SERVICES

PeopleCare's ICF program is a residential program for people with mental retardation who need supervision and assistance with daily living, but do not require the restrictive and more expensive structure of a state school or state center, and are able to live a much more normal life in the community with the appropriate supports. PeopleCare currently operates nine homes in the ICF program, each with six individuals in residence.

The homes are all single-family residences that are located in typical residential neighborhoods throughout El Paso .

The ICF program provides for all needs of the individuals served, including nursing provided by on staff RNs, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Psychological services, Dental services, Speech Therapy, Dietary services, Transportation, and any other needed services as recommended by the Inter-Disciplinary Team.

PeopleCare's waiver services provide all of the services noted above for our ICF program, but differs in the locations and types of living arrangements offered. Individuals who receive HCS services may reside in one of our five residences, which are also single family homes located in typical residential neighborhoods throughout El Paso . These homes serve a maximum of four persons in residence. This arrangement offers an even less restrictive setting than the ICF model, as most of the individuals are able to have their own bedroom to themselves and fewer housemates. The HCS program also includes Foster Care family placements, semi-independent apartment living with support staff as needed, or individuals may remain in their own or family home and receive support services which enable their families to continue to have their family member at home. The service array for HCS services includes Case Management, a variety of Residential models (including Foster Care), Day Habilitation or Supported Employment, Nursing and health related services (provided by on-staff RNs), Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Psychological services, Dental services, Audiology services, Dietary services, Transportation services, Social Work services, and Respite services.

PeopleCare also operates the Life Resources Center , which provides day services for the people we serve. The services offered are: Day Habilitation, which includes training in basic academic skills, community mobility and safety, self-help skills, and pre-vocational training; Supported Employment, which includes training and assistance in completing job applications, obtaining employment, and job coaching to assist the individual in the initial period of competitive employment to adjust to the new job duties and surroundings; contract work for the individuals to enable them to learn job skills and work habits, as well as earn some money for work performed; community outings and activities to promote cultural awareness and experiences for the people we serve, and provide opportunities for interactions with non-disabled peers and the community at large.

In all three programs, PeopleCare staff provide training and support to these individuals based on their needs, but the supports generally include instruction and assistance in basic academic skills, self-help skills, transportation needs, money management, and many other areas. Just as you most likely do in your home, the individuals in our programs help prepare their own meals, do laundry, assist with household chores, go grocery shopping, attend church, if they choose to do so, and participate in a variety of leisure and community activities. We celebrate birthdays and holidays and other special occasions either by going out to someplace special, or by having a barbecue at home, or maybe to the park for a picnic, or baking a cake or cookies at home.

In summary, our goal is to offer the necessary supports and training to enable the individuals we serve to enjoy, and participate, to the fullest extent possible, in the best quality of life they can obtain, while helping them to achieve the highest level of independent functioning of which they are capable.

Generally, access to the services provided by PeopleCare is through the El Paso Community MHMR Center (formerly known as Life Management Center ). The number to reach the Mental Retardation Services section of EPCMHMRC is 915-772-4446.

For HCS Program services, this is the only way to obtain these services. The EPCMHMRC can assist you in getting your name on a statewide waiting list for HCS services, and these services are generally only available through this waiting list. If you are currently on the list, and are notified that you have become eligible for HCS services, please let your EPCMHMRC case worker know that you are interested in arranging a visit to the PeopleCare program so that you can see firsthand what we offer.

The HCS program participation is limited by the State Legislature's funding allocation for these services in the biennial budget.

ICF Program services may be accessed directly through PeopleCare, or through EPCMHMR Center . Qualifications for admission are: the individual must have a diagnosis of mental retardation, with onset prior to the age of 18 years; must be Medicaid eligible; and must have a current established Level of Need ( which the company can assist you in obtaining). While ICF services can be obtained directly through PeopleCare, we are limited by our licenses to serving only 54 persons, and the turnover rate for persons served is quite low. If you have an interest in PeopleCare's ICF services, please contact us and we will advise you of the status of any vacancies in the program, and will keep your name on a waiting list for services in the event of a future opening.

The Life Resources Center services are available to persons with mental retardation in the El Paso community, and may be accessed by contacting Jeff Moody, Director, at the PeopleCare number listed under our contact information. Services for persons served in our HCS and ICF Programs are paid for by those programs. Services for persons enrolled in other programs are available through a contracting process with their current provider, and services are available to persons not in any other program on a private pay basis. Each circumstance is unique, and will be considered and arranged on a person by person basis.

The eligibility requirements are essentially the same for all programs, however, the HCS Program access is only available through El Paso Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center.