Welcome to our first Self-Direction Newsletter of 2026!

Heritage Christian Services FI Team Members volunteering at the Drive-up Food Pantry

Self-Direction Updates & Reminders

We want to share a few important updates and reminders to help you stay informed and supported. As always, we’re here to help—please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

New Budget Submission Process (Starting June 1)

Beginning June 1, OPWDD will require that all budget submissions include:

• A current Life Plan, and
• A current CAS or CANS assessment on file

To help you plan ahead:

• CAS (for adults) must be completed within the past 2 years
• CANS (for children and teens) must be completed within the past 1 year

If your assessment is not up to date, your Care Coordinator/Manager can help you get one scheduled.

Thinking Ahead for Summer ☀️

With warmer weather approaching, it’s a great time to review safeguards—especially for activities like swimming. Please make sure your plan reflects the level of support and supervision needed. If updates are necessary, your Broker can assist you.

Upcoming Training Compliance Changes

We are working on an updated training compliance policy based on Medicaid requirements. Once finalized, we will share more details.

In the meantime, please help us make sure all self-hire employees have an up-to-date email address in:

• ADP (payroll), and
• Relias (training system)

If updates are needed, staff can contact their FI for help.

Reimbursement Update

Last year, we transitioned to Ingo by KeyBank to provide faster and more flexible payment options for your self-directed reimbursements. Through Ingo, you can choose the option that works best for you:

• Debit card (instant payment)
• Direct deposit (2–3 business days)
• Mailed check (7–14 days)

If a payment method isn’t selected within 7 days, a check will automatically be issued and may take up to 14 days to arrive.

If you’re expecting a check and it hasn’t arrived within 3 weeks, please reach out to your FI for assistance.

To ensure enough time for delivery and to avoid duplicate payments, we’re unable to reissue payments until 3 weeks have passed.

Updated Pay Rates (Effective January 1, 2026)

• Self-hired respite: up to $21/hour
• Self-hired community habilitation: up to $32/hour

We encourage you to review your budget with your support team to ensure it continues to meet your needs.

Staying on Top of Staff Hours and Reimbursements

Please regularly review your self-hired staff’s hours, mileage, and staff activity fee requests in eVero. If anything doesn’t look right, report concerns right away to your FI or the Compliance Hotline at (585) 340-5797.

School Hours Reminder

Due to OPWDD and Medicaid guidelines, self-hired staff are not allowed to work during school hours, even on:

• Sick days
• Snow days
• Testing days
• ESY (Extended School Year)

Families may use FRR during these times.

Staff Activity Fee Reminder

Please be aware that when submitting for reimbursement, staff activity expenses must clearly connect to a goal or valued outcome in the Life Plan.

Guardianship Paperwork

If you or your loved one has a legal guardian, please send us a copy of the guardianship paperwork so we can keep your records up to date.

We’re Here for You!

Don’t forget—you can find helpful staffing resources on our website, and we invite you to follow our Facebook page for updates, tips, and community connection.

Recognize a Team Member!

At Heritage Christian Services, we love to recognize our employees for their great work. You have the opportunity to do the same! Fill out the form below and we’ll pass it on to the employee that you’re recognizing and their supervisor.

Self-Direction Participant Spotlight

Self-Direction offers many opportunities, and we’re here to help you make the most of them! In this space, we share updates and resources about services available through Self-Direction.

This quarter, we’re focusing on Paid Neighbors.

What is a Paid Neighbor?

A Paid Neighbor is a monthly stipend paid to a self-hired community habilitation staff member who lives nearby and agrees to be “on-call” to assist someone who lives independently.

Paid Neighbor funding is available under the Individual Goods and Services (IDGS) service category and has a budget cap of $800 per month.

Each Paid Neighbor arrangement requires a contract developed with the individual and their circle of support. The contract clearly outlines expectations and responsibilities.

What’s Included in a Paid Neighbor Contract?

