Start-Up Brokers


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Arc of Orleans CountyAndrus, Paula Batt, Jennifer Beal, Phyllis Brown, Willette Karemba Colletti, Sally Conley, KimDiane Dash Peggy S. Davis Dox-Griffith, Colleen Emler, AngelKaremba-Hayes, FatraiFlicking, Leslie Garlock, Cheryl Halbert, Michele Jones, Jocelyn Judge, Patricia Knight, Megan Littlejohn, Helen Mascio, Stephanie Sue McGowan, Kelly Mitchell, TeresaKim O’MaraPaluszynski, Stacia People Inc.Ann L. ScherffScherff, David J. Schoonmaker, Pam D.Amy Schulz Weiss, George	Click on one of the names at the left to go to details on that person, or just scroll down to browse the names listed below.
Paula Andrus Address: 336 Midland Road Vestal, NY 13850 Phone: (607) 821-4071 Languages spoken other than English: Counties Served: Broome, Tioga, Tompkins, Chenango I have worked at the Broome-Tioga BOCES for the past 13 years, during which time I have worked with many students with various types and degrees of developmental disabilities. My job has also afforded me the opportunity to take many professional development courses and workshops in subject areas such as autism, classroom adaptations, augmentive communication devices, and sensory integration, just to name a few. I also have some college level training in counseling and small group leadership. However, what I consider to be my most valuable experience comes from advocating for my three grandsons who have autism, one of whom I raised for a year while his dad was stationed in Iraq. I attended the Startup Broker Boot Camp. Having done that, I am now blessed to be able to do the thing I have a passion for - helping people to obtain what they need to fulfill their goals and dreams. Jenifer Batt Address: 3074 Oak Orchard Road Albion NY 14411 Phone: (585) 589 8574 Email: jbatt@rochester.rr.com Languages spoken other than English: Counties Served: Genesee, Western, Monroe, Eastern, Erie, Niagara I have been working for four years as a Medicaid Service Coordinator and am currently an MSC supervisor. I received my Bachelor's Degree in Human Services from Elmira College. As an MSC, I am on two Circles of Supports for approved CSS plans. As a Startup Broker, I have experience in completing CSS plans and experience in facilitating person-centered planning both as a SUB and as an MSC. My goal as both an MSC and SUB is to help people achieve their true life dreams. Phyllis Beal Address: 252 Overlook Drive Horseheads NY 14845 Phone: (607) 739-7039 Languages spoken other than English: Counties Served: Steuben, Schuyler, Chemung, Tioga Worked for AIM Independent Living Center, Corning for 8 years as Deputy Director of Consumer Directed Personal Services. I serve on an individual's COS. Sally Colletti Address: 333 Birch Street Vestal, NY 13850 Phone: (607) 754-9694 Email: info@advocateforautism.com Website: www.advocataeforautism.com Languages spoken other than English: Counties Served: Broome DDSO, Taconic DDSO, Central DDSO I have been the president of the Central NY Autism Society, Inc., as well as chairman of the Board sicne 1999. I have been a voting member of the Family Support Services Council of OMRDD since 2001. I am a voting member of the NYS-ILC Council. Being a Startup and Support broker, I create person-centered planning built around the supports, abilities and hopes of a person with autism or other developmental disabilities. Along the way I have counseled hundreds of families in how to best advocate for their children. Using my strong advocacy skills, as well as my strong belief in people with autism, I can help you and your family gain the most from community resources, schools districts, and the Medicaid HCBS Waiver. My education includes a B.A. in Social Work from Russell Sage College. Kim Conley Address: 119 Cheryl Street Elmira Heights NY 14903 Phone: (607) 767-6561 Email: chadsmom96@yahoo.com Counties Served: Chemung, Schulyer, Steuben Certified Medical Assistant, Many areas of certificates achieved within this field, for example Human Services/Relations. Human Growth and Development. Individual program planning, administering medication. Community Intergration. Worked for Chemung County ARC for 2.5 years. Diane Dash Hamburg, NY 14075 (716) 649-3154 Email: dianedash@hotmail.com I see my job as helping people determine what their wants and needs are and then utilize the available resources to achieve those goals. I have over 10 years experience in project management, budgeting and non-profit agency work and over 20 years experience in advocacy. My skills include facilitating group meetings setting schedules and action items and connecting with the other people and resources