|
Who
will be my Primary Partner at the Regional Center?
Once your eligibility for services is established, you or your family member will be assigned a Case Manager who will be your primary contact and partner at the regional center. A Case Manager is a professional in the area of developmental disabilities and is knowledgeable about resources, supports and services that you or your family member might want or need. Your assigned Case Manager will be part of a team of staff who work in your specific county and will be familiar with the services available in your community. If you are the parent of a child from birth to three years of age, you will be assigned a Case Manager from our Early Intervention Team.
Whenever possible, we will provide a Case Manager who speaks your primary language. Golden Gate Regional Center has a multi-cultural staff which reflects the ethnic and cultural diversity of our service area.
Once an assignment has been made we try to keep you with the same Case Manager. However, sometimes reassignments are unavoidable. Should this occur, the team covering your geographic area will insure that you continue to receive the same level of service until a reassignment is made.
What
are my Case Manager's responsibilities in our partnership?
In partnering with you, your Case Manager is responsible for assisting you or your family member with accessing information and gaining knowledge, making decisions and choices about the outcomes you would like for yourself and your future, developing plans for working toward your desired outcomes, and identifying, locating and accessing the supports and services that you may need to achieve those outcomes.
We believe that when you, as a consumer or involved family member, feel that you have the support you need, have information and knowledge about the services and resources available to you, and feel comfortable and able to take responsibility for your decisions and choices, you have as much control over your life as possible. Having this self-reliance and control is what we mean by empowerment. Your Case Manager will assist you in locating and coordinating the support, information and service choices you or your family member need to feel secure, knowledgeable, responsible and empowered. This is what we refer to as service coordination.
Your Case Manager provides support by:
 | Listening to your concerns. |
| Respecting your observations, opinions and preferences. |
| Linking you with peer support through Family Resource Centers. |
| Advocating for you with various agencies such as the local school district, Social Security, Medi-Cal and the Department of Rehabilitation. |
| Responding when you have emergencies and crises. |
| Investigating problems, complaints and possible abuse. |
Your Case Manager assists you in gaining information and knowledge by:
| Offering you training and educational opportunities. |
| Referring you to a Family Resource Center for pamphlets, books and videos. |
| Linking you with specialists from the Center and the community who can answer your questions. |
Your Case Manager assists you in accessing supports and services by:
| Helping you to identify or develop natural supports in your community. |
| Informing you of cost-effective public and community resources and services. |
| Referring you to supports and services available through Family Resource Centers. |
| Assisting you with acquiring supports and services from our community service provider network. |
Your Case Manager assists you in developing plans and making choices by:
| Encouraging you to identify or develop a circle of support the important people in you or your family member's life who can meet and communicate regularly to offer support and assistance with planning and decision-making. |
| Attending meetings with you or your family member, such as Individual Educational Plan (IEP) meetings at your school. |
| Partnering with you and your circle of support to develop a useful and effective Individual Program Plan that lists the specific outcomes you or your family member is trying to achieve, and the services and supports required to meet those outcomes. |
| Partnering with you in periodically reviewing the progress you are making toward your desired outcomes and discussing any needed change in your plans. |
| Partnering with you in reviewing the quality and effectiveness of the supports and services you receive. |
What
are my responsibilities in our partnership?
First and foremost, be a partner! This seems simple, but partnership is hard work. However, we believe that you will find that partnering with the regional center and becoming an active member of the Golden Gate Regional Center community are the most successful ways for you, as a consumer or involved family member, to access the resources, services and supports that you may want or need.
Be an Active Learner and Seeker of Information:
We believe that the information you gain will help you to feel more prepared and knowledgeable about choices and decisions you make for yourself or your family member.
You can access information and gain knowledge by:
| Participating in trainings and workshops provided by the regional center. |
| Reading "GGRC Focus", a newsletter for friends of the regional center. |
| Be an active participant and decision-maker. |
| Attending GGRC's Board of Directors Regional Center meetings. |
| If you are a "primary" consumer, joining the Consumer Advisory Committee. |
We believe that the experience that comes from being an active participant and decision-maker will help you to feel prepared and able to take control and responsibility for your choices and decisions to take a leadership role in your life and your future.
