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A variety of school staff members have gone in front of the camera to give testimonials about working at Wildwood School. The project, conceived of by Cindi Riggi and the communications team, is designed to help get the message out about what it is like working with Wildwood’s students and how it can be a rewarding career.
“We want potential job candidates to get a clear picture of what working at school is like,” Cindy Riggi said. “We want the people who work here to let applicants know what to expect, how rewarding the career can be and what the realistic challenges can be like.
Teachers, teaching assistants, music therapists, social workers, and art teachers all participated and shared what a work day and a career is like at school. Every testimonial was unique yet there were common themes throughout every interview. Those themes were commitment and caring for the students.
“I love coming to work because every day is different,” Adrienne Galaraz says. “When you can see a student grow and develop it is so rewarding.
While everyone acknowledged the challenges of school work, things like short staffing, challenging behaviors and managing many students at once, the challenges were overshadowed by the personal fulfillment from the work.
“I have a great job. I get to share music with the students every day and play a small part in their growth and happiness,” Alec Betterley, music therapist says.
Some of the staff who shared their testimonials were long tenured while others have joined Wildwood less than a year ago. Stephanie Berg has been a TA at school for over twenty years.
“I stay here because of the culture. It really is a close-knit group of people and it is a great atmosphere to work in,” she says.
Trystan Tallman just became a teacher. Despite the difference in tenures she shares many of the same feelings as Stephanie.
“I love teaching. I love how the students respond and develop. Not every day is easy but you really get a chance to make a difference in someone’s life,” she says.
The videos will be used for recruitment, in social media campaigns and for staff training.
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Self-Direction is a person-centered support that puts the individual and their family in the driver’s seat of service delivery. Self-Direction
To be eligible for Self-Direction an individual will need to be receiving the HCBS Waiver through OPWDD services. With the assistance of their Care Manager an individual will request Self-Direction through OPWDD. After being approved for the service the individual and their family will attend an information session with OPWDD to learn the ins and outs of the program.
It is important to note; the Self-Direction process can go as quickly or as slow as the individual needs to be comfortable in the process and to understand the program. At any time an individual has the option to return to traditional services.
After attending the OPWDD informational session an individual will choose their Fiscal Intermediary and Broker. Your Fiscal Intermediary provides support and services of hiring your staff, reimbursing you for services received. Your Broker is your guide and support who will assist you through Self-Direction by helping you maximize the usage of your budget and to assist you in finding staff.
“Self-direction is a great opportunity for a person to make decisions regarding many areas of their life.
People can obtain support for community involvement, healthy choices, classes, and staffing,”
Michelle Tanner, Supervisor of Self-Direction at Wildwood
After putting together your team, which includes your Fiscal Intermediary and Broker you will submit a start up budget. This budget gives the Broker funds to begin the planning process with you. During the start up phase you, with the assistance of your Broker, Care Manager, and loved ones called your Circle of Support will review your hopes, your dreams, your likes, your dislikes and your needs. During this person-centered planning process your Care Manager will complete a needs assessment, this assessment determines your annual Self-Direction budget amount. Once a budget amount is determined you will sit down with your Circle of Support and prioritize what will be in your budget to help you achieve those hopes and dreams you identified during the person -centered planning process.
In Self-Direction there are 3 types of budgets. The first is a both plan, this means all community and residential supports are in your budget. A residential only plan, which would just be your home supports or other than a residential plan, which is everything but your home needs and supports. The type of plan you will have depends on what is currently happening in your life and your needs. Your broker will guide you through these 3 types of budgets during the person centered planning process and help you choose the right one for you.
Under all 3 types of budget plans you have the ability to choose to Self-Hire or direct provider purchased services for Community Habilitation, Respite and Employment Services. To Self-Hire staff you with the assistance of your broker will decide the hours and rate of pay for your staff, but they will be required to be hired through your Fiscal Intermediary and follow the rules and regulations of the program through OPWDD. Self-Hire also means with the assistance of your broker you would be responsible for finding your staff. Under direct provider purchased services you pick a provider in the community to deliver the service of Community Habilitation, Respite, and/or Employment Services to you. The provider you choose will determine the rate of pay for staff and find the staff you will work with. Under Self-Direction, the choice is yours on which way you would like to be supported through these services.
