In 1999, the Board
of 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 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
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 DD;
- assist communities to develop the capacity to support
people with DD.
The Board of DD has assigned support administrators by
communities to serve all areas of Cuyahoga County. Some support
administrators are based at Board of DD sites; others work
from community sites. |
