Family Resources

Vaccine Eligibility for Individuals with Disabilities Receiving Home- and Community-Based Waiver Services

Late yesterday, the Indiana Department of Health announced that individuals with disabilities ages 16 – 49 who receive home-and community-based waiver services are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes individuals on the Aged & Disabled, Family Support, and Community Integration & Habilitation Waiver. This expanded eligibility includes nearly 19,000 individuals and is being made possible through our on-going partnership with the Indiana Department of Health.

Before an individual can make an appointment, their case/care manager will submit their information to the Indiana Department of Health. The individual, or their designated support person, will then receive a text message and/or email in the near future with a link unique to them that can only be used to sign up for a vaccine appointment. Specifically, the process includes the following steps:

Eligible individuals will be contacted by their case/care manager to confirm their interest in receiving vaccine and to gather information needed to provide the individual with access to scheduling their vaccine appointment; the information will be shared with the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services or Division of Aging as it is gathered.
Daily, DDRS/DA will compile the information received and upload it to IDOH.
Based on that upload, the system will generate and send the individual, or their designated support person, a unique link that they can use to schedule their appointment at a time and location convenient to their schedule.

Case managers and care managers have already begun their outreach activities with over 4,000 individuals contacted to date. For eligible individuals and their families, if you have not yet heard from your case/care manager, please know they will be in touch very soon. For our provider network, we appreciate, in advance, your efforts to coordinate and collaborate with individuals and case/care managers to ensure individuals are supported in scheduling and accessing their vaccine appointments.

We hope this information is helpful. Should you have questions, please use the following:

Questions for individuals served by DDRS, please send questions to: [email protected]
Questions for individuals served by the Division of Aging, please send questions to: [email protected]

Indiana Family and Social Services Administration
402 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Pathfinder Services COVID-19 Update

In anticipation of nearly all our counties changing to a red status this week, we have made the difficult decision to close all day services and offices effective November 26, 2020 through January 4, 2021. Our priority has been and will continue to be keeping those we serve and our employees safe.

We understand the impact of these decisions and we do not make them lightly. The continued spread of COVID-19 throughout northeast Indiana has put an enormous strain on our healthcare systems in all our communities, including bed and nursing capacity. Please understand that this closure is not due to an outbreak of COVID-19 at Pathfinder Services. This is a preventative measure to be a good community partner and not add to the extraordinary strain on our local communities dealing with high positivity and widespread community outbreaks.

So, what does this mean for services?

Kids Kampus, Resource Connection, and Outsource Manufacturing will continue to operate with safety parameters in place.

Community Supports Day Services in Huntington will be open to those individuals on the Family Supports Waiver with safety parameters in place. All other Day Services will be closed. We will work to provide engaging virtual options for individuals to participate in while day services are closed. All staff who are affected by this closure will be contacted by their supervisor for further guidance on their work schedules and locations. Your work and expertise are still needed whether in day services or in a residential home.

Community Supports Residential Services will continue to provide the necessary care for those we serve. We do ask families to consider the safety of their loved ones, roommates, and staff by limiting all visitation to only what is absolutely necessary during this time. Please remember we do have virtual options to keep families and guardians in contact with loved ones.

All Administration Buildings will be closed with staff working remotely.

We recognize this is a difficult situation for everyone. Now more than ever, we are in this together. Please continue to follow local and state health guidelines to protect yourself and our individuals supported. Stay safe!

Danielle Tips

President and CEO

COVID-19 Policies and Planning for the Holidays

Please read this important information regarding COVID-19 policies and planning for the holidays.

We continue to monitor local, state, and national guidelines regarding COVID-19 to ensure our policies and procedures are in alignment with best practices. As health practitioners and Indiana state officials gain more and more knowledge about COVID-19, our access to local, quality data also improves. As we watch the data, we continue to see our communities impacted by increased COVID cases.

With what we know, and in preparation of the upcoming holidays, we have reviewed and updated our internal procedures. From this point forward, we will be aligning our procedures to utilize objective state data in making decisions regarding program closures.

Indiana uses a color-coded system that measures weekly cases and the seven (7) day positivity rate in each county and statewide. State officials update this every Wednesday. For our programming, we will utilize the Indiana County Guidelines in collaboration with positive cases in our agency. Programming decisions will be made every Thursday in preparation for the following week in order for families to plan for any closures.

Additionally, we have reviewed recent guidance released by the Indiana State Department of Health for holiday visitations. Per Indiana guidance:

“Because most individuals living in long-term care facilities fall into the category of increased risk, the state Department of Health strongly recommends against families taking persons who reside in long-term care facilities to their homes or to gatherings for holiday events. This recommendation does not apply to residents who have been diagnosed with and recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days. Such individuals, however, must meet CDC criteria for discontinuing transmission-based precautions.”

Based on these Indiana State Health Department recommendations, Pathfinder Services has implemented the following holiday guidelines:

Family members can visit individuals for the holidays as long as there is not a current outbreak in the home. Family members are asked to schedule in advance to reduce potential exposure. All family members will be asked to screen themselves upon arrival.
For individuals who are at higher risk, technology will be available for virtual visits. Family members are asked to schedule in advance to ensure the technology is available.
If an individual does leave their home to attend a family gathering, we strongly encourage all individuals to follow Indiana guidelines including wearing face masks, socially distancing, washing hands, and sanitizing high-contact surfaces frequently.
When the individual returns, they will be on heightened monitoring and observed for symptoms for a 14-day period.

We encourage all families to carefully evaluate the risk for their loved one and roommates prior to making holiday plans. Virtual, in-home, and out-of-home visits are available based on the needs of the individual.

