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Budget Overview
Each individual has access to two, sometimes three budgets. Your Support Coordinators should be reviewing this with you as to what you can use each budget for. Each of these budgets are based on the individuals tier level.

  • Emp/Day Budget

  • Supports Budget:

  • Residential Budget*


* If the individual is CCW approved & enrolled they will have access to this budget


Not all agencies are released to approve their own plans, however we are. What this means for you is more timely turnaround to add or change services.

(Refer to Section 17 in the Supports Program Manual to read about each budget and what may be used under each).
Some Examples Are:

Community Inclusion (Supports Program Only) - This allows individuals to go on outings in the community in small groups with peers to places such as museums, sporting events, cultural events or educational activities. This is a great way to use the budget as these fees are lower than the community Based Supports Services and the peer interaction can be enjoyable and beneficial to many so the budget dollars can be maximized.
Environmental Modifications - This includes things like ramps, grab bars, widening of doorways, stair lifts and more.
How do others use their budget?
In addition to the Supports Program manual, your support coordinator can give you examples of how others use their budgets so you can get ideas. While some use the bulk of their budget for traditional Day Habilitation programs, others use their budget in varied ways. 
For example: Jane and Sam are both a Tier C but Jane needs help to develop improved communication skills before she can work. She attends a traditional Day program, she gets additional behavioral supports to meet her needs as well as receives speech therapy. She attends the day program 4 times a week and has one day a week where she has an individual support person who takes her to a variety of community outings.
Sam is ready and eager to work but needs some guidance. He was first receiving Career Planning services and once he got a job he received Supported Employment services. Sam likes music and likes to be active so he is attending a music class and has a membership to a gym. He has an individual support person who comes to the home once a week to help him with his basic meal preparation skills and guide him in household tasks such as laundry and cleaning. 
Unit Explanation:
Every service is billed using units. Units can be per 15 minutes/per day. Plan units can roll over from week to week for a particular service during the plan year to allow more flexibility in planning however, the units do not carry over from year to year. The units also do not carry over from one service to another, meaning if units are allocated to one service and are not used within the allotted timeframe they will be lost.

For more specifics on unit accumulation review the Supports Program/CCW manual and talk to your Support Coordinator.
Services you may be interested in...
Cooking Classes
Art Classes
Music Classes
Cooking, art and music classes are all available to each individual and can be found in all counties that we serve. If this is something you may be interested in please contact your Support Coordinator to discuss. These services can come out of either the Emp/Day Habilitation budget, as well as the Supports budget.

These services are a great and fun way to promote community inclusion with peers, while also providing the skill to live more independently!
Mark Your Calendars!
February 9th, 2018
A NIGHT TO SHINE
What is A Night To Shine?
A vision started and supported by the Tim Tebow Foundation which has ignited over 500 churches worldwide to host a prom on the same night for adults with special needs. Guests will be celebrated with a red carpet welcome, crowns and tiaras, corsages and boutonnieres, games, dancing, dinner, photo portraits, and all around VIP treatment. The vision is to provide an unforgettable night full of faith, hope and love for the amazing people with special needs who are truly Kings and Queens.

Several of our Support Coordinators are signed up to Volunteer for this amazing experience.

Click the link below to see a Church participating in your area!
About the President and CEO of Spectrum Care Management and Counseling, LLC

Benni Versaci
Benni Versaci is the founder and President of Spectrum Care Management and Counseling, LLC. Ms. Versaci holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work as well as a Master’s Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology so it was a natural step to combine these 2 specialties and form a social service agency. Her experience comes from years of working with a variety of different populations. She has worked as a Director of Respite programs servicing adults and children with developmental disabilities, was the liaison for large skilled nursing facilities and the state offices on Developmental Disabilities and has served on the Board of Ethics of many health care facilities. When asked what the key to the success of Spectrum CMC is, she says the compassion of the staff. Ms. Versaci is a guardian to a young woman with Traumatic Brain Injury who receives services from the NJ DDD. This gives her a perspective many other agencies may not have. She is a staunch advocate for those we serve and eager to help each individual reach new heights!
Currently serving Bergen, Burlington, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties