DOVER (May 4, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) announced today that the Columbus Organization will continue to operate as the Division’s Targeted Case Management Provider, providing case management support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families across the State. Targeted Case Management through the Columbus Organization provides each individual and family with access to a Community Navigator ensuring a person-centered planning approach that supports individuals receiving services to live their best life.

“Our Division’s top priority is to ensure every individual we serve, and their family, can access the services and supports they need to lead the life they want to live,” said Marissa Catalon, Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services. “Columbus’s Community Navigators do just that by connecting individuals to the communities they live in.”

The Columbus Organization works to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by making connections to services and supports in the community. Those include access to, for example, supported employment services and day services, behavioral supports, or assistive technologies. They also support families in gaining access to respite services and home or vehicle modifications.

Carlos Hernandez, Senior Vice President with the Columbus Organization, shared his enthusiasm for this opportunity to continue partnering with DDDS. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with DDDS and to making a significant impact on the lives of so many people in Delaware. Beyond the benefits of maintaining continuity of care for these individuals, we also believe that Columbus’ complex care model, state-of-the-art training and analytics tools, and dedicated Quality Assurance team, will contribute greatly to helping individuals achieve their meaningful life-goals while improving health outcomes.”

DDDS began working with the Columbus Organization in July 2017 when the Division first implemented Targeted Case Management Services. Over the past five years, Columbus has maintained an excellent record of Medicaid compliance. The nonprofit’s average compliance scores are consistently in the 90th percentile; this year its Medicaid compliance scores range from 95% to 98%.

The Columbus Organization will continue to provide services primarily to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) living in their own home or in their family home. DDDS has additional case management and resource coordination services for individuals with IDD living in provider-managed residential settings and for those individuals served by the Diamond State Health Plan Plus – a Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) program.

DDDS is one of 11 divisions in the Department of Health and Social Services. It serves more than 5,000 service recipients statewide.

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The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of life of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

NEW CASTLE (Jan. 27, 2022) – The Division for the Visually Impaired announces a new partnership between its Business Enterprise Program (BEP) and Chick-fil-A. Starting Monday, Feb. 7, the Chick-fil-A food truck dispatching from the Camden, Del., store will make rounds at DMVs across Delaware.

The Business Enterprise Program (BEP) is a federally authorized program that trains and licenses individuals who are blind or visually impaired to establish and operate food service business in public and private facilities. BEP works to broaden economic opportunities for Delawareans who are blind or visually impaired by creating snack bars, cafeterias, and vending route facilities on federal, state, and municipal properties. Under the law, the State Licensing Agency (SLA) is granted priority to operate vending facilities on federal and state property.

The Chick-fil-A and BEP partnership is the beginning of what the Division for the Visually Impaired hopes are several food truck ventures at DMVs and other federal, state, and municipal properties.

“We are very excited to provide excellent food and service to our local communities in partnership with BEP, while supporting Delawareans with visual impairment,” Terry Donovan, Chick-fil-A Food Truck Director said.

“This is going to be a great partnership for the blind community as well as for Chick-fil-A,” said Gary Pizzolo, a BEP vendor who is blind and co-chair of the Blind Vendor Committee. “By supporting the food truck and the vending machines at the state buildings, you are not only supporting vendors like me, but our families as well.”

DVI is seeking additional food trucks to fill the schedule. If you are interested or know someone who is, call DVI staff at 302-255-9800.

The Division for the Visually Impaired provides educational, vocational, and technical support to empower and foster independence for Delawareans with visual impairments. To learn more, visit DVI’s website.

Smyrna – Are you prepared for an emergency or disaster?  Disasters can strike suddenly, anytime and anywhere, and first responders may not be able to reach you right away.

If you were unable to attend the Community Preparedness Workshop in Georgetown, a second workshop will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover (1121 Forrest Ave, Dover, DE 19904), from 8:30AM – 1:30PM.  The workshop is free and open to the public, but registration is required.  Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to talk with our preparedness partner exhibitors.  Coffee, tea, water, and light refreshments will be available in the morning before the workshop.  Delaware Citizen Corps, the Office of Preparedness, and the Modern Maturity Center (MMC) in Dover are partnering to hold this workshop.

