Independence Plus Initiative

GEORGIA

Grant Information


Name of Grantee

Georgia Department of Human Resources

Title of Grant

The Georgia Independence Plus Initiative

Type of Grant

Independence Plus Initiative

Amount of Grant

$432,108

Year Original Funding Received

2003

Contact Information


Darlene Meador, Project Director
Georgia Department of Human Resources
Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Disease
Office of Developmental Disabilities
2 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 22.102
Atlanta, GA 30303
404–657–1138
dmeador@dhr.state.ga.us

Subcontractor(s)

APS Healthcare Bethesda, Inc.
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1600
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Target Population(s)


Individuals with disabilities (including those with physical disabilities, serious mental illness, developmental disabilities, and traumatic brain injury) and older adults.

Goals


  • Develop a uniform methodology for calculating all individual budgets in the State.
  • Adapt the HCBS waiver program quality assurance/quality improvement (QA/QI) system to assure necessary safeguards for the health and welfare of participants in the self-directed service delivery system.
  • Design key operational functions of the self-directed service delivery system.
  • Develop a self-determination master plan that incorporates components of the self-directed service delivery system.
  • Design a self-determination pilot for adults with serious mental illness utilizing peer supports.

Activities


  • Develop uniform operational policies and procedures for individual budgets.
  • Revise the current incident management system to serve a self-directed service delivery system.
  • Develop individual and statewide emergency backup systems.
  • Design a process for accessing the self-directed service delivery system.
  • Develop a system for recruiting and training support brokers.
  • Evaluate financial management services.
  • Devise a self-determination pilot project for community mental health service delivery for adults with serious mental illness, which utilizes peer supports.

Abstract


Since the 1980's, Georgia has employed waivers to offer HCBS services. Current HCBS services, such as personal supports, day support, and natural support enhancements, lay a foundation for self-determination. Existing personal supports systems include a variety of services ranging from traditional services to individualized services designed to support people with disabilities in their growth, development, and inclusion in all aspects of community life. Day support services assist people with developmental disabilities through a combination of supports to address the multiple needs of an individual on any given day. Natural support enhancement services maintain and strengthen the natural support provided in individuals' homes. Georgia's system requires significant redesign to move the State toward self-directed services and supports.

To fulfill the State's commitment to self-direction, policies and regulations must change because the current regulatory system is designed to support traditional residential and personal care home services. Under this grant, self-advocates, family members, advocates, providers, and State agency representatives will work together with technical advisors to design a comprehensive, self-directed service delivery system. The system will provide needed supports, including budgeting support, financial management services, support brokerage services, and protections such as incident management and emergency backup systems.

The master plan for self-determination developed through this collaborative process will enable Georgia to address the increasing demand for community services through improved access to and enhanced flexibility of services tailored to individual and family needs. As a part of this project, Georgia will review its current regulatory system and determine actions needed to transform this system to be consistent with self-determination, including modifying existing and developing new State policies.