Hetlinger CDDO tells commissioners it serves nine Chase County residents, requests $2,500 appropriation

A representative from Hetlinger, the Community Developmental Disabilities Organization (CDDO) for Chase County, presented to the Chase County Commissioners on April 14 about eligibility, services and a county appropriation request.

The presenter identified Hetlinger as the CDDO responsible for determining eligibility for state waiver services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and said the agency currently has nine Chase County residents enrolled. The presenter said children can be placed on the waiver as early as age 5 and that the waiver covers services for life, including in‑home personal care attendants, job coaching, day services and residential supports.

Hetlinger told commissioners the county appropriation request is $2,500 (the same amount received last year) and described primary funding sources for CDDO administrative work as Medicaid dollars, with an administrative match from state and federal sources (described in the presentation as roughly a 60/40 federal/state match for administrative funding). The presenter offered to provide brochures and to meet families or schools as needed and said Hetlinger performs annual reviews and quality checks for people receiving services.

Commissioners asked questions about levels of disability served; the presenter said Hetlinger manages supports for a full range of needs, including mild to profound intellectual disability and that providers may not decline a chosen client on the basis of severity; instead Hetlinger works with provider networks to secure capacity. The presenter identified strong referral pipelines from schools and said many referrals are for children on the autism spectrum.

The presenter, identified during the meeting as Sarah, offered to make informational materials available to county staff and to provide tours on request.