What can you do to help yourself, your family, and your neighbors if an emergency or disaster happens?  The major goal of this workshop is to better equip seniors and people with disabilities with knowledge to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies at home and disasters in their communities.  In 2019 Delaware experienced winter storms, severe storms, power outages, flooding, tornadoes, as well as threats from hurricanes and coastal storms.  Anything can happen to anyone at any time.  Learning about what can happen and how to be prepared is increasingly important.

Speakers will include trainers from the Kent County Department of Public Safety, Office of Preparedness, Delaware Citizen Corps, as well as specialists from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative (DATI), and Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities/Adult Protective Services. The workshop will feature information and resources for how to make emergency and communications plans, make an emergency kit, and learn about fire safety.

Seating is limited. Registration for this free workshop is required and is online at Eventbrite at https://mmcpw.eventbrite.com. To request special needs accommodations for hearing or visual impairments or other needs, please contact Beth MacDonald by Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at Beth.MacDonald@Delaware.gov.

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Contact: Jeff Sands, Delaware Emergency Management Agency, 302-659-2211.

Specialized savings accounts protect the benefits of individuals with disabilities.

Treasurer Colleen C. Davis is marking the first anniversary of the Delaware ABLE Plan by releasing a new awareness campaign and video. ABLE is a savings program for individuals with disabilities that ensures their ability to put away money and advance in life without risking their important government benefits. Without ABLE, saving money for the future or earning a fair wage can put a person’s ability to utilize Medicaid and Supplementary Security Income (SSI) at risk.

“During ABLE’s first year, the focus was on getting the program up and running. Now the groundwork is laid, and we are shifting our focus towards getting information about the plan into the hands of those who could benefit from it,” Treasurer Davis explained, “Our new awareness video is a great, sharable way for residents to learn about the program and how easy it is to sign up.”

During 2019 alone, Treasurer Davis and staff have reached over 3,000 people through direct, in-person outreach at dozens of events and community meetings. This week, a more broad online awareness effort begins with the release of a video about ABLE.

“Throughout my career, I have worked with thousands of people with disabilities seeking employment,” said Dan Madrid, Director of Policy and Performance Management and ABLE Manager in the Office of the State Treasurer. “They would tell me that they needed a job, but could only make so much, or needed a job that paid less. Several would obtain jobs and then have to refuse promotions and raises because of the asset limits associated with their benefits. With ABLE, they don’t need to hold themselves back anymore. They can have a stable, successful future – and we want everyone to know about the opportunity.”

The Treasurer has hope that Congress will help the plan expand as well. Davis is supportive of the ABLE Age Adjustment Act, which would increase plan eligibility to those who incurred a disability by age 26 to those whose disability onset by age 46, making an estimated six million more Americans eligible for the important program. Treasurer Davis is strongly in support of the ABLE Age Adjustment Act, and released an op-ed to encourage support and a joint statement with Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long.

The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program allows for the creation of tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities without compromising eligibility for federal benefits such as Medicaid and Social Security. Delaware’s ABLE plan is administered by the Office of the State Treasurer. Learn more about Delaware’s ABLE Plan by visiting ABLE.delaware.gov.

This Holiday Season, Adopt-A-Family Seeks Donors to Help Provide Gifts for Delaware Children, Families and Seniors in Need

NEW CASTLE – By participating in the Holiday Adopt-A-Family program, Delawareans can help bring the holiday spirit to thousands of Delaware children, adults, people with disabilities and seniors in need. There are many ways to support individuals and families in need, including an online shopping option called CommuniGift.

Each holiday season, donors are anonymously matched to a senior, individual with a disability or a family of one or more children through the Holiday Adopt-A-Family program. Adopt-A-Family provides the donor with the age and gender of each child in the family and a brief description of the circumstances that led to their need for assistance. The donor then provides gift cards or certificates for the head-of-household to use in buying holiday gifts. The recommended gift is $100 to $125 per child, with a gift certificate for the parent optional but thoughtful.