needed to complete a successful plan. Serving: Wyoming. Erie, Monroe Peggy S. Davis 260 Lake Street-Front Hamburg, NY 14075 (716) 397-7086 Email: psdavis59@excite.com I received an AA in Human Services at JCC in Jamestown, NY. This allowed me to get my first job in the field of serving individuals with disabilities. I have experience working with individuals from birth to adulthood who have had a variety of disabilities. I received my BA in Human Relation from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in 1994. I began working at a shelter as a Children’s Advocate and then to Early Intervention Coordination. I moved back to NY and worked at the Resource Center, serving individuals in several positions until settling as a Medicaid Service Coordinator. Currently residing in Hamburg, settling into my community, I bring a great deal of experience and knowledge to the CSS/SD program. I have completed the training and find that my own philosophy fits very nicely into CSS and circle of supports planning process. I believe that I have a wealth of ability to facilitate very effective planning for individuals to achieve their objectives and live their lives as they have dream. This program appears to be designed for me and I look forward to providing quality service to the individuals I will serve. Serving: Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany Colleen Dox-Griffith Address: 61 Grandview Lane Rochester, NY 14612 Phone: (585) 225 7004 ckgrif@frontiernet.net Other Languages Spoken: American Sign Language Counties Served: Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Wyoming, Seneca, Orleans I am a parent of a son with developmental delays. I have worked since 1996 as a Parent Partner at Monroe2-Orleans BOCES. I am a certified person centered planning facilitator through Cornell Univerity. I work with the career planning services department at BOCES and offer education and training programs to studetns and families. I have been a member of the Self-Determination Task Force for almost 10 years promoting choice and control for individuals with disabilities. Also, I have been working as a mentor for consolidated supports and services and have kept current with new forms and procedures and work to assist startup brokers. Angela Emler Address: 27 Bly Street Rochester NY 14620 Phone: (585) 242-9708 Email: aemler001@rochester.rr.com Counties Served: Monroe I started in the field of Human Services ain 1999 and have been a Medicaid Service Coordinator for the last 7 years. I love practicing Person Centered Planning and advocating and supporting the individuals I work for in all aspects of their lives. SD/CSS is the future for services through OMRDD and I look forward to working with you in creating your SD/CSS plan and budget. Cheryl Garlock Address: 1650 South Avenue, Suite 400 Rochester, NY 14620 Phone: (585) 295-1587 x2270 Email: c_garlock@cprochester.org Languages spoken other than English: Counties Served: Monroe, Wayne, Livingston I have worked with persons with disabilities for over twenty years. I have been working with people with disabilities using various methods of person-centered planning since 1992. I am an instructor for the course on person-centered planning for service coordinators and have used PCP in a slightly altered form for agency department visioning. I have attended the New Options Instittue as well as followup sessions. Through the CSS process, I have a track record of producing approval CSS plans. Helen Littlejohn Address: 1868 Atwater Road King Ferry, NY 13081 Phone: (315) 364-5161 Email: hlitlejohn@25@aol.com Languages spoken other than English: Counties Served: Courtland, Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca, Tompkins. I have a BS in Human Services - Family and Children's studies. I have been in the OMRDD field since our family adopted spcial needs children (15+ years). I also worked for Cortland Co. DSS in Child Protective/Foster Care Unit and Seneca Cayuga ARC as the Assistant Director of Community Services. I have a wide knowledge of services and funding sources. My husband and I adopted 8 special needs children and gave birth to 4. Kelly McGowan Address: 229 Newhall Street Elmira, NY 14904 Phone: (607) 331 – 6664 Counties Served: Chemung, Steuben, Tioga, Schuyler I have an AS in Human Services and a MS/MS in Management. I have had life-long experience advocating heavily, mostly in the school arena as I'm a parent of a child with a disability. I have 7 years as a professional supporting people we serve as an MSC team leader. I have written two plans start-to-finish (one of which is for my son) that has been approved. I have also been the primary