CFS Self Directed Support Newsletter

Greetings CFS SDS Families!

Happy Harvest!

Wishing you a cozy and colorful autumn filled with joy and warmth.

Please review our CFS SDS Individual & Family Newsletter for important news and updates.

Highlights!

Oscar & The SD Team Attend the Annual NY Alliance 2025 Self-Direction Summit

Members of the CFS SDS Team attended the 10th Annual FI/Self Direction Summit in Troy, NY October 29th & 30th.

Our very own Oscar Segal did a presentation regarding Supported Decision Making and Self Direction in Action. He did an amazing job sharing his journey towards independence through Supported Decision Making. To Oscar, Self-Direction and Supported Decision Making helps him in making his own decisions rather than having other people make decisions for him.

The CFS Loop

Check out the September edition of The CFS Loop for all things CFS! CFS The Loop

We want to share with the world a variety of stories that showcases the wonderful individuals we support along with their employees and families. You can click the link below to share your ideas with the communications team so we can work with you to tell your story.

See how to share your story>>>

Workforce Team Updates

CFS Self-Direction Department Welcomes New Team Member!

Wendy Palafox - SD Intake Coordinator

Please join us in WELCOMING Wendy Palafox to the SD TEAM as the SD Intake Coordinator. Wendy comes with a great wealth of experience in the intake and administration world. Wendy will be working part time with our SD TEAM and continuing her role as the Staten Island Office Admin.

CFS Self-Direction Department Supervisor of the Month!

Congrats Nicasie! Supervisor of the Month!

Nicasie consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication, reliability, and a positive attitude that inspires those around them. Their hard work and commitment truly embody the values we strive for every day.

2025 Mandatory Annual Refresher Training for Self-Hired Employees

The Workforce Team has been in contact with self-hired employees, individuals/families regarding possible disciplinary action for any employee that has not completed the required OPWDD annual refresher training by October 3rd, 2025. Please ensure that your self-hired employees have completed the mandated OPWDD annual refresher trainings to avoid possible suspension on November 7th, 2025.

For questions or if you experience any challenges accessing your CFS email contact Workforce at _DL-SDSWorkforce@cfsny.org for timely assistance.

LENS

SDS Families have all been contacted to advise whether your self-hired employee(s) drive or not. Regardless, if your self-hired employee(s) operate a motor vehicle or not we kindly ask you complete the questionnaire and indicate that they are not a driver. All self-hired employees will receive a formal "authorized to drive" or "not authorized to drive" notification.

Please click the link below to indicate if your self-hired employee(s) utilize a vehicle to transport.

LENS

Maximizing Budget Lines

Self-Direction budgets can include Self-Hired staffing. If they do include Self-Hired staffing (community habilitation, respite or SEMP), we do request that you work with your Broker and Team to utilize these services.

If you do not wish to utilize the service, please work with your Support Broker to amend the budget to remove Self-Hired Community Habilitation and/or Self-Hired Respite and SEMP. Please note that if your needs change, the budget can be amended to include the service in the future. The budget should be an accurate representation of your current needs/interests and is able to be amended as your needs/interests change.

As your FI, we have a variety of trainings that can help to address any barriers you are experiencing to identify, hire, and manage self-hired staff.

Sustainability Project

Dr. Laurie Yankowitz hosts a series of video conference sessions geared toward Self-Direction Connection and guided instruction to support relatives and friends of self-directing individuals interested in stepping up when parents are ill or have passed on. This project is designed to ease supporters into more active roles that allows parents to see that others can gradually take the reins.

Funding via IDGS Coaching/ education for parent(s), spouse and advocates involved in the person’s self-directed services is possible.

Click Here if Interested in Learning More>>

Policies/Procedures (Reminders)

Our policy and procedure manual has been completed and published. We have shared via various platforms with families and brokers (webpage, lifeplan meetings, broker meeting).

Click for a copy of the policy and procedure manual >>

Individual/Families Friendly Reminders to:

For the recording of the latest Individual/Family meeting click below! Updates included: overview of Home Enabling Supports (HES), Sustainability Project, program updates, policies, protocol, Workforce Updates and more. Individual/Family Meeting Sep 30th 2025 (Recording)

Review self-hired employee rosters daily

Please utilize the capability of "raise issue" in your employee's rosters if there is an issue so as to not process incorrect sessions. Please contact Workforce for more information on navigating this function.

Please monitor that self-hired employees are working their assigned hours and not going into overtime (40 plus hours in one work week Saturday-Friday) as overtime is unsustainable.

Review self-hired staff activity fees and mileage requests daily, check for accuracy

Review support broker invoices

Review all areas of FI reviews when distributed and follow up with the respective circle of support members needed for FI requested documentation. FI and QA team can enforce the SDS Compliance Protocol.

Ensure that if applicable, monthly summary notes are completed by the 10th of the following month. Monthly summary notes must be completed for the self-hired community habilitation service regardless if the service did not occur or if there is no staff.

If you receive a request to complete the staff's evaluation, please click on the evero link in that email request to complete.

Please attach all justification forms to applicable invoice requests (this includes out of state transportation requests). Take a look at our newly published cheat sheet for invoices in our webpage! CFS SDS Webpage (click here)

eVero

Please click here for:

eVero software release notifications >>

eVero software webinar/trainings >>

eVero Ed Videos >>

eVero App >>

eVero Budget Summary Actions >>

They give users the ability to view, export, and download associated budget details with one simple click. Maximize efficiency and spend less time in the system completing budget reviews with these instant Budget Summary Actions.

Resources & Upcoming Events

CFS SDS Webpage (click here)

Click the above link to view and access all SD related information and resources via our CFS SDS webpage.

The Self-Direction Center (nonprofit organization)

A new nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening self-direction through collaboration, community and collective action nationwide. They ask families to explore their page and sign up as they build this out.

https://www.selfdirectioncenter.org/

Mindful Meditation Mondays!

Join us on select Mondays for 30-minute virtual meditation sessions led by Dr. Cindy Bautista-Thomas, a licensed clinical social worker, educator, and mindfulness facilitator. Dr. Bautista-Thomas is passionate about inspiring, encouraging, and uplifting others, bringing a wealth of experience to our sessions.

These sessions are designed to support and empower our CFS community around mental wellness!

Click here to Join>>>

Home-Enabling Supports (HES)

CFS is a newly HES Provider!

HES provides funding for devices and supports/services for people who do not live in certified settings to address an identified goal in their Life Plan and decrease or minimize the need for other Medicaid services. HES promote inclusion in the community and/or increase the person’s safety and independence in the home. HES empowers a person to live in the most integrated setting possible with less reliance on or the deferral of paid staff for supervision and/or assistance. These supports promote access to the opportunities and benefits available to everyone else in the community.

For more information email our Innovative Planning and Advocacy Department at InnovativeTeam@cfsny.org

For more information or reach out to CFS staff for information about how you can get started with the program, you can visit www.cfsny.org/hes.

CFS Events Calendar

Remember to check the CFS event calendar on our website for all the ways you can get involved. You can also recommend new programs or events you would like to see.

In addition, we'll also be recognizing several other awareness and holidays, which will be highlighted during our in-person and virtual workshops. We hope you can join us at a workshop that interests you!

OPWDD OMBUDS PROGRAM

The new Ombuds program, which operates independently of the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), was developed to provide education and help people better understand their rights, to provide advocacy and support for people navigating the OPWDD service delivery system, and to assist people with developmental disabilities and their families to resolve concerns related to service access and quality. As per OPWDD, the Ombuds Program does not replace current ways of accessing services.

Ombuds Contact Information

1-800-762-9290

iddony.org

Click Here to Learn More