Community Resource Guide for Medicaid Waiver Programs and the Harris Center for Mental

Community Resource Guide for Medicaid Waiver Programs and The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD

How to use this Guide  This is a guide of resources on the local, state, federal level for families with children with disabilities. Some of these resources are available to parents now, while others are services to sign up for now in order to secure services later for your child as they grow to adulthood.

Medicaid Waiver Programs

What are they?  These programs offer services in home and community –based settings rather than in institutions for children and/or adults with disabilities. These waivers do not look at the parent’s income and resources. They base eligibility on the disabled individual’s level of need, income, and resources. Applicants are placed on interest lists on a first-come, first-served basis. All of the programs have long waiting lists, so call as soon as possible to get your child’s name on any of the lists that you think may apply to your family.

How to get on the waiting lists for these programs?  Families need to review the Medicaid Waiver Programs and determine which lists to get on based upon their child’s disability. They must contact the individual numbers to get on the lists. For example: A child with a diagnosis of Autism could be eligible to be on the CLASS, HCS, and CBA waiting lists.

Medicaid Waiver Programs

Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS)  Provides home- and community-based services to people with a disability, other than intellectual disability, that originated before age 22 and that 1-877-438-5658 or affects the ability to function in daily life. For example, a child with autism 512-438-5658 and intellectual disability that has a primary diagnosis of autism is eligible for this program.

Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) 713-970-7799  This program is for people with a diagnosis of intellectual disability and (Harris County) provides individualized services to people living in their family’s home or 281-342-0090 (Ft. their own homes in the community. The person served may have other Bend County) 281-342-0090 disabilities in addition to intellectual disability. (Waller County) Community-Based Alternatives (CBA)  This program provides home community-based services to persons age 21 and older that would qualify for nursing facility care. These services are 713-692-1635 provided as cost-effective alternatives to placement in nursing facilities.

This resource sheet was compiled as an aid to our staff and parents and in no way constitutes an endorsement or recommendation of these individuals or organizations by this campus or KISD. Page 2

The Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP) 1-877-438-5658  This program is available statewide on a first come, first serve basis. It is for medically involved children who are under age 21.

Blind Deaf-Multiple Disabilities Program  For people who are both deaf and blind, 18 years or older, and have a 1-512-438-2622 or need for 24 hour support. 1-877-438-5658

What information do you need when you call?  You will need to provide basic demographic information (i.e. name, address, contact number), a Medicaid number if your child is currently receiving Medicaid, and your child’s diagnosis (es). You will receive a call/letter yearly to let you know your current place on the list as well as ask for any updated information (such as address or phone changes).

What happens when we get to the top of the list?  As you get to the top of the list, a caseworker affiliated with DADS (Texas Department of Aging and Disability) will contact you to determine eligibility and walk you through the process of choosing provider(s) to deliver the services. Typically, you will receive a letter notifying you that you are eligible for services. They will give you a contact person to call and a timeframe (typically 30 days) to respond.

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD

What is this?  The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD/Texana is the county authority agency on mental health and intellectual disability. It is The Harris Center in Harris County and Texana in Ft. Bend County. The agency coordinates and serves all county residents diagnosed with mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities. We serve the "priority population" - adults who are diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbances, and people diagnosed with moderate to severe intellectual disability.

Who Qualifies for Services?  Any county resident who is at least three years of age and is believed to have one or more of the following may apply for services. 1. Intellectual Disability 2. Pervasive Developmental Disorder such as: Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Rett’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder or Pervasive Developmental Disorder-NOS

How to Access Services?  The parent/legal guardian/primary caregiver contacts The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD at 713-970-7070. The parents will request a DID (Determination of Intellectual Disability) evaluation. The DID Evaluation is done by The Harris Center despite what other evaluations have been completed to determine diagnosis. You will provide the intake worker with your name and contact information. This will be forwarded to the Eligibility Center and you will receive a call back from The Harris Center.  When you receive a call back they will ask you for more detailed information regarding your child and his or her specific needs; they will explain the intake process and tell you what documentation is needed when you come for your initial intake appointment. Each family will be assigned an Eligibility Coordinator to assist you through the intake process. They will schedule the DID appointment.

Steps to the DMR Evaluation 1. The Eligibility Coordinator will schedule your DID appointment 2. You will need to provide The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD/Texana with any past evaluations for your child. These include any private or school evaluations that have been completed to diagnose your child with a disability. 3. When you go in for the DID, part of the process will be evaluating financial eligibility to determine your financial situation and what costs will be associated with services. THE DID EVALUATION IS FREE. The Harris Center/Texana services are provided on sliding scale fees based on the family’s financial situation. 4. If eligible for services, you will meet with a Service Coordinator to discuss the services your family is eligible to receive and the cost to your family for the services. 5. EVERY FAMILY IS RECOMMENDED TO GET THIS DID EVALUATION EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO INTENTION OF ACCESSING SERVICES WITH THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD.

What Documentation do I need to have or bring with me to The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD? Documents to Bring for Financial Assessment and DID Evaluations (Bring copies of the following documents) 1. Proof of Residency in the county(i.e. a utility bill or tax statement) 2. Proof of the family’s income (i.e. parents’ paycheck stubs, IRS W-2 form) 3. Number of family members in the home (i.e. social security cards of all household members) 4. Proof of insurance coverage (i.e. Private insurance card, Medicaid Card, SSI Benefits) 5. Proof of Guardianship (i.e. child’s birth certificate, if guardian, bring copy of current guardianship letter from court, power of attorney documents) 6. Copies of Previous Evaluation Reports (i.e. if individual receives Special Education services, a copy of their Full Individual Evaluations (FIE) and their Comprehensive Individual Assessments (CIA’s). You can request this from your child’s school. Also, any copies of evaluations done by psychologists or other medical agencies)

Online Resources for Parents These resources are great guides for parents with children with disabilities. They can often provide insight in to the Special Education process as well as resources such as programs, support groups etc. in the local community.

Texas Project First www.texasprojectfirst.org This website was created by parents, for parents! It is affiliated with the Texas Education Agency and provider accurate and consistent information to parents and families of students with disabilities.

Family to Family Network www.familytofamilynetwork.org

The ARC of Greater Houston www.thearcofgreaterhouston.com 3737 Dacoma Houston, TX 77092 713-957-1600 *Included in the packet is the ARC of Greater Houston Summer Programming Guide*

The ARC of Katy www.thearcofkaty.org P.O. Box 6133 Katy, TX 77491 Go online to view staff directory and get specific contact phone numbers

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) www.namitexas.org

Support Groups

NAMI Family Support Group St. Peter’s United Methodist Church Room 202 20775 Kingsland Blvd, Katy, TX 77450 Who: Support for family members of those diagnosed with Bi-polar, Schizophrenia, and other neurobiological brain disorders. When: Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7 PM Contact: Joyce Hess at 281-391-3582.

Katy Autism Support St. Peter’s United Methodist Church Asbury Hall 20775 Kingsland Blvd, Katy, TX 77450 Who: Support for family members with children with autism. Free childcare is provided during the meeting. This resource sheet was compiled as an aid to our staff and parents and in no way constitutes an endorsement or recommendation of these individuals or organizations by this campus or KISD. Page 6

When: Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7PM

This resource sheet was compiled as an aid to our staff and parents and in no way constitutes an endorsement or recommendation of these individuals or organizations by this campus or KISD.