Child Team

The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities has a Child Team of Service and Support Administrators (SSAs) that specialize in the unique needs of children with developmental disabilities and their families.

Child Team Services

• Assistance with accessing community resources
• Assistance in obtaining in-home supports/respite
• Assistance with life planning (including estate and guardianship)
• Assistance in the IEP (Individual Education Plan) process at the request of the family to assist with parent /child issues
• Assistance with identifying and coordinating summer programs for individuals
• Assistance with home modification- availability based on income
• Assistance with obtaining Federal and State benefits
• Assistance with transition from pre-school to school age and from high school to adult
• Assistance with accessing the professionals (physicians, dentists, etc.) to locate service providers
• Assistance in coordinating with other service agencies to meet the needs of families and individuals with disabilities
• Assistance with emergency request for services
• Assistance with accessing community transportation
• Assistance with waiting list placement for residential services
• Assistance with 24 hour crisis management

Service and Support Administration

All individuals (age 3 and above) enrolled with the Knox County Board DD will have access to a Service and Support Administrator (SSA). The SSA will assist individuals with planning for future goals/needs, making informed choices and leading a self-determined life. The SSA will assist individuals and families in understanding and using community resources, understanding and advocating for their rights and making decisions regarding their lives.

Waiver Services

The County Board is a gateway to many other services including Waiver Services. Waiver Services are a funding source to assist individuals in maintaining a quality of life when they may otherwise lack the resources. We can help you determine if you are eligible for these services and we can help you apply. There are waiting lists for these services, so individuals and families are encouraged to plan for their future needs.

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Eligibility for Services

Ages 3-5:  Have at least 2 developmental delays or an established risk

Ages 6 and older:  Have a substantial limitation in at least 3 of the following areas:  self-care, language, learning, mobility, self-direction, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency (age 16 + )

All ages must meet the following:

• Resident of Knox County
• Diagnosis is manifested prior to age 22
• Disability is likely to continue indefinitely
• Diagnosis is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or a combination of both and isn’t caused solely by mental illness
• Diagnosis causes the person to need a combination of special services for an extended period of time.

If you are interested in services, please contact:

Intake Department: 740/397-4656, intakes@knoxmrdd.com

Please click here for an application for services

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Family Support Services

Family Support Services (FSS) aids families in meeting the unique needs of an individual with a disability. Families are repaid for approved expenses necessary to take care of the family member in their home. FSS reimburses the costs of temporary care (respite), home modifications, special equipment, special diet, and training or counseling for families. FSS is flexible to support families in meeting their unique needs. The amount of the expense that is reimbursed is based on family income and the availability of funds. Families must enroll yearly. An individual does not need to be enrolled with the County Board of Developmental Disabilities to receive Family Support Services (FSS) but they do need to be eligible for services by meeting all eligibility requirements.

RESPITE CARE:
Respite literally means a period of rest or relief. Respite care provides a family temporary relief from the responsibilities of caring for their family member with Developmental Disabilities. Length of respite care can be anywhere from a few hours to several days. Services may be used frequently or infrequently, such as for appointments, emergencies, vacations, one day per week or month, or weekends. Respite services consist of a provider who comes to the family home while the caregiver is away or takes the individual away from the home. Respite care is not additional care in the home when the family is present.
Families may project the number of respite hours and/or days needed for a 30 to 90-day-period. Call, write or email me to request a payment voucher for the hours/days. Vouchers are void 90 days after their issue date. Please be aware of the void date printed on each voucher. Completed Request for Reimbursement forms are to be submitted within 30 days of the date of service or purchase to the Family Support Service (FSS) office for reimbursement.

If you have a family emergency requiring respite services, contact the FSS office as soon as possible to request payment vouchers. You are welcome to leave messages with Sharon Beck at 740-397-4656.

Respite providers must be listed on the “Family-Selected Provider Roster”. You may add providers throughout the year by completing additional Provider Rosters.

FSS will reimburse up to:

1. $8.00/hr. for families with one eligible individual in the home ($12/hr. for more than one eligible family member)

2. $100.00/day for families with one eligible individual in the home ($125.00 for more than one eligible family member).  A day is defined as more than 12 hours of care in one 24-hour period.

