Leonardo Romero

Leonardo works as a Health and Wellness Navigator for AACOG (Alamo Area Council of Governments), under the Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities department. The majority of the department’s work is service coordination associated to the Medicaid Waiver Programs, where someone visits homes, group homes or living centers to make sure a client is receiving their benefits and getting the help they need. The problem with Medicaid Waiver Programs, it takes 10-20 years to get into one. Leonardo works in a separate program called “Support and Empowerment Program”. This program is not funded by Medicaid, but is part of two dedicated grants.

Their purpose is to educate the public of services available to them. Leonardo teaches three one-hour classes in-person or on Zoom. One is about intellectual & developmental disabilities, the second is guardianship or trusts and the last deals with planning for end-of-life. Leonardo talks to clients about the Medicaid Waiver Programs and employment, finances, grieving, and spirituality to name a few. He has found clients jobs and financial advisors for insurance or trusts plans, and more.