Vermont: Health & Disability Programs

Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living’s Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI)
DBVI provides vocational rehabilitation and independent living services to eligible residents who are blind and visually impaired. The division is comprised of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, which helps participants find and maintain employment consistent with their goals and provides services which may include vocational training, guidance and counseling, visual restoration, vision rehabilitation services, daily living skills training, vocational assessments, job placement, adaptive technology, education, and other services; the Independent Living Program, which provides services including skills training in activities of daily living, transportation, low vision and adaptive technology and equipment; the Business Enterprise Program, which provides statewide employment opportunities in food service operations; Transition Services, which helps students and young adults move from high school to adult life; and through contractual arrangements with the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Vision Rehabilitation Services, which includes low vision rehabilitation, teaching, and orientation and mobility, and Volunteer Services, which provides transportation, reading and companionship assistance, and translation of materials from print to Braille, tape, or large print.

Weeks Building
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05671
(802) 241-2132
Toll-free (888) 405-5005
http://www.dbvi.vermont.gov/
Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living’s Division of Disability and Aging Services (DDAS)
DDAS is responsible for community-based long-term care services for older Vermonters and people with developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and/or physical disabilities. The Division contracts with local private service providers to provide services and supports to older Vermonters and people with disabilities and provides direct supports through the Office of Public Guardian. Services include adult day services, the Attendant Services Program, autism supports, children’s personal care services, Choices for Care (a Medicaid-funded, long-term care program to pay for care and support for older Vermonters and people with physical disabilities at home or in an enhanced residential care or nursing setting), the Dementia Respite Program, developmental disability services for children, adolescents, and adults who have a developmental disability, Flexible Family Funding,  food and nutrition programs, Green Mountain Self-Advocates (statewide self-advocacy network run and operated by people with developmental disabilities), guardianship, high technology home care, mental health elder care clinician program, offender services, Older Vermonters and Family Caregiver Services, Senior Community Services Employment Program (job-training organization), supported employment program, supportive housing and services options, transportation services, Traumatic Brain Injury  Program, and the Vermont Direct Care Worker Registry.
103 South Main Street
Weeks Building
Waterbury, VT 05671
(802) 241-2648
http://www.ddas.vermont.gov/


Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living’s Division of Disability and Aging Services, Developmental Disability Services
Developmental Disability Services Include service planning and coordination for individuals and their families, community supports, employment services, home supports, respite, clinical interventions, crisis services, The Bridge Program Care Coordination for Children with Developmental Disabilities, flexible family funding, offender services, pre-admission screening and resident review services,  children’s personal care services, and the Office of Public Guardianship.
103 South Main Street, Weeks Building
Waterbury, VT 05671
(802) 241-2614
http://www.ddas.vermont.gov/ddas-programs/programs-dds/programs-dds-default-page
Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living’s Division of Disability and Aging Services, Traumatic Brain Injury Program
Vermont’s Traumatic Brain Injury Program offers the following services:  case management,  rehabilitation services, community supports, environmental and assistive technology, crisis support, respite, employment supports, and special needs.
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT  05671
(802) 241-1456
http://www.ddas.vermont.gov/ddas-programs/tbi/programs-tbi-default-page
Agency Vermont Department of Health’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs (ADAP)
ADAP plans, supports and evaluates a comprehensive system of services including alcohol awareness and support, and alcohol and drug abuse prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery, working with state and national public and private organizations.  Prevention efforts include the work of Regional Prevention Consultants who provide presentations and trainings, program planning and consultation, community grants and organization, and information and referral, and a taskforce on underage drinking “Stop Teen Alcohol Risk Team.” Regarding intervention, when a person’s privilege to drive is suspended due to an alcohol related offense, they are required to successfully complete the CRASH Program, designed to prevent future trouble by providing information to help the individual understand how alcohol and other drugs affect behavior and driving skills.  Another program is the Public Inebriate Program, which intervenes with intoxicated people who are a danger to themselves or others, providing them with temporary supervised shelter, assessment services, and if needed, treatment referral. This program was created with the hopes of keeping people out of jails and hospital emergency rooms.
108 Cherry Street
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 651-1550
http://healthvermont.gov/adap/adap.aspx
 
Agency Vermont Department of Health’s Asthma Program
The Vermont Asthma Program is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to create an asthma surveillance and prevention system.  The Program provides surveillance by conducting ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of asthma-related data that are used to plan, implement, and evaluate public health practice. In terms of prevention, the Asthma Program has developed The Vermont Asthma Action Plan, a written asthma management plan that describes what needs to be done to keep an individual well by taking his or her medications, avoiding asthma triggers, and recognizing and treating asthma episodes. The intent of the Plan is to help improve asthma care statewide. The Program also partners with The American Lung Association of Vermont in the implementation of several local programs for Vermonters who have asthma, such as Asthma Saturday(tm),  a free three-hour education program designed for families with children with asthma between the ages of seven and twelve that provides education on pediatric asthma and proper disease management; Champ Camp(tm) for Kids with Asthma, a free one-week residential camp program for Vermont children between the ages of 8 and 12 with moderate to severe asthma that provides daily asthma education sessions and regular camp activities; Open Airways(tm),  a school-based asthma education program designed for children with asthma between the ages of eight and eleven that helps children help each other develop asthma management skills; and Walk for Asthma, an annual Asthma Walk.
Vermont Department of Health
108 Cherry Street, P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 951-4006
Toll-free 1-800-439-8550
http://healthvermont.gov/prevent/asthma/index.aspx
 