writer of two plans written under a special contract with the self-determination liaison for a total of 4 approved plans. Ann L. Scherff 8319 E. Main Road LeRoy, NY 14482 (585) 768-2759 Email: alscherff@aol.com MS in education K–12, Reading, Social Studies, AAS Paralegal, AAS Deaf Studies & Interpreting. I am a parent of 5 children, 3 with developmental disabilities. My oldest son lives in a certified IRA, 2 younger sons still at home, both have SD/CSS plans – one is out of school and the other is in school. I attended the New Options Institute for writing plans for Self-Determination. I wrote both my sons plans and they were both approved. I have experience managing plans and am learning strategies that are helpful to writing and what should be included in plans for them to be successful. I have over 25 years on topics related to disabilities and self-determination. I am involved at local, regional and statewide system change. I also graduated from Partners in Policymaking in 2003. Serving: Genesee, Erie, Orleans, Niagara David J. Scherff Address: 8319 East Main Road LeRoy, NY 14482 Phone: (585) 768-2759 Languages spoken other than English: Counties Served: Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Erie, Livingston, Monroe I began school at age 4 to accompany older sister with developmental disabilities and helped minitor her program. I taught high school for 28 years and college for seven years, having students with developmental disabilities throughout. I have three adult male children with developmental disabilities and also individuals who had developmental disabiliities. I am currently a consultant and parent trainer at Parent Network in Buffalo. I currently have three CSS plan in the process toward completion, these involved developing circles of support, creating budgets, and all the other aspects of CSS plans. I completed the initial trainings for startup brokers and have been attending subsequent and ongoing trainings as well. Pam D. Schoonmaker Address: 4 Morgan Street Avoca, NY 12809 Phone: (607) 769-3753 Email: dpmhome@stny.rr.com Languages spoken other than English: Counties Served: Steuben, Allegany, Schuyler, Chemung, Livingston, Ontario I have been employed by the ARC of Steuben County for 17 years and have an Associates Degree in Human Services. I work as a Service Coordinator for the agneyc and work with people who live in the community to assist them to remain as independent as they can. I have experience working with CSS plans. I attended the initial Startup Broker workshop in 2005 through the New Options Institute sponsored by OMRDD. I work closely with the Finger Lakes DDSO liaison on plans that I develop and that communication is very important. George Weiss 562 Baty Street Elmira, NY 14904 Phone: 607 331 6390 gweiss75@stny.rr.com Other Languages Spoken: Russian Counties Served: Chemung, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins I have worked in the field of developmental disabilities since 1998. In that time, I've worked as direct support, a Medicaid Service Coordinator, Community Residential Habilitation Team Leader, and a QMRP. I have a Bachelor's of Science fro Mansfield University and recently completed the Human Resources Management certification program at Cornell University. As early as 2000, I was helping all individuals I served create and work with their own Circle of Support. I have extensive experience in the Person-Centered Planning Process with a good, working knowledge of mapping and drawing useful information out of an individual and their Circle members. I have worked as a Startup Broker since the Fall 2006. The Arc of Orleans County PO box 439 243 South Main Street Albion, NY 14411 Contact person: Ida Caldwell (585) 589-1750 ext. 236 or 231 Email: icaldwell@arcoforleans.org Start-up Broker services that are provided through The Arc of Orleans County’s Empowering Families Program. We currently have 2 trained brokers who have over 20 years experience working with individuals with disabilities and their families. This includes extensive experience in providing educational advocacy and working with families to obtain appropriate and individualized services for their children. The Empowering Families staff also facilitated person-centered planning for people seeking CSS or other individualized services. Serving: Orleans County Megan Knight 395 Southview Drive Arcade, NY 14009 (716) 474-5574 Email: MK6297@yahoo.com I attended SUNY Fredonia where I graduated with a Bachelors degree. I had the privileged to be an intern, residential counselor and a case manager. Each of these opportunity provided be the ability to learn many skills working