Frequently Asked Questions for Clients
What services can WRC provide?
Westside Regional Center provides the following services:
- Diagnosis and Evaluation Assistance in Finding and Using Community
Resources
- Service Coordination & Case Management
- Individual Program Planning Information
- Educational Advocacy & Consumer Advocacy
- Community Education Resource Development
- Purchase of Services
- Respite
- Guardianship and Conservatorship
- Quality Assurance
- Health and Medication Monitoring
- Education & Training Related to Issues Regarding Developmental
Disabilities
What is a Service Coordinator/Counselor?
The Service Coordinator/Counselor is responsible for collecting and giving
information to the consumers and families, coordinating services for the
consumers and families to enable them to have a leadership role in service
design, and advocating for consumer rights. The Service coordinator assures
that the Individual Program Plan and Person Centered Plan is successfully
implemented. Service coordination is essential to
assuring that consumers and families are assisted in securing services
and supports which maximize opportunities and choices in living, working,
learning, and participating in recreation in the community. The primary
direct service provided by the regional center is service coordination.
A service coordinator/counselor is assigned to each consumer and family.
What Happens Once I Am Assigned to a Service Coordinator/Counselor?
The service coordinator/counselor assesses the client's current situation
by interviewing to client, the consumer's parents and other family members,
advocates and service providers. The purpose of gathering information
and conduct evaluations in order to develop a Person-Centered Plan for
the person with the developmental disability.
What is a Person-Centered Plan?
The regional center client helps to develop the Person-Centered Plan with
their circle of support, which may include a wide circle of relatives
and friends, parents, and the service coordinator/counselor. The Person-Centered
Plan is based on hopes and dreams for the future as well as an assessment
of the person's needs, preferences and life choices, the Person-Centered
Plan states specific objectives to develop competencies and achieve personal
goals in the areas of community participation, housing, work, school and
leisure time. When children with developmental disabilities live with
their families, the plan includes a special section describing those services
and supports necessary to maintain the child at home.
I want to get involved with Self-Advocacy, how do I do that?
You can speak with your service coordinator about self-advocacy groups
in your neighborhood. You can also call Kecia Weller, Coordinator of Consumer
Advocacy, at (310) 258-4111. Either your counselor or Kecia will be able
to suggest various ways you can get involved with self-advocacy. Your
options include joining the Consumer Advisory Committee, a community Self-Advocacy
group, starting your own Self-Advocacy group, writing articles for the
Speak For Yourself newsletter, and many other activities.
What should I do if I have problems with my services I get?
- First, talk with the Service Provider to see if you can resolve the
problem with them.
- If that does not resolve the problem, then contact your Service Coordinator
at Westside Regional Center to discuss the problem with him/her.
- If talking with your Service Coordinator does not resolve the problem,
then contact the Service Coordinator's supervisor. Call (310) 258-4000;
tell the receptionist that you need to talk with your Service Coordinator's
supervisor.
What do I do if my Service Coordinator
doesn't returns my telephone calls?
Call (310) 258-4000; tell the receptionist that you need to talk with
your Service Coordinator's supervisor.
How do I change my Independent Living Skills program or
Day Program provider?
Inform your Service Coordinator that you what to change your Service Providers,
tell him/her what Service Provider you want to transferred to, if you
know this already. Your Service Coordinator will arrange for you.
What should I do if I have an emergency and can not reach
my Service Provider?
- During the business hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM call the Westside
Regional Center at (310) 258-4000 and ask for the Counselor of the Day.
The Counselor of the Day will assist you with your emergency.
- During evenings and weekends, call (310) 258-4000; tell the answering
service that you want to contact the Supervisor on Call. The Supervisor
on Call will assist you with your emergency.
What should I do if I am unhappy with my Service Coordinator
and I want to switch to another Service Coordinator?
Inform your current Service Coordinator or his/her supervisor that you
want to change Service Coordinators. Your Service Coordinator will transfer
your case to another of Westside Regional Center's helpful Service Coordinators.
|
