k races. He also enjoys skiing, camping, going out to eat and playing games with friends and family, traveling to places like Hawaii, attending sports games, the ballet, swimming, indoor rock climbing and going to the mountains to see the leaves changing. Yuko and her husband work very hard to ensure that Ryan has access to all of the activities he enjoys! Yuko spends countless hours researching and scheduling. If you ever get the chance to meet Ryan the love and attention that his family shows him is obvious by the giant smile on his face! Keep up the exceptional work Yuko and Ryan!

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Clinical Department News and Updates

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The Clinical Department has been busy refining our processes and delivery of our counseling services over the past year. We are excited to begin offering new groups later this year in addition to our current offerings. One other area where our Clinical services have expanded is to be able to offer more Behavior Line Staff to support those adapting to new situations in their life.

Behavior Line Staff is used when persons receiving services are experiencing heightened clinical symptoms. Behavior line staff is a service that can be added to a service plan in addition to the other counseling services. It is used temporarily to support these individuals to remain in the community and to make choices with the support of a trained staff􀆯 member. This can look like going on shopping trips, safely riding in a vehicle, or adapting to a new day program. Behavior Line Staff utilize different interventions that have been selected by and overseen by one of our Clinicians to ensure positive outcomes. An example of this could be prompting someone while out shopping in a store each time they get in someone’s personal space or to assist in emotional regulation by co-regulating together by modeling the use of a coping skill. If you have any questions about Behavior Line Staff services or would like to request this service, please contact your team at Support Inc.

QA COrner

QA Corner: Case Management Redesign & Conflict Free Case Management

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CONFLICT FREE CASE MANAGEMENT (CFCM): In 2014 Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services published the Federal Final Settings Rule requiring home and community-based services (HCBS)  meet certain criteria. As part of the rule, there must be a separation of case management services and direct services (residential, day program, employment, behavioral services, etc.). Entities cannot provide both case management and direct services to the same person. The efforts of the Department of Health Care Policy and Finance (HCPF) to comply with federal requirements of Conflict Free Case Management have evolved into several initiatives called Case Management Redesign.

CASE MANAGEMENT REDESIGN (CMRD): Case Management Redesign requires a Case Management Agency (CMA) to provide case management to all 10 Home and Community Based (HCBS) waivers offered in the State of Colorado. CMRD will simplify access to Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) by having one entity manage all HCBS programs. We are about halfway through the case management redesign process. Some transition timelines have been updated. Below is a graphic explaining each service area we work with, who the new case management agency (CMA) will be and which phase they are transitioning in.

 

Catchment Case Management Agency Transition Phase
Catchment Area 5:  

Arapahoe, Douglas, and Elbert Counties

 Developmental Pathways (DP) Phase 1:

Aug. 1-Oct. 31, 2023
Catchment Area 6:  

Adams and Denver Counties

 Rocky Mountain Human Services (RMHS) Phase 1:

Aug. 1-Oct. 31, 2023
Catchment Area 11:  

El Paso, Park, and Teller Counties

 The Resource Exchange (TRE) Phase 1:

Aug. 1-Oct. 31, 2023
Catchment Area 1:  

Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, and Yuma Counties

 Northeastern Colorado Association of Local Governments (NECALG)  Phase 2:

Nov. 1, 2023 – Feb. 29, 2024
Catchment Area 9:  

Weld County 

 Weld County Area Agency on Aging Phase 2:

Nov. 1, 2023 – Feb. 29, 2024 
Catchment Area 12:  

Pueblo County 

 The Resource Exchange (TRE)  Phase 2:

Nov. 1, 2023 – Feb. 29, 2024
Catchment Area 10:  

Larimer County 

 Foothills Gateway, Inc.  Phase 2:

Nov. 1, 2023 – Feb. 29, 2024
Catchment Area 7:  

Clear Creek and Jefferson Counties

 Jefferson County Phase 3:

March 1-June 30, 2024
Catchment Area 8:  

Boulder, Broomfield, and Gilpin Counties

 Adult Care Management, Inc. (ACMI) Phase 3:

March 1-June 30, 2024

 

Along with the change in Case Management Agencies, the state will also be transitioning to the Person-Centered Support Plan (PCSP) which will serve as the plan for all HCBS services and is relacing the current Service Plan (SP). HCPF has also created a new level of care screening and needs assessment. The state anticipates these new tolls will be implemented in February 2024.

 

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New Residential Program Coordinator!

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Please join us in giving a warm welcome back to Denver Metro-4’s newest Residential Program Coordinator (RPC), Brett Lopez!!

