SERVICES AND SUPPORTS

The Belmont County Board of Developmental Disabilities links people with developmental disabilities to the services and supports they need to live a meaningful life.

Through self-determination, people are discovering opportunities for living, working, and enjoying a full life in the community. Through Person Centered Planning, the Board helps people determine their personal goals and then helps them find ways to achieve them. This is coordinated through the Service and Support Administration (SSA).

Every person eligible for services is assigned a Service and Support Administrator (SSA). This person helps coordinate supports like transportation, day habilitation, residential and Family Support Services. The SSA monitors services and supports to make sure they are of the highest quality and that people are satisfied. Each SSA performs the following for each person they serve:

• Establish eligibility for services
• Assess needs
• Facilitate development of Individual Service Plans (ISP) and revisions
• Establish budgets
• Help individuals select provider(s) for their services
• Continually monitor the ISPs to make certain each person not only receives the services identified in their plan, but that they are also satisfied with them.
• 24-hour emergency pager system
• Maintain the Waiting List for residential services and inform individuals annually of their status on that list.

Supports and services that meet the basic, essential needs of the individual are funded with public dollars through local, state and federal funding sources. The Board has a fiduciary responsibility to spend these dollars wisely and make certain that funds are used appropriately.

In addition to publicly-funded supports, unpaid, natural supports (family, friends and neighbors) and the general service system are pursued to broaden the range and scope of services needed by the individual. Personal dollars are also used to expand and enhance services and supports.

PERSON CENTERED PLANNING

Person-centered planning is an approach that uncovers the type of life the person with a developmental disability wants to lead. The plan is the person’s vision of what life should be for him or her. It places the responsibility and control over a person’s life in his or her hands. The plan is driven by respect for the individual; belief in his or her abilities; and an unwavering commitment to his or her right to decide what life will look like.

Key points to person-centered planning are:

►FOCUS on creating outcomes that represent quality of life; community presence, choice, competence, friendship, respect and participation

►EMPHASIZE the strengths and capacities of the focus person and seek to find ways to build upon those capacities

►INTEGRATE both formal and informal supports available through families, human service agencies, and the community

►EMPOWER the person, family, friends and other interested community members to plan and make decisions with professionals and direct service workers.