Consumer Directed Personal Assistance (CDPA) programs allow eligible consumers who receive personal assistance services to advertise, hire, train, supervise and dismiss (if necessary) their own personal assistant(s). To be eligible for CDPA, consumers must be Medicaid eligible, need personal assistance services, and be determined to be self-directing.

The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program serves anyone who resides in Broome or Tioga Counties and is found eligible by Broome County CASA or Tioga County DSS.

Who is considered Self-directing?

A Self-directing person is:

• Capable and willing to make decisions and choices
  
  
• Able to direct and supervise their own personal attendants as a result of those choices
  
  
• Prepared to accept responsibility for choices made
  
  
• Parents/guardians who wish to participate on behalf of dependents who are not self-directing must also meet the criteria. They also must be willing to gradually transfer as much responsibility as possible for personal assistance services to their dependents through a cooperative training program.

What are the benefits of CDPA?

• Consumers recruit, hire, train, supervise and dismiss (if necessary) their own personal assistants
  
  
• Consumers may hire as many perosnal assistants as needed (within the number of hours approved by CASA or TCDSS)
  
  
• Consumers decide tasks (based upon the CASA or TCDSS care plan), work hours and schedule to meet their individual needs
  
  
• Consumers instruct and supervise their own assistant in all required tasks

What are STIC's responsibilities in the CDPA programs?

• Issue paychecks for personal assistants' authorized work hours
  
  
• Maintain copies of records including nursing assessments, medical records, and employment documents
  
  
• Provide training to consumers, if requested, in areas such as how to recruit assistants, interview applicants, effectively train or superivse assistants, and more
  
  
• Administer employment benefits for your personal assistant(s)
  
  
• Ensure equal opportunities for all potential employees, regardless of race, national origin, sex, disability, religious affiliation or sexual orientation.

What are your responsibilities?

• Manage and supervise the services of your personal assistant(s)
  
  
• Inform STIC of any changes such as address, telephone number, change in living arrangements, if hospitalized, etc.
  
  
• Inform STIC of any change in the status of your assistant(s) such as hours assigned, address, phone number, employment status
  
  
• Complete required paperwork and accurate time sheets for attendants, including handing in weekly time sheets on time.
  
  
• Develop a backup system in case of absence of regular attendants
  
  
• Evaluate your personal assistant on a regular basis and provide a copy of the evaluation to STIC

How do consumers enroll in the CDPA program?

Contact the Director of Personal Assistance Services at STIC, 724-2111 (voice/TTY) If you currently receive homecare services, contact CASA in Broome County at 778-2420 or TCDSS in Tioga County at 687-8550 to request an in-home evaluation. You will be notified of your eligibility for CDPA by the evaluating agency.

If you are determined not eligible, or you are deemed not self-directing, you may request a Fair Hearing through the New York State Department of Social Services.

There's no place like home!

Choices in

• Personal Assistants
  
  
• Scheduling
  
  
• Independence
  
  
• & More!

The Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program serves all eligible consumers.

For more information please contact:

CDPA Staff

(607) 724-2111 (Voice/TTY)

(607) 238-2694 (VP)

(607) 772-3601 (Fax)

email: CDPA@stic-cil.org