It is important to note that this policy is subject to change based upon environmental conditions brought on by the pandemic, such as an increased infection rate and/or hospitalizations, and upon state and local guidance. Should an individual or employee test positive for COVID-19, these plans may change to protect our individuals and employees. Pathfinder Services, Inc. may implement additional guidance at any time to promote safety in our communities.

The full Indiana State Department of Health Holiday Guidance can be found here: https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/files/IN_COVID-19_LTC%20holiday%20guidance%2011.6.20.pdf

Thank you for all you continue to do to keep yourself and the individuals we support safe, healthy, and happy.

Danielle Tips

President and CEO

Closing Extended for Huntington and Plymouth Community Supports Day Service Programs

Dear Family Members and Guardians,

We are continuing to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in the areas served by Pathfinder Services. As continues to be the case, I am reaching out to you with an update in the spirit of truth and transparency.

We have seen an increased rate of positive COVID-19 cases in Huntington and were moved up to a higher alert status by the health department just this week. For our residents in Plymouth, there has been a State of Emergency declared in Marshall County as a result of increased positive cases.

With safety as a top priority, we are extending the closing of our Community Supports Day Programs in Huntington to everyone except those who live at home with their families for another week, until 11/9/2020. We want to ensure those we serve who live with their families have the option to continue Day Services with the knowledge that the locations will be thoroughly cleaned, and that social distancing will be mandated.

We are also extending the closing of our Community Supports Day Programs in Plymouth by an extra week, also until 11/9/20.

As has been the case, this is a very fluid situation and things could change very quickly. We are following guidance from local health departments and county governments into consideration as we make decisions that are the best for those we serve, our staff, and the communities.

All Day Services staff members should stay in contact their supervisor regarding job placement.

As we continue to navigate the unknowns and fluidity of this pandemic, I ask that you continue take precautions to protect yourselves, your loved ones, and those we serve. Please continue to wash your hands, monitor for symptoms, and follow the governor’s mask up order. Please be diligent in cleaning and wiping down high-touch surfaces.

If you have any questions or if anyone reaches out to you about this situation, please contact and direct all inquiries to Communications Coordinator Nicole Hahn at 260-519-3837 or [email protected]

Thank you for everything you do!

Danielle Tips

President and CEO

Plymouth Day Service Program Impacted by COVID-19

Dear family members and guardians,

COVID continues to be an evolving situation monitored closely by many members of our team. We continue to use experts and gather facts when making decisions and plans that impact operations and the safety of our individuals supported and staff. We have been in contact with our local health departments and we were notified that Marshall county is now operating under a State of Emergency due to local hospitals currently operating at capacity.

Per Resolution 2020-32, a public health disaster emergency declaration for Marshall County, directs all public offices and employees of the county to exercise the “utmost diligence in the discharge of duties required of them for the duration of the emergency and in execution of emergency laws, regulations, and directives whether state or local.”

As a result, and with safety as a top priority, we are closing our Community Supports Day Programs in Plymouth until 11/2/2020. We understand routine and consistency is important for the individuals we support and their families, and as such, we do not make this decision lightly.

At this time, visitation still remains open. We believe considerations should continue to be made on an individual basis with their health in mind. We do ask you to use your best judgment and evaluate the risk versus the benefit of the visit on the individual and their roommate(s) while the county operates under a State of an Emergency.

If you chose to take an individual out of the home, we ask that you avoid large crowds, department stores, restaurants, etc. during these visits where the risk of exposure could be higher. We also request that there be no out-of-town visits. In accordance with Indiana’s Back on Track Plan, please encourage the use of face masks, social distancing, and good hand hygiene while in the community.

As we continue to navigate the unknowns and fluidity of this pandemic, I ask for your patience and support as we try to balance the needs and safety of our individuals and our employees.

Thank you for everything you do!

Danielle Tips

President and CEO

Town Halls with President and CEO Danielle Tips

Dear family members and guardians,

I can’t believe that it has already been eight weeks since I started as President and CEO at Pathfinder Services. In these first two months, I have been meeting with staff, board members, community leaders, and your loved ones. It is clear that our workforce is dedicated to the mission of Pathfinder Services.

I wanted to take a moment to tell you a little bit about me and offer some virtual town hall meeting opportunities for you to get to know me even better.

I grew up in Huntington County and have worked in the developmental disability service organization most of my life. I actually began my career 12-years ago as a Caseworker providing direct care at Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana. I worked my way up through the company, serving as Vice President of Health and Residential Supports for three years before accepting the position as President and CEO of Pathfinder Services.

I am glad to be back in Huntington meeting new people and getting reacquainted with others. My husband and I have two daughters who are already adjusting well to new schools, meeting new friends, and involving themselves in creative activities.

Though I have met many of you and your loved ones, I know I still have many people to meet. I hope to have the opportunity to meet all of you at some point as I continue to settle into my role.

I’m sure many of you have questions for me related to my leadership approach and what I see for the future of Pathfinder Services. In order to answer some of your questions, I will be hosting two virtual town hall meetings in October.

The first meeting will run from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, October 12. You can join the meeting here:

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

or via phone at +1 260-247-6267 Conference ID: 495 116 883#

The second meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 14 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. You can join the meeting here:

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

or via phone at +1 260-247-6267 Conference ID: 425 275 107#

I hope you are able to join me for one of these meetings. I feel very fortunate to have joined this organization and I look forward to our future together.

If you ever have any questions or concerns, please email me at [email protected] or call me at 260-356-0500.