Funding Program
Just so you know who is serving those individuals with disabilities in Ashland County, it is no longer the Ashland County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Recently the state legislature voted to remove "Mental Retardation" from the official title for all county programs, and we will now be known as the Ashland County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The change was made in response to state-wide concern over insensitive, painful use and abuse of the words "mental retardation." We can only hope that in the future we are not forced to undergo another linguistic adjustment due to our culture's tolerance of painful language. Titles can be powerfully informative and if you have been reading "The Dale Roy Story" you know that no title could reflect all that is accomplished for our disabled citizens of Ashland County. So we will survive this change and move onto the next chapter which deals with the funding of county programs.
The Ashland County Board of Developmental Disabilities (DD) operates on an annual budget of approximately six million dollars. As talked about previously in this column this amount provides life-time services for the nearly 300 individuals with disabilities in Ashland County. The comprehensive offerings includes early intervention, pre-school, school age, adult day services, adult workshop/community employment, residential, nursing, food-service, and transportation programs. Along with the DD Board the Residential Services Board oversees the housing opportunities and the Non-Profit Board directs employment programs at D-R Services and within the county. These life-long offerings are perhaps the biggest single difference between DD and regular public education funding.
The contributions of federal Medicaid dollars are also unique to county DD programs. Public education does receive federal dollars through what is known as Title assistance. However, Medicaid funds for county programs are primarily used to fund Home Community Based Services. This offering is also known as the Waiver program in which the government provides approximately 60% of the costs needed to support adult clients living in community residences. This is the result of the movement to get adult individuals out of state institutions, and nursing homes and living within their communities. With medical advancements disabled adults are now living longer and the use of Waivers is also another option for those individuals being cared for by their aging parents. This is a major concern in all counties as primary care givers pass away.
Most citizens do not realize that a county is responsible for the health and safety of individuals who qualify for services, and the Waiver program is a means for county tax payers to be reimbursed for 60% of the total costs, approximately $340,000 for the Ashland County Board of DD in 2008. A critical component of the Ohio Revised Code guarantees seamless protection of these individuals by requiring that once an individual receives a Waiver, that individual retains the Waiver regardless of where he/she resides and the originating county pays the 40% portion of this cost. The actual dollar amount of this cost is dependent upon the level of care needed by the individual.
A simple example of what this means is that an Ashland County resident who qualifies and receives a Waiver, and then chooses to move to another county, the 40% portion of the cost will be paid by Ashland County. This may seem illogical and unfair but it provides individuals with disabilities the freedom to live where ever they choose, the same freedom that a typically developed person enjoys. This government assistance does not come without challenges as the Medicaid programs are very confusing.
Dale Roy School receives funding in a manner very similar to that of the public regular education schools. Basic foundation aid for each student follows the student if he/she attends Dale Roy, and other state assistance is similar with regard to transportation and food service. The Residential Services Board has its own separate budget and revenue sources to fund the operation and maintenance of nine homes in Ashland County.
Like any comprehensive service program the Ashland County Board of DD is not without financial questions and concerns for the future. Stable and solvent now, the program must proactively prepare for the projected loss of Tangible Personal Property Tax revenue in two years, the increasing incidence of autism disorders, increased adult day habilitation options, the aging of family care providers, and evolving public school services.
These are viewed as challenges that become opportunities. Presently the administration and Board are aggressively implementing changes in procedures and policies that will yield greater efficiencies. As a result increased Federal financial support is expected as we change how we do business.
In these difficult recessionary times this chapter of "The Dale Roy Story" is one of maintaining the best of the past while preparing for the future. All Ashland County residents can be proud of this vision.