CFS Self Directed Support Newsletter

Greetings CFS SDS Families!

Happy New Year to All!

The CFS SDS wishes everyone a great year ahead of endless possibilities.

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

Highlights!

Happy Holidays from Alexis and her COS

(circle of support)

As a Fiscal Intermediary provider, it is not often we have the opportunity to connect in person with individuals and families. The picture above features Marissa Senior FIPM with Alexis celebrating the holidays early with her circle of support. It was a meaningful way to connect, be present, and a true circle of support member. Kudos Alexis and her team...including Marissa for the genuine support to one another!

The CFS Loop

Check out the December 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>>>

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>>>

EVV Policy & Procedure

CFS requires all staff to use the EVERO system for documenting service delivery. EVV is mandatory for compliance with federal and state regulations. Staff must use one of the approved methods—Mobile App (with location services enabled), Telephony (landline), or FOB device—to record service visits.

Click here for our updated electronic visit verification policy and procedure.

EVV Policy and Procedure -SDS Rev 11-25.docx>>>

Revised Grievance Policy & Procedures Nov 2025

This policy outlines the informal process to address grievances as well as the formal process to address individual objections to services and objections to agency initiated significant changes to an individual’s Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver services. Updates list IDDO contact information and protocols.

SDS Grievance Policy & Procedure>>>

Individual/Families Friendly Reminders to:

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). In addition, please use the description box for invoices to provide detail related to total amounts requested, added detail regarding the request to ensure quicker and efficient turnaround times. Also note that if a budget resets and the funds are to come off the prior budget; such requests must be submitted by the 10^th of the following month; however, the date of the invoice must be the last date of the old budget. For example, if a budget resets on 1/1/2026 and there are December invoices...the deadline to submit such invoices would be 1/10/26 and the invoices must be dated 12/31/25 to ensure the funds come off the budget that ended.

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 >>

Resources & Upcoming Events

CFS Direct Provider Purchase Supports for SD

Are you or your loved one looking to improve vocational skills and gain employment? CFS offers:

Supported Employment to support individuals to maintain a paid job in the community.
The Employment Training Program, which offers a unique chance to explore different job roles and gain practical experience.
Community Base Pre-Vocational Services for paid employment through meaningful community activities, such as volunteering.
ACCESS-VP whose ultimate goal is job stability and independence.

For more information on these and other Community Programs offered by CFS, visit our website or contact Danielle at dpowers@cfsny.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>>>

STEPS2

Steps2 is a free online program for New York residents aged 16–27 with I/DD. Participants attend one-hour Zoom sessions for six weeks, covering either sexual health and socialization OR nutrition, exercise, and stress management. Each participant is randomly assigned to one of the two tracks and completes four online surveys, earning up to $100 in gift cards ($25 per survey).

STEPS2 Interest Form

CFS SDS Webpage (click here)

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

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!

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

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

IDDO Materials (Informational Letter)

Click Here to Learn More