Star Inc Lighting The Way

TO PROVIDE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS AND DAY PROGRAM SERVICES FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED PERSONS.

STAR RESIDENTIAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO 84 INDIVIDUALS WITH I/DD IN A VARIETY OF OPTIONS: DDS LICENSED GROUP HOMES (68 ADULTS IN 12 HOMES); IN-HOME SUPPORT (8 ADULTS IN 7 APARTMENTS); LICENSED CLA'S: CLUSTERED APARTMENTS (12 ADULTS IN 8 APARTMENTS) AND SUPPORT IN THE INDIVIDUAL'S FAMILY HOME OR APARTMENT (3 ADULTS). RESIDENTIAL SUPPORTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, SUPPORT IN ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING, MEAL PLANNING AND PREPARATION, ASSISTANCE IN PERSONAL CARE, HEALTH CARE, MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION, TRANSPORTATION AND/OR MOBILITY TRAINING, UP TO 24 HOURS/DAY OF SUPERVISION, RECREATION, AND COUNSELING. RESIDENTIAL SUPPORTS ARE INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED AND DRIVEN BY THE RESIDENTS' NEEDS. DUE TO COVID-19, RESIDENTS SPENT JULY LARGELY AT HOME QUARANTINED, AS NECESSARY. MANY RETURNED TO DAY PROGRAM AND JOBS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR AS COVID RESTRICTIONS LIFTED.

STAR PLACED 7 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IN COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT WITH 30 JOBS RETAINED FROM PREVIOUSLY PLACED. MANY JOBS WERE LOST THE PREVIOUS YEAR COVID RELATED. THE AVERAGE TENURE OF SUPPORTED STAR EMPLOYEES IS APPROXIMATELY 12.4 YEARS. STAR DAY PROGRAMS FOLLOWED MANDATED CLOSURE OF IN PERSON SERVICES THROUGH JULY 2020. DURING THIS TIME, SERVICES WERE PROVIDED REMOTELY. AS COVID RESTRICTIONS LIFTED, OVER 100 STAR PARTICIPANTS IN DAY SUPPORT OPTIONS VOLUNTEERED IN THE COMMUNITY, ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN A GROWING LIST OF CLASSES IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS AND RETURNED TO WORK. TWENTY FIVE PEOPLE AGES 48-85 PARTICIPATED IN STAR'S SENIOR/ADULT DAY PROGRAM. STAR CONNECTIONS, A PROGRAM FOR ADULTS WITH COMPLEX MEDICAL NEEDS AND I/DD HAS NOT YET RETURNED POST COVID DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES. STAR CONTINUES TO OFFER A ROBUST DAILY SCHEDULE OF ZOOM PROGRAMMING FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS USING COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN DANCE, ART, MUSIC, ETC., INCLUDING THOSE AT HOME.

CONTINUING IN JULY 2020, THE EARLY INTERVENTIONIST'S IMPLEMENTED TELEHEALTH VISITS AS A RESULT OF THE CONTINUING PANDEMIC. MOST FAMILIES CONTINUED SERVICES THROUGH REMOTE VISITS THAT ENGAGED AND SUPPORTED THE ENTIRE FAMILY. KEY STRATEGIES DELIVERED BY THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, SPEECH THERAPISTS, DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPISTS AND THE SOCIAL WORKER INCLUDED FOCUSING ON ALL FAMILY MEMBERS, EMBEDDING EARLY INTERVENTION IN TYPICAL DAILY ROUTINES AND FOLLOWING THE FAMILY'S LEAD. IN SEPTEMBER 2020, STAR CONVERTED THE STAR RUBINO FAMILY CENTER FROM A BIRTH-TO-THREE PROGRAM TO A PEDIATRIC CENTER FOR EARLY THERAPIES AND EDUCATION TO CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO EIGHT YEARS OLD UTILIZING HUSKY, PRIVATE PAY AND INSURANCE BILLING.THE PRIVATE PRACTICE IS STAFFED BY HIGHLY-TRAINED PEDIATRIC THERAPISTS IN PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, SPEECH AND ORAL MOTOR THERAPY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION. THE PROFESSIONAL THERAPISTS EVALUATE EACH CHILD AND DESIGN AN INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLAN THAT MEETS THE CHILD'S UNIQUE NEEDS AND GOALS FOR DIRECT THERAPY.THE TEAM MEMBERS COLLABORATE CONTINUALLY WITH FAMILIES, PHYSICIANS, CAREGIVERS AND TEACHERS FOR EACH CHILD TO ACHIEVE GROWTH. TRANSLATION, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, PPT ATTENDANCE AND FAMILY SUPPORTS AND SOCIAL SERVICES ARE ALSO PROVIDED.RUBINO FAMILY CENTER IS CREDENTIALED WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES AND ACCEPTS COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, HUSKY AND PRIVATE PAY. SINCE INSURANCE PLANS VARY WIDELY ACROSS INSURANCE COMPANIES, STAR RUBINO FAMILY CENTER HELPS FAMILIES VERIFY THEIR BENEFITS AND COVERAGE.SINCE THE CONVERSION TO A PEDIATRIC CENTER 79 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES HAVE BEEN SERVED.

OVER 100 FAMILIES RECEIVED FAMILY SUPPORT ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM CALLED JUMPSTAR'S. SUPPORT INCLUDED: ATTENDING PPT MEETINGS, IEP PLANNING, CAMP, DAY CARE, TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO ADULT SERVICES, COLLEGE PLANNING, DDS ELIGIBILITY, RESPITE, IDENTIFYING ADVOCATES, ATTORNEYS AND ACCESSING OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. STAR COLLABORATED WITH JUMP START TO OFFER ADDITIONAL PARENTAL SUPPORT THROUGH JUMPSTARS. ADULTS WITH IDD PARTICIPATED IN STAR RECREATION ACTIVITIES. MEMBERS OF THE STAR'S SELF ADVOCACY GROUP MEET (SOMETIMES VIA ZOOM) TO DISCUSS ONGOING ISSUES INCLUDING STAFFING, MONEY MANAGEMENT, AND STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE TO BE INDEPENDENT. THROUGHOUT FY 22, ALL STAR SERVICES (EXCLUDING RESIDENTIAL SUPPORTS HAVE CONTINUED TO BE IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC (SERVICES HAVE BEEN LIMITED IN SCOPE AND SIZE OR DELAYED IN ORDER TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE). HOWEVER, ALSO IN LINE WITH THE EASING OF RESTRICTIONS, BY YEAR END, PROGRAMS BEGAN TO EXPAND AND GROW.