Residential Services for People with Developmental Disabilities

The Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) provides services to persons ages 3 and up who have a primary diagnosis of mental retardation.  Persons served may also have other developmental disabilities in addition to mental retardation such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, etc.

Residential Services

In-Home supports: These services are for children or adults living at home with families or for adults living in their own homes.  Services include:  habilitation training specialists (direct care staff), respite care, adaptive equipment, architectural modifications, medical supplies and services, various therapies, family training and counseling, transportation and employment services.  These services are funded through the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver (HCBW) and the In-Home Support Waivers (IHSW).  To receive these services, persons must be eligible for Medicaid.

Family Support Assistance Payments: This is a cash payment program for families who are caring for children under the age 18 at home.  In this program, families can receive payments of $250-$400 per month depending on the number of children with disabilities in the home.  Families who meet the income eligibility may choose this cash payment in lieu of the HCBW Services.  This program is funded through state dollars.

Specialized Foster Care: This living arrangement provides an opportunity for a child to live in a family environment.  The family provides housing, food, clothing, training and leisure opportunities to the foster child.  This program encourages reuniting the child and the natural family when possible.  It is funded through the HCBW.

Adult Companion Program:  This is a residential option similar to Foster Care except the goal is to establish a more permanent home for the individual.  In this program, an adult with disabilities shares a home with a companion who is not a service recipient.  The companion provides all the necessary support and leisure services to the individual as well as transportation.  The companion and the individual share all living and housing expenses.  This program is funded through the HCBW.

Group Homes:  This residential option provides a home-like setting for up to twelve residents, 18 years of age or older.  Most group homes serve four to six individuals.  The residence is owned or leased by the service provider rather than by the residents.  Group homes provide to the residents: supervision, food service, training and skill development opportunities designed to lead to increased independence.  Group homes also provide transportation to and from work for residents who are employed.  Group homes services are funded through state funds as well as the HCBW.

Public Residential Facilities:  (Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded ICF/MR) DDSD operates three public residential facilities.  These are: the Northern Oklahoma Resource Center (NORC), the Robert M. Greer Center in Enid; and the Southern Oklahoma Resource Center (SORC) in Pauls Valley.  The two resource centers provide 24-hour supervision, training, therapies, health and medical care.  Individuals who are age six or older may be admitted to one of these centers if they meet the nursing home level of care requirement and when their individual circumstances indicate this type of placement is the least restrictive, most appropriate residential environment available.  The Robert M. Greer Center is a specialized facility for people who have both mental retardation and mental illness.

DDSD Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for services funded by the Home and Community-Based Waiver, a person must:

1.  Be a resident of the State of Oklahoma;

2.  be determined to have a disability, with a diagnosis of mental retardation, by:

a. the Social Security Administration; or

b. the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Level of Care Evaluation Unit;

3.  be three years of age or older.

4.  be determined by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Level of Care Evaluation Unit, to meet the ICF/MR Institutional Level of Care requirements;

5.  be determined financially eligible through the DHS Family Support Services Division;

6.  not be simultaneously enrolled in any other Medicaid waiver program;

7.  not be residing in a hospital, nursing facility, or ICF/MR and

8.  meet other waiver-specific eligibility criteria.

To be eligible for services funded by the In-Home Support Waivers, a person must:

1.  Meet the above listed criteria, and

2.  reside in the family's home or his or her own home.

3.  Have critical support needs that can be met through a combination of non-waiver and Medicaid State Plan resources available to the individual, and within the per capita waiver allowance.

To be eligible for state-funded group home a person must:

1.  Present evidence (psychological assessment) of a measured intelligence (full scale IQ of 75 or less); or

2.  be determined to have a disability, with a diagnosis of mental retardation, by the Social Security Administration; and

3.  be a resident of the State of Oklahoma; and

4.  have achieved an age defined within the provisions of each state-funded program.

APPLICATION FOR SERVICES

To apply for services or for additional information, call the area office listed below:

This information was taken from the DHS website  http://www.okdhs.org/ in the Developmental Disability Services Division (DDSD) section.  If you need more information, or would like a list of group homes, contact the appropriate Area office.