About Bridge to Empowerment Support L.L.C.
Our Mission
Bridge to Empowerment Support is a bridge built on the premises of love, compassion, care, and kindness. It's infused with the heart of humanity being at center-stage. We believe that the world is your oyster and as penned by Tom Fitzgerald, "If you can dream it, you can do it." We want to empower you to make your dreams a reality.
- Being mentally present, listening attentively to your goals and ideas in an effort to inspire continued growth.
- Empowering you with knowledge of the resources that are available under Maryland's self-directed model that will facilitate your independence.
- Tenaciously working hand in hand with those that make-up your team, joining in on what will be our commitment to make your dreams come to fruition. Team members to include; family members, friends, community resources, businesses, and faith based communities among many others.
- Putting your aspirations at the forefront and respecting and valuing what you have to say as well as your choices.
- Respecting you and being committed to what is necessary to make your goals obtainable while sustaining your health, safety, and, well being.
- Help support your humanistic desires to do something successful in life, to take control of your life, and to make your own decisions.
- Help propel you forward immersing you into community activities/services that fulfills your innate desire for inclusion.
- Promote continuance of your growth inspiring you to achieve the greatest version of yourself.
Now What! You Have Decided You Want To Participate In The Self-Directed Service Model
- If you're new, you must complete the Developmental Disabilities' Administration(DDA) eligibility application to determine if you're eligible to receive services from the DDA. HOW TO APPLY
- If you're new, you will be assigned an independent case manager known as a Coordinator of Community Services (CCS) to assist you with the eligibility process. However, If you're currently receiving DDA funded services under the traditional service model, where a licensed or certified service provider manages your services, then you need to notify your assigned CCS of your desire to transition from the traditional model to the self -directed service model.
- If you're new and you meet the criteria to be a part of the DDA and have been allocated funds for services, then your assigned CCS will help you to complete the SDS Participant Agreement. It's a document that records your readiness to self-direct yourself and adhere to the administration's policy of sustaining good heath, safety, and welfare along with others who will play a role in ensuring your health care needs are met. Furthermore, those transitioning from the traditional service model to the self-directed mode will also need to complete this agreement.
- The CCS will also assist in helping you and your team write-up a Person-Centered Plan(PCP). The PCP is where you exercise your freedom of choice and you have a voice in letting people know your interests and the things you want to pursue in life that will make you feel empowered, fulfilled, and self-sufficient in your life's journey.
- The services and supports that you stated you will require under your PCP to be self-sufficient, may be fulfilled under one of Medicaid's Waivers. Services provided under Medicaid fall under the categories; Meaningful Day Services, Support Services, and Residential Services. LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE SERVICES OFFERED UNDER EACH CATEGORY
- There will be expenditures required to pay for the resources required to provide you with the support and services you require as indicated via your PCP. As a result, your coordinator of community services will help you choose a Financial Management and Counseling Service(FMCS) that will help ensure that you stay within your spending budget, pay employees and/or vendors among many other financial responsibilities indebted to you as you self-direct your own services/support.
What Actions Will We Take as Your Support Broker Vendor to Help You Accomplish Your Goals
You have decided to transform your life and become self-sufficient by becoming a part of Maryland's Self-Directed Services program and at Bridge to Empowerment Support, we want to help you to water and thus nourish the seeds of your journey to self-sufficiency by:
- Providing initial orientation and assistance giving you information about the responsibilities, you will need to take charge of and control of every aspect of your life to include human resources information, which you will need to be effective in your role as an employer of personnel for the services/supports, you will require.
- Providing support in conjunction with your Coordinator of Community Services in implementing and incorporating modifications to your Person-Centered Plan(PCP). This plan outlines the services and supports that you will need in accordance to what you need to achieve your vision for self-sufficiency.
- Assist in conjunction with the team to select a Financial Management and Counseling Service(FMCS). The FMCS agency assists participants with employer and budget related hiring, accounting, and payroll activities. They're chosen during the PCP process.
- Assist in monitoring spending/budgetary requirements ensuring that expenditures are based on the funding amount allocated for the services that you and your team deemed you needed and as documented via your PCP.
- Assist with the employee hiring process for employees that you deem is required for support in ultimately establishing your independence. Furthermore, we can also assist with managing employees; scheduling, training, and handling employee concerns
- Assist with reviewing employee timesheets before you approve them.
- Support you in identifying employees that may not have your best interest in mind and then seeking guidance from the person’s CCS.
- Please click on the following links to see other additional supports/services that Support Broker's can provide to assist you in your daily needs.
SUPPORT BROKER ROLE - See Page 10
PLEASE NOTE: Hiring a Support Broker is an optional service, they are only required when you hire a relative, legally responsible person, representative payees, and guardians.