Community
Support Network, Inc. (CSNI), established in 1995, serves as a central
business and service organization for the 10 Area Agencies that provide
services to people with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injury
and their families in New Hampshire. Through
its activities, CSNI provides shared economic benefits, programs for service operating standardization, quality practice and outcomes standards, and is a single strong voice on important legislative issues. CSNI's
Board of Directors includes the respective Executive Directors from the 10 Area Agencies, representatives (two each) from service providing private agencies, and family members of persons with developmental disabilities. CSNI is a 501 c (3) not-for-profit company.
CSNI's offices are at 10 Ferry Street, Suite 401, Concord, New Hampshire, a location common to several organizations serving the needs and issues of people with developmental and other disabilities, and is convenient and proximate to other regional and statewide community service organization and agencies. CSNI's "customer base" is inclusive of the approximately seven thousand persons with developmental disabilities and their supporting family members in New Hampshire, and the more than twenty-five hundred employees of the servicing Area Agencies, Private Provider Agencies, self-employed direct support staff, and foster homecare providers.
CSNI accomplishes its services and activities through three staff members, Board committees, and project directed task groups. Staff includes a full time Executive Director (Dennis Powers -
dpowers@csni.org), and Office and Business Administrator (Kathy Garafalo -
kgarafalo@csni.org). CSNI's Board committees include: Executive, Finance, Legislative, and New Business. Each
committee is staffed by the CSNI Executive Director, one or more members of CSNI's
Board, and appropriate constituent representation. The role of each committee is as follows:
EXECUTIVE: To provide general directive guidance to CSNI's Executive Director, and to recommend policy and positions to the full Board.
FINANCE: To monitor CSNI's finances, to provide financial liaison between the Area Agencies and NHHHS/Division of Developmental Services, to facilitate the exchange and implementation of optimum business practices among Area Agencies, and to monitor performance of CSNI's business and service activities.
LEGISLATIVE: To follow the course of legislation (Budget and Laws) from the Governor's office through respective committees of the House and Senate. To mobilize support and speakers to assure the DD constituent interests are shared. To provide Legislative Education on issues effecting the DD community.
NEW BUSINESS: To identify economic opportunities such as joint purchasing programs, consolidation of business services, development and management of new service ventures, establish cost reduction programs, etc., all which accrue to the economic benefit, directly or indirectly, of the member Area Agencies.
CSNI Member Services have included or currently include:
Pooled purchasing of Workers Comp Insurance and Safety and Risk / Injury management programs.
Pooled purchasing of Employee Insurance and Benefit products.
Participation in group purchasing discount programs with third party service and product vendors.
Participation in development and implementation of Service Standardization programs.
Participation in Information Technology Systems Development providing standardized and shared data systems for efficient processing and optimization of information utilization.
Participate in common training programs for staff and shared HR practices.
Access to
CSNI website and member pages for shared education, information, service and employment opportunities.
Inter - Area Agency comparative financial analysis.
Joint participation in strategic planning and decisions on long term issues between NHHHS/Division of Disability Services, the Area Agencies, and third party Provider Agencies, affecting services to people with developmental disabilities and their families.
Maximization of legislative knowledge and leverage through an approach of consolidation of Area Agency forces on positions of significance and universal interest.
Coordinating Agency development of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliance programs.
Participation in the accrued benefits of CSNI administered grants and service programs, currently including; Family Support Partnerships Program, Family Friends, and Quality Outcomes Program, etc.
CSNI Values:
Quality Outcomes: CSNI is committed to improving the developmental disability system's capacity to deliver high quality outcomes to NH consumers.
Consumer Access & Choice: CSNI believes that consumers and their families should have access to multiple sources of local information, services and advocacy, including a defined appeals process.
Partnership: CSNI believes the highest degree of quality and efficiency can be achieved only through cooperation among providers, consumers, families, Area Agencies,
and the state and local communities. We are committed to leading and encouraging such partnerships.
Local Accountability & Control: Local service providers should be encouraged to form cooperative arrangements and partnerships to achieve efficiencies in services.
Advocacy: CSNI supports consumers' rights to live by these values and to obtain the various resources needed to live with dignity and independence. We are committed to safeguarding the rights of those with developmental disabilities.
Continual Learning: CSNI itself must model the principles of learning organizations by striving to improve, sharing best practices, encouraging innovation, and providing an environment in which each member is equally free to share successes or to seek assistance.
