Latino Outreach Support Broker

Job Title: Latino Outreach Support Broker

Department: Self-Directed Services (SDS)

Reports To: Simja Bezalel, Senior Manager of Self-Directed Services Support Brokers

FLSA Status: Full Time / Non-Exempt

Prepared By: Diane Lagoumis, Director of Self-Directed Services

Credentials/Education Requirements: Valid NYS Driver’s License. Written and verbal fluency in both Spanish and English. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from four-year college or technical school; or two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred. OPWDD Certification as a Support Broker is required however, this requirement can be met during the first year of employment at EEDA.

Summary: The Latino Outreach Support Broker (LOSB) will perform extensive outreach in the Latino community on Long Island to provide education and resources resulting in increased services for individuals with IDD through the Self-Directed Services Program. Once service recipients are identified through outreach, the LOSB will provide broker support services in the Latino community to assist individuals with accessing services and utilizing available resources through their Self-Directed Services Budget. The Latino Outreach Support Broker will also provide Broker Services within the Support Brokerage Department as a primary and/or secondary Broker in accordance with the OPWDD Support Broker ADM.

EEDA supports working a hybrid schedule of in office hours, community locations including face to face services and working remotely. EEDA will facilitate the business functions of remote working through the use of technology and issuance of needed equipment, excluding internet connection.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Complete extensive outreach in the Latino community by identifying gatekeepers in the Latino community on Long Island and earning their trust by frequently attending faith-based social service events in the Latino community and by building connections at social service organizations, and other trusted businesses in the Latino community. The Latino Outreach Support Broker will also work closely with school districts and BOCES learning centers that have high percentages of Latino students. They will hold informational workshops to help interested Latino families understand how Self-Directed Services can support their loved one with IDD. The Latino Outreach Support will work to educate and assuage the fears and concerns of families in the Latino community have associated with receiving IDD services.

• Maintain an Excel spreadsheet collecting data for all outreach performed in the Latino community for grant reporting purposes. The Latino Outreach Support Broker is required to keep records of all family contacts made, what outreach was performed and what resources were provided and to track each family’s concerns about receiving services to identify trends and remove barriers. All progress made with families and where they are in the eligibility process must be tracked. In addition to family data tracking, all outreach performed in the Latino community must be tracked, including virtual and in-person informational sessions held, records of contacts made with gatekeepers and leaders in the Latino community, including contacts at faith-based social services, Latino businesses, social service organizations, school districts, and BOCES learning centers. All outreach performed must be tracked in detail for grant reporting purposes and for EEDA’s Latino outreach database.

• OPWDD Broker Authorization training is required within the first year of hire.

• When Latino families want to receive Self-Directed Services, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will help them through the process of obtaining eligibility by receiving an official diagnosis and the necessary psychological, IQ, and adaptive behavior assessments necessary to become eligible for IDD services through OPWDD. The Latino Outreach Support Broker will guide families through the lengthy and complicated process of applying for IDD services via OPWDD’s “Front Door” system. Once eligible, they will transition families to receive EEDA’s Self-Directed Services by serving as the person’s Support Broker. This will ensure a smooth transition and build trust with hesitant families. By the end of the calendar year, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will be expected to have helped 25 Latino families on Long Island obtain eligibility or be in the process of obtaining eligibility to enroll in Self-Directed Services at EEDA. The Latino Outreach Support Broker’s role will then transition from primarily outreach in the Latino community to primarily support brokerage.

• Oversee the external translation of all EEDA training, marketing, and HR documentation, which requires exceptional attention to detail due to the nuanced and complicated language and terminology associated with Self-Directed Services.

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will assist the participant in developing and maintaining a Circle of Support/Planning Team and assisting in planning and directing team meetings and includes: assisting the participant in scheduling and facilitating team meetings; identifying new team members; identifying and assigning roles and tasks for Circle of Support/Planning Team members; assisting with the overall functioning of the Circle of Support/Planning Team; ensuring team members are freely chosen by the participant; and the team is operating in the participant’s best interests and within the principles of Self-Determination.

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will meet with the participant's Circle of Support/Planning Team, at least twice a year as detailed in the Circle of Support/Planning Team Meetings and assisting the participant with developing a comprehensive Life Plan.

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will develop and complete all Staff Action Plans and Staff Action Plan Updates for self-hired Community Habilitation and Supported Employment (SEMP) staff for participants who receive such services.

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker must distribute all SAP Plans and Updates to the Care Manager within 30 days of the LP meeting or LP being certified* (subject to corrections). Documentation confirming the distribution of all SAP Plans must be documented in service notes as well as forwarded to the FI. Any delay with the Care Manager must be documented. Communicating with the COS, the Latino Outreach Support Broker must also monitor all employee documentation to ensure the plan is being implemented properly.

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will assist the individual to develop a comprehensive Self-Directed Budget that is consistent with his/her Life Plan; and working with the individual and his/her Circle of Support/Planning Team, ensure that all necessary safeguards are included and addressed in the Life Plan.

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will provide education, training, and technical assistance to the participant and his/her Circle of Support/Planning Team in implementing the Self-Directed Budget according to applicable federal and state standards.

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will work with the participant, his/her Circle of Support/Planning Team, and the Care Manager to identify and develop initial connections in the community, as identified in the participant’s Life Plan.

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will monitor Self-Direction expenditures to ensure that spending does not exceed the Self-Directed Budget by assisting the participant and the Circle of Support/Planning Team to review the expenditure report provided by the Fiscal Intermediary (FI).

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will work with the individual and Circle of Support/Planning Team to review and update the Self-Direction Budget, as needed, so that it meets the needs of the participant and remains current and eligible for Medicaid funding.

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will attend the participant’s Life Plan reviews and assisting the participant with reviewing and updating his/her Life Plan as requested.

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will ensure that at least two face-to-face Circle of Support/Planning Team meetings occur each year once a family has started receiving Self-Directed Services at EEDA.

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will assist the participant with properly documenting services according to applicable federal and state regulations and policy (including assisting the participant with reviewing and submitting documentation to the FI, such as: employee time sheets; monthly summary note; mileage and expense reimbursement forms; and all other required documentation).

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will assist the participant with hiring and retaining appropriate support staff (including assisting the participant in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, scheduling, and supervising self-hired staff, and assisting the participant with identifying and retaining adequate backup staffing to ensure availability as needed by the participant).

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will utilize eVero to document all services in a contemporaneous manner and submit billing in a timely manner. The Latino Outreach Support Broker is expected to bill approximately 120 hours of services provided to the individuals on his/her caseload. (Caseload numbers will be variable)

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will become an active member of the EEDA Self-Direction team and contribute feedback and ideas to enrich all self-directed services as well as the use of eVero. The Latino Outreach Support Broker may continue to carry non-EEDA FI cases as agreed upon at time of hire.

• Once eligibility is obtained, the Latino Outreach Support Broker will participate in Departmental meetings and other Training Opportunities as part of EEDA Self-Directed Services Team and will be expected to be physically present for these (generally on a bi-weekly basis).

Competencies:

• Communication proficiency
• Community outreach skills
• Verbal and written fluency in English and Spanish
• Interpersonal skills
• Teamwork
• Problem solving

Supervisory Responsibility:

None

Language Skills: Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, coworkers, and the general public in Spanish and English.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume, and distance.

Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have proficiency in MS Office and utilize eVero software.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and utilize computers. The employee is occasionally required to walk.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually very quiet.