Maneuvering through the maze
Information supplied by NH Family Voices
Published: Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The challenge for families and individuals to find the supports and services they need to live in the community is ongoing. As you identify your needs and look for those organizations, agencies, or supports it is important that you remember the following:
• where/how you get services depends on where you live in the state
• services are not always identifiable from the agency name
• agency literature doesn’t always identify specific services offered.<b>Prepare yourself before you make calls.</b> Write down the needs you have identified and some of the solutions you are exploring. Make a list of questions you want to ask, such as what is the eligibility, do they service your area of the county/state, or cost of services.<p>
<b>It is also best to have some basic facts ready when you call so that you are prepared to answer the questions of service providers.</b> For instance, income, health insurance information, Social Security numbers, and other provider names are just a few of the things that people may need before they can appropriately answer your questions.<p>
<b>Be persistent, and if the first person at an agency cannot sufficiently answer your questions, then politely ask for someone else.</b> Take notes of what you are told and by whom. Learn as much as you can because even though the information you first receive may not be what you were looking for, it may be something that is helpful in the future.<p>
<b>As you make calls, you may find that people use acronyms that are unfamiliar to you.</b> Don’t be afraid to ask for an explanation if you don’t know what someone is talking about - and remember that sometimes an acronym in one system means something totally different in another system. <p>
<b>Ask questions - it’s the best way to learn.</b>