with children and mentally challenged, assisting with IEP meetings and developing policies, providing care to teen age girls, and link, monitor and coordinate services for a large diverse population. By having these many opportunities, has provided me the experience that can assist me with providing quality services to individuals. Serving: Cattaraugus; Wyoming; Erie Amy Schulz 2632 Taylor Street Falconer, NY 14701 (716) 665-6389 (H); (716) 499-8329 (cell) Email: Ammy682003@yahoo.com I have a Masters Degree in Framework and Curriculum from Fredonia State and taught Special Education as a substitute teacher for 5 years at Jamestorwn Public Schools. For six years I have worked as a Medicaid Service Coordinator where I gained experience in defining and achieving individual plans and objectives. This position has also given me many great support connections within the local community. I have worked on developing two Circle of Supports and facilitated in one Person Centered Plan. I have done some budgeting for ISS Plans. I have also participated in numerous trainings in the past three years that include the Inclusion Institute and three Person Centered Planning trainings with Beth Mount and am currently in NYSACRA’s Learning Institute. Serving: Chautauqua; Cattaraugus People Inc. Contact Person: Erica A. Newsom 1219 North Forest Road Williamsville, New York 14221 (716) 634-8132 Email: enewsom@people-inc.org Over 10 years of experience working in the non-for-profit, human service industry with over 2 years of experience overseeing CSS plans for the agency. Staff diverse in many areas which helps to develop a strong plan with the ability to be resourceful and delegate. Staff assigned has masters of arts degree in organizational leadership with experience mentoring individuals with special needs to achieve to their fullest potential. Staff are knowledgeable with CSS plan writing and development of budgets. Ability to work well with people on many different levels and as a team. Excellent written and communication skills. Serving: Erie Willette Karemba Brown 89 Dunlop Avenue Buffalo, New York 14216 (716) 838-6818 Email: Willette1039@yahoo.com I have a Master’s degree in Exceptional Education and I have worked with children from birth through grade six. In the last ten years, I have worked as a Site Manager and Medicaid Service Coordinator of a senior complex. As part of my position, I oversee the day-to-day operations of the building including creating and maintaining a working budget through HUD. I’ve worked one-on-one with many of my seniors to develop support systems, strengthen the systems that are in place and also help them develop a linkage with the many senior services available to them. Serving: Erie Leslie Flicking 8528 Jones Road Sherman, NY 14781 (716) 326-4583 (H); (716) 753-0774 (Cell) Email: leslieloveschocolate@yahoo.com 30 years ago I made a friend, her name was Phyllis. Back in the time where there were no curb cuts or accessible buildings we figured out how to do what we wanted. Phyllis was my introduction to living a person-centered life. I now coordinate the Resource Center’s Family Care Program, which is a wonderful alternative for individuals who need some supports to live in the community the families. I am also a facilitator for two Self-Advocacy groups. I have also been a Medicaid Service Coordinator. I began my career with TRC as a Job Coach and have been involved in many facets of support from houring to employment, recreation to advocacy. Serving: Chautauqua Michele Halbert 86 Eckhert Street Buffalo, NY 14207 (716) 418-0868 Email: Michelehalbert@yahoo.com I graduated from Barry University with a Masters degree in Social Work. I have been working in the human service field for 8 years in programs such as residential habilitation, early intervention, respite, and recreation. I am on Deaf Adult Services Board of Directors and a member of their fundraising committee, I have also co-chaired a Halloween Party for the past two years. I feel I have used budgeting skills to allow these events to be a great success and profitable. As an MSC, I run many meetings to help people decide what they want to do in the future and to help them find ways to get there. I like to explore alternate options and new and upcoming programs to help find the best fit for an individual. I am definitely willing to look outside the box for an answer. Serving: Erie Fatrai Karemba-Hayes 45 Blaine Avenue Buffalo, New York 14208 (716) 884-3920 Email: Mrshayes15@aol.com I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Social Science. I have worked with developmentally disabled individuals for more than 9 years, as