MOUNT VERNON — Virginia Harden has seen a lot of changes in the 28 years she’s been involved with the Knox County Board of MRDD.
Speaking at a breakfast this morning, Harden recounted the history of MRDD in Knox County, from the creation of the county board, to acquisition of its first building, to its advocacy of developmentally disabled individuals having self-determination and informed choice.
“Knox County has proved to be a caring, supportive community for individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities for more than 50 years,” said Harden, director of human resources for the board.
Harden said Knox County was a partner in the Robert Wood Johnson pilot program for informed choice for developmentally disabled individuals. In 1992, she said, the board adopted a mission statement that provided for individuals to make informed choices of where they wanted to live, work and play.
“Fifty years ago, we enrolled seven,” she said. “Today, enrollment far exceeds 357.
“Regardless of whether it was 50 years ago, today, or somewhere in between, improving life for individuals with disabilities and their families continues to be a key component,” she said.
Molly Wobbecke, director of community Medicaid services for the board, gave an overview of the process an individual goes through to receive services from the county board. The first step, she said, is to determine eligibility.
An individual must be a resident of Knox County, have a diagnosis of mental retardation or other developmental delay such as autism or cerebral palsy, and be diagnosed prior to the age of 22. From there, the functional limitations of an individual are determined; individuals must meet at least three limitations, which may include mobility, self care, self direction or institutional living.
Once eligible, services provided can range from adult day programs, crisis management, transportation, family support services or residential services, among others.
“One of the most important services is early intervention,” said Wobbecke.
Individuals covered in the early intervention program are from birth to age 3. The average enrollment in the EI program at any given time, she said, is 45.
The county board provides services for all ages, from birth to death. For those no longer enrolled in school, adult day support is one of the services provided by the board. These include recreation and leisure activities, contract work and training in self determination. Another service is the supported employment, where individuals receive on-the-job training.
“We are very fortunate to have the community support individuals with disabilities and their desires,” said Wobbecke.
In addition, Wobbecke said, two programs were instituted the end of last year to better serve MRDD individuals. The child team, comprised of three service and support administrators, focuses on serving the needs of those ages 3 to 22, and includes assistance with transition to high school and family support; the adult team, comprised of nine SSAs, focuses on needs in the areas of residential living support and day programs. Adult residential living support includes assistance with cleaning or cooking, coordinating apartments, medication administration or skill development.
Mark Kohlman, director of business operations for the board, gave an overview of the funding sources available to serve local developmentally disabled individuals. According to Kohlman, three funding streams come directly to the board: Money from the local tax levy, which accounts for 45 percent of the board’s funding; state and federal dollars, which account for 50 percent; and other sources, which account for 5 percent.
This money is used for transportation, facility operations, the early intervention and adult day service program, crisis management and family support services, among others. Early intervention, he said, is a program the board is very much committed to continuing, as it’s very important to get individuals into the system early. The adult day services program is just as important, he said.
Indirect funding comes to the community through the residential services waiver program. State and federal money accounts for 95 percent of the approximately $5 million that comes to the county annually via indirect funding. This money does not come to the board, but goes directly to community providers of services. Kohlman said there are currently 155 people on waivers in the community.
“The role of the county board is, through the SSAs, to coordinate and monitor those services,” he said.
MRDD Superintendent Steve Oster spoke about the board’s goal to continue and increase partnership with the community. Other future goals include, among others, receiving a five-year accreditation, becoming a more visible force in the community, working with Ohio MRDD on issues such as the increasing diagnosis of autism and legislative issues, and assisting aging caregivers and attorneys in planning for the future for individuals with disabilities.