“Self-Direction is a very helpful support to my husband and me. We can stay in our home and pay our bills.
We have a good Circle of Support who help us when we have questions and we have a lot of them!”
says Tamelia Fritz, who participates in self-direction.
Self-Direction is a program for all ages and is a program you will be able to adapt and change as you grow and as your life changes. When you graduate from high school your budget will increase as you will not be in school and may need additional support during the day. Over time if an individual builds the skills necessary and wants to move out of their loved one’s home they will be able to access a rental assistance program through their self-direction budget. For an adult accessing Self-Direction services they may also receive assistance in contributing to utilities, phone reimbursement, and much more.
Each Self-Direction plan is unique to the person and has the adaptability to change as your life grows and changes. Your Self-Direction plan can be reviewed and updated anytime you like by reaching out to your broker and your team to make any changes you like.
Self-Direction is a service that truly puts you in control and lets you decide how the supports and services you want and need to achieve your dreams. In the words of one of our participants in Self-Direction:
“I love Self-Direction. It helps me do what I want in life. I am very happy and I am having fun,”
says Michelle Summers, self-direction participant.
For more information, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Self-Direction team here at Wildwood:
Amber Suttle, Director of Self-Directed Services asuttle@wildwoodprograms.org
Michelle Tanner, Self-Direction Supervisor mtanner@wildwoodprograms.org
Moriah Roberts, Asst Supervisor of Self-Direction mroberts@wildwoodprograms.org
For more general information regarding Self-Direction, please feel free to visit OPWDD website: https://opwdd.ny.gov/types-
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As of December of 2022, the Family Support Services Department has undergone some transitions as most of the agency has with the merger of 2022.
First and foremost, the Family Support Services Department consists of three services and supports anyone approved by OPWDD with an intellectual or developmental disability who lives with natural supports. Our most popular service is our In-Home Behavior Support Services, which is an up to six months service for families to learn about behavior support for their loved ones living at home. We also have Social Work Services, trainings and groups for family members and individuals to work on a range of emotional and psychological topics. And finally, there is our Social Relationship and Sexual Education program, which is up to 6 months of service working with families and loved ones in a 1:1 capacity, in groups, workshops and sexual consent assessments.
Recently, we added a new part-time Social Work position that was filled by one of Wildwood’s own beloved long time employees, Donna Dorsey. Upon her “retirement” she decided to try something new, and accepted the part time position. Donna has already begun seeing families and individuals in a 1:1 capacity (virtual and in person), and has begun a biweekly Womens’ Group that is held every other Thursday. She is looking forward to creating more groups for families to interact and gain resources from, like a parent group and sibling group!
As December rolled in, long time Family Support Services Coordinator, Michelle Singh, transitioned into her new role in Residential Services, allowing me, a former In-Home Behavior Support Specialist, to move up into the department coordinator role. I am currently the new Family Support Services Coordinator for the department and excited for what is ahead. I have been working to make services more accessible and flexible for families by creating a more inclusive intake process to see if more than one service is appropriate for the family in need. I have also been working on getting more resources for the department to bring in more specialists for workshops, and consultation for the departments as we see families needs become more complex. I am also a Yoga Teacher and I plan on bringing back Yoga sessions for families, once I returns from maternity leave! As for the In-Home Behavior Position, we will be welcoming our new Behaviorist to the team March 20th, 2023! The team is very excited for her to bring 15 years of experience to the team, so stay tuned to learn more about her in a future Wildwood Digest.
As if those two roles in our tiny department weren’t enough change, we also welcomed in a new Community Service Director, Matt McMorris. Matt has been pivotal in helping the department find innovative and creative ways to provide Family Support Services in a hands-on way. He has been crucial to our communication with OPWDD, and other providers to advertise, manage and assist in getting this little departments lofty goals going.
