Developmental Disabilities

is a division of the Brown County Social Services Department, providing services to children and adults who have developmental disabilities. We believe that each person is a unique and valuable individual and deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. We believe that the people we serve are capable people and that they have the right to self determination in living their lives.

Services may include assistance with procuring funding and accessing resources. Once eligibility is determined, a case worker can help to identify appropriate service and support options.

Contact Information:

Developmental Disabilities
Community Services Building
1117 Center Street, PO Box 788
New Ulm, MN 56073-0788

Phone: (507) 354-8246 or 1-800-450-8246
Fax: (507) 359-6542
TDD: (507) 359-6505

Hours: 8 - 5 Weekdays

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ELIGIBILITY FOR CHILDREN

Children grow at their own pace but there are some general developmental guidelines that children follow. If you, your child's medical providers, or someone at school has noticed significant delays in cognitive development and adaptive functioning, or if your child has been diagnosed with a condition that results in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of persons with mental retardation, this may suggest that your child could benefit from Developmental Disabilities (DD) services. If your child's only condition is medically related, your child may not qualify for DD services.

It is important to remember that your child does not need to be eligible for Brown County DD Social Services in order to access many other services, funding sources, and community resources.

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Children Under 5 Years of Age

For a child under the age of 5 years, there are three main ways that DD social service eligibility is determined:

1. The child has test scores of more than two standard deviations below the mean in two global functioning, one of which is cognition, and the child is at risk of mental retardation.
2. The child may have been assessed and diagnosed by a psychologist as having global developmental delays.
3. The child may have a related condition that results in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of persons with mental retardation. This may be indicated by substantial limitations in three or more areas of life activities, including self-care, understanding and use of language, learning, mobility, self-direction or judgment, and independent or daily living skills. Diagnoses which may (or may not) be related conditions include, but are not limited to:
   
   
   • Cerebral Palsy
   • Autism
   • PDD
   • Epilepsy
   • Prader-Willi Syndrome
   • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)/Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE)

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Children Over 5 Years of Age

For a child over 5 years of age, a psychological evaluation (IQ score) completed within the last three years, and an adaptive skills assessment that documents delays must be provided. The child must show a full scale IQ of 70 or lower, or be diagnosed with a Related Condition (see list above) and show both significant deficits in adaptive skills and have similar service needs to a person with mental retardation. Brown County will assist with obtaining an evaluation, if one is not available from the school or through private insurance.

Is there a fee for Children's DD social services?

There may be a fee for DD services, based on family size and income. If you are paying a fee for TEFRA, or are receiving Social Security or Medical Assistance, we do not collect an additional fee.

The application process for children:

To apply for children's DD services, call 507-359-6500. You will be asked for some basic information over the phone to determine if your child may meet the criteria for eligibility and a DD worker will be in contact with you later to complete the assessment and eligibility process.

When your child turns 18 years old:

Legal status of your child changes at age 18. Your child becomes a legal adult with all the rights and responsibilities of any other adult. If you have concerns that your child's judgment or decision-making is a threat to their welfare, if they are unable to make responsible personal decisions, and/or are unable to meet their needs, you may wish to explore guardianship of the person or conservatorship of the estate of your child. This is a legal procedure, done in court, and financial help is available for this process. A guardian or conservator may be a relative, another individual, or an agency. For copies of forms or the guardianship manual go to www.courts.state.mn.us/forms and click on the category "guardianship and conservatorship".

At age 18, income eligibility is based on your child's income and assets, not on the family income. Your child should apply for medical assistance (MA), Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA), and Social Security Income (SSI). These are important funding sources for services.

Your school district will work with your child and your child's interdisciplinary team to develop a transition plan. Your child's school meetings are important planning tools and can help the team plan for future work and housing. If your child plans to move after school, early planning is essential to start the process to request funding and supports for residential services, as these are not mandated services. Funding for these supports may be arranged through MN Division of Rehabilitation Services (training and job placement) or through your social worker at Brown County Social Services (ongoing support).

