Program Description

The Community Support Team (CST) supports people in maintaining independence in the community. The CST service is considered an intensive level of care with a variety of wraparound supports in place to manage recovery in the community. People who benefit from CST are often at higher risk for homelessness or long-term care settings.

• Utilizes a team-based approach in which staff rotate visits on an at-least-weekly basis
• Home visits (see below for details on what happens on a home visit)
• Sertoma Star Services believes in people living independently in the community. We move approximately 25-30 people every year from long-term care settings to subsidized apartment units in the community.
• At least 90% of people maintain independent housing in the community for one year or more.
• More than 75% of the CST services are provided in the community.

Home Visits

Staff will do the following at a home visit:

1. Call prior to visit to provide information on our arrival time.
2. Assess the home environment (cleanliness, food availability, etc.) and if there are any safety concerns.
3. Check in about daily routines, needs and current desires.
4. Inquire about current mental health status and symptoms.
5. Review medication packs and medication adherence.
6. Inquire about sleep and eating patterns.
7. Inquire about physical health status.
8. Discuss accessing the community independently.
9. Provide support for scheduled doctors appointments, assist with independently managing benefits, etc.
   – Access and consult with a nurse about health-related or medication concerns
   – Address goals in the areas of managing symptoms, learning to access and use community resources, and identifying and using natural supports
   – Access CST team members through a 24/7 crisis line