FAQs
How do I know if I qualify for services?
Answer: In order to qualify for the services CHOICE, unlimited provides you must:
• be at least 18 years of age or older.
• have a medical, psychological, or physical diagnosis which makes it difficult for you to become competitively employed and / or independently access your community.
• reside in northeastern Minnesota or northern Wisconsin.
• be referred by County Social Services, Rehabilitation Services – Workforce Development Center and / or a collaborating service agency.
• have funding for services through the DD-waiver, or CADI waiver, or BI waiver, and / or qualify for funding through the Rehabilitation Services, or have the ability to pay out of pocket for services.
Can I meet with you prior to a referral being made to determine if your agency is a good match for me?
Answer: Absolutely! In fact we prefer meeting with people prior to a formal referral. We call this meeting a “Meet and Greet”. During the Meet and Greet your questions can be answered and you can get a feel for our agency to determine if we will be able to meet your needs.
Who should come to the Meet and Greet?
Answer: You can invite anyone to the meeting that would help you determine if our agency will meet your needs. We recommend inviting your County Case Manager, Rehabilitation Counselor, Guardian, family members, etc.
Who do I call at your agency to request a “Meet and Greet”?
Answer: Please call Kristie Buchman, Executive Director at (218) 724-5869.
Once I’ve decided to work with your agency, how do I get referred for services?
Answer: Talk to your County Case Manager and / or Rehabilitation Counselor and ask that individual to refer you to our agency. The referral form is similar to an application and it needs to be filled out so we are aware of the type of services you are requesting. If you are paying for your services out of pocket, you may talk directly to Kristie Buchman at CHOICE, unlimited and ask for a referral form.
What is the next step after the referral is made?
Answer: Once we receive your referral information from your County Case Manager, Rehabilitation Counselor or you (if you plan to pay out of pocket for services), we will set up a meeting that we refer to as an Intake Meeting. This meeting lasts about one hour. In that meeting we continue to gather information about your interests and skills and ask you to sign forms which include Consent for Release of Information, Data Privacy Agreement, Service Recipient Bill of Rights, Grievance Policy, etc. Often times, much of this paperwork is given to you at the “Meet and Greet” allowing you time to read through it and fill it out at your leisure prior to the Intake Meeting.
Is there a wait time for services?
Answer: Upon receiving your completed referral form, the information is reviewed and a determination is made as to service availability. If there is not an opening in the identified program, you will be placed on a waiting list. The order in which a person enters our program is based on the date the completed referral form is received. Typically, those who are referred first have the first opportunity to enter into the program. However, CHOICE, unlimited reserves the right to decide when a person will enter the program based on several factors including, but not limited to, the type of vacancy, the stated desires of the individual referred, and our desire to maximize efficiencies.
When do I begin receiving services?
Answer: You and your team will decide when you will begin receiving services at the Intake Meeting.
Do I need to attend any meetings following my Intake Meeting?
Answer: After approximately 45 days of service you and your team will meet to talk about how everything is going and you will have the opportunity to set up the goals you want to reach throughout the year. For example, many people come to our agency to find meaningful competitive employment. They may have a goal that simply states, “I want to work at least 20 hours a week working with the elderly.” Or some people may have a goal that states, “I want to work in the community and earn at least $7.50 per hour working in the food service industry."
Who will help me at my job if I’m not able to work on my own?
Answer: CHOICE, unlimited employs job coaches who are trained to help you become as independent as possible at your job. We try very hard to make sure that you and your job coach are a good match. In fact, you may be asked to participate in helping us select a job coach to work with you by being a part of the interview process.
Is there anyone else I would work with at CHOICE, unlimited besides a job coach?
Answer: Yes. When you come into our agency your main contact person will be one of our Community Support Specialist staff and either our Day Service Coordinator or our Community-Based Employment Coordinator. These individuals are responsible for helping you develop your goals and ensure your satisfaction with the services we provide. They are also your main contact at CHOICE, unlimited and are a part of your overall team including your County Case Manager, Guardian, Rehabilitation Counselor, etc.
