“Supporting Resourcefulness of Individuals, Families and Communities” and “Using What You Need” are two key principles of The Arc’s Blueprint for Change. I am happy to share news on several recent key FSSA initiatives that will work to help reach those goals.
Family Supports Waiver to Go Into Effect September 1
The new Family Supports Waiver, formally the Support Services Waiver, will take effect September 1, 2012. The new waiver:
- Raises the cap of an individual’s waiver budget to $16,250; over time, the budget cap will gradually increase
- Gives families choice of competitive case management entities
- Adds Participant Assistance and Care as a new waiver service to provide a new level of support to an individual either in the family home or in an individual’s own home
- Provides new flexibility regarding how waiver funds can be used
- Allows a person who receives supports from the Family Support Waiver and a person who receives supports from the new Community Integration and Habilitation Waiver (formerly the DD Waiver) to be housemates
FSSA’s goal is to bring over 6,000 people off waiting lists and into services over the next three years. To reach this goal, over 200 people will be targeted each month. Changes FSSA has made regarding how waiting lists are managed will hopefully work to more quickly target individuals and bring them into services with less delay.
Another critical milestone to celebrate is that 18-24 year olds coming out of school are once again not being placed on a waiting list and will be transitioned on to the new Family Supports Waiver.
69 people have been placed on the Autism, DD and Support Services Waivers thus far in July.
Last year over 1,100 people were added to waiver programs. This year the goal is bring over 2,000 people into services.
To keep up-to-date on the movement of people off waiting lists, visit http://in.gov/fssa/ddrs/3347.htm, where FSSA posts updates on new enrollments to waiver services every Monday.
Sign Up to Receive Updates from the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services
Objective Budget Allocation (OBA) Changes
Respond to Needs of Families,
Individuals with I/DD
Several months ago, FSSA made a commitment to study the implementation of the OBA process and determine what changes and adjustments were needed to make the program more effective. They kept that commitment and have announced two major OBA changes.
FSSA is working to increase the number of hours individuals who receive supports in their family home can receive for residential habilitation or in-home supports. The increase will be tied to the individual’s ALGO Level / level of care need.
- People at Algo Level 3 will go from 4 hours of support per day to 5 hours of support
- People at Algo Level 4 will go from 5 to 7 hours per day
- People at Algo 5 will go from 6 to 8 hours per day
This is a very positive step for families who support their son or daughter at home. It is hoped that these changes will go into effect on September 1, 2012.
Services for People with
Significant Medical / Attendant Care Needs
to be Addressed by Changes to ALGO Level 5 Designation
Currently, a person cannot receive an ALGO Level 5 – the highest category for people with the greatest needs – unless he or she has significant behavioral needs. This left out a small, but important, group of people with significant medical and personal attendant needs. FSSA is making changes to allow individuals with certain high medical and personal care needs to receive an ALGO Level 5. This will allow for an increase in the hours of care they receive in their family home or waiver home, and in day or vocation programs.
We greatly appreciate FSSA’s action on these critical areas and look forward to continued progress.
In my next blog, I will talk about progress being made in implementing the new Community Integration and Habilitation Waiver which will replace the DD Waiver.
John Dickerson is The Arc of Indiana’s Executive Director
Subscribe to this Blog
Will those in that age group 18-24 who aren’t on Support Services Waiver still receive a Family Support Services Waiver? When??
We are one of the families with a 30 year old daughter who has profound physical, comunication and cognitive disabilities due to Rett Syndrome. When she received an ALGO 4 we appealed due to her constant and total care needs– we were VERY RUDELY denied, by some female “judge” (I hesitate to call her judicial)! Believe me, we would LOVE to see some “behaviors” from our daughter, but there are individuals, like Sara, who are so disabled the cannot create behaviors! But Sara’s care is more time consuming even without “behaviors” due to her medical fragility and physical demands. This change is ALGO level is some of the most positive news regarding Waiver issues I have ever heard! Thank You!
I want to know if parents living in a “Waiver Home” are going to have more control over their childs “caregiving”. I am tired of agencys not attending ISP meetings, care givers not doing their jobs, I could go on and on. I want to be able to be in charge of my childs caregiving, choosing caregivers for respit & pay the bills that need to be paid. I need a responce.
Ms Dee – Thank you for your comment. Please call our office at 317-977-2375 or 800-382-9100 and ask for Jill Ginn. She will be able to talk with you on the issues you are facing, how changes in the waiver might help, and offer possible solutions.
Suzie – We have asked for clarification on your 18-24 year old question and will reply back as soon as we can.
Thanks for the question.
Where can I get more information re: Algo and what is this, who qualifies for this, how is it determined and is it separate funding from the SS Waiver?
This whole process of Algo scores has made me ill. I have faught and lobbied for years and for advocacy groups to have allowed this atrocity makes for bad public policy. I am now bringing my severely disabled son home because the state has cut his waiver services in half. He has lived in his own home for nearly twelve years and now has to be shuttled back and forth from his home to mine. My age is 66 and do not have many years that I can do this. I can only do this now with considerable help from friends.
Had I known this was the direction the state of Indiana was looking to go forward on I would have moved somewhere else after working all these years and paying taxes as well as owning a business. Those parents who advocated for their children to live in their home communities with services to allow them to stay there when we were gone have been dealt a low blow and the efforts we put forth to have these services were not only time consuming but costly. Does this mean that the adult children may stay in their homes now and how long will that last? Are the budgets to be restored to maintain them?
Ok I think this is so wrong but I was dropped from 80 rhs hrs to 42 hrs because they changed rules on the living situation I been living with my paid care taker 6 years because I did nt have 24/7 care I’ve cp and in a wheelchair. I can’t do anything for myself but. I’m algo 4 so I get only 6 hours a day now. People suggest to develop behaviors because those peoplè been getting what they need in hours I think it is wrong that I should have to have behaviors to get the care I require. And they do not care I have my one natural support / paid caretaker. Also I Basicly was told if I don’t have natural support I have two choices move in with a family member or move in with someone I don’t know that also on a wavior. Switch where is my rights to live alone with my kids?
Thank you I will. I would like “Provides new flexibility on how Waiver Funds can be used” to be clearly defined. Will “new flexibility” mean parents can now receive funds for caring for their minor/adult children when staff doesn’t show up? I would love to see this in black & white.
Dianna – I am copying and sending your questions to John Dickerson and Jill Ginn, Manager of The Arc Network, to get back directly with you at the email noted on the post. – Thanks, Sally Morris
I started a facebook group “Indiana Wavier support group”.. I’d love help with pass the group to people on the Wavier, families of pèople on the Wavier. All you need is a Facebook account, this link http://www.facebook.com/groups/407391285985183/ and ask to join
So when are ALgo changing? It’s 9-19-12 I’m still ALGO 4. I just got my 2013 budget. If I have to wait to 2014 to receive algo 5, that is ridilîous. We the people on these waviers need taken care of like the people on waiting list too.
Please repond
Do you know if i can have two Brqs in a budget year?