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Eligibility for Individuals Age 18 and Over

To be eligible, an adult must be a person with mental retardation or a related condition.

A person with mental retardation means a person who has substantial limitations in present functioning, manifested as significantly sub average intellectual functioning (IQ under 70), existing concurrently with demonstrated deficits in adaptive behavior and who manifests these conditions before the person's 22nd birthday.

A person with a related condition means a person who has been diagnosed as having a severe, chronic disability that meets all of the following conditions:

1. is attributable to cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, Prader-Willi syndrome, or any other condition, other than mental illness or an emotional disturbance and is found to be closely related to mental retardation because the condition results in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of persons with mental retardation and requires treatment or services similar to those required for persons with mental retardation;
2. is manifested before the person reaches 22 years of age;
3. is likely to continue indefinitely; and
4. results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity:
   1. self-care;
   2. understanding and use of language;
   3. learning;
   4. mobility;
   5. self-direction; or
   6. capacity for independent living.

Is there a fee for DD social services for adults?

There may be a fee for DD services based on the adult's income and assets. If the individual is eligible or receiving Medical Assistance there is not a fee.

The application process:

To apply for DD services, call 507-359-6500. You will be asked for some basic information over the phone to determine if you meet the criteria for eligibility and a DD worker will be in contact with you later to complete the assessment and eligibility process.

If the adult is determined to be eligible for DD social services, the adult and/or the individual's legal representative will be notified by letter and a social worker will be assigned to meet and develop an Individual Service plan and assist in obtaining services.

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PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE

County Social Services

A social worker can help to identify services and support options, as well as available funding to pay for them. They will provide services including assessment, information and referral to other resources, case management, monitoring, and advocacy.

Consumer Directed Supports

Consumer Directed Supports (CDS) is a flexible way to use some of the available funding streams, such as the DD Waiver, Choices Respite or Family Support Grant. CDS is designed to provide support, care and assistance to an individual with a disability, prevent the person's institutionalization and allow the person to live an inclusive community life. CDS supports are designed to build, strengthen or maintain informal networks of community supports for the person. The person with a disability and/or their guardian or legal representative is given control over a specific budget which is used to purchase both informal and formal services. Budgets are based on the program guidelines, funding available and needs of the client. All budgets must be approved by the county case manager A personal support plan to assure health and safety and a description of how the resources will be used is required.

Day Programs

DAY CARE ASSISTANCE: The portion of the day care fee that is in excess of that charged for similar-aged children without disabilities may be funded if it is part of an approved plan. In addition, Brown County Child Care Assistance Program has a sliding fee schedule, based on family income, to assist families with the cost of child care. Call 507-359-6500 and ask for the child care assistance program.

DAY TRAINING AND HABILITATION (DT&H): These services are directed at the development and maintenance of life skills and community integration and are coordinated with the person's residential habilitation services by the County social worker. Both Enterprise North and MRCI are providers of DT&H Services in Brown County.

DT&H Services include supervision, training, and assistance in the areas of self-care, communication, socialization, use of leisure and recreation time, and behavior management; as well as training in community survival skills, money management and therapeutic activities designed to increase an individual's adaptive living and work skills.

EXTENDED EMPLOYMENT OR COMMUNITY BASED EMPLOYMENT: Vocationally oriented services for the individual who does not require the extensive supports available in DT&H employment. Extended employment is offered in a facility or in sites in various employment settings in the community. Community based employment may offer an individual a single employment site or multiple sites in which they are given the opportunity to work alongside non-disabled individuals at a competitive wage. Job coaching is provided. Mankato Rehabilitation Center in New Ulm is a provider of sheltered work in Brown County.

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SUPPORT SERVICES

PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT (PCA): PCA services include assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, and activities of daily living, as well as meal preparation and housekeeping chores essential to the health and welfare of a child/adult. Public Health nursing determines the number of hours of PCA funding that a child/adult can receive, based on an assessment they provide.

