AGENCY LINKAGE What? Why? How?

What is Agency Linkage ? Commissioner Rule: Agency Linkage is a required transition service accessible to all students with a disability and receiving special education services. Agency Linkage creates a smooth transition from public education services to life-long postsecondary resources to supports for persons with disabilities. Add Commissioner’s Rule

Why is Agency Linkage Important Continuation of supports to attain postsecondary goals Provides a funding stream for services Services are based on the person with a disability presenting needs and are evaluated annually by funding agency Services and supports are vital to engagement and quality of life Medicaid Waiver Wait List/Interest List are 10 years long!

How Do you connect Families to the correct Agency ? Determine through educational records review: Citizenship status Special Education eligibility IQ and Adaptive Behavior Scores History of significant medical needs Chronic illness Orthopedic impairment Genetic condition. Citizenship Status: eSped Screen 1 screen shot

Changes in Medicaid waiver Programs State Medicaid Waiver Programs through Health and Human Services (HHS) Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP) September 2016 Medically Dependent Children’s Program (MDCP), Medicaid Waiver program, services are delivered through Medicaid Star KIDS September 2017 Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS), Medicaid Waiver program, will be under the Health and Human Services (HHS)

AUTISM Spectrum Disorder MHMRA/Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD Wait List Services Home and Community–based Services (HCS) Tx Home Living (must be currently Medicaid eligible) Recommend the family: Complete the phone intake interview Schedule an eligibility evaluation Request Service Coordinator to help navigate agency supports Request information/support through Community First Choice (CFC). Medicaid Waiver Program services available through Medicaid HMOs or MHMRA/Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD must be currently Medicaid eligible need help with ADLs/IALDs need institutional level of care

AUTISM Spectrum Disorder Health and Human Services (HHS) Wait List Services: Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Health and Human Services (HHS) / services delivered through Medicaid Star KIDS Medically Dependent Children Program serves person with the most significant developmental/medical disabilities medical model serves persons through age 21 ONLY

Intellectual Disability ONLY Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD* Home and Community–based Services (HCS) Tx Home Living (must be currently Medicaid eligible) Recommend the family: Complete the phone intake interview Schedule an eligibility evaluation Request Service Coordinator to help navigate agency supports Request information/support through Community First Choice (CFC), Medicaid Waiver Program services available through Medicaid HMOs or MHMRA/Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD must be currently Medicaid eligible need help with ADLs/IALDs need institutional level of care

Intellectual Disability with Medical/Genetic condition Medicaid Waiver Programs Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Medically Dependent Children Services (MDCP) medical model serves person with the most significant disabilities Serves persons through age 21 ONLY Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD Home and Community–based Services (HCS) Tx Home Living Recommend the family: Complete the phone intake interview Schedule an eligibility evaluation Request Service Coordinator to help navigate agency supports Request information/support through Community First Choice (CFC), Medicaid Waiver Program services available through Medicaid HMOs or MHMRA/Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD must be currently Medicaid eligible need help with ADLs/IALDs need institutional level of care

Orthopedic or Other Health Impairment ONLY Medicaid Waiver Program Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP) medical model serves person with the most significant disabilities serves persons through age 21 ONLY

Emotional Disability Department of State Health Services /services delivered though Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD Medicaid Waiver Program Youth Empowerment Services (YES) provides services to youth with Severe Emotional Disturbance (SED) who otherwise will need institutional care services for persons age 3-18 only services for persons who are not otherwise Medicaid-eligible parental income is not included in financial eligibility

Emotional Disability Department of State Health Services /services delivered though Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD Medicaid Waiver Program Home and Community Based Services-Adult Mental Health (HCBS-AMH) must be 18 years old with a mental health diagnosis able to qualify for Medicaid have a significant history of psychiatric hospitalizations

Social Security Supplemental Income (SSI) Program Eligibility Requirements US Citizenship Status Documented Disability Meets Federal Income Limitations www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-child-ussi.htm Meets Assets/Resources Limitations $2000.00 home and one car is excluded Eligibility Marker: Free and Reduced Lunch

Social Security Supplemental Income (SSI) Provides a monthly financial benefit Medicaid for medical/health supports follows in Texas Most students with significant disability qualifies for benefits at age 18 proof of documented disability no personal income no assets exceeding $2000.00

Information/MATERIALS Community First Choice www.mhmraharris.org/IDD/cfc. TX Home Living www.mhmraharris.org/IDD/Brochure%20TXHML.pdf Home and Community Based Services www.mhmraharris.org/IDD/whatishcs.htm

Information/MATERIALS Medically Dependent Children’s Program hhs.texas.gov/laws-regulations/handbooks/star-kids-handbook/appendices/appendix-iv-mdcp-frequently-asked-questions Community Living Assistance and Support Services www.hhs.texas.gov/doing-business-hhs/provider-portals/long-term-care-providers/community-living-assistance-support-services-class/fact-sheet-class Youth Empowerment Services www.dshs.texas.gov/mhsa/yes/Resources-for-Families.aspx Home and Community Based Services-Adult Mental Health www.dshs.texas.gov/mhsa/hcbs-amh/ParticipantResources/

AGENCY CONTACTS Real People Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD For information on all agency ID services Consuelo Martinez 713-970-7658 consuelo.martinez@mhmraharris.org Texas Star Programs/Maximus For information on Medicaid STAR Programs and MDCP Elva Caballero 281-260-9871 Elva.Caballero@maximus.com Handouts

Real people AGENCY CONTACTS Social Security Administration For information on SSSI, SSDI, and Work Incentive Programs Andy Hardwick andy.hardwick@ssa.gov 866-591-7734 ext.15639 Texas Health and Human Services For information on CLASS and State Community Care Services Neika Clark neika.clark@hhsc.state.tx.us 713-696-7122

Developmental Transition Specialist THANKS Cindy Yelverton, M. Ed. Developmental Transition Specialist cyelverton1@contractors.kleinisd.net Mobile: 281-798-8037