News and Updates
Community Pathways
Upcoming Events
May 22 - Case Management Entity Open House
Who: Anyone interested in learning more about brokerage support services and case management available to eligible individuals in Clackamas County. This is a great event fro individuals who are transition age (14-21 years old).
What: Informational open house hosted by case management entities serving Clackamas county. Community Pathways will be there!
Where: Clackamas Education Service District (13455 SE 97th Avenue,
Clackamas, OR 97015)When: Wednesday, May 22nd, 5-7pm
Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/events/2325147177766292/ (English)
May 23 - Game Night at Community Pathways
Who: Individuals, providers, family members, friends who want to socialize and play games!
What: Xbox (with adaptive controllers), UNO, Apples to Apples, playing cards, and more.
Where: 2475 SE Ladd Avenue, 4th Floor, Portland, OR 97214
When: Thursday, May 23rd, 4-6pm
Drinks and snacks provided. CPI’s PA’s and Admin staff will be there too.
Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/events/813558305694046/
May 29 - Multnomah County I/DD Info Fair
Who: Individuals, families, educators and professionals in the field are invited to come learn more about services available to children and adults who experience developmental disabilities and live in Multnomah county.
What: Learn about provider agencies, organizations serving people who experience I/DD, and case management entities. Community Pathways will be there!
When: Wednesday, May 29, 12-6pm
Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/events/669795763449003/
PSW Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)
What is EVV?
The Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) is an electronic way for verifying attendant care services. It will help with more accurately tracking Medicaid personal care services and home health services.
Who is required to use EVV?
EVV is only currently required for Personal Support Workers (PSW’s) who provide the following Attendant or Personal Care services:
•OR526 –Attendant Care
•OR526/ZE –Attendant Care 2:1 staff
•OR507 –Daily Relief Care
•OR502 –State Plan Personal Care
How do I know if I provide one of these Attendant or Personal Care services?
Please check your service agreement(s) to find out if you are providing one of these services.
Why do PSW’s have to use EVV?
EVV is a part of a federal law that was passed by Congress in 2016. It requires states to verify the delivery of Medicaid-funded Attendant or Personal Care services in real time (at the time the service is occurring) from providers. This federal law requires the use of EVV for all Medicaid personal care services and home health services that require an in-home visit by a provider.
Will PSW’s be trained on how to use EVV?
Yes! Learn how to use the EVV system by attending an EVV Orientation Session. PSW’s must register to attend orientation sessions. They will be presented in English and alternate languages that have been noted. There will eventually be EVV tutorials and user guides available.
How do i register for a PSW evv orientation SEssion?
Go to DHS’s iLearn website at https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/SENIORS-DISABILITIES/DD/PROVIDERS-PARTNERS/EVV%20Docs/How-to-Register-for-PSW-EVV-Orientation-Session-iLearn.pdf
When will PSW’s have to start using EVV?
Statewide roll-out of EVV will be July 16, 2019. Orientation information will be provided in May through a separate communication and also on the EVV web page. Information from DHS will be mailed to PSW’s, customers and employers. Please watch for this in your mail.
How can I learn more about EVV?
Visit the Oregon DHS website at https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/SENIORS-DISABILITIES/DD/PROVIDERS-PARTNERS/Pages/evv.aspx
Watch the EVV Video Tutorials on the OrGovDHS YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV8JzGRAArg
Follow and like the eXPRS payment system on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EXPRSpaymentsystem/HowHo
May 2019 Newsletter
Portrait of Tino wearing a yellow hat and t-shirt.
Customer Highlight
Tino’s Employment Story
Tino, a customer of Community Pathways, shares his experiences of getting a temporary seasonal job at Lowe's eight years ago and applying his strong work ethic to earn a full-time position he enjoys.
Read the full story.
Group photo of three advocates, smiling and holding a Support DD Services sign.