SEMI-INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES (SILS): This is a Brown County/State program that provides support services to individuals who are living or planning to live outside of their family. A SILS counselor assists the individual in a variety of areas to live independently. Some of these areas are money management, care of an apartment, meal planning and preparation, shopping, first-aid training, personal appearance and hygiene, social/recreation, rights and responsibilities of community living and transportation usage.

CHOICES FOR FAMILIES: This is a voluntary program offered to families by Brown County Family Services to provide financial support for respite care for children (ages 0-22). This program supports efforts to arrange and pay for respite care that meets the needs of families.

FAMILY SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM: This program provides a cash grant to families of children with certified disabilities. The goal of the program is to enable the family to prevent or to delay the out-of-home placement of children with disabilities, promote family health and social well being by assisting families to access services and supports.

WAIVER SERVICES: Waiver programs were designed to provide options to traditional support services, prevent institutionalization and assist individuals to live as members of the community. The types of waiver programs offered through the disabilities services department includes MR/RC (Mental Retardation/Related Conditions), CADI (Community Alternatives for Disabled Individuals), CAC (Community Alternative Care) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). There are specific eligibility requirements, a menu of services, funding parameters, limits and policies for each waiver program. For more information contact the Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.state.mn.us

FOSTER CARE PROGRAM: Residential service for four or fewer adults or children that provides food, lodging, protection, supervision and household services to a functionally impaired individual. The service may also include the providing of personal care, household and living skills, assistance or training, medication assistance and assistance safeguarding client resources. The site is inspected by the fire marshal and is licensed by the MN Department of Human Services based on a review by the local county. Foster care can be family based or a corporate foster care with a shift staff model. Usually, the term "foster care" is used to designate a family based program and the term "supported living services" is used for a corporate facility.

INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITY FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED (ICF/MR): These are group habilitation homes, licensed by the MN Department of Health and the MN Department of Human Services for six or more individuals. They provide 24-hour supervision and active treatment. Skills are taught in the following areas: self-care, sensory/motor development, interpersonal skills, communication, reduction/elimination of challenging behavior, community living and mobility, health care, leisure and recreation, money management, household chores and other areas that are developed by the persons interdisciplinary team (IDT).

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FUNDING SOURCES

Private Health Insurance

Your health insurance may pay for assessments, adaptive equipment, therapies, counseling, and support services.

Medical Assistance (MA)

This is a federal program that pays for medical care and some support services for low income families or individuals 18+ years of age. These support services include the waiver programs listed above.

TEFRA (Tax Equity and Financial Responsibility Act of 1982)

This program provides medical assistance for children with qualifying disabilities who live with their families and do not qualify for MA because family income is too high. Only the child's income and disability are used to determine eligibility. There is a state parental fee for TEFRA, based on family income and family size. A worksheet is available to estimate parental fee.

Medical Assistance for Employed Persons with Disabilities (MA-EPD)

This program provides medical assistance for people with disabilities who work, at little or no cost.

Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA)

Provides additional cash grant to supplement SSI/RSDI income for anyone living in the community who is blind, or for other persons over age 18.

Group Residential Housing (GRH)

Funding for room and board in assisted living sites licensed under group residential housing licensing rules.

Please contact the financial department at Brown County Family Services for further information regarding eligibility for all of the above funding sources, with the exception of private health insurance.

Supplemental Security Income

Cash benefits payable to children with qualifying disabilities whose families have very limited income. At age 18, family income is no longer a factor for eligibility.

Retirement & Survivors Disability Insurance (SSI)

You may be eligible for disability benefits under social security if you have a qualifying disability and have worked enough to pay into social security or are eligible for benefits under a parents plan.

For more information on SSI or RSDI eligibility, please contact the Social Security Administration or visit: www.ssa.gov

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