In 1999, the Board
of MR/DD adopted person-centered planning as our philosophy
and service coordination as our method of operation. This represented
a major change in the way we serve and support individuals
with MR/DD and their families.
To help carry out this change, we began to assign a support
administrator to each new individuals coming to the Board of
MR/DD for services. When an individual calls to request services,
within 24 hours a support administrator will contact that individual
to make arrangements to meet. The support administrator’s
primary focus is to explore and develop services and supports
within the individual’s community.
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Support administrators assist individuals
and their families to identify and acquire the appropriate
services and support they choose for themselves within the
diverse resources available to them. As a support administrator
works with an individual or family, he or she can:
- identify issues and concerns of the individual and his
or her family;
- identify desired outcomes that are important to the individual
and his or her family;
- identify resources, which an individual may need, in a
simple and timely fashion;
- identify individual and family supports and strengths;
- provide information;
- assist the individual and family in determining and directing
the supports and dollars needed to reach their specific outcomes;
- assist the community in learning more about the unique
capabilities of individuals with MR/DD;
- assist communities to develop the capacity to support
people with MR/DD.
The Board of MR/DD has assigned support administrators by
communities to serve all areas of Cuyahoga County. Some support
administrators are based at Board of MR/DD sites; others work
from community sites. |
