Note: Depending on the state in which you live, either your county or state government will be the entry point for finding disability services. Contact either for direction, if you’re not sure.
When you first embark on seeking disability services for yourself or a loved one, navigating the process can be confusing and overwhelming. Who should you contact first? How does the Medicaid waiver process work? How do you choose a service provider and program among the many available? In addition to these practical considerations, emotions come in to play — after all, you want the best support you can find, and you want the services to align with your needs, desires and goals.
So, where do you start?
I recently met with Joy Osborn, Operational Director at Dungarvin Minnesota. Dungarvin is a national human services agency, providing a wide range of services in 17 states for people in need of supports. Joy oversees 24-Hour Residential Services operations in two Minnesota counties, ensuring the group homes and staff have the support they need to provide Dungarvin’s high standard of service.
Depending on the state in which you live, the process for finding disability services can vary slightly. However, to receive Medicaid waiver funding, no matter where you live, you will need to apply, get an assessment of your or a loved one’s needs and goals, and find an appropriate service provider. All of this is accomplished with help from professionals in government, nonprofit and private agencies.
Joy outlined some of the first steps to finding disability services:
Step 1: Contact your county or state disability services department, which might be housed within the Human Services department or a similarly named division. In some states, such as Colorado, regional nonprofit organizations serve as the primary entry point for seeking services. In any case, the easiest way to get started is by visiting your state or county government’s website, and look for “Services,” “Assistance,” “Health and Human Services,” or other similar headings.
Step 2: Apply for a county or state assessment, which determines whether you or your loved one is eligible to receive Medicaid waiver funding. For example, in Minnesota, this assessment is called “MNCHOICES” and involves a face-to-face interview with a certified county assessor. Other states have their own eligibility assessments and methods of carrying them out.
A federal Medicaid waiver allows states to provide funding to people with disabilities to obtain services and supports within their community rather than in an institutional setting. Eligibility assessments ask a wide range of questions and include verification that the person seeking services has a documented medical or functional diagnosis. If a person is found eligible for Medicaid waiver funding, the state or county assigns a case manager to help them find the services they need.
Step 3: Work with your case manager (depending on where you live, this position could also be called Care Coordinator, Service Coordinator, Service and Support Administrator or other), who might work for the state, county, or a nonprofit or private disability services provider. Case Managers have a good understanding of the providers in their areas and what they do, and they help individuals and families find a good fit for the services they need.
Step 4: Do your own assessment of prospective service providers by preparing a list of questions to help determine whether they are right for you or a loved one. Joy said your questions should help clarify exactly what a service provider does and does not do.
“They should also reflect what is important to the individual seeking services,” she added.
“For example, related to residential services, maybe it’s important to an individual that they are able go to their room when they want to have quiet time. Or, it could be really important to someone else that they get to go to all of the concerts in the park during the summer. If a provider says, ‘we’re not going to be able to do that,’ then I’d be concerned, because it’s really the job of the provider to assist people to do all of the things they want to do.”
Joy strongly urges people to be persistent in seeking answers to their questions, whether talking to the government, Case Manager or service providers. “I think that can be challenging for some families — they’re afraid to be assertive and speak up,” she said. “But if you’ve called the county and left a message and you don’t get a call back in a couple of days, then call them again. And keep following up until someone does respond to you.”
If you or a loved one is interested in learning about the many services Dungarvin provides to individuals in need of supports around the country, please visit www.Dungarvin.com.