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Resident service coordination |
- What is resident service coordination?
Resident service coordinators (RSCs) work with
tenants to identify needs and desires and assist them
by linking
tenants
to the
appropriate supportive services in their community.
The role of supportive services in maintaining a tenant's
independence and self-sufficiency is critical.
This
provides additional assistance to the tenant, family
of tenants, housing managers and community service
providers
through education and a commitment to assist in the
areas of information and referral, tenant empowerment,
family
education and support as well as service coordination.
- How
do tenants benefit?
Many individuals may need assistance
with the more burdensome tasks of daily living, but have
difficulty
finding, understanding
or paying for the desired service. RSCs work with tenants
to identify such needs and procure the supportive services.
This assistance allows the tenant to continue to live
independently for a longer period of time.
- How do tenant families benefit?
RSCs do not attempt
to replace existing human services or the care offered
by friends or relatives. Informal
support networks, such as family and friends, account
for 75 to 80
percent of the care that people receive. While such informal
support networks can help to combat common problems,
too much reliance on this form of assistance may not
adequately
meet the needs of the individual and may put an intolerable
strain on the caregivers, particularly if they themselves
are elderly. RSCs intend to supplement this support network.
- How does management benefit?
The isolation created by
unmet supportive service needs may contribute to poor
health, alcoholism, and abuse
of prescribed medications. This may result in property
damage and life-threatening
situations. As a manager, have you ever had to handle
a situation that you believe was inappropriate for you
to
resolve? Resident service coordination is designed
to alleviate management of the burden of direct care
and services. By
shifting this responsibility to service professionals,
potentially dangerous situations may be recognized and
resolved before
there's a need for crisis intervention.
- How does this affect the community service provider?
The
challenge of successfully meeting the needs of tenants
is formidable in a state such as ours. The rural
nature of
Vermont, the typical small size of the housing development,
geographic constraints, and inclement weather all combine
to make service delivery difficult.
Through RSCs, the potential
exists for a more productive service delivery system
because of the efficiencies
of scale. Also, a better understanding of housing and
a relationship
with housing management will evolve.
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Local RSC organizations
VRSC is a professional group dedicated to providing educational
and peer support to individuals and organizations offering
resident service coordination services in housing across Vermont.
VRSC holds quarterly meetings and special training opportunities
for members.
For more information, contact:
Jennifer Hunter, VRSC President
(802) 861-2308
hunter@cathedralsquare.org
 Visit
VRSC on the Web
NERSC represents the largest regional collaborative of RSCs
in New England. More than 350 RSCs and other affiliate professionals
attend NERSC's annual spring conference, reflecting diverse housing
and social service backgrounds. For more information, contact:
Lynn Lippitt, NERSC President
New Hampshire Housing
32 Constitution Dr.
Bedford, NH 03110
(800) 439-7247 x9221
(603) 310-9221
(603) 488-0878 (fax)
llippitt@nhhfa.org
Visit
NERSC on the Web
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