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, two part-time Registered Nurses (RNs) 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 (MFP) Transition Center Regional Contacts |
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Regional Counties |
Contact Information |
Auxiliary Independent Living Centers |
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Albany North NYAIL Staff - Tami |
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 Anthony Lemise |
North Country Center for Independence, Plattsburgh |
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Albany South NYAIL Staff - Suzanne |
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 Desiree Chambers This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Katie Hawksby Educ & Outreach,
Pat Pfeifer
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Capital District Center for Independence, Albany Stacey Porter 518-459-6422 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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Buffalo NYAIL Staff - Laura |
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 |
Southwestern Independent Living Center, Jamestown
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Long Island NYAIL Staff - Michele |
Michelle Darling- Downs Educ & Outreach,
Martha Vargas
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Lisa Coady Kiersten Falcone Alyssa Strong Admin - Eileen Thomas Sarah Meyer |
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Lower Hudson Valley NYAIL Staff - Michele |
Tracy Marcus Tracy Cell: 914-475-9144 Jennifer Matthews
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Michael Melendez
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Regina Martin
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Resource Center for Accessible Living, Kingston Chris Al-Nazar
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845-331-0541 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 LaTerra McGee
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845-624-1366
Taconic Resources for Independence, Poughkeepsie Vanessa Dubetsky
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Kathy Sheehan
845-452-3913
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Westchester Disabled on the Move, Yonkers Shayna Baxter
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914-968-4717
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New York City NYAIL Staff - Sara |
Dheki Lama Admin - Ashley Francis
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Qiana Hankins
646-849-8204
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Fred Horlback
646-849-8318
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Isunami Suero
347-955-7417
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Sherina Lawes
347-839-8930
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Ifeoma Okoba
646-515-8074
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Kevin Roberson
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Benjamin Thariath
646-436-4302
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Martin Rodriguez
646-849-8319
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Educ & Outreach,
Cheri Glover
646-849-8202
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Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, Brooklyn Mehak Rizvi
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Yvette Wilson
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Alesha Ottenwalder
929-388-7424
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Lisa Rivera
929-502-7333
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Raquel Bernstein,
Program Coordinator
929-360-2379 or 516-203-5619
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Staten Island Center for Independent Living, Staten Island Denise Pazimino
718-720-9016, ext. 205
Cell: 929-216-2855
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Ebony Wellington
718-720-9016, ext. 202
Cell: 929-216-2069
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Rochester NYAIL Staff - Laurie |
Susan Stahl Ann Kaplow This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Julie Lechner 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 |
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Southern Tier NYAIL Staff - Laurie |
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
Michael Phillips
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AIM Independent Living Center, Corning Sara Rockwell-Smith
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607-962-8225
Nicole Cansdale
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607-962-8225
Access to Independence, Cortland Terri Rigge
607-753-7363
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Catskill Center for Independence, Oneonta Heather Merrill
607-432-8000
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Syracuse NYAIL Staff - Tami |
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
New TS: TBD
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Massena Independent Living Center, Massena Stephanie Quenneville
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315-764-9442
Resource Center for Independent Living, Utica Rebekah O'Brien
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315-624-2523
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| MFP/Open Doors Nurse |
Laura Bingell
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AIM Independent Living Center |
Call: On Wed and Fri: 607-316-4952 On Mon, Tue, and Thur: 607-962-8225 ext. 226 |
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Open Doors staff at NYAIL 518-465-4650 |
Suzanne de Beaumont,
Project Director
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Laurie Carter,
Statewide SW Coordinator
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Tami Loya,
Education and Outreach Coordinator
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Sara Morris,
NYC TS Liaison
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Michele Pedersen,
Statewide TS Liaison
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Zach Garafalo,
Peer Director
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Katy Bell,
Statewide Peer Liaison
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