Every contract must include:

• Specified on-call hours
• The agreed-upon monthly stipend amount
• The agreed-upon hourly rate if in-person support is needed
• A backup plan if the Paid Neighbor is unavailable
• The tasks the Paid Neighbor is expected to provide support with

Contracts will also include agreed-upon responsibilities such as:

• Phone, virtual, or in-person check-ins (e.g., medication reminders, personal care reminders, daily routine prompts)
• Phone support for independent living questions or problem-solving
• Backup support during emergencies or when scheduled staff call out
• Routine phone calls, texts, or FaceTime check-ins
• General emotional support

If in-person support is provided, the Paid Neighbor must clock into eVero as Community Habilitation staff and will be paid their community habilitation rate for that time.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for Paid Neighbor services:

• You must be living independently (not with family caregivers).
• Paid Neighbor services must be included in your Self-Directed budget.
• IDGS must be listed in your Life Plan and supported by a valued outcome.
• The Paid Neighbor cannot be a relative.
• The Paid Neighbor must live within 30 minutes of your home.
• A Paid Neighbor Contract must be signed by you, the Paid Neighbor, and your Fiscal Intermediary (FI).

Interested?

If you think Paid Neighbor services may be a good fit for you, reach out to your Fiscal Intermediary to begin the process.

A few reminders regarding OPWDD Housing Subsidies! If you experience any changes to housing (e.g. new roommate, moving, etc.), housing costs (e.g. rent or utilities), or income, be sure to inform your care team. These changes could impact your housing subsidy amount or payments.

Remember that we are working to align recertifications with lease renewals, and have already started completing 2026 recertifications. You should have received your updated 2026 Social Security letter if you receive these benefits. If you haven’t already, please be sure to send a copy to your support team or the housing contacts below. You can also download your letter here:

https://www.ssa.gov/manage-benefits/get-benefit-letter

One requirement of the OPWDD Housing Subsidy is that you apply for all other available benefits (such as SNAP and HEAP). If/when you receive any SNAP and/or HEAP benefits documents, please send a copy to your broker and FI to save on file. HEAP is currently open. For more information visit:

https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/

If you have any questions or concerns with your housing subsidy you can reach out to your care team, or contact our Housing Supports Coordinators listed below. Additionally, if you wish to learn more about what housing supports are available, please reach out!

Finger Lakes:

Joshua Bielemeier (he/him) Email: jobielemier@heritagechristianservices.org

WNY:

Angela O'Mara (she/her) Email: housingwny@heritagechristianservices.org

Taryn Conley - Finger Lakes

I’ve been with the agency for about five and a half years and enjoy the work our team does to support the people we serve.

In my role, I review and process invoices to ensure they meet compliance standards and OPWDD regulations. I also review and approve broker billing to ensure documentation aligns with broker ADM requirements and reflects a person-centered approach. Accuracy and attention to detail are an important part of my work.

I also step in as a covering FI when needed and support the team with various administrative tasks.

Shawna Boynton - Finger Lakes

I have been with Heritage Christian Services for over 10 years and have held several roles, including working with the Art Therapy and Supported Employment teams. As an FI Assistant, I support our team behind the scenes to help keep things running smoothly. My work includes monitoring service usage from other agencies, providing FI coverage when team members are on vacation, reviewing broker billing, and supporting other compliance-related tasks.

Sophia Cook - WNY

I have been in my current role and with the company for almost three years. During this time, I have supported the FI team through several transitions while ensuring that we remain compliant with OPWDD guidelines.

In addition to my primary responsibilities, I also assist at the front desk, helping to manage day-to-day office matters and addressing any issues that arise. I take pride in being a reliable resource for both my team and the office as a whole.

Karen Ervay - Part-time, Finger Lakes

I have been in my role with Heritage Christian Services for over three years. My work focuses on reviewing and entering vendor invoices, monitoring eVero invoice status and communicating potential delays, coordinating vendor information with Finance for setup or updates, and assisting with additional invoice processing as time allows.

Wishing you the best,

Your FI Team at Heritage Christian Services

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