DIVERSION SERVICESWISE PROGRAM (MENTAL HEALTH WAIVER)
Working for Integration, Support and Empowerment, (WISE) provides services to individuals that are diagnosed with a serious mental illness and are at risk for, or residing in, a nursing home care facility. This program helps individuals to maintain a home/apartment, encourages the use of existing natural supports, and fosters involvement in social and community activities.
The WISE program includes two levels of care. There are scattered site clients living in the community in their own apartments, as well as, the demonstration model located on Winthrop Avenue. The Winthrop Avenue property consists of three apartments, each with two (2) bedrooms for housing a total of six (6) individuals. The Winthrop Avenue W.I.S.E. program provides affordable housing using the Department of Social Services RAP certificates (Rental Assistance Program) for non-elderly, disabled individuals leaving a nursing home level of care. This program provides 24 hour supervision and support to those individuals living there.
Key components are:
- Person-Centered Planning;
- Community Support Program (CSP) – a flexible team approach to community rehabilitation;
- Recovery Assistant (RA) – a homemaker, companion, personal care, and in-home respite
services designed to help the individual maintain his/her own home; 
Transitional Case Management – services provided during the weeks prior to, and immediately
following discharge from a nursing home, to help locate and set up a suitable living
arrangement;- Short Term Crisis stabilization – services designed to stabilize an individual in an emerging crisis
stabilization.
