Social Services staff are available to facilitate participants’ programs and services and maximize their participation so that they can develop their skills to their fullest potential.
Service Coordination
Shares, Inc. provides Service Coordination to assist all individuals from the intake process through their on-going programming needs. They will also help you locate services that are not available at Shares, Inc. and make referrals on your behalf. Service Coordinators also provide counseling and support to help you cope with any personal or work problems, achieve self-awareness, develop decision-making skills, foster self-advocacy and acquire help you reach your maximum potential. Lastly, Service Coordinators are trained to help you understand your benefits, such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security.
Self-Advocacy and Empowerment
Shares, Inc. supports and empowers people with disabilities as they understand and exercise their civil rights and enhance their communities’ knowledge of disability issues.
Self-advocacy is encouraged through:
- Meetings and conferences
- Participation on Shares, Inc. Board Committees
- Service club memberships
- Shares, Inc. Consumer Advisory Councils
- Disabilities Awareness activities
Information and Referral
Information and referral assistance can be provided upon request on available local and state-wide resources.
- Admissions and Intake
- Medicaid and Medicare
- SSDI
- SSI
- Medicaid Waivers
- The impact of working on entitlements
- Medicaid Waiver Services
- Mental Health and Counseling Services
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Resource Library
Download Social Services flyer
Our Social Services department maintains an up-to-date library of resources and information on topics that are important to individuals with disabilities and their families.
- Self-Advocacy
- Planning for the future
- Special Needs Trusts
- Understanding Social Security and Medicaid Benefits
- Guardianship
- Community Resources
- Transitioning from school to work
- Building independence
- Acquiring Assistive Technology
- Rights and Responsibilities
- Self-determination
- Voting Rights
and many more!
Benefits Planning Consultation and Asset Building
Shares, Inc. has three staff members who are certified as Benefits Information Network Liaisons. These employees have participated in trainings on all federal and state benefit programs, such as SSDI, SSI, Medicare, and Medicaid. They can work with beneficiaries in order to provide them important information and support on available work incentives that can be utilized so that the individual’s vocational dreams can be achieved.
Staff Training
Shares, Inc. is committed to providing all staff competency-based training at the time of hire and annually thereafter. These trainings are designed to prepare the staff member for their role, in addition for staff to be confident and competent at their job.
Some of the required trainings include:
- First Aid and CPR
- Bloodborne Pathogens
- Health and Safety
- Communication
- Overview to Disabilities
- Verbal De-escalation
- Medication Management
- Incident Reporting
- HIPAA (confidentiality)
- Rights of Person Served
- Reporting Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
- Workplace Violence
- Person-Centered Planning
Other trainings will be provided dependent on the department the staff is working.
Transportation
The Social Service Department assists individuals who meet the eligibility for Shares, Inc. transportation in coordinating and arranging transportation to and from facility-based employment and other community-based activities. Shares, Inc. strives to meet the needs of our participants in a safe and efficient manner. Accommodations are available for those who require specialized transportation. Specialized transportation is available for those who require non-ambulatory transportation.