Advocacy Update
DD Advocacy Day on May 7th
Join us at the next DD Advocacy Day in Salem on May 7th, 10am-2pm. The Oregon Developmental Disability Coalition’s GO! Project Advocacy Team will be available to give you information, training, and support. This is a great opportunity to meet advocates and learn about becoming an effective advocate for yourself and others who experience disabilities. Learn more.
Portraits of Zoe and Jacob, Community Pathways staff members and ONA Assessors.
Brokerage Update
Meet our ONA Assessors
Meet Community Pathways' four ONA Assessors. They are trained to complete the ONA based on information gathered in face-to-face meetings, file reviews, and through interviews with people who are central to an individual's life.
Meet our ONA Assessors
Health & Wellness Resources
Health Plans and Providers
Health Share of Oregon - My Health Plans serves Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties.
OHSU Oregon Office on Disability and Health works to improve the health and quality of life of people with disabilities.
Mental Health
Clackamas: (503) 655-8401
Multnomah: (503) 988-4888
Washington: (503) 291-9111
Safety & Emergency Alerts
Food and Shelter
211 Info - Warming/Cooling Centers, Shelters, Food Pantries
Portland Farmers Market accepts SNAP benefits
Nutrition and Wellness
NEED Nutrition and Cooking Program (The Arc Multnomah-Clackamas)
Recreation Club (The Arc Multnomah-Clackamas)
Adaptive & Inclusive Recreation (City of Portland)
Share your health and wellness resource recommendations with us and the CPI community! Contact Kristine at (503) 935-5243 ext. 228 or kolson@communitypath.org
Get the latest news and updates! Join our mailing list to get the Community Pathways Newsletter emailed and/or mailed to your inbox! Sign up for the e-newsletter on the Home page.
Questions? Contact Kristine at kolson@communitypath.org or call (503) 935-5243 ext. 22
Community Pathways' mission is to assist people with disabilities to live empowered, self-determined lives through community connections.
Join our Game Night on May 23rd, 4-6pm
Join us for a Game Night event on May 23rd! We’re hosting an event for gamers and friends of Community Pathways to meet up and play games together. Support providers and friends of CPI are welcome to come. We look forward to seeing you!
Date: Thursday, May 23
Time: 4-6pm
Location: On the 4th floor of the Seven Corners Collaborative building at 2475 SE Ladd Avenue, Portland, OR 97214
What will be provided: Games! Snack foods and drinks. Members of the Community Pathways team will be at the event. Support providers, family, and friends are welcome to join!
Please RSVP to Kristine at kolson@communitypath.org or (503) 935-5243 ext. 228
Questions? Contact Kristine.
We look forward to seeing you!
Customer Highlight: Tino's Employment Story
“I took my mom and dad’s word to heart and did it. I’m where I’m at now. I have a driver license, I have a job. I can go where I want—because I’m a grown up.”
Tino wearing his red Lowe’s vest at work, smiling and giving two thumbs up.
Valentino, or Tino for short, sat down with us recently to share his employment story. For the past eight years, Tino has worked at Lowe’s where he currently serves as a full-time Delivery Load Puller and Assistant to the Delivery Driver. But Tino hasn’t always worked full-time at Lowe’s; he worked his way up to his current position over time.
Before he got his start at Lowe’s, Tino shares that he worked as a Busboy at Black Bear Diner for five years. He was motivated to start looking for a new job because, “I was not getting paid enough,” he says. With a goal to find a new job and earn more money, Tino sought out support from a job coach through supported employment services offered by United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). The job coach helped Tino learn how to search, apply, and interview for jobs, “because I didn’t know how,” he says.
With the job coach’s support, Tino began applying for jobs at Walmart. When he didn’t hear back from Walmart, Tino explains, he continued applying for positions online at Home Depot and Lowe’s. “Lowe’s jumped on it real fast and wanted an interview,” Tino says about his online application experience. “I was shocked at how fast it went.”
