MUI Collaboration: Provider and County Side-by-Side Bonnie Demopoulos, Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities Martha DiLorenzo, Rose-Mary Center

Who We Are… Bonnie Demopoulos, Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Bonnie Demopoulos is currently the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) Administrative Manager in the MUI Unit. She was promoted to this position last fall after being an Investigative Agent (IA) for CCBDD for the past 2 ½ years. Prior to becoming a full time IA with CCBDD, Bonnie worked as a part time MUI IA for the cog Northeast Ohio Network covering MUIs in several counties while being employed full time as a licensed State of Ohio Private investigator. Martha DiLorenzo, Rose-Mary Center, Martha DiLorenzo is currently the Quality and Compliance Manager at Rose-Mary Center, a provider of services for individuals with developmental disabilities. As QC Manager, Martha is responsible for all facets of the UI/MUI system at Rose-Mary, including investigations and analysis. Prior to her employment at Rose-Mary, Martha was the Quality and Regulatory Compliance Manager at Koinonia Homes, responsible for MUIs for 5 years.

Notification Timelines County 4 hour notification for abuse, neglect, exploitation, misappropriation, peer to peer act, accidental/suspicious death, media inquiries Class “B”: asap or by 3:00pm next business day Provider 4 hour notification for abuse, neglect, exploitation, misappropriation, peer to peer act, accidental/suspicious death, media inquiries Same day

Investigation Timeline County Initial phone call same day, three working days to conduct interviews Forty-five days to submit report to State Provider Five working days to complete investigation of abuse, mistreatment, or neglect, or unknown injury UIRs if ICF Fourteen calendar days to submit report to County

Benefits of Collaboration Victim sensitivity: less trauma for person reliving the incident Memory: quicker interviews increase accurate recall Same information, same time: more complete transcription of details Viewpoints: Provider knowledge + County experience Perspective: “talking it through”

Disagreements Determination: per State, final determination is County. However - provider can have a different determination. Not ideal: disciplinary action, unemployment, PPI letter, abuser registry Re-read definition of MUI together Unfounded vs. Unsubstantiated: could it have happened? 51% Provider appeal process

Resolving Disagreements Mutual Respect: strengths and weaknesses Professionalism: always maintain relationship

Additional Agencies Police County takes 2nd seat to a LE investigation If LE only takes notification, County conducts complete investigation Provider (if ICF) must do internal report in 5 days Communicate with law enforcement; County may have relationship already Reports: agencies differ…subpoena or not

Additional Agencies DCFS: under 22 years, serve as Primary investigative team. Provider still does internal 5 day report ODH: If crime, and an ICF, Provider notifies ODH AACs: Provider still responsible if ICF, regardless of who operates the AAC. Also responsible for community, school MUIs, except for UBS.

Prevention Planning Communication is the key Provider makes decision about employment, discipline, etc., but must communicate this with County County must feel comfortable with prevention plan (Provider ability to implement) Communication is the key (again)…prevents: Surprise prevention plan items Prevention planning much later than the incident A prevention plan that is unable to be implemented or unable to be documented

QUESTIONS? Bonnie Demopoulos: Martha DiLorenzo: