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Mahoning County recognizes Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month; Board of DD outlines services for roughly 2,000 residents
Summary
County commissioners heard a presentation from the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities describing services for about 2,000 individuals, early intervention for infants and toddlers, Medicaid waiver-supported services totaling about $100 million locally, and workforce and technology priorities.
A representative of the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities told commissioners on March 6 that March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and outlined services provided by the county board.
The speaker (identified in the meeting as Bill, director of the Board of Developmental Disabilities) said the board serves nearly 2,000 individuals and families per year and that, at any given time, about 1,800 individuals are active in services because people move in and out of programs. He said the board’s early intervention program serves roughly 600 children annually, and that about 300 of those children may be on individual family service plans (IFSPs) at a given time. “We roughly serve about 600 children a year during that time frame, of which any given time, maybe 300 and something might be on what they call an individual family service plan,” the director said.
The director also said the board’s SSA (service and support administration) staff serve about 1,400 individuals a year, with approximately 970 to 975 people on Medicaid waivers. He told commissioners that Medicaid waiver-funded services in Mahoning County—residential care, day programs, employment assistance, transportation and home modifications—now amount to roughly $100,000,000 of services locally and that Medicaid waiver rates have increased since state investment. “Those Medicaid waiver rates went up 38 over the last year and a half with investment from the state of Ohio,” the director said.
He described workforce challenges and efforts to use assistive technology and remote support so staff do not need to be on site for all services. He also said the board moved its “Tech House” into Austintown on Cary Brook to be closer to the board office for tours and demonstrations.
Board staff who attended included Kathy Bruttin, SSA director; Renee (last name not specified); Maggie Poma, SSA; and Kim Jeswell, waiver support specialist. Commissioners thanked the board for its work and for a playground project that opened late last year at Leonard Hertz School.
The board’s presentation was informational and tied to the March proclamation; commissioners did not adopt new policy or funding during the meeting.
