Message from Gina Soulier in the Therapy Department:

I would like to take this opportunity to share with you several exciting things that have been happening in our department along with some changes we will be making to better serve our families.

I am very passionate about our new services and how effective they have been. These new services add to the cohesiveness of our mission and opportunities for consumers. As you can see all three services have been growing with an increased growth in Music and Recreational Therapy. I currently have 5 music therapists on staff and 1 Recreational Therapist. We are growing and that is wonderful!

In order to accommodate and provide quality therapeutic services to every individual that is in need of our services, we must become facility based. It is vital to provide our therapeutic services in a safe and structured area where the therapists have room, less distractions, and use of instruments and tools. This new change will only affect Music and Recreational Therapy.

We are excited about this change and very much believe that it will allow even more independence and individualism among our consumers.

It's Been A While..

Greetings!

I know it has been a bit since we have blogged. As most of you know, every day tasks get in the way of things such as this sometimes.  I just wanted to take a brief moment and let you all know that we are STILL HERE :)

An important topic I wanted to share with you today is about the Caregiver Support Program sign ups.  Please see the memo information below from the BDDS.

The Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services announces the  Caregiver Support Services funds  will be available for the fiscal year- July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013.  The Caregiver Support Services is 100% state funded.

Services will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and an application must  be completed for  each fiscal year's  Caregiver Support Services funds.   Previous applications during fiscal year 2012 for Caregiver  Support Services do not  carry over to fiscal year 2013.

The application for Caregiver  Supports  Services must  be made in person  at the  Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services district offices  by the primary caregiver,OR, if eligibility has not yet been determined for the individual, the primary caregiver  and the individual must complete the application in person at the district offices. (If the individual has already  been determined eligible for BDDS services, the individual is not required to be present.)

The primary caregiver  and the individual(s) may apply for  Caregiver Support Services at the BDDS district offices on and after  Monday, June 25, 2012.  (Application is available on the  DDRS Forms webpage to print, complete and bring to District Office to submit.)

As long as the  Caregiver Support Services funds are available, the  Caregiver Support Services can be approved and available when  1) individual meets  the state  definition of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and 2) the  primary caregiver  selects a provider. The individual cannot receive Caregiver  Support Services and receive  any other  state funded services,such as VR services, First Steps, CHOICE, Division  of Aging waiver, etc.