What is a Support Coordination Agency?

A support coordination agency fills a significant role in the life of an individual with a disability, and for that person’s family as well. But what exactly is it? What does an agency do?

The team at Disability Services & Advocacy, LLC, has put together this and future blog posts to answer those questions so that interested parties can make the right decisions for them based upon the information.

A support coordination agency in New Jersey is qualified by the state’s Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) so that it can provide assistance to individuals in accessing programs and services available to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the state of NJ. This involves a variety of services funded thru Medicaid including, but not limited to: medical, employment, rehabilitative, therapies, social, educational, and various other services.

Coordinators from the agency assist in helping the person and their guardian/family in creating a plan of care that defines the person’s preferences and support needs. The Support Coordinator also assists the person and their guardian/family in using natural supports and their individualized Medicaid funded budgets to purchase services and supports that will improve the life of the person with a disability. Once services are indentified the Coordinator assists the person and family in identifying providers that can deliver the services. Examples of funded services include: Assistive Technology, Behavior Supports, Community Based Supports (staff to assist the person in accessing their community), Day Habilitation, Goods and Services, Individual Supports (to fund support in residential settings), Prevocation Training, Supported Employment, Habilitative Therapies (Speech, Occupational, Physcial), Respite and Transportation to name a few. Once the service plan is in place, coordinators continue to monitor the supports and services to adjust the plan of care and services when needed. This includes holding interdisciplinary team meetings when requested by the person, their guardian, or providers to address support issues. They are also ready to respond to emergencies, such as, incidents of abuse, neglect or exploitation to ensure appropriate state agencies are notified and investigations begin when applicable.