Tino was initially hired by Lowe’s as a Front End Seasonal Loader, working a few hours per week. After a period of time, with the encouragement of his co-workers, Tino asked his manager if he could work part-time and was soon promoted to a more permanent position. After working part-time for six months, Tino asked to work full-time, “because I wanted to do something more athletic, like lifting appliances.” At first, Tino was told no because there were no available positions at the time. When a Deliver Load Puller position opened up, a manager notified Tino directly. Tino applied that day and was hired for the full-time position he has today.
Promotions did not come immediately to Tino, as his story shows. He emphasizes that it took hard work and dedication to get to where he is today. It also required a willingness to speak up and ask for help in finding and interviewing for jobs, as well as asking for more responsibility on the job.
Portrait of Tino wearing a yellow baseball hat with a Pikachu pattern and a matching yellow t-shirt.
Persistence was key to Tino’s success in securing his first position as a temporary seasonal employee at Lowe’s, and then working his way up to a permanent full-time position. Even when he was not hired or did not get a promotion right away, Tino kept applying for jobs and following up with managers to show his interest in taking on more responsibility at work while still working hard at the job he had. By taking this approach, Tino gained the respect of his co-workers and managers who have become important sources of support to his professional growth and sense of belonging.
Tino notes that he was shy at first but remained persistent because he really wanted to work full-time and was confident in his work ethic. Asking for a promotion can be hard to do, Tino acknowledges. But he was encouraged by his family, friends, and co-workers who said, “You can do it. Go for it.”
Ask what kind of challenges he has experienced in regards to employment, Tino says the main challenge he faces at work is dealing with disgruntled customers--a challenge anyone working in retail and customer service can relate to. “[Customers] can be a little upset because they didn’t get what they wanted,” Tino says about customers who share negative feedback with him. Tino explains that his approach to handling these situations is to acknowledge the customer’s experience and to follow up with his managers so they can take action and make necessary changes.
Asked what job advice he would pass on to other employees, Tino shares that his dad taught him to, “Listen to your elders and have that hard work ethic,” adding that his dad tells him to, “find something to do instead of standing around. If you’re done [with a task] and don’t have something to do, pick up a broom and start sweeping.” Tino notes that he receives praise from his co-workers and managers for his work ethic and feels appreciated for his contributions to the team.
Asked what advice he has for employers, Tino says that it’s important for employers to show appreciation for their employees and to help people with their needs, “like if you say you need a little help or don’t understand something.” He acknowledges that not every single need can be accommodated but within reason Tino believes employers should be willing to train people who are willing to work hard and be a part of a team.
Tino advises employers that ongoing training for employees is important to their continued success at work, like when “you got a routine and something new crops up, and you need a little more training to handle the new situation.” He especially appreciates managers who are polite to their employees.
Tino wearing a yellow baseball hat and a yellow t-shirt with a red and white Pokemon ball logo.
Being a part of a supportive work team has been an important part of Tino’s employment experience. “We’re a solid team [at Lowe’s],” he says, adding that he appreciates the support and encouragement he receives from his co-workers, many of whom he counts as friends. The need for support is mutual. Tino shares how he supports his co-workers by offering a listening ear and words of encouragement when they face their own challenges.
“Lowe’s is like a big ol’ family,” Tino says. “If I’m not okay, they’ll see what’s going on. They love me a lot and want me to be a front end loader again because I work so hard,” he adds, chuckling. “But I’m not going back to that,” he says with a grin.
Asked who supports him in his employment pursuits, Tino notes his first manager at Lowe’s was an important support because they helped train him as a seasonal employee. The manager eventually put in a good word for Tino with the other managers to be hired part-time. Tino gives the main credit to his parents (who are his foster mom and dad, he explains) for the support and encouragement they’ve provided him in working toward his goals. “I took my mom and dad’s word to heart and did it. I’m where I’m at now. I have a driver license, I have a job. I can go where I want—because I’m a grown up.”
Asked what’s ahead for him, Tino shares that he recently won a BBQ grill from entering a raffle prize at work. “I won the large prize,” he says, smiling. Now he’s looking forward to firing up the new grill once the weather gets nicer.
Congratulations, Tino! Keep up the good work.
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