Gateways Community Services 144 Canal Street Nashua, NH (603)

Who is Gateways Community Services? Gateways Community Services is a private non-profit corporation created in 1981 to establish and maintain programs and services which promote growth and independence for individuals with developmental disabilities by the Bureau of Developmental Services. Gateways Community Services is one of the ten area agencies designated to support individuals with developmental disabilities. Gateways Community Supports the following towns: Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Mason, Merrimack, Milford, Nashua, and Wilton. 2

Who does Gateways serve? Individuals birth to 3 years old who meet the developmental delay criteria for Early Support and Services Individuals 3 and older who experience a delay in functioning that stems from a developmental delay and meets criteria for severity of delay in function as outlined in HeM 503. Individuals birth through 21 with Chronic Illness Seniors in need Chronically ill Gateways therapy Services – individuals needing ABA Therapy, Behavioral Consultation, and therapies including speech, OT, and PT 3

Intake and Eligibility In order to access services provided by Gateways Community Services, individuals must provide information and meet one-on-one with an intake specialist to determine if they are eligible. Regulations outline that eligibility must prove a delay in functioning stemming from a delay that is developmental in nature. The Request for Eligibility Determination, found on our website, also needs to be completed and brought to the appointment. To schedule an intake interview, please call or 4

Intake and Eligibility cont…. The following documentation is requested to determine eligibility: A functional assessment/testing that tells us the prospective client's IQ Most recent 3 year educational evaluations and IEP/504 from school, if applicable All recent and past assessments from schools, doctors, etc. Any information that would assist us in making a determination (specialists, hospital and/or information that describes the prospective client's disability diagnosis). Guardianship Documents, if applicable (important: if the prospective client is over the age of 18 year, we must have guardianship documents or a release signed by prospective client allowing us to speak with you). 5

Eligibility Criteria Any resident of NH is eligible for services who has a developmental disability and meets the following criteria: a disability that is attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism or a specific learning disability, or any other condition of an individual found to be closely related to mental retardation as it refers to general intellectual functioning or impairment in adaptive behavior or requires treatment similar to that required for mentally retarded individuals; and a disability that originates before such individual attains age 22, has continued or can be expected to continue indefinitely, and constitutes a severe disability to such individual's ability to function normally in society. 6

Family Support Services Gateways Community Services eligible individuals who live with a family member are eligible for Family Support Services. All of Gateways Community Services’ programs and services are voluntary. We encourage and reach out to families as often as able, though engagement resides the responsibility and right of the family and eligible individual. Family Support Programs are designed to work in collaboration with our participants, community partners, and other funding and resource sources. 7

Family Support and Medicaid Medicaid is a joint program through Federal and State governments used to fund health and social services. In order to offer diverse and innovative programming, Gateways’ Family Support programs bills Medicaid for approved services provided. If the individual does not have Medicaid they will continue to have access to Family Support programs but will not be eligible for intensive services. 8

Family Support Advisory Council The Family Support Advisory Council helps enhance and support the role that families play in making decisions and implementing services at Gateways Community Services. The Council consists of family members of the individuals we serve to provide an opportunity for families to make their concerns and priorities known so that Gateways Community Services can continue to provide services that meet the needs of families and individual in our community. The Council meets once a month and anyone who would like to attend is welcome. 9

Case Management Individuals with Medicaid can choose to receive intensive and individualized case management. Case management can provide guidance around community services, benefits, resources, funding sources, and assist to coordinate supports and services an individual has in their life. Case management can provide attendance to meetings ( IEP,Court, Doctors) as needed. Individuals who do not have Medicaid have access to resource and referral and general guidance but will not have attendance at meetings or at the level of intensity of those with Medicaid. 10

High School Transition Case Management Case management for individuals ages with Medicaid, include intensive transition from school to adult life planning. Individuals received a targeting mailing with a checklist by ages of transition tasks and fact sheets to support them. The Family Support Service Coordinator ( FSSC)will work with the individual and team to explore interests, develop goals, identify opportunities that will prepare the individual for the meeting their goals as an adult, and collaborate with community partners. The FSSC will support benefits planning for Medicaid, Social Security, and Guardianship options. 11

Long Term Services The only way to access long term funding for adult services is for Gateways Community Services to request the services and funding from the Bureau of Adult Services. The FSSC will work with the family to identify what the individual needs for supports, who will provide it, and what the costs will be in order to make the request. Engagement is key. We are not able to request for services without the family’s permission and a solid plan for services. Funding is not an entitlement and is based on the availability of funds. 12

Camperships The Family Support Advisory Council has funds set aside to support individuals to attend one session of camp per year. Families are asked to contribute to the cost of the session. Please connect to our website for detailed information on camp guidelines and submittal dates. Respite Care We can assist families by providing a temporary short term break for caregivers. Respite can occur in an individual’s home or in the community. Families can use an individual that they know for respite and we can reimburse the families for the cost or they can use a Gateways Community Services hired respite worker. 13

Respitality The Family Support Advisory Council has a contract to provide one free night per year of lodging at host hotels per year for caregivers. The purpose of this program is to provide caregivers with a much needed break. Environmental Modifications We can help individuals and families to utilize Medicaid resources to fund home modifications such as lifts, ramps, alarms, and grab bars to an individual’s home. Environmental Modifications focuses on solutions to making homes accessible and safe. 14

How can Gateways Community Services and schools work together? Open and supportive communication Collaboration and participation at meetings for mutual participants. Responsiveness Referrals to Gateways Community Services Sharing of resources and opportunities Using positive language and promoting both partners in a professional way to families and individuals Reaching out to each other for guidance or clarification. Eliminating assumptions. Consistent and collaborative transition planning 15