One of the major challenges of being a case manager is helping clients find activities in the community. The lack of funding is often the root of the challenge. Limited waiver funds make it difficult to find day activities once special needs students have aged out and/or graduated from high school. The most common options that I have found seem to be day support programs, pre-vocational programs, supported employment, competitive employment, and volunteering.
Day Support Programs
Day programs offer activities for adults with special needs
and mental health challenges. Mental health related programs are often referred
to as “Psycho-Social” Day Programs.
Day programs are focused on socialization and social
integration. They also assist with developing independent living skills. Day
support programs are often center-based but go out into the community several
times per week. There are also some community –based day support programs that spend
just about the entire day in the community. Some day programs also prepare
clients for the transition to work. In
many states, some form of Medicaid funding is needed to attend day support
programs. Home and Community -Based Waiver Funding is one of the primary funding sources for
day support services.
Prevocational
Programs
Prevocational programs are programs that serve as an
instruction to the work world. They are often in sheltered workshops and
supervised and assisted by support staff. These workshops often contract with
companies to package and produce items. Some of the tasks include assembling
boxes as well as cleaning and packaging remote controls. They often earn a
“piece rate” for their performance. The money earned is typically not enough to
impact SSI or other income based benefits. Funding for this type of program can
be obtained from Medicaid waiver or funding from the Department of
Rehabilitation Services.
Supported Employment
Supported employment is a step up from prevocational
placement. Supported employment is often an hourly position and there is the
potential to earn significantly more than a prevocational program. Employed are
monitored, trained and supported by staff who are equipped to work with the
special needs population. These positions may be individual jobs positions or
work groups also known as enclaves. Medicaid Waiver funding is often the
primary funding sources for supported employment services. Local department of
rehabilitation services also provide funding for supported employment.
Competitive
Employment
Competitive employment provides the opportunity for adults
with special needs to work in a normal environment with other employees. These
opportunities are often available in retail, grocery, and food service
industries. The employee may have a job coach to follow along and just check up
on them as needed. A job coach can also assist with any accommodations or other
concerns that may occur on the job. These services are also funded by
department of rehabilitation services. Competitive employment opportunities
often hourly wages at or above minimum wage and could have an impact on SSI
benefits. Consult a local Social Security Administration office for more
information on any impact that increased wages may have on benefits.
Volunteering
Volunteering is an excellent opportunity to provide socialization
and community integration. Many animal shelters, churches, and small agencies
welcome volunteers with special needs. The best part about volunteering is that
there is little to no cost. Volunteering provides a sense of pride and
acceptance in the community.
It’s important for the case manager to complete a detail
assessment of the individual’s needs and desires to determine the appropriate
options. The case manager should also provide a list of service providers and
allow the family/individual to make an informed decision.
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