NOTE TO READER
You will notice throughout this handbook there will be code letters in bold (italics). These letters indicate the particular program and site that the rule, regulation or policy adheres to. Listed below is the key, if you have any questions please ask your case manager for clarification:
(T) Tomah, Bldg. 407 Residents
(M) Madison, Step-up Program
(L) La Crosse, Step-up Program
(TS) Tomah, Step-up Program
PHASE 1 (Weeks 1- 2) - INTAKE, ORIENTATION AND ASSESSMENT (T)
Upon admission to the program you will work closely with the Staff to:
a. Learn the policies of the program and the rules of resident behavior.
b. Become familiar with residents and Staff/Security, as well as with the daily procedures of the program.
c. Begin one-on-one sessions with your Case Manager and individual sessions with clinical counselor.
d. Begin to develop your individual program and employment/educational plan with your Case Manager with input by the USDVA clinical counselor.
e. Meet with the Department of Labor Grant Representative and complete an assessment.
f. Attend all sessions and classes and notify Staff if there is a conflict.
g. Complete your work assignment correctly and on time.
h. Keep your sleeping area clean and orderly with medications locked.
i. Maintain good personal hygiene and shower daily.
j. Comply with program guidelines and rules.
k. Prepare for and begin job search or be approved by Staff for disability application claim process.
PHASE 2 (Weeks 2 – 4 or steps completed) – STABILIZATION AND PLANNING (T)
The second phase of the program is designed to help you:
a. Attend all assigned meetings and classes and notify Staff if there is a conflict.
b. Continue to meet with your Case Manager and VA clinician as assigned.
c. Keep appointments with VA for physical, mental health, dental, AODA, or any other care that is scheduled.
d. Refine your individual program plan, including an income or educational plan, becoming involved in non-compensated community service and/or volunteer work.
e. If eligible, continue working with the Department of Labor Grant Representative on your work development skills/needs.
f. Complete your work assignment correctly and on time.
g. Keep your sleeping area clean and orderly with medications locked.
h. Show progress on goals identified in Phase I.
i. Define a strategy for obtaining income.
j. If you have an income, make your program fee payment on time and save 50% of your income.
k. If not working, do volunteer work in the VA or in the community.
l. Define a plan and tentative time frame for entering the community.
This phase would include:
· The development and implementation of case plan and treatment plan.
· Veteran who is in a medical hold status and is not able to seek employment due to a temporary medical situation.
RESIDENTS IN PHASES 3 & 4 CAN BE TRANSFERED TO THE STEP-UP PROGRAM WITH LOCATION SITES IN TOMAH, MADISON, AND LA CROSSE. In this program, there are no mandatory wake-up times and there are less stringent rules. Residents opting to remain at Tomah (Bldg. 407) will be bound by the existing rules.
PHASE 3 (Weeks 3 - 12 or steps completed) – BUILDING AND TRANSITION
(T, M, L, TS)
Phase 3 of the program involves preparing for employment and planning a successful move to transitional housing or independent living. During this phase, you:
a. Continue appointments made with the VA for medical, mental health, dental, AODA, or any other need.
b. Continue to meet with Case Manager and clinician as scheduled; however no attendance at classes is required.
c. Maintain employment or other income source.
d. If unable to work continue to do volunteer work.
e. If eligible, continue working with the Department of Labor Grant Representative on your work development skills/needs.
f. Complete work assignments correctly and on time.
g. Keep your sleeping area clean and orderly with medications locked.
h. Begin to plan for independent living situation and other essentials necessary to live a self-supporting, sober life.
i. Demonstrate ability to handle finances.
j. Continue to pay a program fee on time and save 50% of that income.
This phase would include:
· Job Readiness- to include job skill testing and development, job assessments, resume preparation, job searches and interviewing.
· Applications prepared and submitted for SSI, SSDI or compensation/pension and employment. This would include veterans working DWT (compensated work therapy) or IT (incentive therapy) who are not drawing any other source of income.
· A veteran employed in the private sector that is working less than 36 hours per week.
PHASE 4 (Weeks 4 - 20 or steps completed) - AFTERCARE/TRANSITION
(T, M, L, TS)
Residents advanced to Phase 4 are those with full or part-time employment or who are enrolled in a formal training program. Advancement to Phase 4 is designed to:
a. Continue appointments made with the VA for medical, mental health, dental, AODA, or any other need.
b. Continue to meet with Case Manager as scheduled.
c. Maintain sobriety and/or medication management.
d. Complete work assignments correctly and on time.
e. If eligible, continue working with the Department of Labor Grant Representative on your work development skills/needs.
f. Keep your sleeping area clean and orderly with medications locked.
g. Display ability to handle finances
g. Develop a written plan for discharge specifying how, where, and when.
h. If you have an income, continue to pay a program fee on time and save 50% of that income.
This phase would include:
· A veteran working more than 36 hours per week earning a sustainable wage, receiving SSI, SSDI, compensation/ pension.
· A veteran receiving compensation and working CWT or IT
PHASE 5 - INDEPENDENT LIVING (T, M, L, TS)
In Phase 5, the resident has transitioned to living outside the Program, has a steady job and/or income, and is meeting his/her obligations. VAF Staff will be in regular contact with the resident for at least one year to provide services as needed, and to ensure that the resident’s reentry into the mainstream is successful.Note: Phase 2-4 assignment can go in a reverse order if called for.
