Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 5126 | County Boards of Developmental Disabilities
Section 5126.11 | Family Support Services Program.

Effective: October 12, 2016
Latest Legislation: House Bill 158 - 131st General Assembly
(A) As used in this section, "respite care" means appropriate, short-term, temporary care that is provided to an individual with a developmental disability to sustain the family structure or to meet planned or emergency needs of the family.
(B) Subject to rules adopted by the director of developmental disabilities, and subject to the availability of money from state and federal sources, the county board of developmental disabilities shall establish a family support services program. Under such a program, the board shall make payments to an individual with a developmental disability or the family of an individual with a developmental disability who desires to remain in and be supported in the family home. Payments shall be made for all or part of costs incurred or estimated to be incurred for services that would promote self-sufficiency and normalization, prevent or reduce inappropriate institutional care, and further the unity of the family by enabling the family to meet the special needs of the individual and to live as much like other families as possible. Payments may be made in the form of reimbursement for expenditures or in the form of vouchers to be used to purchase services.
(C) Payment shall not be made under this section to an individual or the individual's family if the individual is living in a residential facility that is providing residential services under contract with the department of developmental disabilities or a county board.
(D) Payments may be made for the following services:
(1) Respite care, in or out of the home;
(2) Counseling, supervision, training, and education of the individual, the individual's caregivers, and members of the individual's family that aid the family in providing proper care for the individual, provide for the special needs of the family, and assist in all aspects of the individual's daily living;
(3) Special diets, purchase or lease of special equipment, or modifications of the home, if such diets, equipment, or modifications are necessary to improve or facilitate the care and living environment of the individual;
(4) Providing support necessary for the individual's continued skill development, including such services as development of interventions to cope with unique problems that may occur within the complexity of the family, enrollment of the individual in special summer programs, provision of appropriate leisure activities, and other social skills development activities;
(5) Any other services that are consistent with the purposes specified in division (B) of this section and specified in the individual's service plan.
(E) In order to be eligible for payments under a family support services program, the individual or the individual's family must reside in the county served by the county board, and the individual must be in need of habilitation. Payments shall be adjusted for income in accordance with the payment schedule established in rules adopted under this section. Payments shall be made only after the county board has taken into account all other available assistance for which the individual or family is eligible.
(F) Before incurring expenses for a service for which payment will be sought under a family support services program, the individual or family shall apply to the county board for a determination of eligibility and approval of the service. The service need not be provided in the county served by the county board. After being determined eligible and receiving approval for the service, the individual or family may incur expenses for the service or use the vouchers received from the county board for the purchase of the service.
If the county board refuses to approve a service, an appeal may be made in accordance with rules adopted by the department under this section.
(G) To be reimbursed for expenses incurred for approved services, the individual or family shall submit to the county board a statement of the expenses incurred accompanied by any evidence required by the board. To redeem vouchers used to purchase approved services, the entity that provided the service shall submit to the county board evidence that the service was provided and a statement of the charges. The county board shall make reimbursements and redeem vouchers not later than forty-five days after it receives the statements and evidence required by this division.
(H) A county board shall consider the following objectives in carrying out a family support services program:
(1) Enabling individuals to return to their families from an institution under the jurisdiction of the department of developmental disabilities;
(2) Enabling individuals found to be subject to institutionalization by court order under section 5123.76 of the Revised Code to remain with their families with the aid of payments provided under this section;
(3) Providing services to eligible children and adults currently residing in the community;
(4) Providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities who are not receiving other services from the board.
(I) The director shall adopt, and may amend and rescind, rules for the implementation of family support services programs by county boards. The rules shall include all of the following:
(1) A payment schedule adjusted for income;
(2) Standards for supervision, training, and quality control in the provision of respite care services;
(3) Eligibility standards and procedures for providing temporary emergency respite care;
(4) Procedures for hearing and deciding appeals made under division (F) of this section.
Rules adopted under division (I)(1) of this section shall be adopted in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code. Rules adopted under divisions (I)(2) to (4) of this section shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(J) All individuals certified by the superintendent of the county board as eligible for temporary emergency respite care in accordance with rules adopted under this section shall be considered eligible for temporary emergency respite care for not more than five days to permit the determination of eligibility for family support services. The requirements of divisions (E) and (F) of this section do not apply to temporary emergency respite care.
(K) The county board shall not be required to make payments for family support services at a level that exceeds available state and federal funds for such payments.

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