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As of December of 2022, the Family Support Services Department has undergone some transitions as most of the agency has with the merger of 2022.
First and foremost, the Family Support Services Department consists of three services and supports anyone approved by OPWDD with an intellectual or developmental disability who lives with natural supports. Our most popular service is our In-Home Behavior Support Services, which is an up to six months service for families to learn about behavior support for their loved ones living at home. We also have Social Work Services, trainings and groups for family members and individuals to work on a range of emotional and psychological topics. And finally, there is our Social Relationship and Sexual Education program, which is up to 6 months of service working with families and loved ones in a 1:1 capacity, in groups, workshops and sexual consent assessments.
Recently, we added a new part-time Social Work position that was filled by one of Wildwood’s own beloved long time employees, Donna Dorsey. Upon her “retirement” she decided to try something new, and accepted the part time position. Donna has already begun seeing families and individuals in a 1:1 capacity (virtual and in person), and has begun a biweekly Womens’ Group that is held every other Thursday. She is looking forward to creating more groups for families to interact and gain resources from, like a parent group and sibling group!
As December rolled in, long time Family Support Services Coordinator, Michelle Singh, transitioned into her new role in Residential Services, allowing me, a former In-Home Behavior Support Specialist, to move up into the department coordinator role. I am currently the new Family Support Services Coordinator for the department and excited for what is ahead. I have been working to make services more accessible and flexible for families by creating a more inclusive intake process to see if more than one service is appropriate for the family in need. I have also been working on getting more resources for the department to bring in more specialists for workshops, and consultation for the departments as we see families needs become more complex. I am also a Yoga Teacher and I plan on bringing back Yoga sessions for families, once I returns from maternity leave! As for the In-Home Behavior Position, we will be welcoming our new Behaviorist to the team March 20th, 2023! The team is very excited for her to bring 15 years of experience to the team, so stay tuned to learn more about her in a future Wildwood Digest.
As if those two roles in our tiny department weren’t enough change, we also welcomed in a new Community Service Director, Matt McMorris. Matt has been pivotal in helping the department find innovative and creative ways to provide Family Support Services in a hands-on way. He has been crucial to our communication with OPWDD, and other providers to advertise, manage and assist in getting this little departments lofty goals going.
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A spirited group of Wildwood self-advocates, staff and parents attended a rally on February 13, 2023 at the Capitol Building in Albany. We joined advocates from around the state, partnering to ensure our powerful voices were heard as we petitioned Governor Hochul to add a vital 8.5% Cost Of Living Adjustment for Direct Support Professionals to the budget.
Advocates and family members spoke passionately about their life experiences, and clarified what their lives or lives of their loved ones would look like without the support of DSP’s. For some, they no longer attend meaningful day programs due to a lack of staff. For others, access to the community has been almost eliminated as they don’t have the support to be active.
DSP’s illuminated their life experiences, detailing working long hours and the necessity of having two, even three jobs just to make ends meet. Why? So they may continue to do the essential work they are so passionate about. Their work ensures the citizens they support may live lives of dignity and respect; that they continue to have critical help to attend doctor appointments, to complete daily living skills such as bathing, and to receive nutrition assistance, to name only a few of the supports they provide.
It was an energized environment where legislators listened and added their voices of support to the cause.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
TELL YOUR STORY!
Call and schedule a visit with your legislators! You may find them on these websites:
https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator
https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/
Write letters, attend rallies, sign petitions, SPEAK UP!
Encourage your legislators to advocate for their constituents and petition Governor Hochul to take care of our essential workforce. Join us and make your voice heard. .
Assertiveness, Boundaries and Confidence class offered in Adult Education
To help the people we support develop the skills necessary to be an effect advocate the Adult Education department offers an Assertiveness, Boundaries and Confidence class. This class helps students develop communication skills in a variety of challenging situations. Assertiveness, Boundaries and Confidence encourages students to practice skills through real-life scenarios and receive feedback to help them speak up for themselves and build confidence.