Jawonio is the fiscal intermediary for Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services (CDPA).
CDPA allows people with disabilities or serious medical illness the opportunity to gain more control over their personal services. Participants are able to screen, interview, hire, train, supervise and dismiss their own Personal Assistant (PA). Because individuals will have more control in this service, they will also have more responsibilities. Therefore, participants must be self-directing and if that is not the case, they must have a person in their lives willing to assume these responsibilities.
How does an individual become a CDPA participant?
1) A physician must prescribe this service
2) Complete an application
3) Get assessed by the Rockland County Department of Social Services or MLTC/MCO (Managed Long Term Care/ Managed Care Organization) and have their approval to proceed.
4) For private pay, Jawonio will conduct the assessment.
Who is Eligible for Jawonio CDPA?
Individuals must:
• Reside in Rockland County
• Have a disability or medical condition qualifying them for Personal Services
• Be eligible for Medicaid or have ability to pay privately
• Be medically stable
• Be self-directing or have an advocate who will act as a consumer designated representative
How does a personal assistant get hired and paid?
Once the participant selects a PA , Jawonio will ensure assistants:
• complete necessary employment forms related to hiring
• ensure that a health assessment and PPD are completed
• process the paychecks every two weeks
“Jawonio CDPA has been valuable to me for the last 20 years. I have spent much of that time directing my own care and CDPA has enabled me to live the kind of lifestyle I want to live. The team of assistants I have put together work as a unit to provide me with the care I need and the freedom I want.”
— Sandy Sewell, CDPA participant (pictured above)
What are the responsibilities of the participant?
An individual or their designated representative
must:
• Train the PA’s in regard to their own personal needs
• Schedule PA’s as appropriate
• Attest to accuracy of PA’s time worked to receive payment
• Hire as many PA’s as needed to ensure coverage for all approved hours & have adequate backup
• Inform Jawonio of changes in both the participant’s and the PA’s status, such as phone number, address and hospitalization
• Provide ongoing supervision of PA’s in compliance with relevant labor laws and county regulations
• Ensure PA properly uses the call-in and electronic visit verification system
For more information please contact:
Ritza Santiago, Program Director
(845)708-2000 ext. 5350
email: ritza.santiago@jawonio.org
You can also contact your local Department of Social Services office or go to the New York State Department of Health CDPA web page here.
About us
We provide care for thousands of children and adults with special needs each year.
Our mission
Jawonio is a registered 501c3 organization and the premier provider of lifespan services in the Hudson Valley of New York State for individuals with developmental disabilities, behavioral health challenges, and chronic medical conditions.
Jawonio is dedicated to advancing the independence, well-being, and equality of people with disabilities and special needs.