Franklin County proclaims March 2025 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and hears program report

The Franklin County Commissioners voted unanimously to proclaim March 2025 as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and heard a departmental presentation on intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) services delivered by the county MHIDD administrator.

The proclamation, read aloud during the meeting, emphasizes county support for “access to communication, education, employment, housing, and other services” for people with developmental disabilities. MHIDD Administrator Stacy Brookins told commissioners the month is intended “to bring them together, to recognize them, to talk about the accomplishments that they have, to advocate for them,” and invited program participants and families to speak.

Participants described community involvement and the impact of county services. Liana Krogman, who said she lives in Chambersburg and works at the YMCA fitness center, described volunteering, competing for Special Olympics and representing fellow athletes. “I am proud of working at the YMCA, volunteering at church, and competing with my friends in Special Olympics,” she said. Joanne Perry, whose daughter Erin receives county waiver services, recounted early intervention and later waiver-funded supports that allowed Erin to gain independence, including home adaptations that let her shower independently for the first time.

Brookins and MHIDD staff provided program statistics and a summary of services overseen by the county. Key figures the office presented include: - 597 individuals currently served through the county IDD program (Franklin and Fulton counties); - 58 individuals in competitive integrated employment and 82 in small-group employment programs; - 31 receiving community participation supports; 97 in residential living placements; 33 in family living arrangements; 10 in an apartment program; and 95 program participants under age 21; and - an estimated waiver services budget in the county of about $27,000,000 for the year presented.

Brookins explained the three primary state waivers administered by the county: the Person/Family Directed Supports (PFDS) waiver with a $47,000 annual cap, the Community Living waiver with a $97,000 annual cap, and the consolidated waiver, which Brookins described as having no set cap and typically reserved for individuals at an emergency level. She also described environmental modification rules and limits; for example, home or vehicle adaptations generally have a cap (discussed in the presentation as $20,000 over a 10-year period) and cannot be used to add square footage to a home.

The county serves as the administrative entity for local IDD services and oversees quality assurance, waiver capacity management and contract administration. Brookins identified two supports coordination organizations currently operating locally: Service Access and Management, Inc. (SAM) and Expert Care Case Management (ECCM).

Commissioners and staff recognized the work of MHIDD program staff—Jane Klein (waiver management), Becky (referrals and intake), Mary Rowe (incident management), John Gehrig (quality and risk management) and Deputy Administrator Erin Nye—during and after the presentation. Chair and other commissioners thanked families, providers and staff for attending and for the services described.

Votes at a glance - Proclamation: "Proclaim March 2025 as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month" — motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion to approve agenda, minutes and the consent agenda — each motion was seconded and approved by voice vote during the meeting. - Personnel item: approval of revised job description reassigning the GIS director duties under a restructured "Director of Application and Data Services" role — motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote).

The commissioners took no additional formal actions during the presentation beyond approving the proclamation. Staff said program enrollments and waivers are managed in coordination with state entities, including the Office of Developmental Programs and, where applicable, the Office of Long-Term Living. The presentation included information about community events for the month and highlighted local provider offerings such as bowling and arts programs.

Franklin County officials did not announce new local funding changes during the meeting; Brookins described existing program capacities and the constraints imposed by state waiver availability and caps. The county will continue administering and overseeing local IDD services and working with supports coordinators and providers to deliver services to enrolled participants.