Independence Plus Initiative

OHIO

Grant Information


Name of Grantee

Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (ODMRDD)

Title of Grant

Ohio's Self-Determination Project

Type of Grant

Independence Plus Initiative

Amount of Grant

$500,000

Year Original Funding Received

2003

Contact Information


Dana Charlton, Project Director
614–728–9510
dana.charlton@dmr.state.oh.us

Sharon Travis, Project Manager
35 East Chestnut Street, 5th Floor
Franklin County
Columbus, OH 43215
614–387–0376
sharon.travis@dmr.state.oh.us

Subcontractor(s)

Center on Self-Determination

Evaluation consultant to be decided.

Target Population(s)


Individuals with Mental Retardation and other Developmental Disabilities (MR/DD).

Goals


  • Develop and submit an Independence Plus Initiative waiver application.
  • Assist individuals with MR/DD, families, and all other stakeholders within the demonstration counties to understand the alternatives available under the Self-Determination waiver and its implementation processes.
  • Conduct an ongoing formative evaluation and an independent evaluation of the Self-Determination waiver and of the quality of life of individuals with MR/DD and their satisfaction and that of families.

Activities


  • Identify barriers to implementing an Independence Plus Initiative waiver within the demonstration counties and develop methods to eliminate the barriers.
  • Develop and submit to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) the information necessary for them to support submission of the waiver application to CMS.
  • Draft language for the Self-Determination waiver application and submit it to CMS for approval as an Independence Plus Initiative waiver.
  • Develop training and technical assistance materials, informational brochures, and a dissemination and implementation strategy.
  • Establish a family information network to provide individuals with MR/DD and their family's current information to help them maintain current skills and gain new skills needed for participation in the Self-Determination waiver.
  • Produce routine reports of formative learning and develop tools and a strategy for obtaining baseline data of individuals prior to enrollment on the Self-Determination waiver.

Abstract


The overall goal of the grant is to obtain approval of an Independence Plus HCBS waiver, titled "Self-Determination," and to demonstrate successful implementation in at least five counties in Ohio. Grant funds will be used to obtain training, facilitation, and technical assistance related to achieving the expectations in the Independence Plus Initiative template for the Self-Determination waiver. Grant funds will also provide reimbursement/stipends to individuals with MR/DD and families to cover the cost of their involvement at three levels of policy work: (1) the stakeholder work team in each of the demonstration counties, (2) the collaborative group representing all demonstration counties, and (3) the advisory committee, which includes persons with expertise or position authority to eliminate barriers and establish the infrastructure needed to support implementation of the waiver.

Each demonstration county will use their experience from previous local and state self-determination efforts to identify, for each individual receiving Self-Determination waiver services, (1) barriers that must be reduced or eliminated and (2) the infrastructure that must exist to achieve the major goals of person-centered planning, individual budgets, financial management services, support brokerage, and participant protections.

Several months following implementation of the Self-Determination waiver in the demonstration counties, an independent evaluation will be conducted of (1) the use of services covered by the waiver, (2) system capacities to successfully implement the waiver, and (3) the outcomes and quality of life of individuals with disabilities, their satisfaction, and the satisfaction of their families and other stakeholders.