“Hello everyone! My name is Brett Lopez, and I am excited and grateful to be back. I previously worked at Support Inc. from 2011 to 2019. I worked in Day Program as a DSP and eventually worked my way up to the RPC position. After 5 years away, I realized how much I missed being with a company that truly cares about people. My hobbies include a lot of dancing. I currently dance with a Bollywood/Bhangra dance company, and we do different gigs throughout Denver. I am also in the process of being a dance instructor for the studio I dance at. When I’m not tied up with that, I enjoy being up in the mountains hiking or camping. 2024 is going to be a great year and I’m excited to be working with such a great team!”

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Operations News & Updates

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Hello and Season’s Greetings from the Operations Team. As the year comes to a close, if you’re like us, the holiday season is a time to reflect on the year that was and start setting goals for the year to be. It’s a time to celebrate our accomplishments, be thankful for our blessings, remember those we lost, and look forward to the new year. In whatever way you are connected to the Support, Inc. family, we appreciate you and look forward to taking on new things with you and on your behalf in 2024. May you find peace in this season and take time to be with the people you love. Thank you to everyone for all you do to support our individuals in services!

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Alea Steals the Show at the Library!

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We want to highlight one of our individuals in services recent success! Alea has recently fallen in love with the library and their staff. She really gets out of her comfort zone when she is there. She now enjoys story/song time, whereas before she was unsure of it. Alea recently put on a puppet show for a few other kids at the library! Whereas before, she would only observe from a distance. She also recently got her own library card independently and will check out her own books! Congratulations, Alea, and thank you to all the Support Inc. staff who have helped her along the way. Special shout out to Direct Support Professional, Raina (featured in the picture), her family and the Colorado Springs team.

 

 

HR Corner

HR News and Updates

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We are very excited to announce our benefit change for 2024. This transition has been many years in the making.  Even though we have been generally happy with Kaiser, as we have grown, we have had the desire and the need to move to a plan that does not have as many restrictions, offers national coverage, and at an affordable cost to participants and the company.  After careful review by the committee, Cigna was chosen to be our employee health partner moving forward.  Below is some of what you can expect with this transition:

 

  • Cigna will allow you the opportunity to access a significantly larger network, which is nationwide and one of the largest networks in the country.
  • You will have less restrictions on access to care.  For example, you will not need a referral to see a specialist.
  • Cigna offers a transfer of care team that can assist in transferring prescriptions, finding doctors, and matching you with comparable care.

The HR Team is happy to answer questions and help as we make this transition and do everything in our power to make sure you’re able to access our employee benefits with ease!

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New Staff for Eastern Plains!

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Please join us in welcoming new Residential Coordinator, Jennifer Schutz to the Support Inc. Family!! Jennifer will be joining our Northern Region team and supporting our individuals and families on the Eastern Plains. We’re excited to have a team member with local knowledge to help serve our many individuals and families in Eastern Colorado. Learn more about Jennifer below.

“Hello Support Inc., My name is Jennifer Schutz. I have joined Support Inc. as a Residential Program Coordinator. I have a B.A. in Psychology and have been a Case Manager for 8 years with Eastern Colorado Services serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. During my time there, I worked with ages 3-17 and adults. I have also worked with 6 different long term Medicaid waivers. When I am not working, I am at home with my husband and 3 kids (6-year-olds *yes twins* and an 11-year-old). Also, can’t forget the pets as well- 2 kittens, 1 dog and a hedgehog. We enjoy playing video games and I enjoy reading. I am excited for this opportunity and can’t wait to meet and work with everyone!

 

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Support Inc. Client Featured in Local Art Show!

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Café Show by Local Artist and Support, Inc. client- Maria

Maria has many talents. She is an athlete, baker, dancer, skilled with animals and very charismatic. She is also a prolific painter, using art therapy as one way to calm her busy mind. While flamingos in funny situations are a common theme, she also paints other marine life, horses, flowers, holiday settings and landscapes.

During the month of October, Maria was the featured artist at the French Press Café in her neighborhood on Iliff near Buckley. If you have not been there, they have the regular coffee and tea-related faire, as well as an incredible kitchen. (Their chilaquiles are THE BOMB!) Maria’s paintings covered an entire wall, which is really saying something in the small space the café holds. She wrote her own bio, which had a lovely photo of her with a horse attached and even sold two paintings!

Maria’s accomplishments are a source of pride for herself, her family and our community. Here’s to the next show where we have our eye on a certain flamingo wearing a pool floaty and carrying a cocktail. Congratulations to Maria on this amazing accomplishment!