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Our ICF-MR located at 109 Homestead is a residential setting where
adults with developmental disabilities live in an
apartment-style atmosphere. The apartments are designed to meet the complex
medical and behavioral needs. Each person has a private
bedroom, with shared living room, dining room and bathroom.
24-hour staffing is provided in a manner which effectively
supports people living in this program.
Staff are trained to
proactively work with issues of behavioral intervention and
education, physical disabilities, health promotion and maintenance, speech and
language development, deafness, blindness, aging and retirement,
and community integration.
Prairie's Edge is an ICF-MR licensed
setting where six adults with developmental disabilities live in
a home specifically designed to ensure safety and create an
atmosphere to promote learning and interaction. Located
152 Cougar Drive in Mankato, Minnesota, each person receives
individualized medical and behavioral support services with
24-hour staffing provided in a manner which effectively
supports people living in this program..
Each person has a private bedroom, with
shared living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and access to
a large outdoor area.
In both ICF-MR settings,
staff are trained to
proactively respond to issues of behavioral intervention and
education, physical disabilities, health promotion maintenance, speech and
language development, deafness, blindness, aging and retirement,
and community integration.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What makes HMC different from other provider
organizations?
2. What is HMC’s system for quality assurance and how are
services monitored?
3. What is Harry Meyering Center’s philosophy?
4. How does the agency encourage and support
people to be active with self-advocacy groups?
5.
How many people with developmental disabilities and
family members are on the board of directors?
6. What are the results of the ICF program’s
most recent licensing survey?
7. Is HMC connected to other programs that
your family member or friend might need such as day support or
work programs? How are they connected?
8. What and how does the HMC routinely
communicate with families?
9. How are staff screened?
10. What training does HMC offer staff?
11. How are ICF staff supervised?
12. How can families and consumers reach
different staff at all levels in an emergency outside office
hours?
13. How are services individualized to meet
individualized needs?
14. What recreational and social activities do
people participate in? What happens when individuals choose not
to participate?
15. What kind of transportation is available
during the week? On weekends?
16. How are funds handled and by whom?
17. Are meetings held when I can attend, after
work hours or weekends?
18. What resources are
available to pay for services?
19. How does HMC ensure
the continuation of contact with family and friends?
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What makes HMC different from other provider
organizations?
The Harry
Meyering Center was established by the local ARC and parents of
children with mental retardation. Parents involved with HMC’s
development sought to provide their adult children with a
residential alternative to a state institution. HMC is a
not-for-profit organization serving the Mankato since 1973.
HMC provides the
people they serve and their families with services that
encourage dreams, focus on independence, foster community
connections, help people cope with life-changing events and
offer special attention to safety, health needs and security.
Living
arrangements in the ICF have been designed to replicate
apartments in the community. Each resident has his/her own
bedroom and shares a living room, dining room and bathroom.
Programs and support are then designed for each individual’s
needs. HMC’s core values make this program unique for planning
and problem solving. We offer additional services such as day
programming for retired individuals, as well as respite services
for those who need additional medical and/or behavioral support
not provided in their homes.
2. What is HMC’s system for quality assurance
and how are services monitored?
The ICF program
has numerous processes in place to audit the quality of the
service. First, there is the team of concerned people around
each consumer. This team includes the consumer, the legal
representative, the case manager, interested family members, day
program staff, and HMC staff. The team monitors the
programmatic side of the service as well as consumer
satisfaction. Program, nursing and financial audits are done
monthly. Periodic health and safety reviews are made to all
properties. Consumer and Stakeholder Satisfaction Surveys are
completed bi-annually.
3. What is Harry Meyering Center’s philosophy?
Harry Meyering
Center has its philosophy based in the 14 values of the agency
which guide the services, interactions, and supports of the
individuals served. These values include an emotionally and
physically safe environment, respectful communication, choice,
and a home that reflects the interests, routines, and
personalities of those living there. (Click
here to see a complete list of HMC Values.)
4. How does the agency encourage and support
people to be active with self-advocacy groups?
Individuals
served are encouraged to belong to the local “People First”
chapter and “Aktion Theater.” Staff support this participation
at the level necessary for each individual to be successful.
5.
How many people with developmental disabilities and
family members are on the board of directors?
The Board of
Directors is a policy making board and does not direct
day-to-day operations. Careful attention is paid to board
composition. Three (3) of 10 current board members represent
family members served by HMC.
6. What are the results of the ICF program’s
most recent licensing survey?