Answer: In order to qualify for the services CHOICE, unlimited provides you must:
• be at least 18 years of age or older.
• have a medical, psychological, or physical diagnosis which makes it difficult for you to become competitively employed and / or independently access your community.
• reside in northeastern Minnesota or northern Wisconsin.
• be referred by County Social Services, Rehabilitation Services – Workforce Development Center and / or a collaborating service agency.
• have funding for services through the DD-waiver, or CADI waiver, or BI waiver, and / or qualify for funding through the Rehabilitation Services, or have the ability to pay out of pocket for services.
Can I meet with you prior to a referral being made to determine if your agency is a good match for me?
Answer: Absolutely! In fact we prefer meeting with people prior to a formal referral. We call this meeting a “Meet and Greet”. During the Meet and Greet your questions can be answered and you can get a feel for our agency to determine if we will be able to meet your needs.
Who should come to the Meet and Greet?
Answer: You can invite anyone to the meeting that would help you determine if our agency will meet your needs. We recommend inviting your County Case Manager, Rehabilitation Counselor, Guardian, family members, etc.
Who do I call at your agency to request a “Meet and Greet”?
Answer: Please call Kristie Buchman, Executive Director at (218) 724-5869.
Once I’ve decided to work with your agency, how do I get referred for services?
Answer: Talk to your County Case Manager and / or Rehabilitation Counselor and ask that individual to refer you to our agency. The referral form is similar to an application and it needs to be filled out so we are aware of the type of services you are requesting. If you are paying for your services out of pocket, you may talk directly to Kristie Buchman at CHOICE, unlimited and ask for a referral form.
What is the next step after the referral is made?
Answer: Once we receive your referral information from your County Case Manager, Rehabilitation Counselor or you (if you plan to pay out of pocket for services), we will set up a meeting that we refer to as an Intake Meeting. This meeting lasts about one hour. In that meeting we continue to gather information about your interests and skills and ask you to sign forms which include Consent for Release of Information, Data Privacy Agreement, Service Recipient Bill of Rights, Grievance Policy, etc. Often times, much of this paperwork is given to you at the “Meet and Greet” allowing you time to read through it and fill it out at your leisure prior to the Intake Meeting.
Is there a wait time for services?
Answer: Upon receiving your completed referral form, the information is reviewed and a determination is made as to service availability. If there is not an opening in the identified program, you will be placed on a waiting list. The order in which a person enters our program is based on the date the completed referral form is received. Typically, those who are referred first have the first opportunity to enter into the program. However, CHOICE, unlimited reserves the right to decide when a person will enter the program based on several factors including, but not limited to, the type of vacancy, the stated desires of the individual referred, and our desire to maximize efficiencies.
When do I begin receiving services?
Answer: You and your team will decide when you will begin receiving services at the Intake Meeting.
Do I need to attend any meetings following my Intake Meeting?
Answer: After approximately 45 days of service you and your team will meet to talk about how everything is going and you will have the opportunity to set up the goals you want to reach throughout the year. For example, many people come to our agency to find meaningful competitive employment. They may have a goal that simply states, “I want to work at least 20 hours a week working with the elderly.” Or some people may have a goal that states, “I want to work in the community and earn at least $7.50 per hour working in the food service industry."
Who will help me at my job if I’m not able to work on my own?
Answer: CHOICE, unlimited employs job coaches who are trained to help you become as independent as possible at your job. We try very hard to make sure that you and your job coach are a good match. In fact, you may be asked to participate in helping us select a job coach to work with you by being a part of the interview process.
Is there anyone else I would work with at CHOICE, unlimited besides a job coach?
Answer: Yes. When you come into our agency your main contact person will be one of our Community Support Specialist staff and either our Day Service Coordinator or our Community-Based Employment Coordinator. These individuals are responsible for helping you develop your goals and ensure your satisfaction with the services we provide. They are also your main contact at CHOICE, unlimited and are a part of your overall team including your County Case Manager, Guardian, Rehabilitation Counselor, etc.
