Resources

Southern Tier Connect is here to assist you in navigating partnerships with a person you know and trust, close to home. Here are some helpful resources to reference as you go through this process with us.

For Individuals & Families

Getting Started

What is Care Coordination (How is it different from MSC)?

Care Coordination is built on a foundation of successful Medicaid Service Coordination by the region’s leading service providers who will now provide comprehensive care management. This means your care coordinator will connect you with the region’s very best service providers, linking together healthcare needs, transitional, behavioral, social and community services, and individual and family supports into one comprehensive plan. A plan that will change as your needs change, that will be supported by the use of creative technology to connect you to service providers across our rural area, and backed by our commitment to fiscal responsibility.

How do I receive Care Coordination through Southern Tier Connect?

If you feel like Southern Tier Connect is a resource that you or a loved one needs, you might find yourself in one of the following scenarios:

You have a child, or you are an individual who has just been diagnosed with a disability and don’t know where to start. The first step is The OPWDD Front Door. From this website, you can obtain contact information for all four OPWDD regions that Southern Tier Connect serves. More information about this process and a wealth of additional resources are available on OPWDD’s website. If you would like to speak with someone at Southern Tier Connect for further information about this process, please call our Information Line (607) 376-7526 x100 between the hours of 8-4 pm Monday-Friday.

You have been told by someone at OPWDD’s “Front Door” to look into the different CCO’s in the area and would like some more information about us. Southern Tier Connect is unique- our approach focuses on our rural communities in 14 counties with resources spread far and wide. It is our privilege to connect the very best support to our clients. We will help facilitate your post-enrollment process with Southern Tier Connect. Call our Intake phone number at (607)376- 7526 x110 or send us an email at intake@southerntierconnect.org. We can help you through the eligibility process and provide a coordinated assessment called the IAM Assessment which will help determine the types of services and goals you or the person in your care would like to achieve both long and short term. We will provide you with assistance through the entire process and once deemed eligible for services. Our Care Coordination Managers (or CCMS) will work with you on an ongoing monthly basis to make sure your needs are being met in all areas of your life so you can be the most healthy, happy, and independent person you can and want to be!

You or someone in your care is already eligible for OPWDD (Office of People With Developmental Disabilities) Services and are interested in switching their CCO (Care Coordination Organization). If you would like to make the switch to Southern Tier Connect, please contact our intake hotline- (607) 376-7526 x110 or email intake@southerntierconnect.org to begin the process of joining Southern Tier Connect!

Eligibility

Eligibility Survey

Not sure if you qualify for services? Our online survey is a quick way to find out.

Click Here to take the survey

Health and Safety

Advocate today for First Vaccine Administration to Persons with I/DD

Help us ensure the continued safety of the people we support by advocating for them and their care workers to receive the vaccine first.

Act now - Learn More

Getting a Flu Vaccine is more important than ever

Protect yourself and the people around you from flu, and help reduce the strain on healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. All primary care providers offer the flu vaccine, and all major health insurances cover the cost of the vaccine. Click the button above for more options, If you have any questions about finding a location or assistance in scheduling an appointment, your care coordinator will be happy to assist you!

Find a Flu Vaccine Provider

COVID-19 Cluster Zone Information

The Micro-Cluster Strategy identifies clusters and the areas around them and categorizes them into one or more color-coded zones with corresponding levels of restrictions based on severity: Red Zones, Orange Zones, and Yellow Zones. New rules and restrictions directly target areas with the highest transmission of COVID-19 cases & surrounding communities.

NYS Micro-Cluster Strategy and Guidance

COVID-19 Testing

Southern Tier Connect Care Managers have worked diligently to help our members navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and safety of our members and staff is our number one priority. If you do develop any symptoms that are associated with COVID-19, please stay home and call your primary care provider for what steps you need to take. If you believe you need to be tested for COVID-19 immediately, please visit this webpage for a list of testing sites.

Testing Site Locations

Assessment Tools Used in Care Management: The Difference Between the CAS and the I AM

How do OPWDD and Care Management Organizations like Southern Tier Connect determine the right mix of service and supports for people? The process is not simple, but at the heart of choosing the right, supports are assessments. In...

The Long Journey to GiGi – Evan’s Service Dog

A service animal can be a great benefit, and friend, for a person with a disability. Service animals are trained from birth to provide their owners with a spectrum of supports. Finding the perfect service animal can be a challenge, taking time and even more hard work....

Day Services – Fall 2020

We were pleased to bring together our members, leading service providers, and Southern Tier Connect staff to present a webinar about day services for the fall of 2020. Thank you to so many who were in attendance live; for those that missed out the first time, we are...

Summer 2020 Satisfaction Survey

Today we sent emails to Southern Tier Connect members and families asking for your feedback on how we are doing supporting you, connecting you to resources, and what we can do to make your experience even better. If you did not receive this email and would like to...

Mask Distribution – Thursday 6/4/2020

We will be distributing face coverings on Thursday 6/4 at our Binghamton, Cortland, Ithaca, Norwich, and Oneonta locations from 11 am until 1 pm and then from 4 pm until 6 pm. These are cotton masks, though they contain silver and copper. These masks are available to...

Quality Assurance

Southern Tier Connect’s Quality Assurance department’s mission is to ensure that individuals are treated fairly and with dignity. You will find our Notice of Privacy Practices at the bottom of each page, as well as a form to report any Corporate Compliance issues below.

Corporate Compliance Reporting

Corporate Compliance Reporting
1. Describe your corporate compliance concern below. Provide as much information as possible to allow us to properly conduct an investigation and follow-up.
2. May we contact you?
- Yes
- No
3. If you checked yes above, please enter your name and a phone number:
First Last
Phone
4. If you wish to remain anonymous, please consider submitting a public e-mail account such as hotmail, google or yahoo to the corporate compliance officer. Some issues require follow-up or investigation and further information may be critical to resolving this issue.

Quick Links

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OPWDD Services

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OPWDD's Front Door

Helpful Documents

Common Acronyms