Presented byLinda Mazuranic, M.Ed., L.P.C.

How to be a Really Great Community Support Specialist

Begin by knowing your client.Begin by knowing your client.

What do they likeanddislike?

Become aware ofyourclient’shistory

Where did they come from?Where did they come from?

Do they have family or aculturalbackground that isimportantto them?

What do they have faith in?What do they have faith in?

Do they have a church or

spiritualpractice

that works for them?

Find out what does and doesn’t Find out what does and doesn’t matter to your client. matter to your client.

Do they never wantto move from wherethey live now?

Is their dog the most important

support in their life?

Find out what does and doesn’t Find out what does and doesn’t matter to your client.matter to your client.

Find out what does and doesn’t Find out what does and doesn’t matter to your client.matter to your client.

Do they hate

red cars?

SymptomsSymptomsEach person is unique.

Be aware of symptoms, Be aware of symptoms, psychiatric care, and need for psychiatric care, and need for

education about symptom education about symptom management.management.

irritation angerhearing voicesmania anxietyflashbacksno motivationdepression

Get the answers Get the answers from the one who knows.from the one who knows.

Ask your client what it means to them to have their diagnosis.

Help your client develop a list of symptoms they have that bother them.

Education creates change.Education creates change.

Education about symptom management starts with how someone has handled it in the past. Maybe they put their cares in a box car and watched the train roll away.

We learn when we are motivated.

Identifying the symptoms that bother the client most may providemotivation to learnmore aboutsymptommanagement.

Educate…educate…educateEducate…educate…educate

Help create success.Help create success.

Medication aloneoften does not ridpeople of symptoms.They need a bag of tricks and thepractical success of being able to use them when life is hard.

Ask your clientabout triggers to usingsubstances.

Whatsubstance dothey first turnto when theyhave urges.

Talk with your client about their Talk with your client about their use, they are the expert.use, they are the expert.

Make a list together of

their triggers & discuss how

to avoid them.

Discuss both the benefits & consequences

of their use.

We must all be aware of both We must all be aware of both physical & mental health.physical & mental health.

Our mental health is not isolated from therest of our well being.

Health is complex.Health is complex.

Be aware ofmedicalissues, medicalproviders,and ability to managemedicalconditions.

You are the coordinator of care.You are the coordinator of care.

Educate yourselfabout your client’s medical conditions.

Take notes so thatyou will know what comes next.

Find out about your client’s Find out about your client’s housing status, plans, problems, housing status, plans, problems,

and programs.and programs.

Housing is so much more than a Housing is so much more than a place to live.place to live.

If a client has both a mental and medical illness, having housing may be the only

way to feel safe.

Housing is better treatment.Housing is better treatment.

It is extremelydifficult tomanage anymental illnesswhenhomeless.

Safety is having a home.Safety is having a home.

Housing is asource ofprofound stressfor most peoplewho have adisability. Stressexacerbatesmental illness.

MoneyMoney

You need to know the sources of your client’s income and benefits.

Be aware of finances, benefits, Be aware of finances, benefits, and entitlements and how to and entitlements and how to

ensure they stay active.ensure they stay active.

SSI Medicaid SSDI MedicareMedicare D Plans Food Stamps

Ticket to WorkCommunity Resources

Money can be scary.Money can be scary.

Budgeting is not necessarily a natural skill, and can be veryfrightening if you are poor.

You need to help get the You need to help get the paperwork done!paperwork done!

Benefits, entitlements, housing vouchers, food stamps, and insurance are difficult to get back if they lapse.

Be aware of insurance and how to Be aware of insurance and how to ensure it stays active.ensure it stays active.

Most state or federal health insurance needs to be re-investigated annually.

Changes in IncomeChanges in Income

Sudden changes in income can effect insuranceeligibility for aperson witha disability.

Ticket to workTicket to work

There are programsthat protect insurance for aperson with adisability who is working.

Be aware of insurance and how to Be aware of insurance and how to ensure it stays active.ensure it stays active.

Most state or federal health insurance needs to be re-investigated annually.

Find out your client’s progress in Find out your client’s progress in doing things on their own.doing things on their own.

Progress – Progress – how do we measure it?how do we measure it?

Progress is oftenachieved in babysteps.

Dreams can be realized.Dreams can be realized.

Having someonebelieve in youmakes adifference, evenwhen you can’tbelieve inyourself.

Change takes motivation.Change takes motivation.

A feelingof self-efficacy is a basic skill in the process of change.

Small successes reach goals.Small successes reach goals.

Many peopleremember their failures and forget allthe littlesuccesses. You can help them remember.

Find out a way to schedule clients Find out a way to schedule clients and to document your contacts. and to document your contacts. 

How do you make productivity?How do you make productivity?

Talk to yourSupervisorand ask teammates that are successful at making productivity.

Ask how to do it,collect strategiesand find a waythat works bestfor you.

Be aware of needing to plan Be aware of needing to plan ahead to manage both client ahead to manage both client

needs and documentation needs.needs and documentation needs.

Keep the stress under control.Keep the stress under control.

Reducing the stress in your job meanskeeping up with the notes and paperwork.

The high points…The high points…

Be AWARE of what your client needs.

Be a detective and FIND OUT Be a detective and FIND OUT about all the resourcesabout all the resources

Be an ADVOCATEBe an ADVOCATE

Be a SUPPORTBe a SUPPORT

Rely on your teamRely on your teamand your supervisor.and your supervisor.

Last… but not least…

Take care of you and Take care of you and enjoy your life.enjoy your life.