At Eiros, we are often asked what is Support Brokerage – like what exactly do you do?
We start with a person’s hopes and dreams. What are they really good at? Where do they see themselves in 1 year, 5 years? What are their strengths and where do they benefit from support? Then based on this, we work with the person and their supporters to help move them towards a life based on this planning, regardless of their support needs.
What does this look like in practice?
For example, Support Brokers don’t find staff, we help people find staff. We help people identify the type of person that they want, and then we help find that person.
We work with the person to develop a policy and procedure manual for their individual support needs. After that, we can help the person manage the staff if needed.
Support brokers do community mapping. Where are all the good pizza places? Where are the places in the community where this person can show up, share their gifts, and be known?
Based on the person’s interests - who can we reach out to as a goods and service provider? Yoga studios, pottery places, sky diving, etc., etc., etc.
Brokers can help a person get a housing voucher or subsidy, and then help the person find an apartment. If they choose to have a live-in caregiver, we again, help them through that process along with helping to secure funding for furniture or security deposits. Again, all person-centered and self-directed.
We help with the dreaded paperwork - SNAP, SSI, housing, Medicaid renewal, LIHEAP. Really anything to help keep a person self directing. We can help with anything that can’t be accessed through another service like Support Coordination or Medicaid.
Each step along the way is done with the person, not for the person. It is done in a way that respects the person’s ability to participate, and their supporters. We presume competence and that the person and their supporters know best.
We have helped people come back from out-of-state settings, homeless shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, family homes and even the YMCA. It is not an emergency service, as it takes time to plan. The planning is done so that it is self-directed and through the planning we find out what the person wants. Then, we move ahead from there.