You can become an active participant by:
| Attending and participating in meetings regarding you or your family member. |
| Communicating your needs and concerns to your Case Manager and at the meetings you attend. |
| Asking questions when information is not clear. |
| Working with your Case Manager to identify and develop a circle of support. |
| Asking your circle of support or other important people in your life extended family, friends, and other individuals who provide you or your family member with care or support to be part of your Person-Centered Planning team. |
| Preparing for Individual Program Plan meetings, as well as other meetings, by discussing, researching, collecting or recording the information, ideas, goals, plans, and service and support needs that you or your family member would like to discuss at the meeting. |
| Following up on all items on your Individual Program Plan that you accepted the responsibility for completing. |
You can make informed choices and decisions about the services you receive by:
| Learning what supports and services are available in your local community, from public resources, and
through the community service provider network. |
| Partnering with your Case Manager to review the quality and effectiveness of the services and supports you or your family member are receiving. |
| Contacting us when problems or concerns arise. |
| Letting us know when you or your family member are pleased or dissatisfied with the services you are receiving.
Accepting both the benefits and responsibilities that come with the choices and decisions you or your family member make. |
Be an Active Member of the Golden Gate Regional Center Community:
We believe that the relationships you develop as a member of our community can be an important source of support for you and your family, connecting you with the Golden Gate Regional Center community service provider network, and another valuable resource other consumers, peers, parents and families.
You can become an active member of the Golden Gate Regional Center community by:
| Sharing information by writing an article for our newsletter. |
| Sharing your experiences by participating in a support group. |
| Networking with other consumers and families for support, information and leadership opportunities. |
| Developing partnerships in your own local neighborhood and community. |
| Contacting us to inform us about new resources you have tried or found in the community. |
How
do I reach or contact my Case Manager?
After you or your family member are determined eligible for services, and your first IPP (Individual Program Plan) has been developed, you will be assigned an ongoing Case Manager. You will be able to contact your Case Manager by telephone, or by scheduling an appointment for a visit at your home, at our office or at some other location of your choice.
Our office has a telephone voice mail system, so that you can leave a voice message for your Case Manager even if he/she is not in the office. Your Case Manager picks up voice messages regularly, and will usually return your call by the end of the next working day. If you feel that your telephone calls are not being returned in a timely manner, you can ask the telephone operator to connect you with your Case Manager's supervisor.
What
if I have an emergency or immediate need and can't reach my Case Manager?
If you need to speak with someone immediately, and you can only reach your Case Manager's voice mail, press "0" and ask for assistance. A knowledgeable staff person is available to answer your call even if your Case Manager is out of the office, ill or on vacation.
If you need to speak with someone after business hours, you can page our After Hours Response system at (415) 807-3792 and leave your telephone number to receive a call back. The emergency on-call worker will call you back within 30 minutes or less. A knowledgeable staff person is always available to answer your emergency call.
What
if I don't know or can't remember the name of my Case Manager?
If you don't know or can't remember the name of your Case Manager, just telephone our office and ask our telephone operator to assist you. Our telephone operator has a computerized listing of the names of all the consumers we serve, and will be able to tell you the name of your assigned Case Manager.
Can
I change my designated Case Manager?
Every year, you will be asked to comment on whether you wish to continue working with your current Case Manager . You may request a change of Case Manager at that time, or at any other time during the year if you are dissatisfied with the service you are receiving. If you are dissatisfied, please contact your assigned Case Manager's supervisor. The supervisor will discuss your particular situation with you, and will either assist you with resolving the problem or assign you a different Case Manager.
Helpful tips
for Case Managers
The following tips from Case Managers can help promote a positive consumer/family-professional partnership:
| Request timely and up-to-date progress reports and evaluations for yourself or your family member with a disability, and maintain a portfolio of these reports. |
| Allow Case Managers ample time to secure services as specific funding criteria have to be researched and the purchase of service process has a number of steps involved. |
| Be proactive don't wait until the last minute to call your Case Manager for assistance. |
| Don't be afraid to ask questions. |
| Each consumer's service plan is based on individual needs and preferences, and therefore, your service plan and services will not "mirror" those of another consumer or family. |
| If your Case Manager doesn't answer the phone, please leave a message. He/she picks up phone messages regularly. |
| When leaving voice mail messages, be sure to give your name and phone number in a clear voice, explain the specific problem or issue, and leave different times the regional center staff can return your call. |
| Case Managers are frequently in the community, so be sure to schedule meetings in advance. |
| Share your experiences on both good and bad resources with your Case Manager. |
| Be sure to keep your Case Manager up to date on you or your family member. You should always let your Case Manager know if you or your family member are hospitalized, suspended from school, have a family crisis, or if you suspect abuse. |
| It's helpful to keep your Case Manager's name and telephone extension handy. Write it down in a convenient place you can remember. |
| Sign and return IPP and IFSP documents promptly. |
| Access passes may be available for people with disabilities from amusement parks and other recreational agencies even if your child is not physically handicapped. Be prepared to get a doctor's note about your child's condition and carry it with you. Long, slow lines can be as much of a barrier to an individual with special needs as a curb is to a wheelchair.
|
|
