Transition Center

The New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL) Open Doors Transition Center is focused on assisting people living in nursing homes and intermediate care facilities to receive individualized home and community based services. This includes providing people with objective information about services and supports that are available in their local community. NYAIL was selected by the Department of Health to coordinate the Open Doors Transition Center Project as part of State's Money Follows the Person (MFP) program.

The Open Doors Transition Center assists people in nursing homes who wish to return to the community. The Transition Center is staffed by a Project Director, a Statewide Transition Specialist, a Registered Nurse (RN), and a Social Worker. NYAIL works with 9 Regional Lead ILCs and 14 Auxiliary Independent Living Centers (ILCs) -- see below for a list of these ILCs. These ILCs employ Transition Specialists (TS), who are familiar with the services available in the local community. These staff will meet with individuals residing in nursing homes and/or their family members. For individuals in nursing homes, the TS will identify what is needed for the person to return to the community and will assist in getting those needs met. For example, a common barrier to returning to community living is lack of housing. It is difficult for a resident in a nursing home to locate housing that meets their physical needs, and is affordable and available. The TS can search for housing via housing databases, as well as use their personal knowledge of local assets such as senior housing programs. If needed, the TS can then access environmental modification programs to ensure the home is accessible for the individual. The TS can also assist with accessing housing subsidies if the rent exceeds the individual's budget. Additionally, the TS can provide community preparedness education to ensure that individuals have the information/skills they will need immediately upon return to the community. The TS role and process is tailored to the specific needs and desires of each individual, and is designed to make the transition happen in the smoothest and quickest way possible. The Transition Center works closely with the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) and the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waivers to provide services that will support people in the community.

The Open Doors Transition Center also works closely with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). OPWDD will be actively assisting individuals with developmental disabilities in moving from developmental centers (DCs), Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs), and nursing homes into private homes, apartments, or community residential settings. Some individuals will move out of ICFs and DCs, while others may remain living in their current location, but will experience greater community integration as ICFs (which follow an institutional program model) convert to Individual Residential Alternatives (IRAs). Transition Specialists will meet with these individuals and/or their family members/advocates. The TS can assist with selecting a Medicaid Service Coordinator (MSC) who will best meet the individual's needs. The TS can assist and ensure that the individual has the skills and supports he/she needs to be ready for the community. The TS will also participate with the treatment team in creating a person-centered plan that promotes independence and meaningful community involvement.

Anyone can make a referral to the Open Doors Transition Center. The Transition Center Referral Form (available for download below) can be completed and sent to the Regional Contact listed in the chart below. Referrals can also be made by calling NYAIL's Transition Center Hotline at 844-545-7108, via fax to 518-465-4625, or via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

For more information:

Suzanne de Beaumont
Project Director
MFP Transition Center
155 Washington Ave, Suite 208
Albany, New York 12210
Phone: (844) 545-7108

Documents available for download:

