What are Brokerage Support Services?
Brokerage Support Services are in-home or other personal supports that assist an individual to live in their own home or with family or friends and to fully participate in community life, including work. Support services are based upon the principles of self determination. People have choice and control over life goals and services. Each individual will receive an individual plan and will be able to select and monitor the providers of desired services.

Am I eligible for services?
To be eligible for services, you must be an adult Oregonian (age 18 or older) with a confirmed diagnosis of a developmental disability and/or mental retardation. You must not currently live in a state or county-funded comprehensive services home. In addition, you must be signed up at your local county's Developmental Disabilities Program.

If you are not currently signed up at the County, click on the county you currently live in for contact information so you can schedule an intake meeting: Multnomah | Clackamas | Washington

How do I enroll in services?
As stated above, you must experience a developmental disability, be signed up with your local County Developmental Disabilities Program and you must currently have a county case manager. See above for contact information on enrolling at the county first.

Once enrolled at the county, your name is placed on a waitlist to come to a Support Services Brokerage in your area. There is an order of enrollment, based on your current situation, that the counties follow to decide who comes when.

By June 30th, 2009, all individuals in Oregon with a developmental disability must be enrolled in a Support Services Brokerage within 90 days of being found eligible for services. This is a requirement of the Staley Agreement, a settlement of a class action lawsuit that created Brokerage services in Oregon.

How long must I wait to get Brokerage services?
It depends on several factors. The first is where you fall on the order of enrollment. For example, people who are 18 years of age with a Family Support Plan will come to us before someone who is on the General Waitlist. A person with a caregiver aged 75 or older will come to the Brokerage before someone with a Family Support Plan.

If you have questions about when you'll be coming to a Brokerage, contact your case manager at your local County Developmental Disabilities Program. The Brokerage does not have access to data about people who are not yet in our services and does not decide who comes into services or when.

Remember, after June 30th, 2009, everyone who meets the disability criteria and is enrolled at a County will come to Brokerages within 90 days, per the Staley Agreement.

If I enroll in the brokerage, will I still have a county case manager?
You will still have contact with the county, but things will change. Instead of working closely with your county case manager, as you might be accustomed, you will instead work more closely with a Personal Agent, employed by the Brokerage. The County will appoint a Support Specialist, whose job it is to review the annual plan you and your Personal Agent compose and will oversee your annual Title XIX Waiver renewal.

Can I choose which Brokerage I work with?
Yes. You always have choice which Brokerage you'd prefer to work with. Keep in mind that you must work with a Brokerage who provides services in your local county. You can find a list of Brokerages and their service areas here.

One thing to note: Initially, the County will assign you a Brokerage. However, that doesn't mean you have to stay with that agency. A quick call to the Brokerage where you're initially assigned and someone can facilitate a speedy transfer to ensure you're receiving services from the agency you prefer.

What is a Personal Agent?
Brokerage organizations employ staff (Personal Agents) who help enrolled individuals develop an individual support plan, obtain available resources necessary to implement the plan, select people or organizations to provide specific support services, and monitor and evaluate the outcomes of delivered services.

Can I switch Personal Agents?
Yes. If you find that you are not happy with the initial Personal Agent you're working with, just contact your Brokerage and they will facilitate a change in Personal Agents.

What services will I receive once enrolled?
Support Services include both natural supports within the community and paid supports. A Personal Agent will be able to assist you with things such as Medicaid enrollment, health care, food stamps, housing and more. For a list of allowable services paid with your Brokerage funding, click here.

What is a benefit level?
Individuals receiving Brokerage Support Services are eligible for certain annual benefit levels for funding support services. The amount of funding available to an individual will vary depending on the individual’s eligibility for certain Federal funding or other specific circumstances. This level of funding can range $3,840 to $20,000 per year.

Typically adults are entitled to receive support services that cost up to $9,600 per year. Eligibility for higher levels of funding (generally above $9,600 per year) is based on additional criteria scored on a specific tool.

What is an ISP (Individual Support Plan)?
All Brokerage Support Services must be developed through a person centered planning process. This process begins with each individual defining the kinds of life activities desired and the help needed to obtain their life goals within the community. Individuals are assisted, if desired, by a circle of support consisting of family, friends, and selected professionals.

The plan will show what your support needs are, how we will find the supports, how much they might cost (if anything) and how often we will review the quality of those supports.

How long does an ISP last?
An ISP can never last more than one year (365 days). If your plan begins on October 1st, then it will end on September 30th of the following year. There are some instances where a plan year can be less than one year (during your first year with a Brokerage), but this is a rare occurrence.

Do I have a choice in who provides my direct services?
Yes. You may choose whoever you like as long as they meet the minimum criteria as a provider and they are able to prove their ability to help you meet your goals. For information on providers and their qualifications, click here.

What do I do if I'm not happy with my services?
If you are ever unhappy with services, from either your providers or the brokerage, you may file a grievance.