Connection
 July 2018  
AIM to offer Healthy Community Living courses 

AIM has been chosen to take part in a new initiative called Healthy Community Living, and will offer a pair of independent living skills courses to people with disabilities next year.

AIM was recently awarded a $15,000 grant from the University of Montana's Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC: Rural) to offer the courses.

The courses were developed by RTC: Rural and the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), with funding from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research.

The courses will be offered by independent living centers across the country.

Both courses are peer-led, web-based multi-media programs, delivered in weekly two-hour sessions for 11 weeks.

One class is called Living Well in the Community, and topics include eating well, physical activity, goal setting and building supports. The other, Community Living Skills, includes topics such as self-care, self-advocacy, housing, transportation and disability identity.

AIM staff will attend a conference in Denver, Colo., this fall to be trained as facilitators, and the courses will be offered in early 2019. The schedule will be announced at a later date. For more details about the Healthy Community Living project, click here
AIM partners with Prime Care as OPWDD transitions to care coordination model
The New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is shifting to a new way of coordinating services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Under the previous system, individuals and their families worked with Medicaid service coordinators at local agencies such as AIM.

On July 1, OPWDD transitioned to the new model, which is called Health Home Care Management.

Health Home Care Management is provided by Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs), which are newly formed regional entities.

The role of Medicaid service coordinator has been replaced by care managers, who can  coordinate not just OPWDD services, but also health, wellness and behavioral health services. 

Individuals and families will have several CCOs to choose from in each county.  AIM will partner with  Prime Care Coordination, one of the CCOs. 

AIM's Medicaid service coordinators are now care managers for Prime Care Coordination, but will still be based at AIM during a transition period.

This change only affects Medicaid service coordination, and not other OPWDD programs offered by AIM. For more information, contact Wendy Watkins, AIM's Intake Coordinator, at wwatkins@aimcil.com or (607) 962-8225, ext. 223.
Lottery set for Maple Avenue apartments 
CDS Housing's affordable housing complex for seniors and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities will open this fall. Applications are being accepted now.
A lottery will be held in July that will determine priority for Elmira Senior Living, the new affordable housing community for seniors and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities set to open this fall on Maple Avenue in Elmira.

The lottery will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 16 at the Elmira AIM office, 350 W. Church St. to randomly draw applications and establish the priority list. The random drawing will be open to the public.

The lottery will be conducted by Landsman Real Estate Services, which is handling the application and leasing process for CDS Housing, the developer. Applications must be submitted by Friday, July 13 to be entered into the lottery.

For more information or to receive an application, contact Kim Morelli at kmorelli@landsman.com or (585) 427-7570.

The 50-unit apartment complex will feature 40 units for seniors age 55 and older, with preference given to veterans. Ten apartments will be reserved for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  
 
AIM Independent Living Center is a partner in the project and will provide support services on site.
Green honored as Employee of the Month
Hillary Green has been chosen as AIM's Employee of the Month for July.

Green is a fiscal intermediary specialist for people with developmental disabilities and their families, providing budgetary and administrative support that enables individuals to hire staff to assist them.

She also makes sure goods and services for AIM's consumers are paid for in accordance with their state-approved budget, among other responsibilities.

Green received multiple nominations from co-workers, who say she goes above and beyond to meet the needs of her consumers. They also cited her resourcefulness and her attention to detail, even while handling a large caseload.

Welcome to our recent new hires:
 
- CreeAnna Peterson is an OPWDD fiscal intermediary specialist. 
- Bob Recotta is an OPWDD care manager.
- Alana Strope is a Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAS) specialist. 
- Lori Wheeler is a service coordinator in the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion and Traumatic Brain Injury waiver programs.

Our current job openings:

- Corporate Compliance and Quality Assurance Coordinator
- OASAS Family Support Navigator 
- CDPAS Personal Care Assistants 
- OPWDD Medicaid Service Coordinator (Care Manager)
- OPWDD Self-Hire Staff 
- OPWDD Direct Support Professionals 

View job descriptions and apply online here
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