An SSA acts as the point of contact for all services requested or contracted for the individual with developmental disabilities. An SSA is certified by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and has completed at least an undergraduate degree with training or experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities.  Continuing education is also required to maintain certification.

What are some of the services they provide?

Intake Coordination:  Individuals that are between 3 and 6 years old can be determined eligible for services from the Sandusky County Board of Developmental Disabilities based solely on school  and /or medical records in accordance with state criteria for eligibility at that age.  A child between the ages of 6 and 16 years old is determined eligible based on school and/or medical records and the administration of Children’s Ohio Eligibility Determination Instrument (COEDI).  At age 16, an individual can be determined eligible for adult services and assigned an SSA using the OEDI.

Assessment:  After and individual is determined eligible at 16, all individuals eligible for services will be evaluated annually.  The Comprehensive Assessment of Services and Supports (CASS) will be administered by the SSA.  Based on needs found on the assessment, the SSA is responsible to present options for services to the individual or family.

Individual Service Plan (ISP): This also applies to individuals determined eligible that are 16 and over or on waivers.  The SSA is responsible to develop and ISP that meets the needs of the individual determined through the administration of the CASS and meetings with the individual and/or family.  The plan is part of a contract for providers of services to implement based on the individuals needs.

Monitoring:  The SSA is responsible to monitor the implementation of the ISP and desired outcomes of the individual and/or family. The SSA has team meetings, reviews reports to identify trends and patters of unusual incidents, performs follow up from quality assurance review, maintains regular contact with the individual/guardian/family to maintain satisfaction with services.

Budgets:  Based on the individual’s needs the SSA will find available resources to maintain their health and safety.   An SSA will assist families to access other community resources to meet the needs of the individual such as Medicaid and Supplemental Social Security Income.  If the individual is eligible, the SSA also maintains services from Medicaid called a waiver.  The SSA administers the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Profile (ODDP) to all individuals receiving waiver services.  It is the responsibility of the SSA to develop services that meet an individual’s health and safety needs within the funding range determined by the ODDP.  Other programs that may assist families with the care of an individual may be the Family Support Services program or supported living funds.  SSA’s are responsible to assist eligible individuals to access funds to meet their special needs.

Residential Services:   Service and Support Administrators enroll individuals on the statewide waiting list for Individual Options (I.O.) Waivers and Level One Waivers at the request of the individual/guardian or family.  The Service and Support Administrator Director manages the allocated waivers for residential services from Job and Family Services.  Waivers are assigned to individuals based on the priority criteria developed by the state and availability of Waivers and local funding.

Provider Selection:  SSA is responsible to inform individual/guardian/family of providers of services.  Information is shared about options and interviews scheduled to assist individual in selection.

Crisis Assistance:  SSA is responsible to provide assistance when the health and safety for individual is in jeopardy and no other provider of service is available to intervene.  The SSA department carries a crisis phone to be available to individuals and family that have emergencies.  They are also responsible for reporting all Major Unusual Incidents for the state filing system.

(419) 307-0562

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