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Overview

overview of services

We provide a wide range of services designed to help people with intellectual or developmental disabilities live an independent life in their own community. 

 

Accessing Tennessee Waiver Services


For information on how to apply for services for people with an intellectual or developmental disability, contact the closest Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Regional Office to you:
•    East Tennessee, contact 423-787-6757 ext. 111
•    Middle Tennessee 615-231-5382 
•    West Tennessee 901-745-7686
Also, information is available at the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities website. (https://www.tn.gov/didd)

 

Supported Living


We provide supported living services to enhance successful, long-term community living. Special attention is given to individuality and flexibility as the person chooses his or her housing and other options necessary for a normal life experience. Although support requirements will vary considerably among people who are supported, we are committed to implementing particular services to accommodate the choices, abilities and needs of each person we provide services to.We strive to help each person supported be an independent citizen of their community. We ensure that supported persons receive timely and routine healthcare services when medically or psychiatrically necessary. Services do include transportation.

 
Personal Assistance


For some people to be able to live in a community setting, personal assistance is critical. We work closely with a person’s circle of support to carefully define why, and for what, a person may require personal assistance. This also includes receiving services where they reside with family.
The personal assistance program concentrates on helping a person directly, as opposed to teaching or performing habilitation tasks (although skill acquisition may be a tangential benefit of this support). We ensure that personal assistance is integrated into a person’s daily life at the most beneficial and practical levels.

 

Semi-Independent Living Services


Semi-Independent Living Services (SILS) are designed to include training and assistance in managing money, preparing meals, shopping, personal appearance and hygiene, interpersonal and social skills building, and other activities needed to maintain and improve the capacity of a person with an intellectual disability to live in the community. The service also includes oversight and assistance in managing self-administered medication and/or medication administration as permitted under Tennessee’s Nurse Practice Act. The target population for this service is people who need intermittent or limited support to remain in their own home and do not require staff that lives on-site. However, access to emergency supports as needed from the provider on a 24/7 basis is an essential component of this residential service and is what differentiates it from Personal Assistance services. The goal of this service is to ensure health and safety at all times, while giving the person supported a bigger sense of independence.


Respite Services


Occasionally people who have supports need to be temporarily relocated from their current living situation or be provided additional services in their current home due to the absence of a supported person’s caregiver for a variety of different reasons including illness, injury, or routine relief. We provide services in the supported person’s home, in another approved home or at one of the behavioral respite homes. Our caregivers accompany supported persons on any kind of outings for exercise, recreation, shopping, and other purposes while in the respite program. 


Community-Based Day/ Community Integration Services 


Our community-based day/community integration services are designed to provide the supported person with opportunities that enable him/her to participate in meaningful and efficient activities that are integrated with other individuals who may or may not have disabilities. Support provided may facilitate: 


•    job exploration activities
•    volunteer work
•    educational activities
•    other meaningful measurable community activities that promote developing relationships and maintaining ongoing relationships with friends and family members.  We believe that supported persons should have a quality of life filled with memorable and fulfilling activities that promote health and well-being. 


Homebound Support Services


“Homebound” means that a person is unable (not unwilling) to participate in any employment or day service or leave their home for a sustained period of time except for medical treatment or medical appointments.  Due to extreme medical or behavioral needs or circumstances, the person is not capable (even with supports) of leaving their home for at least 2 hours per day and only when such inability to leave the home is for a sustained period of time.


Employment


We provide supported employment programs designed to assist persons with severe or significant disabilities in obtaining and maintaining community and integrated competitive employment through specifically planned supports. 
Supported Employment services consist of ongoing supports designed to assist individuals for whom it is unlikely that competitive employment at or above the minimum wage will occur without supports, and who, because of their disabilities, need supports to perform in a regular work setting. We strive to help with the applying, interviewing, and working process.
People that receive supports who receive Supported Employment services must require long-term, direct, or indirect job-related support in the areas of:


•    job supervision
•    adapting equipment
•    adapting behaviors
•    transportation assistance
•    peer support
•    personal care assistance 


The planned outcomes of these services are increased hours worked, increased wages and frequent opportunities to interact with non-disabled peers during the normal performance of the job and/or during breaks, lunch periods or travel to and from work. 

 

Employment and Community First CHOICES [ECF] 


What is the Employment and Community First CHOICES [ECF] program?
The Employment and Community First CHOICES program, administered by TennCare through its contracted managed care organizations, focuses on providing services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).  Through the services a person with I/DD can explore work possibilities and be provided the supports needed to learn new skills for work, find a job, and keep a job.  Employment may vary from part-time to full time or even self-employment.  Other services can focus on skills needed to be successful in the community and to build meaningful relationships in their lives.


Employment services


•    Exploration
•    Discovery
•    Situational observation and assessment
•    Job development plan or self-employment plan
•    Job development or self-employment startup
•    Job coaching for individualized, integrated employment
•    Job coaching for individualized, integrated self-employment
•    Coworker supports
•    Supported employment – small group
•    Career advancement
•    Integrated employment path services


Community wrap-around services


•    Independent living skills training
•    Community integration support services
•    Community transportation


Other long-term services and supports


•    Personal assistance
•    Assistive technology, adaptive equipment and supplies
•    Community living supports (CLS) and CLS family model
•    Supportive home care (SHC)
•    Family caregiver stipend in lieu of SHC
•    Respite
•    Specialized Consultation and Training
•    Individual Education and Training
 

Community Living Supports – Family Model
CHOICES - TennCare


Community Living Supports – Family Model (CLS-FM) is a community-based residential alternative service for seniors and adults with disabilities that supports the person in an “adult foster care” arrangement. The person lives in the home of trained family caregivers (other than the individual’s own family). CLS-FM services include hands-on assistance, supervision, transportation and other supports needed to help the individual transition from nursing home placement to community living (or to avoid nursing home placement). 

 

Community Living Supports
CHOICES – TennCare


Community Living Supports is a community-based residential alternative service for seniors and adults with disabilities that supports each person’s independence and full integration into the community. CLS services include hands-on assistance, supervision, transportation and other supports needed to help the individual transition from nursing home placement to community living (or to avoid nursing home placement).