Vermont Department of Health’s Children With Special Health Needs (CSHN)
CSHN provides clinics addressing the following special needs: cardiology, child development, cleft palate and other craniofacial differences, cystic fibrosis, epilepsy and other neurological conditions, concerns regarding hand or arm function or structure, hearing screenings (from birth to age 4), hemophilia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis,   metabolic diseases, muscular dystrophy, orthopedics,  rhizotomy, and spinal cord conditions.  Other programs and services include the Special Services Program, which provides care coordination and specialized medical care to children who have severe and complex health conditions or an unexplained condition needing diagnosis; adaptive equipment and seating services; seating clinics where the child and family work with physical and occupational therapists, wheelchair technicians and the CSHN clinic coordinator to determine which equipment would be most appropriate for each child; nutrition services for children with special growth, feeding and dietary needs; respite care for families; CSHN Financial Assistance; and the CSHN Prescription Medication Program.
108 Cherry Street
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 863-7200
Toll-free in Vermont 800-464-4343
http://healthvermont.gov/family/cshn/cshn.aspx
 
Vermont Department of Health’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Program
Through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program works to reduce the burden of diabetes by providing Vermonters with diabetes with information on its website in the form of information sheets and publications on learning to live well with diabetes, understanding diabetes risk, and how to manage diabetes at school. The Diabetes Program also offers support and resources to hospitals, medical centers, and health centers across the state which provide Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs.
Vermont Department of Health
108 Cherry Street
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 863-7330
http://healthvermont.gov/prevent/diabetes/diabetes.aspx
Vermont Department of Health Access’ “Blueprint for Health”
The Vermont “Blueprint for Health” is a plan to improve health and the health care system for Vermonters by providing information, tools and support to Vermonters with chronic conditions to manage their health.  A key component of the blueprint is the “Healthier Living” six-week workshop, designed to help people with the following chronic conditions: arthritis, asthma, chronic pain, diabetes, emphysema, fibromyalgia, heart disease, and multiple sclerosis. Participants are provided with tools to deal with fatigue, frustration, and pain; build endurance, flexibility, and strength; manage medications; improve communication; and increase healthy food decisions.
312 Hurricane Lane
Williston, VT 05495
(802) 879-5900
http://healthvermont.gov/blueprint.aspx
 
Vermont Department of Mental Health’s Adult Mental Health Unit
Direct adult mental health services are provided by private, non-profit service providers throughout the state. Services include Community Rehabilitation and Treatment (CRT) programs, which assist adults diagnosed with a severe mental illness and help them and their families develop skills important to living the life they want. CRT clients are entitled to core services including clinical assessment; service planning and coordination;  community supports; individual, group, and family therapy; medication evaluation, management and consultation with primary care; diagnosis including co-occurring disorders; emergency care and crisis stabilization; and private practitioner and inpatient behavioral health services. Designated agencies may provide alternative services which can include employment services, day recovery/psychoeducation, including recovery education; housing and home supports, family psychoeducation and support, referrals to specialty services, and partial hospitalization. Adult Outpatient Services, not as intensive or comprehensive as CRT services, are also provided for adults who do not have a severe mental health condition but experience mental health problems that disrupt their everyday lives. Adult Outpatient Services usually include assessment; individual, family and group therapy, and case management and medications. Emergency Services are available and are time-limited, intensive supports provided for individuals and families who are or may be experiencing a behavioral, psychological, or emotional crisis; emergency services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and include emergency/crisis assessment, support and referral and  emergency/crisis beds.
103 South Main Street
Wasson Hall
Waterbury, VT  05671
(802) 241-2601
http://mentalhealth.vermont.gov/adult
VocRehab Vermont (Vermont’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation)
Programs of VocRehab include the Traumatic Brain Injury Program, Rural and Agriculture VocRehab Program, VocRehab Reach-Up Program, School to Career Program, Career Start, Client Assistance Program, supported employment, deaf and hard of hearing services, assistive technology, SSA Ticket to Work, Medicaid for Employed Persons with Disabilities, and the Jump on Board for Success (JOBS) Program, which serves youth with serious emotional behavioral disabilities.
103 South Main Street, Weeks 1A
Waterbury, VT 05671
(866) 879-6757
http://vocrehab.vermont.gov/