Transition Planning and Closure Experience

The Columbus Organization’s vast experience provides us with a unique understanding of the processes involved in successful transition of individuals and eventual closure of a facility.  We understand the importance of developing and implementing a strategy that allows for the necessary allocation and reallocation of resources as the facility’s needs change and the heightened importance of maintaining safe, high quality services and maintaining compliance with all state and federal regulations during times of transition. 

We have been called upon to assist agencies either through facility support or direct management who were engaged in strategic planning efforts, downsizing, expansion, or revision of service options or who were facing a variety of regulatory challenges from their state ICF/IID survey team, CMS, or DOJ. Our customers range from privately held agencies and providers to large state agencies for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Transitions from Institutional to Community Care

The Columbus Organization has partnered with several States in providing additional supports for members (both pre- and post-transition) upon discharge from state facilities into a community environment.  To ensure and enhance a safe and person-centered transition without lapses in service provision, The Columbus Organization staff develop transition processes, coordinate provider fairs, attend transition meetings, work closely with members, families, guardians, and providers, monitor transition progress and provide comprehensive post-transition follow-up to ensure the safe transition of all members. The Columbus Organization’s role in the transitioning of members from institutional to community care has also been utilized to provide the following supports for each assigned member:

• Serve as an intermediary between the State facility and a provider to facilitate the transfer of member’s current services to other providers, to support members being served to locate and access a new service provider and to ensure the health and safety of the members throughout the community transition process.
• Work collaboratively with the provider, the involved state agencies, members, families, guardians, and Case Managers to ensure ongoing communication of information regarding the processes employed to effect a smooth transition.
• Conduct site visits to identify homes with Provider support staff to assess environmental adequacy and general staff capability.
• Establish relationships with family members and guardians representing members served and work with other entities such as local providers to ensure continuity of services.
• Participate in competency-based training to ensure Provider staff is trained in all Plan of Care (POC) components prior to transition.
• Work with provider staff to ensure the quality assurance process addresses all needs and is consistent with person-centered planning based on desires, preferences and interests.
• Work with regional offices to facilitate transition planning.
• Work with the provider and regional offices to ensure continuity and safety in staffing, including adequacy of staffing, staff deployment, training and disciplinary action.
• Conduct face-to-face visits at the home on day of discharge to ensure all needed supports are in place.
• Provide ongoing monitoring of residential services through weekly face-to-face visit(s) with member(s) and their support network to reinforce the process of developing relationships with the member and oversight monitoring to include a minimum of one face-to-face visit per week at residential setting and one face-to-face visit per month at Day Program (if applicable) to ensure all components of the plan of care are implemented and documented appropriately and to ensure the health and safety of the member.
• Ongoing monitoring of individuals as needed by a Physician, Registered Nurse or Behavioral Analyst.
• Report on progress and barriers to the regional and State Offices weekly.