News and Updates
Community Pathways
February 2020 Newsletter
Message from the Director
Greetings!
We hope that you are having a wonderful new year! February is full of celebration, with Black History Month, Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day happening throughout the month. 2020 is a leap year, so we also get a bonus day at the end of February. For anyone born on February 29th, we want to wish you an extra Happy Birthday!
Community Pathways wants to ensure that we are providing the best service that we can. This month we plan to take some extra time to get feedback from the people we support. One way we do this is to send out a customer survey. This survey asks some general questions about services and preferences. We are very interested in your feedback and encourage you to fill it out and send it back to us! We will include a self-addressed stamped envelope to make it easy. The surveys are anonymous - though we do mark them with a PA identifier so we can provide feedback directly to the PA. Watch for these surveys in your mail later this month.
You can also provide feedback to us, ask questions, or get information by visiting our website. Specific questions can be sent to us here.
Jennifer Santiago
Executive Director
Provider Updates
eXPRS Mobile-EVV
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) is a system to verify real-time attendant care services on the eXPRS mobile website. The goal of this electronic verification system is to track Medicaid personal care services and home health services as accurately as possible.
EVV is not specific to Community Pathways. It is a system required by federal law that was passed by Congress in 2016 for all Medicaid personal care and home health services. Statewide roll-out of eXPRS Mobile-EVV was on July 16, 2019. All PSW’s must either be using EVV, or have an approved exception for not using EVV, as of March 31, 2020. After April 1, 2020, ODDS will begin enforcing this rule and taking action against PSWs who repeatedly fail to use EVV to record their time. Action steps may include warnings, attending required trainings and even possible termination of a PSW’s provider number.
If you believe that you qualify as an exception to regularly use EVV, please see the exception process explained here on our website. Our website also lists more detailed information about EVV and helpful external links to learn how to use the system.
Celebrating Black History Month
February is a special month to honor and celebrate achievements of African Americans in U.S. history! Thomas Wiggins, Stephen Wiltshire, Harriet Tubman, Simone Biles and Claudia Gordon are a few men and women experiencing disabilities who have accomplished amazing goals. Read more about their stories here.
Relationships
and
Reproductive
Health
Reproductive health can be thought of as an uncomfortable conversation, and as such, it is often overlooked. However, education on relationships and reproductive health is vital! It is so much more than intimacy and sex; it includes an umbrella of different topics such as information on body rights, respectful and appropriate expressions of love, prevention of abuse and more. SHEIDD, Sexual Health Equity for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, is a great resource to open up the discussion and find more information on teaching tools, helpful community resources, individuals' rights, and general guides regarding holistic sexual education. To learn more, please visit their website.
Upcoming CPI Events
Game Night
Wednesday March 11, 2020 at 4-6 PM
2475 SE Ladd Avenue, 4th Floor, Portland, OR 97214
Relax, have fun, and play board or video games
provided by co-host Saturn Support.
UCP LGBTQ+ Valentine's Meetup
Thursday, February 13 at 4 - 6 PM for ages 18+
UCP Connections 305, NE 102nd Ave #100 Portland, OR 97220
UCP Connections is celebrating Valentine's Day! Come hang out and have fun in a safe space.
Upcoming Community Events
Night to Shine
Friday, February 7th at 6-9 PM For ages 14 and up
Two Locations:
Salem Alliance Church 555 Gaines St NE. Salem, OR 97301. Info here.
Estacada First Baptist Church 29101 SE Eagle Creek Rd. Estacada, OR 97023. Info here.
This second annual prom sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation is a huge celebration! Last year, it was held at 655 churches across all 50 states and in 24 countries. Find out more here.
Resources
Project SEARCH Internship Program
Project SEARCH is a nine month training program that provides a supportive environment to build skills for future job opportunities. To learn more about the requirements of the available internships, visit the website.
If this interests you, there are two separate Project SEARCH Information Nights for the internships at Embassy Suites and Kaiser Westside Medical Center. Be sure to contact your PA if you decide to move forward with this program so it can be documented in your plan!
Embassy Suites at Washington Square
Thursday, February 20th 6-7:30 PM
RSVP to kayla.hall@albertinakerr.org
Kaiser Westside Medical Center
Tuesday, March 10th 5-6:30 PM
RSVP to McKennaD@albertinakerr.org
FEBRUARY OFFICE CLOSURES
Presidents’ Day on Monday, February 17
January 2020 Newsletter
Message from the Director
Happy New Year!
At Community Pathways, it is always exciting to begin a new year - and a new decade! 2020 will undoubtedly bring us lots of change; some will be good and some not so good. Through it all, Community Pathways will be here for you. It is our mission to provide supports to the people we serve so that everyone is empowered to live their best life. No matter what comes our way, we strive to go the extra mile to support people where they are, to provide resources, and to help make a difference.
We hope you enjoy the new layout of our newsletter! If you are interested in more, be sure to join our mailing list by signing up on our homepage.
We also welcome your feedback, which you can provide here.
Looking forward to another fantastic year with you all!
Jennifer Santiago
Executive Director
Holiday Update
In December, the Community Pathways team volunteered with the Sunshine Division and Intellectual Development Disabilities Advisory Committee (IDDAC) to deliver food and toy boxes to families in need of assistance this holiday season. We are so thankful for the ongoing opportunity to partner with these local organizations that work to support and empower the community!
Polar Plunge
Special Olympics Oregon provides opportunities to individuals with disabilities through sports, education and health programs. CPI's Personal Agent Linda Peck Athens (pictured above left) is sponsoring a fundraiser to support the organization. If she meets her goal to raise $1500, she will do a 5K fun run and a Polar Plunge dressed as Alpha from the Walking Dead. In case you're not a fan of the show, Alpha has a shaved head - and so will Linda! To support the cause for Special Olympics Oregon (and, of course, to see Linda with a new haircut), donate here.
A New Resolution
This time of year brings inspiration for change. New Year's resolutions are usually based on qualities we want to improve about ourselves. These goals can be motivational, but it is also admirable to be proud of who you are today. What are some the traits about yourself that you already love? Try a new tradition to begin the decade and list five qualities that you like about yourself and want to hold on to throughout 2020 (and the years to come!).
“If you have the ability to love, love yourself first.”
RESOURCES
A new year can be stressful. If you are experiencing big feelings right now, please don't hesitate to use the following resources to reach out for support. If you are a customer, you can also contact your PA for more options.
The Hearing Voices Network declares, “You are not alone!” These group meetings provide opportunities for people who hear voices, see visions or have unique experiences to share their stories in a safe space.
This toll-free number is staffed by people who have experienced mental health challenges firsthand. It is a peer support program that offers confidential conversation about any overwhelming emotions or concerns you have at the moment. It is not an urgent help hotline, just a “warmline” hosted by people who want to connect with you.
1-800-698-2392
UPCOMING CPI EVENTS
Game Night
Wednesday, January 22 at 4-6:00 PM
2475 SE Ladd Avenue, 4th Floor Portland, OR 97214
Relax, have fun, and play board or video games provided by co-host Saturn Support
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
UCP Recreation Fair
Tuesday, January 21 at 2:30-5:30 PM
5441 SE Belmont St. Portland, OR 97215
UCP Connections is holding a gathering to learn about recreational services and meet providers!
For more info: Call 503-522-0409 or email glenna.hayes@ucpconnections.org
January Office Closures
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 20th
