Contact Information
Aly Emerick, Erie County AE – ID/A Program Specialist, aemerick@eriecountypa.gov
Steve Colvin, Erie County AE – ID/A Program Coordinator, scolvin@eriecountypa.gov
Website/social media links
Information about CoP/LifeCourse tools are placed on the DHS Facebook page as well as forwarding emails to SCOs for distribution to interested parties.
Communication and Meetings Structure
Erie County AE continues to communicate with our SCOs by conducting quarterly meetings with the SCO supervisors to discuss CoP/LifeCourse. AE has been meeting internally to discuss next steps with LifeCourse tools.
Goals, next steps or actions plans
Trajectory for Erie County is to strengthen and expand on local and regional CoP team. Erie County’s SCOs are trained and have been utilizing the LifeCourse tools to aid in program planning.
Plan to work with Early Interventions (EI) Coordinator and Intake staff to introduce LifeCourse.
Continue the Family Support Services (FSS) program through the Barber National Institute (BNI) so that non-waiver families have opportunities to connect with others and engage in preferred community activities (summer camp, respite, etc.).
Continue ASD funds for non-waiver consumers diagnosed with Autism to help fund community activities such a summer camps, memberships, etc. Continue to educate families about resources available – Time for Me, SIB Sessions, Kids on the Block Puppet Troupe, Summer Camps, etc
AE/SCO/Provider/DHS/Broad Community Partners Represented within Collaborative:
Erie County would like to expand representation to include other community partners. Currently, we have SCO involvement. Erie County Care Management (ECCM) and Supports Coordination Unlimited are part of Erie County’s collaborative team. Always On Our Own (AOOO)- Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) & Self-Advocacy group are also part of our collaborative. AOOO educates individuals and families who are part of AOOO’s self-advocacy group about CoP/Lifecourse. Plan to invite the Arc, Autism Society of NWPA, CRI, and other ID providers to Erie County’s Collaborative group in the future.