Vermont’s Developmental
Services System
And what you really need to know
about its System of Care Plan.
Presented by Karen Schwartz,
VT Developmental Disabilities Council
About the Presenter
• Executive Director of the VT Developmental
Disabilities Council since 2004.
• Parent of a 22 year old young man with a
developmental disability.
• Involved with the developmental service system
since son was about 8
• Worked for the Birth to 3 early intervention
program for 11 years as family resource
specialist and service coordinator.
What is the Vermont Developmental
Disabilities Council?
• There is a Council in every state, D.C, and U.S.
territories.
• Funded for the last 40 years through a federal grant to
do “systems advocacy”
• Key role is to
– Monitor what is going on for people and families
– Support people with developmental disabilities and their families
to have a voice about services and supports that affect them
• We hope you will learn more about how developmental
services work, and get involved in making changes you
want to see.
What this Webinar will cover
• In a nutshell, how Vermont’s
developmental system works, who it
covers, and what services it can provide
• What the System of Care Plan is and how
it affects who is served and what services
can be provided.
• How you can get involved if you think it
needs to change.
That’s a lot to cover in an hour!
We’ll get started, and you will find out ways
to follow up and learn more.
Let’s make this interactive
Even if we can’t see each
other you can use the
type-in feature to let me
know
– what you are interested in
– what you need explained .
– any questions.
Vermont’s “System of Care” for
people with intellectual disabilities
• Intent is to be a “System” that provides
comprehensive services in the community
instead of care in an institution.
• Set up by Vermont’s 1996 Developmental
Disabilities Act (which needs a webinar of its own)
• Put in place after the closing of Vermont’s
institution, the Brandon Training School, closed.
• Funded by Medicaid. Currently federal
government pays 58% of the cost.
What is the System of Care Plan?
In a nutshell:
• Required by the VT Developmental
Disabilities Act
• Written by the State of Vermont’s Division
of Disabilities every 3 years, and updated
each year
• Framework for how services are funded
and provided.
Who does the System of Care serve?
Currently it serves
• 2,539 people with home & community based
funding packages –332 children under 21
• 1,068 people with Flexible Family Funding
– 975 children under 21.
• 422 people through limited services like
Targeted Case Management (adults); Bridge
Program (children). [2% of total funding.]
Data is from the VT Developmental Services Annual Report 2012, just released.
Who is eligible?
There are 2 gates to go through for home and
community based services
1. You must be eligible ~ meet Vermont’s definition, which
is limited to intellectual disabilities
• IQ of 70 or below or autism diagnosis, who have
difficulties with skills of daily living
2. And you must also meet a funding priority. This is the
hard part!
So, what is a funding priority?
• It is a way to decide who will be funded for
a home and community based package,
and who will not.
What sets the funding priorities?
The System of Care Plan!
What are the current priorities?
Key current priorities are:
• Age 18, with imminent risk to personal health
and safety ~ danger, injury or harm
• Age 18 and pose risk of endangering others
• Age 19, to maintain a job on high school
graduation
• Any age, to prevent or end long term stays in
psychiatric hospital or institution or nursing
home.
Limited Priorities = Limited Services
Summary of Priorities:
• The only non-emergency priority is for
students age 19 leaving school who
already have a job lined up.
• Since 2001, the only priority for children
under 18 is being on the brink or being
admitted to a psychiatric facility.
What do you get if you are eligible,
but don’t meet a priority?
• Flexible Family Funding ~ capped at
$1,000, which is less than 15 years ago
• For kids, Bridge program case
management, which is capped at 393.
• For adults, Targeted Case Management,
which provides check-ins. NOTE ~ TCM
is not available in all regions of the state.
What services can you get
if you are eligible?
Based on individual budgets & can
include
•Up to 25 hours combined
–Community supports
–Job supports, including job coach to help at
work
•Home supports ~ typically pays for shared
living provider, although it can cover group
home & help to live independently
Services, continued
•Respite ~ typically managed by family or home
provider
•Service Coordination
•Clinical Interventions ~ could be therapy
groups, behavioral consults, therapeutic riding,
etc.
