Columbia
Montour
Snyder
Union
Counties
of Central Pennsylvania
Service System
HOW DO I ACCESS MENTAL RETARDATION SERVICES?
Mental retardation services are available for any child or adult who has a diagnosis of mental retardation or autism with significant deficits in adaptive behavior. The individual must reside in either Columbia, Montour, Snyder or Union County. Consent for services must be obtained from the individual or family/guardian of a minor.
Anyone interested in making a referral or a general inquiry about supports and services for individuals with mental retardation should contact the CMSU Developmental Supports and Services Office at 570-275-6080 or 1-800-451-9720 or TTY 570-275-2327.
When making a referral, you will be asked to provide basic information about the individual. This information will include: name, parents' names if a minor, address including county of residence, date of birth, living situation, education, reason for referral, and review of eligibility.
Intake Meeting. The next step in the process is the intake meeting. This is the first face-to-face contact with a supports coordinator after the referral call. This meeting can occur at the CMSU office located at 307 Mill Street, Danville, or any location of the person's choice. More often than not, this meeting occurs at the individual's home. At the intake the supports coordinator will gather financial, personal, medical, vocational, and educational information to learn about the person's current situation, and to determine eligibility for services. The supports coordinator will obtain written permission to request information from other sources such as the person's physician, educational program, etc.
Eligibility. An individual's eligibility for services must be supported by documents generated by qualified professionals that indicate a diagnosis of mental retardation. These documents include a standardized general intelligence test and an assessment of adaptive skill areas. If these documents cannot be obtained from other sources, then the supports coordinator will arrange an evaluation with a licensed psychologist. Once eligibility has been confirmed, the supports coordinator will work with the individual and his/her family to identify needs and to develop an individualized plan for supports and services.
Funding Options. The supports coordinator will discuss the various funding options that are available both public and private. Some needs may be easier to meet than others and will not take long, while others may be more difficult and, therefore, will take longer resulting in placement on a waiting list. While most services are provided at no cost, some services require the completion of a financial determination. This will determine if the individual or family of a minor child has any responsibility towards the cost of services provided. Supports coordination services are provided at no cost to the individual or family. Individuals with Medical Assistance will have services billed to their ACCESS card.
An ongoing relationship develops between the supports coordinator and the individual/family. The supports coordinator meets regularly with the individual and the family to assess the individual's/family's level of satisfaction with services, ensures that services provided in the individual's plan continue to meet the person's needs, monitors service outcomes and quality, and monitors the individual's health and well-being.