Families of people with intellectual disabilities who live at home can run into lots of complicated situations. Even simple paperwork can seem insurmountable when dealing with multiple agencies and medical providers.
That complicated paperwork and coordination of services just adds to the other pressures clients with intellectually disabled loved ones face, so St. Coletta’s of Illinois has decided to offer a helping hand.
The Tinley Park nonprofit added a staff position late last year to help direct and manage services, including paperwork, for clients in Cook, Grundy and Kane counties.
It’s a way to help families that are in need of advice and budget clarification on personalized care and services, adaptive equipment, assistive technology home and vehicle modifications and end-of-life care and planning.
“Especially when you start getting into the payments and all that, it gets a little challenging,” said Heather Benedick, CEO of St. Coletta’s. “It’s just a way for us to provide a more complete selection of services.”
Shuntai Robinson, hired to the new self-direction assistant role, already had years of experience as an assistant with other nonprofits when she started helping families at St. Coletta’s by phone and in person. Problems she’s run into include payroll for personal support workers, and how clients can best spend the funds they receive from the state for special needs individuals.
“I’m here to give them suggestions,” Robinson said. “The acronyms are the issue, so I just break down what each acronym means.”
So far 10 clients have been using the program at St. Coletta’s.
Kim Cappelletti, director of Social Services for St. Coletta’s, said the new position is essential.
“They definitely would call me and ask for more information, direction and guidance,” said Cappelletti, who has worked there for a number of years. “I saw the need.”
The assistants can also help by meeting with Independent Service Coordination agencies, which create a plan of an individual’s need for services and keeps track of their likes and dislikes and risk factors, such as falling. They also help with Medicaid forms and submissions, offering information on and helping with hiring personal support workers and more.
“So far, I see it helping immensely because they are calling sometimes every other day, and they’re like, ‘What’s the status of this, what do I have to do next,’” said Cappelletti. “The SDA is helping them with these questions.”
It’s another way, Cappelletti said, of “keeping the vision of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi alive.”
Robinson said she’s happy to be part of St. Coletta’s 75-year tradition of helping people with special needs.
“What I like is the ending part of them being happy with the results and the individual getting all of their services, their budget is on point and everyone is happy,” she said.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.