NOTE: Prior to 2010 people could have a Goods line of up to
$1,000 to use flexibly including for purchases. Some regions cover
some of the items formerly covered by goods. Others do not.
What describes any limits to the
services you can get?
THE SYSTEM OF CARE PLAN!!
Who decides who is eligible,
and what services you get?
• You need to apply at the regional
developmental service agency, which is
a non-profit designated by the State.
• They decide eligibility and whether you
meet a priority.
• If you are eligible and don’t meet a priority
you are supposed to be sent a decision
you can appeal. Often people get Flexible
Family Funding instead.
Here are the regional agencies
Their official
name is
Designated
Agencies
Map is from the
Annual Report.
Who decides, continued
• If you are eligible a funding package of
services is put together that needs to be
approved by
– the regional agency’s Equity Committee
– the state-wide Equity Committee, and
finally by the state Division for
Disabilities & Aging Services ~ D-DAS
What sets up and describes
the Equity Committees?
THE SYSTEM OF CARE PLAN!!
Do priorities affect
what services you get?
• Initial funding packages will be affected by
the priority that gets you in the door.
– Example. If you get into the system through the
funding priority of having a job when you leave school
you will probably be limited to job supports and
service coordination.
• However, once you are in the system
you can add services by applying
through the Equity Committee process.
Summing Up,
the System of Care Plan [SOCP]
1. Sets the funding priorities
2. Sets limits on services & supports
3. Sets up the Equity Committees that
allocate funding
Let’s find out more about the SOCP
And how you can help change it.
How the SOCP works
Vermont’s Developmental Disabilities Act
spells out what the System of Care Plan is
and does:
• It needs to include
√ Priorities for continuing programs &
developing new ones
√ Criteria for receiving services
√ Process for evaluating success
AND needs to be based on




Information from people with developmental
disabilities and their families and providers
A comprehensive needs assessment
Demographic information
AND information on
 services being used
 underserved and unserved individuals and
populations
 reasons for gaps in services
 varying community needs and resources.
Who decides the priorities?
• The Commissioner of the Dept. of
Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living
[DAIL]
• Based on funds available
• Any proposed changes need to be
presented to the State Standing
Committee on Developmental Services
at least 60 days before they go into affect
So, what can you do?
• Make sure you know about any changes that
could affect you or your family member
• Let the State agency [D-DAS] and Committee
members know what changes you think should
be made.
• You can also insist that D-DAS consider all of
the information it is supposed to when it writes
the Plan.
– For example, the last Plan mentioned aging parents
but the current Plan leaves them out.
How can you do that?
• Attend and present at the Standing Committee
meetings, held the 3rd Thursday of the month
• Submit written comments to D-DAS about your
concerns
** Also remember ~ You can get to know the
people you elect – senators, legislators and the
Governor – and keep them informed.
When is this happening?
Right now!
• Any changes this year will be effective
September 30, 2012
• Next Standing Committee meetings are
June 21, July 19 and Sept. 20.
• The agency D-DAS will present proposals
for change by July 19
How can you learn more?
• Ask to be on the Standing Committee list,
and to get more info on SOCP changes,
by e-mailing chuck.bruder@state.vt.us
• Send an e-mail to me at
karen.schwartz@state.vt.us
• Contact Vermont Family Network’s
developmental disability specialist at 1800-800-4005.
Links to Resources
•VT’s Developmental Disabilities Act~ 18 V.S.A. 8721
www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/fullchapter.cfm?Title=18&Chapter=204A
•VT’s System of Care Plan for FY2012-14
www.ddas.vermont.gov/ddas-programs/programs-dds/programs-ddsdefault-page#policies
•VT Developmental Services 2012 Annual Report ~
www.ddas.vermont.gov/ddas-publications/publicationsdds/publications-dds-documents/dds-publications-annual-report/ddsannual-report-2012
VT Developmental Services website ~
www.ddas.vermont.gov/ddas-programs/programs-dds/programs-ddsdefault-page
We are here to help
• VTDDC website ~ www.ddc.vermont.gov
• VT Family Network Developmental Disability
web pages ~
www.vermontfamilynetwork.org/i-need-helpwith/developmental-disabilities/
Feedback always appreciated!
!