FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions by Prospective Consumers
General Company Questions
Facts on People with Disabilities

 

Frequently Asked Questions by Prospective Consumers:

  • What is your purpose?
    • We serve over 700 individuals throughout California each year. Our goal is to empower our consumers so they can achieve their maximum potential in a community setting.
  • What are the available services?
    • Supported Living, Independent Living, Social & Recreational, Respite Care, Crisis Intervention, Short-term Crisis Facility, Rapid Emergency Service Team, Career/Vocational Services, Transportation, Day Program
  • How to apply for services
    • Most services require that the individual be involved with their local Mental Health and/or Regional Center Services. You may also contact our local office for assistance.
  • Where do you provide services-Locations?

  • What is a Direct Service Aide?
    • A Direct Service Aide is a person who provides direct services and helps consumers learn new skills in their own home or work setting.
  • What is a Case Manager?
    • A Case Manager is a person who helps you develop your individualized plan and goals. The Case Manager also helps hire and supervise your direct care staff.
  • What is a Program Leader?
    • A Program Leader is a person who is responsible for a specific program and for supervising the Case Managers and direct care staff.
  • What is a Regional Manager?
    • A Regional Manager is a person who is responsible for all the programs in a certain area or region. The Regional Manager also supervises the Program Leaders and Case Managers.
  • Staff Qualifications
    • Community Catalysts of California only hires individuals who pass all our pre-employment requirements such as background checks, drug screenings and meet all other requirements. All employees are 18 years of age or older and most have more than 6 months experience working with people with disabilities.
  • Do you provide private pay services?
    • Yes, we can provide private pay services. Just contact us for more information at 858-569-1055 or at the local office nearest you.
  • How are your services funded?
    • Our primary sources of funding have been from the State Department of Rehabilitation to provide vocational programs, the Regional Centers for Developmental Disabilities to provide independent, supported living and crisis programs and local county mental health agencies for services to individuals with psychiatric illnesses.  Since Community Catalysts of California is a charitable organization, additional revenue is raised through fund raising efforts.
  • I’m planning on moving to…how can I get services in…..
    • Talk with your Regional Center worker or contact us at 858-569-1055.
  • What is CARF Accreditation?
    • CARF is a private, non-profit organization that promotes quality rehabilitation services. Community Catalysts of California’s Vocational and Living Service programs in the North Valley, Redwood Coast and Southern California regions have been CARF-accredited.  This type of accreditation means our services and programs substantially meet internationally recognized standards.
  • What is the average age?
    • The average age of the consumers served is 30-50 years of age.
  • What is the predominate race throughout your company?

 

  • How many people do you serve?
    • Community Catalysts of California serves almost 700 people in 14 locations throughout the state of California.
  • In case of an emergency, what services do you offer?
    • Community Catalysts of California provides community-based respite, in-home and other emergency services. We have a 24 hour on call system in place for all programs.
  • What do you do?
    • Community Catalysts of California helps consumers live independently, find and keep jobs they love and become an important part of their community.

General Company Questions

  • Organizational structure
  • How can I volunteer my time or goods
    • If you would like to lend a hand, but find yourself without the resources to provide a monetary or material gift, please contact us at 858-569-1055 to explore the volunteer opportunities in your area.
  • How can I apply for a job
    • You can complete the application and submit to the local office or you can visit one of our local offices.
  • How can I donate money
    • We have an employee donation program the Butterfly Club. Or you can make a donation to Community Catalysts of California. (Donation Form [TEXT])

If you are interested in supporting the Butterfly Club, please take a moment and complete a donation form [TEXT]. Your donation will directly impact our consumers’ lives.

Facts on People with Disabilities:

  • How many people suffer from disabilities?
    • According to the Department of Developmental Services, 160,000 individuals with developmental disabilities live in California.
  • How are people with disabilities served in the United Sates?
    • Of those 160,000, only 3,000 are in Developmental Centers – the others look to services like Community Catalysts of California.
  • How many people suffer from developmental disabilities?
    • Growth in the population of developmentally disabled people in need of treatment is estimated at 10.2 percent a year.
  • Why aren’t there more services available?
    • According to Developmental Disabilities Services, the demand for its services exceeds both estimated at 10.2 percent per year.
  • Do Supported Employment programs really work?
    • According to UCSF, Supported employment programs like Community Catalysts of California have enabled 105,000 people with serve disabilities to join the labor force, receiving real pay for real work.
  • How many developmentally disabled people can keep their job for at least a year?
    • According to UCSF, 70% of supported employment workers at all levels of mental retardation retained their jobs for at least a year.
  • Why are there so many people in government run institutions?
    • One of the major factors keeping people with disabilities in nursing home is a lack of community-based, independent living services, such as adequate in-home attendant care services.
  • How many people with disabilities are limited from being able to perform one or more of the 5 basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
    • According to UCSF, an estimated 7.3 million adults living in the community are limited in their capacity to perform one or more of 5 basic ADL (bathing, transferring, dressing, eating, and toileting).
  • How many people with disabilities need help with completing the Activities of Daily Living?
    • Some 3.7 million adults, over half of the population limited in ADLs, require the assistance of another person in performing ADLs.
  • Do companies like Community Catalysts of California benefit taxpayers?
    • Community Catalysts of California serves the developmentally disabled at a significant savings to California taxpayers.
  • How much money does Community Catalysts of California bring in a year?
    • Since 1983, Community Catalysts of California has grown from an annual budget of $116,000 to a $6 million agency.
  • How many disabled individuals still reside in institutional settings?
    • According to 1992 data from the National Residential Information Systems Project, an estimated 75,000 people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities continue to live behind walls of large government-run institutions.
  • How many families with an individual who has disabilities are affected?
    • According to the National Rehabilitation Information Center, many single family households where on or more members has a disability live below poverty level.
  • Does smaller community based setting improve an individual’s success?
    • According to UCSF, smaller, community-based settings are more likely to provide opportunities for employment and a greater level of self-determination and save taxpayers money.
  • Is there a growing need for services provided by Community Catalysts of California?
    • As California’s demographic landscape continues to evolve, more and more segments of the population require the type of services Community Catalysts of California provides, while funding dwindles.