October Newsletter
Message from the Director
Greetings from Community Pathways! I hope you all have had an enjoyable summer and a good transition into fall. As always, we're keeping busy around here, but we'd like to take some time to answer a common question we get that is at the core of who we are at Community Pathways.
People sometimes ask “what’s a Brokerage?” or “what are the differences between a case management entity (CME) and a Brokerage? Don’t you do the same thing?” The answer to these questions is both simple and complex. Community Pathways is a private non-profit that provides “case management” services to adults with developmental disabilities. However, we don’t like the term “case management” and don’t see that as the work that we do.
The services we provide are individualized and really depend on a person’s goals, aspirations, and dreams. We connect people to other organizations, resources, and care providers. That means our mission is never to “manage” people, and that people aren't “cases” to us.
The way we operate really separates us from the "old" way of doing things. Community Pathways is guided by a philosophy of individual self-determination. We believe that CME is an out-of-date term that needs to change all over the country. Language matters and we want people to know that Brokerages are so much more than case management. To start, we are more personal than that. At CPI, we get to support people to live full and whole lives; it's the very reason why we were created!
For those with more questions on this topic and others, please visit our website at www.communitypath.org. It's full of great information! Another good place to find info about various Brokerages around the state is to visit the My Brokerage My Choice site at www.mybrokeragemychoice.com.
Have a question you want spotlighted?Send it to info@communitypath.org
Provider Update: FAQs about EVV System
As providers know, a new system called Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) was implemented on July 16th. If you're a provider and still have questions about PSW EVV, please let us know. You can find a quick list of answers to frequently asked questions on our website here: https://www.communitypath.org/psw-evv-system
IMPORTANT: Please note that the EVV system was not created and is not managed by brokerages, such as Community Pathways. It was created as a part of a federal law and was implemented by DHS. For more information and to register for an orientation session, visit https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/SENIORS-DISABILITIES/DD/PROVIDERS-PARTNERS/EVV%20Docs/How-to-Register-for-PSW-EVV-Orientation-Session-iLearn.pdf
Self-Advocacy Resources
How to ask for what you need and want:
· Talk with your personal agent about learning how to advocate for yourself at home and in the community.
· Contact the Oregon Self-Advocacy Coalition to learn how to advocate for yourself and get introduced to other self-advocates and networks of support.
How to get involved in a self-advocacy group in the community:
· Ask your personal agent to learn more about Build A Movement and Self-Advocates Taking Action, a group of self-advocates in the Portland Metro area who meet monthly and quarterly to discuss their top priorities: Housing, Healthcare, and DD services.
· For more information about BAM and SATA, contact Jennifer Knapp at jknapp@cvision.org
How to advocate at the political level and speak with your legislators:
· Visit the GO! Project website https://orddcoalition.org/go-project/ to learn more about the joint efforts of the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Oregon IDD Coalition to lead individuals and group in self-advocacy at the State Capitol in Salem.
Upcoming Events
LGBTQ+ Night
· Wednesday, November 6th, 4 - 6PM
· 2475 SE Ladd Ave., 4th Floor, Portland, OR
· Come hang out and meet people in an inclusive, safe space
· Questions? Contact us at (503) 935-5243 or info@communitypath.org
CPI November Game Night
Thursday, November 14th, 4-6PM
2475 SE Ladd Avenue, 4th Floor, Portland, OR 97214
Come hang out and play games!
Questions? Contact us at (503) 935-5243 or info@communitypath.org
Build a Movement (BAM)
Build a Movement welcomes Portland self-advocates working for change in improving the lives of Portlanders with disabilities.
Organized by Self-Advocates Taking Action
Planning session Friday, October 11th, 10AM-2PM
Legislative dialogue Thursday, November 7th, 5:30PM-7:30PM
Located at Rose City Park UMC at 5830 Alameda St, Portland, OR 97213
Ongoing Events
The Multnomah County Library has many inclusive events including crafts and games and a Celebracion del Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead Celebration in Spanish.
· Learn more about crafts and games at https://multcolib.org/events/crafts-games
· Celebracion del Día de los Muertos is Thu, Nov 07, 2019
3:30 to 5:00 in the Gregory Heights Meeting Room. Learn more at https://multcolib.org/events/celebracion-del-d%C3%ADa-de-los-muertos-day-dead-celebration/109396