Open Doors Referral Form

Regional Lead and Auxiliary Primary Contacts and Counties

Open Doors (MFP) Transition Center Regional Contacts
Regional Counties	Contact Information	Auxiliary Independent Living Centers
Albany North Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Warren, Washington	April Easton Southern Adirondack Independent Living Center (SAIL) 71 Glenwood Ave Queensbury, NY 12804 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 518-792-3537 Fax: 518-792-0979 Amy Wittenburg This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Anthony Lemise This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.	North Country Center for Independence, Plattsburgh Ephraim Fosu 518-563-9058, ext. 111 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Albany South Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Schoharie	Debbie Abreu Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley (ILCHV) 15-17 Third Street Troy, NY 12180 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 518-274-0701, ext. 109 Fax: 518-274-7944 Educ & Outreach, Pat Pfeifer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.	Capital District Center for Independence, Albany 518-459-6422
Buffalo Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming	Gerilyn Capps-Anderson Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL) 3108 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 716-284-4131, ext. 203 Fax: 716-284-3230 Moselle Whitehead This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.	Southwestern Independent Living Center, Jamestown David Marg 716-484-4145 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. WNYIL, Batavia Danielle Dispenza 585-815-8501, ext. 410 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Long Island Nassau, Suffolk	Michelle Darling- Downs Suffolk Independent Living Organization (SILO) 3253 Route 112, Bldg 10 Suite 5 Medford, NY 11763 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: (631) 880-7929, ext. 105 Fax: (631) 946-6377 Educ & Outreach, Martha Vargas This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.	Lisa Coady This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Kiersten Falcone This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Eileen Alverado This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Admin - Eileen Thomas This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Sarah Meyer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Lower Hudson Valley Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester	Tracy Marcus Putnam Independent Living Services (PILS) (A Satellite Office of Westchester Independent Living Center, Inc.) 1441 Route 22, Suite 240 Brewster, NY 10509 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 845-228-7457, ext. 1129 Fax: 845-228-7460 Michael Melendez This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Regina Martin This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Shantel James This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.	Resource Center for Accessible Living, Kingston Juliet Greenwood 845-331-0541, ext. 43 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Rockland Independent Living Ctr., New City Marise Fede This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 845-624-1366 Taconic Resources for Independence, Poughkeepsie Vanessa Dubetsky This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Kathy Sheehan 845-452-3913 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Westchester Disabled on the Move, Yonkers Shayna Baxter This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 914-968-4717
New York City Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond	Dheki Lama Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York (CIDNY) 80-02 Kew Gardens Road Kew Gardens, NY 11415 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 646-368-8034 Fax: 718-866-1072 Admin - Ashley Francis This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Qiana Hankins 646-849-8204 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Fred Horlback 646-849-8318 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Isunami Suero 347-955-7417 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Sherina Lawes 347-839-8930 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Ifeoma Okoba 646-515-8074 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Kevin Roberson This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Benjamin Thariath 646-436-4302 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Francys Nunez 929-519-4367 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Bathsheba Davis 929-498-3765 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Educ & Outreach, Cheri Glover 646-849-8202 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.	Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, Brooklyn 718-998-3000 Mehak Rizvi This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Yvette Wilson This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Bronx Independent Living Services, Bronx 718-515-2800 Alesha Ottenwalder 929-388-7424 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Lisa Rivera 929-502-7333 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Natasha Davis 929-388-7428 Staten Island Center for Independent Living, Staten Island Sharon Jackson 929-216-2784 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Samuel Greenberg 929-216-2784 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rochester Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Yates	Susan Stahl Center for Disability Rights (CDR) 497 State Street Rochester, NY 14608 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 585-546-7510 Fax: 585-546-7542 Ann Kaplow This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Julie Shengulette This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Edu & Outreach: TBD
Southern Tier Allegany, Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins	Marcy Donahue Southern Tier Independence Center (STIC) 135 East Frederick St. Binghamton, NY, 13904 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 607-724-2111 ext. 326 Fax: 607-772-3606 Noelle Valla This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Stephanie Karluk This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.	AIM Independent Living Center, Corning Sara Rockwell-Smith This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 607-962-8225 Nicole Cansdale This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 607-962-8225 Access to Independence, Cortland Terri Rigge 607-753-7363 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Catskill Center for Independence, Oneonta Heather Merrill 607-432-8000 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Syracuse Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Herkimer, Lewis, Oneida, St. Lawrence, Jefferson	Juanita Clark-Abolafia ARISE Independent Living Center 635 James Street Syracuse, NY 13203 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 315-671-2948 Fax: 315-671-2977 Bonnie "Bo" Johnson This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 315-671-2990	ARISE Independent Living Center, Auburn Kim Amidon This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 315-255-3447 Massena Independent Living Center, Massena Stephanie Quenneville This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 315-764-9442 Resource Center for Independent Living, Utica Rebekah O'Brien This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 315-624-2523
MFP/Open Doors Nurse	Laura Bingell This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 518-491-4901
Open Doors staff at NYAIL 518-465-4650	Suzanne de Beaumont, Project Director This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Laurie Carter, Statewide SW Coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tami Loya, Education and Outreach Coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Sara Morris, NYC TS Liaison This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Michele Pedersen, Statewide TS Liaison This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Katy Bell, Peer Director This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Lesley Kelder Statewide Peer/TS Liaison This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Josephine Todaro Good Neighbor Program This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Resources

Open Doors Transition Center resources are available below. Transition Specialists may access additional resources through the Open Doors Database.

Program Materials

DOH Informed Consent Form

OPWDD Informed Consent Form

Dear Administrator Letter

Open Doors Transition Center from NYAIL on Vimeo.

For more information:

Suzanne de Beaumont
Project Director
MFP Transition Center
155 Washington Ave, Suite 208
Albany, New York 12210
Phone: (844) 545-7108

Documents available for download:

Open Doors Referral Form

Regional Lead and Auxiliary Primary Contacts and Counties

Success Story

Milton

In 2015, Milton Diaz Galarza was sent to a nursing home in New Jersey when his needs could no longer be met in the New York nursing home where he had resided since November 2014. He was only 53 years old at the time. While at Andover Subacute and Rehab in NJ, Milton received treatment and improved considerably. Milton is a New York resident and indicated that he wanted to return to New York City. As a result, Milton was referred to the Open Doors Transition Center in 2017. The Transition Specialist from Open Doors worked closely with the NJ Nursing Home staff to resolve barriers to fulfilling Milton’s wish to return to the community. Milton had long since lost his apartment and was unable to locate housing on his own. The NJ nursing home staff were willing to help Milton but needed assistance with the complex NYC systems. The Transition Specialist had to find a creative way to apply for services that required a New York address.

On November 5, 2018, Milton successfully transitioned into a supportive housing residence through Transitional Services for New York, Inc. (TSINY). Milton is now able to enjoy more freedom since he returned to the community. He has been enjoying getting to know the area and other individuals in his building. He is excited to start group programs where he will learn and further develop his independent skills such as cooking his own meals. Milton’s goal is to someday soon move into his own apartment.