Frequently Asked Questions
Berkshires: 45 (as of 2/10)
Springfield: 92 (as of 2/10)
Worcester: 26 (as of 2/10)
Both. In the Springfield area the agency owns 6 homes and leases 25 homes. In the Berkshires, the agency owns 2 homes and leases 8 homes. One home in Lee is owned by the people who live there. In Worcester the agency leases 10 homes.
The agency has homes in both urban and country settings. Our homes are located in accordance with the needs and desires of the person and their families.
There is no set number of people who live in any one home. We have homes with four people and homes with just one person. We design our group living programs around each individual’s needs.
Autism is a developmental disorder with a wide range of symptoms, generally affecting the development of communication, social, and emotional skills. Effective treatment involves individualized assessment of specific deficits and skills but often includes procedures to address social skills training, communication and establishing effective daily routines which can limit disruption and upset for the individual.
Acquired brain injury is an increasingly frequent problem as medical technology and techniques improve the chances of survival in the face of formerly fatal accidents and tragedies. Following rehabilitation in skilled nursing settings, the individual with acquired brain injury is often left with needs for support and training that are difficult to meet in the current range of medical settings. Individualized supports can provide the necessary supervision and assistance in dealing with the substantial changes in independence and personality.
Yes. The agency supports a community of eleven Deaf/HOH people in the Berkshires and a smaller group in the Springfield and Worcester areas. Please see Deaf/HOH Services
Yes, we have contracts with the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind and we have worked closely with the Perkins School for respite care and placement following graduation and the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults in New York and Massachusetts.
Yes. Computers are available in many of our homes for consumer and staff use.
(As Of 02/2010)
Berkshires: 125
Springfield: 343
Worcester: 109
Worcester Office – Department of Developmental Services funded Other funding sources – DCF, DOE Springfield Office - Department of Developmental Services funded Other funding sources – DMH, DCF, MRC Pittsfield Office - Department of Developmental Services funded Other funding sources – DMH, DCF, MCDHH, MCB
Referrals are usually made by a funding agency such as DMR or DMH. Referral packets containing information about the person are sent to Linda Sullivan, Executive Director. Team members from all disciplines review the information and write a proposal describing how the agency will support the person in a manner that will best suit the persons’ needs. The proposal is sent back to the funding agency. Once the proposal is approved the agency works with the Service Coordinator, family members and the individual to plan for a smooth transition into our program and their new home.
Yes, the Clinical Department includes full time clinicians in each of our Springfield, Worcester, and Berkshire offices, as well as consulting psychiatrists and Behavior specialists. The clinical staff works directly with our management and direct support staff to develop treatment plans and to provide on going training.
Yes, the Nursing Department has expanded to include a full time Director of Nursing, who is a Board Certified Registered Nurse with extensive experience in the fields of medical/surgical nursing, developmental disability nursing, psychiatric mental health nursing , and nursing education. Her extensive and varied experience enables her to develop treatment plans based specifically on the individual needs of each person supported. The Nursing Department also includes 2.5 full time Registered Nurses, and 2 full time MAP Compliance Managers, who work directly in the field to support our staff to provide the highest quality of care possible.
Generally the Program Manager will arrange to accompany the person to the appointment, however, family members often wish to be present which is encouraged. Our nursing staff works directly with our management and direct supprt staff making sure that all the necessary information is available to the Health Care Provider at the time of the appointment.
Our first goal will always be to schedule the person to see their Primary Care Physician however, our staff is trained to use community health care systems such as walk in clinics and/or emergency rooms when needed.
In the Springfield, Berkshire, and Worcester areas, the agency has a designated cell phone for emergencies or any crisis situation 24 hour / 7 days a week. Senior managers carry the Emergency / Crisis cell phone on rotation. Additionally, all three areas have an on-call emergency crisis intervention team (I-Team) that responds directly to a home when there is a crisis.
We encourage families to visit their family member on a schedule or on a frequency that works for both. We don’t just support the person living in our program, we support the person’s family and the individual and we make every effort to accommodate everyone.