Creating Home News
Collin, Denton, Dallas, Ellis, Kaufman, Rockwall and Tarrant Counties
COMMUNITY FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING
December 2017
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What is affordable housing?
In a 1991 update to the Housing and Urban Development Act, HUD established that 30% percent of family incomeis affordable rent. The monthly payment amount for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in Texas for an individual is 2018 will be $750. Thirty percent for rent will be $225 per month.
Since HUD has established this definition of affordable, CPSH and our volunteers are advocating to ensure local and federal governments offer affordable housing to people on SSI (low, very low and no income).
Affordability also means that very little or no funding should be required of families for individuals to access community-based, safe, affordable housing with the services they need. CPSH continues to make affordably where individuals want to live a priority. Where possible CPSH encourages families to invest in the housing their children with disabilities live in as adults.
Parent Voice
Parent Voices
In 2017, COMMUNITY FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING joined the North Texas Housing Assessment Team to conduct Focus Groups to find out what types of housing individuals with disabilies want. Their parents also participated in these discussions. Here is Vandi Alba discussing why the CPSH Neighborhood Homes effort is important to her and her daughter.
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Project Independent Workshop 1/27/18
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In partnership with UnitedHealthcare, CPSH is pleased to announce the the January 27, 2018 Project Independence Workshop.
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The Project Independence Workshop takes families through the 5 steps of how to create independent living in the community with friends. The instructor and parents who have successfully used this approach will share information. Participants will plan how to transition their children to more independence. Families of any age children are welcome to attend.
This is is a 5 hour workshop. Lunch and refreshments are provided.
- Step 1, Overview: What is supported housing? What is project independence?
- Step 2, Finding a place to live: How to approach property owners?
- Step 3, Services and paperwork: How to identify utilities, care, transportation, etc?
- Step 4, Financial: What is your affordable budget?
- Step 5, Moving in: How to be a good tenant?
You will leave with a workbook of information to plan your approach. There will be follow up opportunities for discussion.
This is an opportunity to bring families of your child's classmates and friends into a discussion the group living in close proximity with supports. Invite them to RSVP.
It's also a good way to meet other families interested in independent living with supports.
Saturday, January 27, 2018 from 10:00am – 3:00pm
Richardson Civic Center (West entrance)
411 W Arapaho Rd (SW Corner Arapaho and I75)
Richardson, TX 75080
There is a $10/person registration fee. The fee will be returned at completion of workshop.
Space is limited. Please RSVP by January 12, 2018, here.
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What is Protective Supervision?
Protective Supervision is a service approved under the Home and Community Services Waiver (HCS) as part of Supported Home Living (SHL).
Community First Choice(CFC) does NOT in the service called Protective Supervision. However, Community First Choice (CFC) does allow for limited supervision for reminding and monitoring related to activities of daily living, such as bathing or eating, that are not solely for the purpose of protective supervision. The CFC supervision option is not widely understood or used in Texas.
A quick search on the Star Plus websites shows that Protective Supervision is a service that is offered in the Star Plus Waiver.
Protective Supervision is a supportive service for people who, due to a physical or mental disability need to be observed at times during the day or night to protect them from injuries, hazards or accidents. Historically, an HCS provider was paid to observe and monitor a child or adult with an intellectual or developmental disability when the person needs intermittently or ongoing monitoring or assistance, in order to remain safely in the community and their own home or family home when. It was provided in the HCS waiver until CFC services became available in 2014. Since then, it is very difficult to justify and impossible to bill.
The need for Protective Supervision must be identified through person centered planning and be included in a person’s individual service plan. Supported Home Living and CFC may both be included in a person’s service plan, but billing guidelines inadvertently omitted allowable billing for protective services within Supported Home Living. Families and advocates have waited for more than a year for resolution of this billing issue.
Currently the state of Texas (HHSC/DADS) DOES NOT have
- a way to bill for Protective Supervision in HCS under Supported Home Living
- an updated assessment tool that identifies the need for CFC supervision related to activities of daily living or Protective Supervision as billable HCS service.
- an updated CFC instruction guide that includes reminding and monitoring across all areas of functioning, depending on each individual’s needs or Protective Supervision as billable HCS service.
Susan Murphree, Senior Policy Specialist at Disability Rights Texas, in Austin, is inquiring about the status of these and other actions related to Protective Supervision. CPSH will be assisting Susan to encourage more transparency about Protective Supervision. It is imperative that HHSC/DADs clarify this service so that more consumers may apply for and use it.
You may be able to apply for increase supervision through CFC at this time, only when it is related to an activity of daily living, while awaiting resolution of the HCS Protective Supervision issue. Work with your service coordinator and service planning team, including the provider, to determine whether CFC supervision is needed.
To receive appropriate CFC supervision here are some tips.
- Include language regarding "reminding" and "monitoring" in both the Person Centered Plan and the CFC assessment as appropriate to the individual’s actual need<./li>
- Include in the plan and assessment over night needs and why. For example: fall risk when getting up to go to the bathroom, risk to flooding if the sink faucet isn't shut, risk of burning skin with water too hot....
- If need is intermittent (not respite) need to state how often and why.
- Track the specific "reminding" and "monitoring" of a family member or aide for 3 months, to show the frequency. This will help justify the need for CFC supervision.
Reference: 2015 California Info on Protective Supervision
If your child is receiving HCS Medicaid Waiver Services, contact your Service Coordinator to discuss CFC supervision or Protective Supervision. A person’s person centered plan and individual service plan can be updated as needed, not just annually.
If your child is not receiving HCS Medicaid Waiver Services, contact your Star+Plus Managed Care Organization.
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Creating Home News and Calendar here
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This holiday season, please give a gift to CPSH.
Your donation improves your loved one's future.
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Your Donation Matters!
Help CPSH with 2018 Projects.
CPSH can only succeed with your help. If you appreciate the
importance of what we are doing in the DFW area, please consider donating to CPSH
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Learn more about donating at Give2CPSH. |
About This Newsletter
The Community for Permanent Supported Housing e-newsletter has stories, calendar of events, and other features about creative housing options for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities or social challenges, as well as independent living in North Texas.
About CPSH
CPSH is a charity and works with families and community partners to create more housing options in the Collin, Denton, Dallas, Ellis, Kaufman, Rockwall and Tarrant Counties for almost 100,000 adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities or social challenges regardless of IQ who need safe, affordable housing with support. CPSH has created an independent living guide for parents everywhere in Texas.
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