You will notice throughout this handbook there will be code letters in bold (italics). These letters indicate the particular program and site that the rule, regulation or policy adheres to. Listed below is the key, if you have any questions please ask your case manager for clarification:
(T) Tomah, Bldg. 407 Residents
(M) Madison, Step-up Program
(L) La Crosse, Step-up Program
(TS) Tomah, Step-up Program
PHASE 1 (Weeks 1- 2) - INTAKE, ORIENTATION AND ASSESSMENT (T)
Upon admission to the program you will work closely with the Staff to:
a. Learn the policies of the program and the rules of resident behavior.
b. Become familiar with residents and Staff/Security, as well as with the daily procedures of the program.
c. Begin one-on-one sessions with your Case Manager and individual sessions with clinical counselor.
d. Begin to develop your individual program and employment/educational plan with your Case Manager with input by the USDVA clinical counselor.
e. Meet with the Department of Labor Grant Representative and complete an assessment.
f. Attend all sessions and classes and notify Staff if there is a conflict.
g. Complete your work assignment correctly and on time.
h. Keep your sleeping area clean and orderly with medications locked.
i. Maintain good personal hygiene and shower daily.
j. Comply with program guidelines and rules.
k. Prepare for and begin job search or be approved by Staff for disability application claim process.
PHASE 2 (Weeks 2 – 4 or steps completed) – STABILIZATION AND PLANNING (T)
The second phase of the program is designed to help you:
a. Attend all assigned meetings and classes and notify Staff if there is a conflict.
b. Continue to meet with your Case Manager and VA clinician as assigned.
c. Keep appointments with VA for physical, mental health, dental, AODA, or any other care that is scheduled.
d. Refine your individual program plan, including an income or educational plan, becoming involved in non-compensated community service and/or volunteer work.
e. If eligible, continue working with the Department of Labor Grant Representative on your work development skills/needs.
f. Complete your work assignment correctly and on time.
g. Keep your sleeping area clean and orderly with medications locked.
h. Show progress on goals identified in Phase I.
i. Define a strategy for obtaining income.
j. If you have an income, make your program fee payment on time and save 50% of your income.
k. If not working, do volunteer work in the VA or in the community.
l. Define a plan and tentative time frame for entering the community.
This phase would include:
· The development and implementation of case plan and treatment plan.
· Veteran who is in a medical hold status and is not able to seek employment due to a temporary medical situation.
RESIDENTS IN PHASES 3 & 4 CAN BE TRANSFERED TO THE STEP-UP PROGRAM WITH LOCATION SITES IN TOMAH, MADISON, AND LA CROSSE. In this program, there are no mandatory wake-up times and there are less stringent rules. Residents opting to remain at Tomah (Bldg. 407) will be bound by the existing rules.
PHASE 3 (Weeks 3 - 12 or steps completed) – BUILDING AND TRANSITION
(T, M, L, TS)
Phase 3 of the program involves preparing for employment and planning a successful move to transitional housing or independent living. During this phase, you:
a. Continue appointments made with the VA for medical, mental health, dental, AODA, or any other need.
b. Continue to meet with Case Manager and clinician as scheduled; however no attendance at classes is required.
c. Maintain employment or other income source.
d. If unable to work continue to do volunteer work.
e. If eligible, continue working with the Department of Labor Grant Representative on your work development skills/needs.
f. Complete work assignments correctly and on time.
g. Keep your sleeping area clean and orderly with medications locked.
h. Begin to plan for independent living situation and other essentials necessary to live a self-supporting, sober life.
i. Demonstrate ability to handle finances.
j. Continue to pay a program fee on time and save 50% of that income.
This phase would include:
· Job Readiness- to include job skill testing and development, job assessments, resume preparation, job searches and interviewing.
· Applications prepared and submitted for SSI, SSDI or compensation/pension and employment. This would include veterans working DWT (compensated work therapy) or IT (incentive therapy) who are not drawing any other source of income.
· A veteran employed in the private sector that is working less than 36 hours per week.
PHASE 4 (Weeks 4 - 20 or steps completed) - AFTERCARE/TRANSITION
(T, M, L, TS)
Residents advanced to Phase 4 are those with full or part-time employment or who are enrolled in a formal training program. Advancement to Phase 4 is designed to:
a. Continue appointments made with the VA for medical, mental health, dental, AODA, or any other need.
b. Continue to meet with Case Manager as scheduled.
c. Maintain sobriety and/or medication management.
d. Complete work assignments correctly and on time.
e. If eligible, continue working with the Department of Labor Grant Representative on your work development skills/needs.
f. Keep your sleeping area clean and orderly with medications locked.
g. Display ability to handle finances
g. Develop a written plan for discharge specifying how, where, and when.
h. If you have an income, continue to pay a program fee on time and save 50% of that income.
This phase would include:
· A veteran working more than 36 hours per week earning a sustainable wage, receiving SSI, SSDI, compensation/ pension.
· A veteran receiving compensation and working CWT or IT
PHASE 5 - INDEPENDENT LIVING (T, M, L, TS)
In Phase 5, the resident has transitioned to living outside the Program, has a steady job and/or income, and is meeting his/her obligations. VAF Staff will be in regular contact with the resident for at least one year to provide services as needed, and to ensure that the resident’s reentry into the mainstream is successful.Note: Phase 2-4 assignment can go in a reverse order if called for.
