Professional Referrals

Independent Consultation & Navigation Support for Individuals and Caregivers

AJL Consulting Group accepts appropriate referrals from healthcare, human-service, education, disability, aging, and community professionals.

Through Understood, individuals and caregivers can access independent case review, healthcare and service-system navigation, application assistance, and defined navigation support when they need help understanding a complex situation or determining what to do next.

Understood is designed to provide bounded, practical support around a defined need. It does not replace ongoing case management or the responsibilities of an existing care or service team.

When to Consider a Referral

A referral may be appropriate when:

• An individual or caregiver has received information but remains unsure what it means or what to do next.

• The person is overwhelmed by multiple options, processes, organizations, or next steps.

• Responsibility for a process is unclear and the person needs help understanding who owns what.

• The person would benefit from an independent review of relevant information and client-provided documents.

• The person needs help organizing questions, decisions, documentation, or practical next steps.

• The person needs assistance completing an approved healthcare, benefits, or community-service application.

• The person understands the general direction but needs defined navigation support to carry out agreed next steps.

Understood Services

Case Review & Navigation Consultation

• A one-time independent review for individuals or caregivers who need help understanding a specific situation, evaluating available options or processes, and determining practical next steps.

• The service includes a 60-minute consultation and personalized Client Action Report.

Application Assistance

• Practical assistance completing one approved healthcare, benefits, or community-service application and understanding required documentation and submission steps.

Navigation Support

• A defined 30-day service for clients who need structured assistance implementing agreed next steps, understanding responses, organizing information, or navigating an approved process.

• Navigation Support is bounded and does not provide unrestricted access, representation, or ongoing case management.

Who May Refer

Referrals may come from:

• Healthcare providers and social workers

• Care managers, case managers, and community health workers

• Behavioral health and disability-service professionals

• Educational and transition professionals

• Hospitals, rehabilitation providers, home health and hospice organizations

• Aging, family-support, and community agencies

• Faith-based and nonprofit organizations

Individuals and caregivers may also contact AJL directly without a professional referral.

How the Referral Process Works

1. Confirm Interest and Consent

The individual must know about the referral and voluntarily agree either to be contacted by AJL or to submit their own service request.

2. Submit the Referral

The professional may submit the approved Professional Referral Form or provide the individual with AJL's direct Client Screening Form.

3. AJL Reviews Fit

Adjani Jenkins-Lemar, MSS, LSW, reviews the request to determine whether it falls within AJL's professional scope and whether an available Understood service is appropriate.

A referral does not automatically establish a client relationship or guarantee acceptance.

4. The Individual Receives Service Information

If the request is appropriate for Understood, the individual receives information about the recommended service, applicable fee, scheduling, service boundaries, and next steps before deciding whether to proceed.

5. Communication Remains Consent-Based

The individual is AJL's client.

AJL communicates with a referring professional about the individual's service only when the client has authorized the communication and the communication is appropriate within the accepted service scope.

Payment and Responsibility

Understood services are private-pay and are not billed to health insurance.

The individual is responsible for payment unless a referring organization has arranged and confirmed organizational sponsorship in writing before service begins.

Organizations interested in purchasing defined Understood services for eligible individuals may contact AJL to discuss an appropriate organizational arrangement.