The ICF is
licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and
the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH.) Licensing occurs
yearly and results of these reviews can be obtained by calling
the ICF Program Director.
7. Is HMC connected to other programs that your
family member or friend might need such as day support or work
programs? How are they connected?
People served by
HMC enjoy work and day services offered by MRCI, Valley
Enterprises, Natural Surroundings and Lifeworks and several
retirement options. Providers that offer a wide variety of
leisure activities are also resources for people served by HMC.
8. What and how does the HMC routinely
communicate with families?
With guardian
permission, family members receive copies of progress
documents. Families are encouraged to call the house
coordinator with questions and concerns. Individuals served
have no restrictions on phone use or visitors and staff
encourage individuals served to solidify their family
relationships with regular communication.
9. How are staff screened?
When hiring
staff, we look for individuals who are compassionate,
enthusiastic and motivated. A series of interviews take place,
generally including one at the house/apartment so that consumers
can voice an opinion. Before a person is hired, they must
provide two references, undergo a background check and pass a
drug test. Proof of a good driving record is also required.
10. What training does HMC offer staff?
HMC staff must
complete a series of orientation classes and in-services. Such
training includes the vulnerable adults rule, HMC policies and
procedures, OSHA, health and safety issues, HIPAA, CPR and first
aid. Staff also receive training specifically related to the
individuals and unit with whom they will be working.
Additional medical training may be required. Annually
thereafter, staff complete 20 or more hours of training. The
number of hours worked determines the number of hours of
in-services required.
11. How are ICF staff supervised?
Staff are
supervised by a multi-layered supervisory staff. A Building
Charge is present in the building at all times and is
responsible for coordinating activities and programming going on
in and out of the building. Staff are directly supervised by
one of two QMRPs/Program Managers who are supervised by the
Program Director. Each apartment also has a Direct Support
Professional Lead that structures and oversees resident progress
and staff supervision.
12. How can families and consumers reach
different staff at all levels in an emergency outside office
hours?
Should an
emergency arise, the phone system automatically forwards calls
to the Building Charge. There is also a 24 hour on-call system
in each of the three HMC programs.
13. How are services individualized to meet
individualized needs?
Development of
structured programs and daily routines are based on formal
assessment, consumer needs, likes, dislikes and personal goals.
Every effort is made to encourage choices and control to the
consumer, when it is safe and healthy to do so.
Programmatic
decisions are made by the consumer and his/her team. Individual
Program Plans are developed and implemented to train or increase
skill levels. Procedures are in place to maintain skills.
Outcomes are developed and implemented based on the desires of
the consumer.
14. What recreational and social activities do
people participate in? What happens when individuals choose not
to participate?
Community
recreational and social activities are at the discretion of each
individual served.
HMC employs an
Activities Coordinator who plans and provides over 15 activities
a month. Activities include: game night, card making; scrap
booking; movie night; craft club; exercise classes; art
opportunities; and live music performances. Activities are open
to all individuals served by HMC and are free. Staff provide
information, encouragement and support when necessary.
Consumers are free to participate or not among many choices.
15. What kind of transportation is available
during the week? On weekends?
There are three
wheelchair accessible vehicles and two cars that are available
for use during the week and weekends.
16. How are funds handled and by whom?
Most funds are
managed by the QMRP/Program Manager. Those who are able to
understand and manage money, are encouraged to handle their
personal funds. All residents interact with their finances at
some level with staff oversight, dependent on the individual’s
level of functioning/understanding.
17. Are meetings held when I can attend, after
work hours or weekends?
Typically, staff
call a month in advance to determine what dates and times work
for team members. Meetings can be held when as many members as
possible are available. At a minimum, the team meeting must
include the consumer, the legal representative and the county
case manager.
18. What resources are available to pay for
services?
Room and Board
costs are paid with combinations of Social Security, Medical
Assistance and the consumer’s wages.
HMC also assists
individuals in purchasing furniture and other basic needs in
apartments. Some families choose to assist with financial
matters.
19. How does HMC ensure
the continuation of contact with family and friends?
The main focus is
for individuals to maintain connections. Staff encourage and
assist with letter writing, phone calls and keeping track of
family birthdays and special events.
Continuation of
contact is very individualized and based on part of the
assessment process. Frequency of family contact depends on how
much contact the family is comfortable with. HMC staff then set
up a strategy to ensure this plan.
To learn more about our other programs,
click here:
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