How supports coordination works
Healing Bridges supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities / autism (IDD/A) by promoting individuality, choice and control. The supports coordinator (SC) serves as the link between the individual, family and service provider to help people with functioning delays become self-sufficient, live everyday lives and find meaningful roles within their communities.
Healing Bridges’ supports coordination program works closely with Washington and Allegheny County providers to provide case management services for individuals with IDD/A to get them the support services that they need. The SC is the individual’s link to schools, the Intermediate Unit, medical assistance/insurance, supports groups, advocates, service providers and services. The SC makes and handles referrals and helps individuals get services identified in the Individual Support Plan. The SC is the key liaison, communicator, advocate, and problem solver for the individual to get services. The SC locates, coordinates and monitors those support services by providing advocacy and referrals to community resources with eligible waiver programs within our service area. A SC will engage individuals and their families in the development of plans to assure that their needs and wishes are addressed and life opportunities expanded.
Supports coordination key functions:
- Needs Assessment: With the family and the individual (and residential provider when involved), the Supports Coordinator helps the individual and family identify ways to meet the defined needs. These may include community supports, natural supports or specialized intellectual disability and/or autism services.
- Individual Support Plan Development: Using information gathered during needs assessment, the Supports Coordinator helps the individual and family identify ways to meet the defined needs. These may include community supports, natural supports or specialized intellectual disability and/or autism services.
- Locating Service: The Supports Coordinator helps the individual and family link to, obtain, and arrange for services.
- Coordinating Service: The Supports Coordinator works with the individual and his/her family, friends, and service providers to oversee progress on the Individual Support Plan.
- Monitoring Service: The Supports Coordinator regularly checks to assure the individual receives the appropriate quality, type, and level of service needed.
- Advocacy: The Supports Coordinator ensures that individual rights are protected while appropriate services are identified and delivered. The Supports Coordinator speaks up for and with the individual.
What we help with
Supports coordinators help individuals and families gain access to needed vocational, medical, social and educational services through natural supports, community resources, specialized waiver services and rehabilitation assistance. They also oversee all the paperwork that accompanies these services as well. A Healing Bridges SC is meant to help individuals build the skills needed to understand and implement their treatment plan effectively, while also providing a connection to other service providers and navigating any issues with those relationships. The SC position is performed consistently with the values, principals and philosophy of The Everyday Lives Publications, Quality Progressions and all applicable policies and procedures.
Some services that SCs can help client's get connected with but are not limited to include:
- Employment and Transitional Services
- Community and Safety Services
- Public Transportation Services
- Medical and Substance Abuse Treatment
- Educational and Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- Housing and Wellness Services
- Social Security, Income and Other Benefit Services
- Resolution and Crisis Services
- Day Program and Volunteer Services
- Family and Residential Services
Who is eligible?
Eligibility requirements for Healing Bridges’ intellectual and developmental disabilities supports coordination services include a diagnosis of an intellectual and/or developmental disability upon the results of objective standardized testing. IDD/A is a life-long condition that affects a person's ability to learn and function in society that occurs during the developmental stages of growing up.
The features of IDD/A are significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning accompanied by limitations in adaptive function levels in at least two of the following skills by an individual’s 22nd birthday:
- Use of community resources skills
- Self-determination skills
- Functional academic, work and leisure skills
- Health and safety skills
Meet Our Supports Coordination Team
Click on the photos below to learn more about each team member!
How to get started
Please call the one of our IDD/A Supervisors at 724-225-6940 x 503 or 501 and request supports coordination services from Healing Bridges. One of our IDD/A SC Supervisors will then ask a few basic questions about the individual. Once all the pre-screen questions are completed, you will be directed to fill out the Washington County Behavioral Health and Developmental Services IDD/A Referral Form by clicking the button below. If you are a person who does not have computer access to fill out the form, please contact Michelle Gindlesperger at the Washington County BHDS office at 724-228-6833 and request IDD/A supports coordination services from Healing Bridges. If the individual is approved, then a supports coordinator will be assigned.
You can also find us on pa-navigate.org to get connected with a team member for guidance on the intake process. Please find all relevant documents concerning the supports coordination program located on the website.
Items needed for the initial intake meeting:
For more information or questions, contact:
