The special needs path can be a bit overwhelming. Despite our dedication and research, it seems like there is always something left to discover or address. We talk to other families, work with therapists, doctors and educators to find the best path, but pulling it all together usually falls to the family. If you are like me, some days you just want someone to pull it all together for you and help you know the next steps and how to get there. A mentor or advocate of sorts, someone who roots for your family and doesn’t cost $200 an hour!
The closest we have found to this magical person exists at Together We Care and we were blessed enough to become a client a few years ago. The organization is a nonprofit that often goes quietly under the radar and makes a big impact in the lives of those it serves. In order the meet the growing needs of the community, Together We Care has recently expanded its staff and now includes Together We Plan, Together We Apply, Together We Support and Together We Advocate.
Elizabeth Newman is the Program Director for Together We Support which is part of Together We Care. She will be jumping in now and explaining how Together We Care supports its clients.
What does together we care do?
Together We Care is a people centered nonprofit offering resource support to families in the special needs community. We have a heart for this community because this is the community we live in daily by virtue of raising, teaching, or supporting special needs individuals ourselves.
Our resource coaches offer mapping guidance to ensure your family has a plan in place for educational, financial, vocational, and community support.
We set up quarterly, and as needed calls, to help you find, and understand how to best use, the many resources available for special needs individuals.
We set up quarterly, and as needed calls, to help you find, and understand how to best use, the many resources available for special needs individuals.
Our advocates assist with the IEP process for school aged children. Our application specialists help you complete needed forms for insurance and financial programs.
Our care support team works with you to understand how to tap into funding sources to address your family's care needs and find the right caregivers to support those needs.
We are committed to really hearing your questions, addressing them, and finding solutions to enhance your special needs journey.
How Together We Support helps families with caregivers, funding and community access
Through Together We Support, families are coached on techniques to build a successful care team to best support their needs. Together We Support has a roster of caregivers we can connect with families and if none of our caregivers fit the need, we work with families on networking and posting job ads on platforms like Care.com. I also work with families to access the funding sources available to them to pay for care. Together We Care is able to invoice these funding sources such as Family Support Funds and the NOW/COMP Waivers to provide Community Access Individual one-on-one support and Community Access Group Support to individuals. Community Access Individual support can be any activity in the community with one-on-one support that an individual wants to participate in such as a meal outing, sports outing, or entertainment outing. Community Access Group can be used when a caregiver takes two or more individuals on a community activity outing. We do currently have a Social Group which meets on Wednesdays at Westridge Church that accepts Community Access Group funding as well. In addition, we can invoice an individual's funding sources for Transportation provided by a caregiver. If a family does not have access to a funding source, these services can be provided through a self-pay option.
I recommend you check the organization out either to make a donation or to schedule a free consultation with Elizabeth. Either way, you will be blessed.
We also shared a previous post on the organization, "Planning a successful transition to adulthood with Jillian Palmiotto of Together We Care".
