Services include early intervention for young children, case management, a day program and employment opportunities for adults, residential living that accommodates 44 individuals in 11 homes, supervised independent living for six additional individuals, and foster home care.
With the main office located at 100 Clear Water Way, Beaufort, S.C., BCDSN currently serves over 880 individuals and families. Case management is provided to over 770, and early intervention services are provided to over 180.
Case Management
Case management services are provided by trained professionals with knowledge of the medical, social, and educational services available. Through assessment, case managers learn about an individual’s specific needs in order to provide them with effective and appropriate resources, allowing the individual to remain in a community-based environment. Case management services include intake for eligibility categories (intellectual disability, related disability, high-risk infants, autism spectrum, head injury, spinal cord injury or similar disability). Different types of case management we offer are State-funded, Medicaid-targeted and Home and Community Based Waivers.
Bright Beginnings Early Intervention
Bright Beginnings is an early intervention program offered within the home or in a day care setting to families with children from birth to six years who are developmentally delayed. This program provides service coordination and family training that address a child’s development, including language and communication, cognition, fine and gross motor, social-emotional, and self-help skills.
Great Expectations Day Program
The Great Expectations Day Program helps to train and place individuals with disabilities in jobs created for them according to their abilities and desires. Qualified individuals may spend up to six hours per day in the program, Monday through Friday, where they have the opportunity to further develop and maintain daily living and employment skills. Currently, 64% of the individuals in the program are working in the community, and starting pay is at least minimum wage.
Health
The health care needs of our clients are supported on a 24-hour basis. There is one full-time and one part-time Registered Nurse available around the clock to provide required coordination of health care, to manage nursing procedures, to train and monitor staff engaged in healthcare related activities, and to advocate for and ensure optimal health outcomes for the individuals we serve within our Residential and Day Programs.
Residential Services
Residential Services provides support to fifty individuals in several different living situations to accommodate their needs. There are currently 11 community training homes (CTHII), and each has four individuals living as a family unit with 24-hour staff support. In these homes, individuals learn everyday skills, such as cooking, cleaning, and independent living. Many have jobs during the day, and community involvement is encouraged. The supervised living program (SLP) allows six additional people to live in their own home with occasional staff support and training. One additional person lives in a foster care type situation (CTHI) in a private home in the community with staff support and training.
BCDSN Advisory Board
The BCDSN Advisory Board advocates for individuals with disabilities and special needs who are served by the Beaufort County Disabilities and Special Needs Department, provides assistance and advice to the Disabilities and Special Needs Department staff concerning matters of policy; and promotes community awareness of Disabilities and Special Needs Department programs and services.
ABLE Foundation
The ABLE Foundation is a strong supporting partner in our service to people with developmental disabilities.