a Family Advocate, Medicaid Service Coordinator and Senior Companion Program Manager. As part of my responsibilities, with the assistance of the individuals and the circle of support, I performed assessment to determine the needs of the individual. I also, maintained and developed Individual Service Plans, crisis intervention, educational,, social service and legal advocacy. Also provided linkage and referral when needed. Serving: Erie, Niagara Patricia Judge 199 Wellington Avenue Buffalo, New York 14223 (716) 833-2156 Email: sg36@localnet.com In my 15 years working with individuals with developmental disabilities I have worked in a variety of settings and held several positions within the human services field. I have written Residential Habilitation Plans and assisted with writing ISPs, ensuring that individual goal were included and steps were taken towards them which included believing in the goals and dreams of the folks I worked with and writing plans (valued outcomes/programs) to help them achieve these goals. Serving: Erie, Niagara Jocelyn Jones 1505 Blockville Road Ashville, NY 14710 (716) 782-3856 Email: jocelyn2775@yahoo.com I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and Elementary Education. I have 9 years experience as Medicaid Service Coordinator for the Resource Center. Attended Circle for Support training and 9 years of experience in facilitating person-centered plans. I have established contacts and community resources. Ability to “think out of the box” and have the ability to access immediate needs and any barriers. Experienced working with people defining and achieving their plans and objectives. Serving: Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie Stephanie Sue Mascio 5412 Scranton Road Hamburg, NY 14075 (716) 648-8769 Email: STEPHIESUEL17@hotmail.com I have Bachelor’s degree in the Human Service. I have a total of 11 years experience working in the field of developmental disabilities. I did internships at Baker Victory Services and People Inc. in which I developed and ran recreation programs. I then was hired as direct care staff with People Inc. I also became a Medicaid Service Coordinator at Aspire of WNY for -1/2 years and also was employed for at-home services as a res hab and respite worker and employed at-home coordinator. I am experience in creating and maintaining budgets and plans. I have very good social skills and work hard to fulfill the hopes and dreams of the individuals I work with. My skills have given me the opportunity to assist individuals to assist individuals to reach their valued outcomes. Serving: Erie, Orleans, Niagara Teresa Mitchell 5044 Bank Street Clarence, NY 14031 (716) 759-6651 Email: CMT.Enterprises@verizon.net I have worked in human services for over 20 years. I have attended Broker Training Institute and all required OMRDD trainings to become a start-up broker. I look forward to helping individuals achieve their goals through CSS. Serving: Erie, Niagara Kim O’Mara 621 Blairville Rd. Youngstown, NY 14174 (716) 425-5455 Email: kimomara@roadrunner.com I have worked in the field of Human Services since 1989 in various capacities including oversight of Residential, Medicaid Service Coordination, Day Habilitation, Supportive Employment, Respite and ISE. I have been a CORE and Waiver trainer and have sat on various committees. I have been working as a Start Up and Support Broker since 2005 and been involved in the development of many CSS plans. I have a solid knowledge and understanding of Person Centered Planning. CSS is very near and dear to my heart. My expertise and commitment to people has helped turn dreams into reality. Serving: Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany Stacia Paluszynski 8323 Hunters Creek Rd. Holland, NY 14080 (716) 560-3272 Email: Paluszynski@verizon.net I graduated from Buffalo State College with a BA degree in Exceptional Education. I was a teacher for 5 years but needed to change careers due to the fact that I did not pursue my Masters degree. I am currently a supervisor in the Medicaid Service Coordinator department with Aspire of WNY. I love my job, because I love helping people. My job/degree does not make me more important than anyone else. What I want you ro know about me is the compassion I have for helping people and my work ethic. I love to see a smile on others face!!! I am definitely good at finding positive qualities in everybody. I was chosen to participate in the Learning Institute with Aspire. I have excellent budget skills. I currently work with support people in defining and achieving their future goals. Serving: Erie

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