Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Personal Advocacy Program
1. Is there a procedure for reporting to families?
Yes, this reporting will cover the advocates activities,
costs, challenges, and accomplishments on a quarterly basis. This is an
essential component.
2. What are the GAR and Akron Community Foundation?
The Arc was fortunate that the GAR (Galen Roush
Foundation) awarded this program $25, 000 in matching startup funds. The Akron
Community Foundation awarded us $15, 000 in non-restricted funds.
The Plan of Care is a customized collection of questions
designed to prompt responses that will establish a comprehensive profile of its
subject. It will provide the reader with the information to which families have
assigned value, and as it is updated, will accompany the person served
throughout his or her lifetime. The family and the person served will
participate in the Plan of Care 's development and updating. This document will
then form the foundation of this individual's advocacy services, and will
dictate the advocate's course of action.
4. Regarding the annual 48-hour minimum service requirement, why is this mandatory?
Firstly, the Personal Advocacy program offers families
two options: Enrolling with the understanding that services will begin at a
later date, or enrolling with services beginning immediately. If you elect to
begin services at the time of enrollment, the minimum 48 hours break down to
four hours per month and can be arranged in blocks according to individual need.
The only result of not meeting this minimum annual requirement is the addition
of an annual fee to update the Plan of Care. This update fee will be absorbed by
service fees paid for the entire year when minimum 48 hours of services are
being received annually. If more than 48 hours are needed, families will simply
be billed on an hourly basis for the additional time. These hours will be used
to engage in activities that will help to build a trusting relationship between
the advocate and the person served, which is the basis of this program.
5. Explain more about enrolling with services to begin later. How can we benefit from this program if we do not have a pressing need for services at the present time?
Families can enroll now, establishing a Plan of Care
with annual updates, so that everything is in place to provide complete services
when the need arises.
6. Can young families who won't need services for some time, elect to only create a Plan of Care?
Yes, they too can enroll with the fee to establish the
Plan of Care along with the annual fee for updates. This could serve as a
standing plan to be implemented in the event that parental or family involvement
is suddenly limited. Also, the additional support of our program would help to
ensure its sustainability.
7. As a young parent, we are unaware of many services. Can the advocate also provide services to parents using the four-hour monthly minimum service requirement?
Absolutely, this program qualifies as a parent/family
support service.
8. If I decide that I don't need this now, can I donate $1000?
Yes, but it would be to your benefit to have The Arc
develop a Plan of Care. Your enrollment fee and annual update fee would greatly
assist with the sustainability of this program, and you would have the comfort
of knowing that a Plan of Care is in place if the need should arise.
9. Should there be funds set aside for funding after parental death?
Yes, clearly a properly established Disability Trust
will allow for funding advocacy. For those without assets to establish a
Disability Trust, possible parental funding sources could include an insurance
policy. Always seek advice from your attorney or estate-planning advisor.
10. Can monies be put into a holding account while parents are alive?
This is possible, but The Arc has not established a
mechanism for doing so. We would advise doing this through a Disability Trust.
11. Are fees paid into and dispersed by The Are?
Yes, in a separate account for advocacy services.
12. What is meant by Minimum Value Trust?
This is the recommended minimum amount of dollars that
would allow enough income to support advocacy services for those with no trust
established. There are affordable options available regarding trusts, such as
when one large umbrella trust allows several families to pool funds to meet the
minimum requirement to establish a trust. More information about trusts will be
offered at an upcoming workshop for interested families.
13. Can the advocate help the person served with money management?
Yes, at many levels. Families would detail this in the
Plan of Care.
14. What are the qualifications and educational background of the advocate?
Advocates will have a degree in MR/DD or a related
field, with hands on or direct care experience. This is especially important for
the first advocacy coordinator.
15. Will additional or ongoing training be provided for advocates?
Yes. This will include the use of models currently
utilized by case managers, and ongoing training by families and the support
team.
16. Will the advocate be a full time or part time employee?
Initially, the first advocate will be full time. Beyond
that, employee status will be determined as need indicates.
17. Who is responsible for hiring the advocates?
Initially, the Executive Director and Associate Director of The Arc will be responsible for hiring the Advocacy Coordinator. Eventually, the Advocacy Coordinator will lend additional input to the hiring process.
18. How many individuals will each advocate serve within his or her caseload?
Our initial plan is that twenty would be tops.
Experience will show whether it will be more or less. Perhaps the coordinator
will serve fewer individuals than will future advocates so he or she can
concentrate on administration duties as well.
19. What if the advocate match with the client is not a good one?
We will find an appropriate match. As more advocates are
hired, there will be more opportunities to select the right match. The Arc staff
can provide advocacy services if initial matching is inappropriate or until an
appropriate match is found.
20. As more families enroll, will The Arc hire additional advocates?
Yes, as need dictates.
21. Can families expect one advocate to be involved with their loved one throughout his or her entire lifetime?
Even if an individual is assigned another advocate,
consistency is of the utmost importance and will be maintained through the
philosophy of The Arc, the development of the Plan of Care, the addition of
annual updates, and the delivery of appropriate services.
22. How will The Are manage a transition from one advocate to another?
This will be done in a manner consistent with the
philosophy of The Arc, and will be facilitated by family involvement and with
direction from the Plan of Care.
23. What is staff turnover like in similar organizations?
The only organizations to which we can compare our
program are within the mental health field, and their staff turnover appears to
be fairly minimal. There is no data available regarding related programs in the
field of Mental Retardation Developmental Disabilities.
24. What will happen if our son or daughter moves to another part of the state or country? Will advocacy services continue?
A I this time, it is not likely that services will continue, since our local Arc provides services only in Summit and Portage Counties. However, if the community where your loved one relocates has this program, then his or her Plan of Care can certainly follow.
Submit a request for follow-up regarding this program
The Arc ~ 3869 Darrow Rd., Ste. 109 ~ Stow, Ohio ~ 44224 ~ 330-836-5863 ~ Email Us