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Jill LaRock, Director
Community Services Division
245 Valley Road
Xenia, Ohio 45385
Ph: 937-562-6500
Fax: 937-562-6539 |
The Community Services Division is
responsible for the following functions:
Case Management
The goal of Case Management, or Service and Support Administration, is to
ensure that eligible individuals with mental retardation and/or developmental
disabilities have access to all available opportunities and services within
their communities, or that may necessarily be obtained outside their communities
in order to maximize the quality of their lives. After eligibility has been
determined, the following services are available: service Linkage and
Coordination; Crisis Intervention; Advocacy; Major Unusual Incident; and
Individual Servicing Monitoring. In addition to these services Information and
Referral Services are available regardless off eligibility.
Supported Living
Supported Living is a flexible system of support services enabling a person
to live and participate in the community. Its goal is to support people in homes
or apartments of their own choosing. Supported Living builds services around the
needs of each person. Eligibility and needs are evaluated before the program
begins. Services are tied to the person rather than to a building or a provider
of services. Supported Living may cover housing, staff support, and related
support services. As the needs of each individual change, supported living
adjusts locally to the amount, frequency and cost of those services. An
Individual Services Plan (ISP) will be developed for each person participating
in the Supported Living program. There are few limits on allowable supports and
services, which might include chore services, transportation, medical supplies,
paid neighbor, paid roommate, meals delivered, appointment/errand assistance,
behavior management, adaptive devices, rent, and utilities. The supported living
program is administered through the Fairways Regional Council of Governments.
Family Support Services
The Family Support Services Program (FSSP) provides supports, services, and
help to enable families to provide home care for their family members with
disabilities or to enhance the quality of life for that family member. A family
member with mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities living at home
may be able to receive services through FSSP. The family member must be eligible
for county DD services even if he/she is not receiving county board
assistance. Services and items that may be provided include: Respite care by
specially trained providers or persons chosen by the family, adaptive equipment,
home modifications to accommodate the family member with disabilities, special
diets, or other services individualized to each family's needs. Funding for this
program is provided by the state legislature, distributed by the Ohio Department
of DD and administered by the Greene County Board of DD. Funding is
supplemented by the county board of DD and by donations from local groups.
Family financial responsibility for these services/items is through a co-payment
plan based on a sliding fee scale determined by annual income. Requests will be
funded if the family is eligible for services, if the funds are available, if
the items/services cannot be funded by any other source, and if the request is
consistent with the Greene County Board of DD's plan and FSSP philosophy. The
Family Support Services Program is administered through the Fairways Regional
Council of Governments.
Recreation and Special Olympics
The Recreation Program is designed to provide respite opportunities to
individuals with disabilities to participate in various activities that do not
interfere with their work schedule. Among the activities are trips to the Air
Force Museum, John Bryant and Carillon Parks, King's Island, Dayton Art
Institute, the Air Show, movie theaters, bowling lanes, and the Reds and Bengals
games. In addition, dances and other evening social events are held quarterly,
and once a year an extended trip is scheduled (in the past, Washington D. C.,
Gatlinburg, and Orlando/Disney World have been visited). Special Olympics sports
are offered on a competitive basis throughout the year. Basketball, bowling,
softball, swimming, track and field events, and volleyball are among the
sports that are presently available for adults. These team sports are now
available on both traditional and unified (partnership) levels.
Behavior Support Services
The board offers behavior support services to any individual or family in
need who qualifies for services. A mental health professional with a background
in serving dually diagnosed individuals (MR/MI) and specializing in behavior
therapy/behavior support services is available to consult and work with
presenting problems (i.e. aggression, noncompliance, self-injurious
behaviors, hyperactivity). The services are available to any environment (i.e.
school, home, workshop, enclave setting). Services include direct service,
consulting, counseling, behavior support program development, observations, and
training. Referrals to and collaboration with local mental health and other
agencies occur as necessary for ongoing intervention, further assessment, or
psychiatric services. The collaboration with the Team/Parents/Individual
involved is believed to be of major importance. All services are free of charge.
For more information call 937-562-6756.
Medicaid Waiver Administration
The expansion of the Medicaid Waiver Program in Ohio has opened a world of
opportunity for people with disabilities who are served by county boards of
DD. Such programs help us to reduce waiting lists, provide more choices for
consumers and their families, and strengthen the system to ensure the health and
safety of people with DD. Waiver administration includes these activities:
reviewing and approving of information to make sure assessments are complete and
the Individual Services Plan (ISP) addresses the needs properly; providing
authorization for services; providing contracts with providers and payment for
contracted services; compliance with Medicaid regulations and related rules;
quality assurance to monitor the level of service provided.
Public Education
The Public Information Specialist is responsible for a variety of activities.
Brochures detailing the programs and supports of the Board are created and
upgraded on a regular basis; newsletters are published on a quarterly basis and
distributed to all consumers, their families, public libraries, learning
institutions and mailed to those who have requested copies.
Fund-raising, on a limited level, is also part of this individual’s
responsibility. Currently the Board has two fund-raisers per year – a golf
outing held in mid- June and a Vendor’s Night held in late October. Proceeds
from these events are used for maintenance, repair and replacements for
Homecroft, Inc. This enables the Board to use monies that might usually be used
for these services to be used for programs and direct services for consumers.
Guest speaking at local service group meetings, school sponsored meetings and
in college classes provides an opportunity to further detail the Board’s
programs to those who might be unaware of the variety and scope of services
provided to county residents with disabilities. If your organization would like
to schedule a speaker, please contact the Board office at 562-6500 to make the
necessary arrangements.
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