Frequently Asked
Questions
1. What type of service
does By Their Side offer?
Advocacy and
oversight. When a family joins, an interview is
completed to record individual and family preferences and
advocacy needs, history, contact information of siblings,
trustee, etc. to guide future advocacy efforts. When services
begin a Personal Advocate makes assessment visits at the
frequency identified by the sponsor, and follows up to see that
identified concerns are resolved. They work with the individual
and others to relate
appropriate expenditures to address needs or preferences to a
trustee, if any. By Their Side serves as a
resource for siblings as they
become advocates, and provides update
reports. In addition to the lifelong advocacy service that
begins upon the sponsors' passing, By Their Side offers immediate short term or long term
assistance through Advocacy Plan Services.
By Their Side does not serve as guardian or trustee, but
works closely with those who do.
2. How are By Their Side
advocacy services different from State funded Resource
Coordination?
By Their Side's sole focus is the advocacy needs and wishes
of the individual and their family. Personal Advocates follow
the advocacy plan set up by the family or Trustee. Resource
Coordinators are guided by State and federal directives and
priorities. Although both monitor programs and work to resolve
concerns and facilitate service linkages, Personal Advocates
work with up to 15 individuals and Resource Coordinators may
work with up to 70 individuals. The Advocate involves the
Resource Coordinator in resolving situations of which they may
not otherwise have been aware. By Their Side Advocates help
identify financial needs and life enrichment opportunities,
facilitating the use of Trust funds when available. They
provide update reports and act as a resource for the family or
Trustee. Personal Advocates have on average 20 years of
experience in this field when they start work as a part time
consultant for By Their Side.
3. What is the
difference between Lifelong Advocacy Services and Advocacy Plan
Services?
Individuals enrolled in Lifelong Advocacy Services receive
an annual assessment visit with follow up to identified
concerns. Services begin upon the death or incapacity of the
parents or other sponsor, and continue for the lifetime of the
individual served.
Advocacy Service Plans are contracted by families or
trustees wishing to arrange more frequent visits, monitoring,
and oversight. Families determine the number of visits and
monitoring contacts to occur each year and are charged a fee
for the Advocate's time providing services. A reduced fee is
available for prearranged Advocacy Plans, as described in
Services and Rates. Advocacy Plans begin whenever the family is
ready--immediately or after the parents are no longer available
to advocate. Advocacy Plans end on June 30 each year, at which
time they may be renewed or modified.
Short-term Advocacy Plan Services can assist to resolve a
particular need. They are typically funded on an hourly
basis.
4. Can Advocacy Plan
Services be arranged for someone who is not enrolled in
Lifelong Advocacy Services?
Yes. The hourly rate is higher, and the service is not
eligible for member discount.
5. Who can sponsor By
Their Side Membership?
The sponsor is any person who enrolls the individual in the
By Their Side Lifelong Advocacy program and pays the enrollment
fee. This can be a parent, sibling, family member, or Trustee.
Lifelong services begin after the sponsor passes away. Once a
member, the individual is eligible to receive reduced Advocacy
Plan service rates and member discounts for packages. A team
repesentative may assist an individual to self-fund a reduced
membership fee to receive reduced hourly rates for Advocacy
Plan services.
6. How can I arrange for
Advocacy Plan Services to begin after I'm
gone?
Enrolling in Lifelong Advocacy services ensures at least an
annual assessment visit with follow up will occur, and allows
access to lower cost Advocacy Plan services. Creating a Letter
of Intent provides a guideline to your family and/or Trustee of
your wishes regarding Advocacy Plan services after you are
gone. Some parents begin Advocacy Plan services while they are
still here, to assure a smooth transition. If you don't make
your wishes known, chances are the person you leave in charge
will not understand how important ongoing advocacy will be to
your son or daughter.
7. What services are
offered to Sponsors?
By Their Side is a resource for parents, siblings, and other
sponsors. You can call with questions regarding estate
planning, service referrals, and how to address concerns with
providers, for example. By Their Side also offers annual
educational and networking meetings and provides articles of
interest and updates in our newsletter. Short-term or ongoing
Advocacy Plan Services are also available. For example, an
advocate can be contracted to attend a meeting to help you
address a particular concern, or can begin regular visits and
report back to you to assure a smooth transition.
8. Who is eligible for
services from the By Their Side program?
Marylanders who have an intellectual/developmental
disability are eligible.
9. Will By Their Side
work with a Trustee, family member, or guardian who lives out
of state?
Definitely. This is a prime reason you need a reliable
in-state advocate. A Personal Advocate will serve as your
“eyes and ears”, maintaining the requested level of contact
with your son/daughter and in communication with the out of
state family member or guardian. If a Trustee is involved, the
Advocate will work to identify needs or life enrichment
opportunities to assure Trust funds will be spent wisely.
10. How is By Their Side
funded?
By Their Side is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit charitable
organization funded by families or trustees through enrollment
fees for Lifelong Advocacy Services and contractual fees for
Advocacy Plan Services, as well as tax deductible
contributions. Enrollment fees, paid within 2 years of joining,
are invested to allow growth before Lifelong Advocacy Services
begin. By Their Side's Board of Directors complete periodic
actuarial studies to evaluate and set rates to assure adequate
funding for services for members. Since its inception in 1965,
the organization has been guided by a Board of Directors
comprised of parents, siblings, and community members who
assure By Their Side operates on a lean budget and retains
focus on its mission.
11. How do I begin the
application process?
Return a completed By Their Side Application to By Their
Side's office with a copy of the most recent Psychological
Evaluation and/or other documentation of an
intellectual/developmental disability. If Developmental
Disabilities Administration (DDA) services have begun, include
a copy of the current Individual Plan.
12. How soon can
services begin?
Once your application is approved by the Board and
enrollment fee paid, you are entitled to all By Their Side
services. Lifelong Advocacy Services begin after the death of
the sponsor(s). Additionally contracted Advocacy Plan Services
can begin immediately.
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