- What is the iBudget Waiver?
- Why is there an iBudget Waiver Waitlist?
- iBudget Waiver Services Provided
- APD Application Process
- I’ve Been Placed on the iBudget Waiver – What Now?
- Consumer Directed Care Plus
Letter of Approval
You will receive a letter from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) indicating you have been placed on the iBudget Waiver and approved for services. Included in the letter will be the individual’s iBudget plan comprised of a budget and the supports and services that APD has determined are to be provided. Several factors are considered, including a formula that looks at your age, your living situation (whether you live with family, in your own home or in a group home), and the kind of support that you need according to the agency-approved Questionnaire for Situational Information (QSI) assessment. The approved budget will be used to assist the individual in meeting required needs, especially those involving health and safety.
Prepare Interviews
You will need to find and hire a Waiver Support Coordinator (WSC) and supports and services providers. Prepare for your interviews. Write out the questions you’ll want to ask and keep notes careful during each interview for comparison in your post-interview decision making. While conducting interviews you should ask about personnel, coverage, new staff interview process protocols, and background checks. This is also your opportunity to explain needs, wants, concerns, and specifics necessary for the individual’s care and family considerations. Refer to the Suggested Interview Questions section below for a list of pertinent questions you may want to ask.
Interview Waiver Support Coordinator
Find a state qualified Waiver Support Coordinator serving your county. APD includes a link to their Waiver Support Coordinator Scorecard in your letter of approval. This is where you can begin your search.
The Waiver Support Coordinator is the liaison between the individual, family, and APD, and is directly involved in the individual’s care including: having responsibility to assist the individual and family in identifying their capacities, needs, and resources; finding and gaining access to necessary supports and services; coordinating the delivery of supports and services; advocating on behalf of the individual and family; maintaining relevant records; and monitoring and evaluating the delivery of supports and services to determine the extent to which they meet the needs and expectations identified by the individual, family, and others who participated in the development of the support plan with person-centered planning.
It is recommended that you interview several potential Waiver Support Coordinators, and seek out families already on the iBudget Waiver to ask who they are using. You may also contact AFINS directly for help, or attend one of our Tuesday workshops to gain more insight. The Waiver Support Coordinator is your employee. You have the right to fire them if they are not performing to your expectations.
Interview Supports and Services Providers
After hiring your Waiver Support Coordinator you will begin selecting current Medicaid-waiver-enrolled supports and services identified in your iBudget plan. You can choose them on your own initiative or work with your Waiver Support Coordinator. Supports and services providers that have more clients in a concentrated area tend to offer more staff for you to review and typically offer better backup when necessary. The Florida Developmental Disabilities Resources website has a search tool you where you can find supports and services providers in your area. Once you have chosen your supports and services provider, you should interview and choose from staff made available to you that are qualified to deliver your supports and services. The supports and services provider will establish how you will meet each personal support employee and how to communicate with them directly. You should take the same care in selecting your supports and services providers and personal support employees as you did with your Waiver Support Coordinator as they have direct impact on the quality of care given to the individual and family. They too are your employees and you have the right to fire them if they are not performing to your expectations.
Congratulations, you’ve hired your Waiver Support Coordinator, supports and services provider, and personal support employee(s). Your Waiver Support Coordinator will use the iBudget application to create your budgets and track your spending, and the supports and services provider will now establish an individualized plan for your specific needs – such as medical care, residential services, daily living care, mealtime preparation, companionship, administration of medication, household tasks, and respite care when needed.
Suggested Interview Questions
Suggested Interview Questions for Waiver Support Coordinator
- How long have you been a support coordinator?
- What qualifications and background do you have?
- Do you understands the disability/disabilities that the individual has?
- How would you resolve a situation where a supports and services provider is not meeting our needs?
- How is required reporting to APD done?
- How are budgeting issues handled?
- How will social, emotional, and physical needs be met?
Suggested Interview Questions for Supports and Services Providers
- How long have you been a supports and services provider?
- What qualifications and background do you have?
- What are your communication protocols?
- What processes are in place in case my personal care staff does not show up?
- Is there a backup plan for absent staff or emergencies?
- Will you keep me informed of any changes and how will I be notified?
- What additional services are available the individual (physical therapy, activities, advocacy)?
- How do you set up a social calendar to keep the individual engaged?
- What measures are put in place for the individual’s specific needs?
- How large is the your staff?
- What counties do you serve?
Suggested Interview Questions for Personal Support Staff
- How far away do you live?
- Do they have your driver’s license and your own transportation?
- Do you have driver’s insurance?
- What sense of reliability do you convey regarding showing up and on time and in communicating?
- How long have you been in this field?
- What experience do you have with the IDD community?
- What are your likes and dislikes as related to their duties and interests of your clients?
- What are your long term goals?
- Are you willing and able to drive your clients to social activities and appointments?
- Will I be informed about the individual’s social activities in advance each week?