Those interested in adopting a senior or a person with a disability will be matched to an individual in need living in a nursing home. A wish list of things the individual likes and would appreciate, as well as clothing preferences and sizes, will be provided. After shopping for these residents, items can be dropped off at the Adopt-A-Family offices in New Castle County (3301 Green St., Claymont) or Kent and Sussex County (13 SW Front St., Milford).
“Through a simple gift, we can touch the hearts of children and their families or seniors in a nursing home,” Gov. Jack Markell said. “One act can have a powerful impact, especially for those most vulnerable this holiday season. I encourage people to reach out through Adopt-A-Family and showcase the best of our community holiday spirit.”

Again this year, Adopt-A-Family makes it easier to support a Delaware individual or family through a partnership with the online giving platform, CommuniGift. Donors are able to browse and learn about individuals and families in need, and then directly purchase products for them through one-click integration with retailers. To familiarize yourself with the process, go to https://holidays.communigift.com/o/aafde

Another option is to buy gift cards or shop for items in your favorite stores or your favorite online shopping sites. You can either have the items mailed to Adopt-A-Family or drop them off yourself (offices addresses below). Just include the family code with the gift cards or items, so Adopt-A-Family knows who should receive the items. Otherwise, Adopt-A-Family staff will distribute the items to the individuals or families most in need first.

A sampling of Delawareans in need:

• A Wilmington family of four is currently homeless and staying with a relative. The father is not involved with the family financially or physically. The family, including two sons, ages 8 and 6, and a daughter, age 1, would really appreciate any assistance for the holiday.
• A Dover mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer this year. She is currently undergoing radiation and will be out of work for another month at least. Her health is declining. She has two sons, ages 12 and 8, and a daughter, age 6.
• This nursing home resident in Seaford is a quiet, sweet lady. She loves her stuffed animals and writing in her notebook. She would like a radio, notebook & pencils, watch, and rosary.

“Please think about coming together as a family, a workplace, a place or worship, a school or an organization to adopt a family or a senior in need,” said Rita Landgraf, secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, which oversees the Adopt-A-Family program. “During this holiday season, your generosity on behalf of vulnerable Delawareans is greatly appreciated.”

The deadline to “adopt” a family is Dec. 14, and all gift cards and gifts must be delivered to the Adopt-A-Family Office by Dec. 18. Families who are adopted pick up their gift cards from their respective Adopt-A-Family office.

In 2014, the Holiday Adopt-A-Family program, through the leadership of the Human Services Councils of New Castle County and Kent/Sussex counties, helped 2,593 Delawareans. Most of the beneficiaries are single-parent households, children, adults with a disability, and senior citizens. Eligible recipients are referred to Adopt-A-Family by a social worker or case manager through state agencies and human service nonprofit organizations.

Year-round, the Adopt-A-Family program aids families in crisis – those struggling with illness, homelessness, domestic violence, poverty or unemployment. The program, begun in 1973, is coordinated by the Division of State Service Centers in all three counties.

In 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 12.5 percent of Delawareans lived below the poverty line. In November 2015, more than 143,000 Delawareans qualified for food benefits and more than 230,000 people are clients of Medicaid. Delaware’s unemployment rate for October 2015 was 5.1 percent.

“While the economy continues to improve, the need for our Holiday Adopt-A-Family program remains far-reaching,” Secretary Landgraf said. “So many Delaware families continue to be impacted by medical conditions, behavioral health issues, domestic violence, homelessness and unemployment. The personal stories of need are truly heart-breaking. That’s why we are grateful for your support in adopting a family, an individual with a disability, or a senior in need.”

To “adopt” an individual or family without using CommuniGift, please contact:

• New Castle County: Contact the New Castle County Adopt-A-Family at (302) 792-9538 or email lisa.mb.johnson@delaware.gov. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
• Kent and Sussex counties: Contact the Kent and Sussex Adopt-A-Family at (302) 424-7260 or email shannon.smith@delaware.gov. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For these programs, Adopt-A-Family also accepts financial and in-kind donations. Checks should be made payable to: Adopt-A-Family.

• New Castle County: Adopt-A-Family, 3301 Green St., Claymont, DE 19703.
• For Kent and Sussex Counties: Adopt-A-Family, 13 SW Front St., Milford, DE 19963.

For more information about Adopt-A-Family, go to dhss.delaware.gov or contact your nearest state service center.

For more information, contact Jill Fredel, Director of Communications, (302) 255-9047 (office) or (302) 357-7498 (cell).

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.