Defiance County Board of DD’s Service and Support Administrators, or SSAs, coordinate and connect people with developmental disabilities to individualized supports in their community. SSAs get to know individuals and families and help them identify dreams for the future.

Our SSAs develop individual service plans, or ISPs, using Person Centered Planning that is individualized based on what is important TO and FOR the person. The goal of the plan is to connect the person and their families with services and providers that can help them achieve their vision of a happy and satisfying life. This is an ongoing process and not just a one-time meeting. The SSA regularly talks and meets with the individual and their team to assure services in the ISP continue to be meaningful and beneficial to the person.

SSAs also have other duties focused on meeting the individual’s needs. They determine how to best fund an individual’s services in the most economical manner, whether through Family Support Services, local levy dollars, HCBS waivers, or other available sources. They also review and update ISPs at least annually and any time a major change occurs in the individual’s life, as well as ensuring health and safety through regular monitoring.

The individual always has the right to choose an SSA, and service coordination is provided to individuals who are eligible for services at no cost.

Service and Support Administrators are the primary point of coordination, which includes:

• Administer assessments and collect documentation to determine eligibility for services
• Coordinate assessments to find out what is important to individuals and what is working and not working in their life
• Develop an ISP using person-centered planning that outlines what is important and connects individuals to the provider of their choice
• Connects individuals to community resources they need to be successful
• Develops a budget for services based on the individual’s assessed needs and the preferred way for meeting those needs
• Ensures the health and safety of each individual through developing prevention plans for potential occurrences that may impact health and safety
• Provide ongoing ISP coordination and monitoring to ensure that services and supports are being delivered as outlined in the ISP and to the benefit and satisfaction of the individual
• Educate the community in becoming more aware about the unique capabilities of individuals with disabilities
• Assist the community to develop connections and capacity to support individuals with disabilities
• Works closely with youth in transition from school to work

DODD SSA Rules

Waviers

A Waiver (also known as Home and Community Based Services, or HCBS Waiver) is a form of Medicaid funding used to support some people who receive services in the community. This funding is usually considered appropriate for individuals whose costs may be higher or entail many different services. A Needs Assessment completed by the person’s SSA is used to determine what services the person needs, and whether these services should be funded through a waiver or through other available resources. Should the person have a current need but a waiver is not available, he/she may be placed on a “current need waiting list” until a waiver becomes available.

Providers are organizations that provide services for people with disabilities in the community. Services can include housing, personal care, supported employment, day programs, transportation, respite and more.

SSAs and other agency staff can help the person through the process of finding and working with a provider. However, staff cannot choose a provider for someone. A list of available providers is available through the SSA office, by using this link, https://dodd.ohio.gov/your-family/all-family-resources/provider-search or by using Provider Guide Plus. Provider Guide Plus includes reviews by people who have had experience with that provider.

Provider Guide Plus

ICFs

Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (ICF, or ICF/IDD, for short) also provide residential services in established facilities.  These ICFs may provide many of their services in the home itself, such as nursing staff, different therapies, and sometimes day programming. They are also funded through Medicaid. It is common for a person to share a bedroom.  Room and board is included in ICF services however residents only receive a small monthly allowance.  Placement in any given ICF is dependent upon whether that facility has openings.  The Ohio Department of Disabilities has a listing of all ICFs statewide.

To learn more about ICFs, please visit the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities website.