3. A rate other than listed in 1 or 2 for Respite care provided by a certified medical professional or in a professional care center (i.e. licensed foster care facility), if approved by the Community Medicaid Services Director.

COUNSELING, SUPERVISION, TRAINING AND EDUCATION

Counseling, supervision, training and education of the individual, the individual’s caregivers, and members of the individual’s family that aid the family in providing proper care for the individual, provide for the special needs of the family, and assist in all aspects of the individual’s daily living. 

SPECIAL DIETS

Special diets mean diet or special food items that are prescribed for an individual by a licensed physician or qualified dietician (a person who has successfully completed the requirements for a Bachelor's degree majoring in nutrition or dietetics and has had at least one (1) year of experience as a dietitian).  It may also include specialized supplies and equipment needed to prepare and serve the special diet (i.e. blender). Original itemized receipts or invoices are needed for reimbursement.

ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT

Adaptive or special equipment are those items necessary to improve or facilitate the care and living environment of the individual.  Special equipment also includes equipment or adaptive modification to special equipment that is prescribed by a licensed/qualified professional and assists the family in maintaining the person at home. Equipment that benefits the entire family, not with a main focus on the individual is prohibited.

Request for adaptive equipment requires other available funding be exhausted (e.g. insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, Easter Seal Society, Lions Club, Knox Community Hospital, and Knox County Health Department, etc.) before seeking FSS funding.  Family Support requires two (2) written estimates be submitted (whenever possible) along with letters of requests/rejections to be submitted at time of request.  A prescription and/or a letter of recommendation from a licensed (or certified) professional must accompany all adaptive equipment requests. Original itemized receipts or invoices are needed for reimbursement.

All Paperwork Must Be Submitted Before Any Purchase.

MODIFICATIONS OF THE HOME
A modification to the home means any permanent or temporary adaptation to the residence of the individual that assists the family in maintaining the person at home.  The need for such modifications must be assessed by the county board in cooperation with professionals who are familiar with the family and their needs.  This includes changes needed in the home or on the family property to make it accessible to the individual receiving services.

Requests for home modifications require other available funding be exhausted (e.g. insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, Easter Seal Society, Lions Club, Knox Community Hospital, and Knox County Health Department, etc.) before seeking Family Support Services funding.  Family Support requires two (2) written estimates be submitted along with letters of requests/rejections to be submitted at time of request.

All Paperwork Must Be Submitted Before Any Modifications. Original itemized receipts or invoices are needed for reimbursement.

SUPPORTS NECESSARY FOR CONTINUED SKILL DEVELOPMENT:
A letter from a licensed or qualified professional may be required stating how the individual may benefit and that the service is appropriate. Enrollment in special summer programs, appropriate leisure activities and other social skills development activities can be a part of these supports. Also included are services to aid in the development of interventions to cope with unique problems that may occur within the complexity of a family. This service must be specified in the individual’s service plan or ELP.

OTHER SERVICES:
Other services that may assist families to meet the special needs of the individual and to assist them to live as much like other families as possible. This service must be specified in the individual’s service plan or ELP.

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My Plan

The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities believes in person-centered planning. The person-centered approach creates a team of people who know and care about the individual with a disability, who come together to develop and share a dream for the person's future, and who work together to organize and provide the supports necessary to make that dream a reality. The goal is to organize truly individualized, natural, and creative supports to achieve meaningful goals based on each individual's strengths and preferences. Central to person-centered planning is a circle of friends and supporters, including the person with a disability, family members, friends, peers, teachers, and other service providers. The individual's team meets at least once a year to evaluate progress and to create a plan for the coming year. The Essential Lifestyle Plan or ELP is meant to be a unique reflection of each individuals personality, lifestyle goals, needs and progress. The objective of the ELP is:

• Discover what is important to a person in everyday life; and what is
important for a person in order for them to stay healthy and safe
• Describe what you have learned in a way that is easily accessible to those who will help the person get what is important to them.

When goals and areas of need are identified the plan directs services that work towards a fuller and more independent life for each individual. This plan also acts as a "contract" with service providers to provider the services outlined as frequently and for the length of time that the team decides.

Here is a personal workbook that helps you look at your life and plan for many of the questions that the team will address during your team meeting.

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