Timeline of Services
Below is a list of potential milestones, depending on your path, that you can anticipate on your journey through your life course. Please contact us for more information or if you have any questions.
0 - 3 years of age: Early Support and Services
- Early Supports and Services will discuss with you all of your service options
- We will guide you through an assessment of needs and help you identify the support and services to meet those needs
- Complete a Service Agreement with Community Bridges Early Supports and Service
- Learn about other supportive services in your community and help you connect with them
- Support your child to be comfortably involved in all life events important to your family
- Support your transition to the next needed services including public preschool if that’s right for your child
3 - 10 Years of Age
- Discover through person-centered approaches what is important to and for you as a person
- Learn about the education and special education system, including IEPs, 504 plans, and related services
- Develop an approach for positive advocacy to facilitate an effective and collaborative relationship with your local school district
- Review the Transition IEP or 504b Plan with your education team for Elementary School
- Determine ways the student will actively participate in school planning
- Consider and explore options to expand learning and experiences in the home, community, and at school
- Explore options for community supports, alternative agencies or service providers, the education system, and natural supports
- Review continued eligibility with Community Bridges and eligibility criteria for formal services
- Consider eligibility for public benefits, such as Social Security Supplemental Income and resources, as well as potential service options
- Plan and review the Transition IEP or 504b Plan with the team for Middle School
- Talk with your case manager about whether or not In-Home Support Services are right for you and your family
10-14 Years of Age
- Through person-centered approaches, Community Bridges will assist in supporting your student to self-identify interests, talents, support needs, and future vision
- Plan and review the Transition IEP or 504b Plan with your education team for High School
- Consider:
- Expectations for increased independence
- Graduation Requirements
- Desired Course of Study
- IDEA and Transition services
- You will begin to consider what life will look like after High School and learn about the resources available after high school, including supports for continuing education or Vocational Rehabilitation and related services
- Talk with your service coordinator about whether or not Family/Self-Directed Services is right for you and your family
15 -17 Years of Age: Planning for Adulthood
- Collaborative person-centered high school transition planning should be included in IEP discussions. This should include, at minimum, the student, family, school, Community Bridges, Vocational Rehabilitation, and any other resources in the student’s life.
- Explore ways the student can increase their direct involvement in school planning
- Identify ways the family can teach and promote self-reliance at home
- Determine the date that triennial educational testing will be completed to support future planning
- Clarify the date and age at which the student is scheduled to exit the school system
- Review and discuss graduation options and plan
- Consider legal decision-making options (Guardianship, Supported Decision Making, Durable Power of Attorney) - Learn More
- Complete assessments, including the Support Intensity Scale and Health Risk Screening Tool, as needed for Medicaid to determine eligibility for services.
- Discuss projected future support needs, review the variety of options for meeting those needs, and internal/external service coordination options
- Consider ways to approach all transition areas collaboratively:
- Career/ Employment
- Independent Living/Co-living arrangements
- Continued Learning
- Community Participation
- Discuss eligibility for waivered services through Community Bridges and the Bureau of Developmental Services.
- Discuss eligibility for public benefits such as Social Security and ongoing Medicaid/Medicare
- Plan to apply before age 18
- Discuss State Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Pre-employment transition services, Major Choice, work-based learning opportunity - Discuss accessing public transportation, driving options (Driver’s Ed, Driveability), or non-driver IDs
- Discuss “age of majority” (when an individual turns 18) related to school planning and decision-making
- Identify ways the family can teach and promote self-reliance at home
- Talk with your case manager about whether or not Self-Directed Services or Vendor Services are right for you and your family
18 Years of Age
- Confirm legal decision-making status (Guardianship, Supported Decision Making, or Durable Power of Attorney)
- Confirm eligibility status with Community Bridges
- Confirm public benefits eligibility (SSI or SSDI for Social Security, APTD/LTSS for adult-waivered Medicaid)
- Collect documents re: all financial records connected to the individual for the past 5 years
- Stocks, bonds, CDs, child support, bank balances, etc.
- Collect documents re: all financial records connected to the individual for the past 5 years
- Update collaborative person-centered high school transition and future life planning
- Confirm plan for graduation ceremony and expected date (Diploma or Certificate)
- Prepare for successful participation in senior year and graduation activities
- Confirm the date of final exit from the school system
- Confirm transition services plan, goals, and strategies
- Confirm the Support Intensity Scale is complete
Register for the Selective Service, mandatory for all males at age 18, and register to vote - Consider and develop a Plan B if funding isn’t available at age 22 or upon school exit
- Talk with your case manager about whether or not Self-Directed Services or Vendor Services are right for you and your family
19-22 Years of Age
- Update collaborative person-centered high school transition and future life planning
- Confirm graduation ceremony date, integrated transition services plan, and exit from school services date
- Build on paid or volunteer work skills and opportunities
Project Search, IMPACCT Academy, Youth Transition Services, Job Corps, etc. - Obtain current evaluations prior to moving on to post-secondary education or adult services
Identify ways the family can continue to increase self-reliance at home and in community - Verify all eligibility requirements have been met for Home & Community Based Care service funding
- Keep Medicaid active and open, complete redeterminations
- Determine types of integrated services, resources, and supports to include in the overall future life plan. Do not just rely on formal service systems to meet all of your support needs!
- Work with Community Bridges to identify the proposed adult service plan and funding needs through the Developmental Services system.
- Complete functional screen/ “LOC” and the Health Risk Screening Tool with your service coordinator
- Meet with your current and new adult service coordinator for a smooth transition
- Ensure that Community Bridges has updated educational, medical, functional, diagnostic and medication information (last IEP, most recent 3-year evaluations)
- Apply for public, subsidized housing if appropriate
- Continue to develop a “Plan B” if funding isn’t available at the time it is needed
- Talk with your case manager about whether or not Self-Directed Services or Provider Services are right for you and your family
22 Years of Age and annually thereafter
- Implement Adult Transition Plan
- Review the appropriateness of your
- Service plan
- Guardian
- Representative payee
- As services begin/continue, consider any adjustments to be made:
- Change in needs
- Person-centered planning goals
- Employment
- Community inclusion
- Annually review goals and services based on needs and progress
- Annually review your service coordinator choice and vendor choice
- Annually review the best waiver program you qualify for
- As primary caregivers age, consider and develop an Aging family support plan
- Consider and development end of life planning with/for your loved one, as appropriate.
- Talk with your service coordinator about service adjustments as needed
