The Dispatch

Defiance County Board of DD's Monthly Newsletter

November 1, 2021

As the temperature starts to cool it's important to dress appropriately. Here are a few suggestions to keep your students and yourself warm on those chilly days.

• Check the forecast, and then dress accordingly.
• Always pack an extra sweater or jacket if the temperature is forecasted to cool off throughout the day.
• Keep a hat and gloves in your students backpack in case of unforeseen weather, recess, or field trips.

November Anniversaries

5 Years

Kevin Johnson, Night Custodian

The Evaluation

1. The team meets with the family/child to complete an evaluation that is scheduled by the Service Coordinator. Two team members will meet with the family/child to complete the evaluation. Possible team members to complete the evaluation are the Developmental Specialist and another discipline that may include Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist OR a Physical Therapist.
2. The team administers the Battelle3 as the evaluation and assessment and completes an observation of the child’s development.
3. The family is given a link to attend a team meeting via “Zoom”. Here, we will review all the information gathered to determine eligibility and need for services.
4. If a child is eligible or there is a need for services, the Service Coordinator will set up a time and day to complete the final step of enrollment, which is the IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) Meeting.

Stay tuned next month for more on the Early Intervention Individualized Family Service Plan Process!

Evidence-Based Early Intervention

Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

It is hard to believe that we have made it through 9 weeks of school! During the last month we have had many exciting things happen behind the scenes here at Good Sam. Our preschool met with the Ohio Department of Education about licensing and Step Up to Quality. We have been recognized as a 5-star program again. This is the highest rating that a preschool in Ohio can earn.

Our students had a great field trip to Leaders Farms to participate in many different activities that they offer. Students were able to take a hay ride, pick pumpkins, jump on the blow-up trampoline, and walk through the maze. This gave our students a great experience out in the sun having fun with the teachers, assistants, and other chaperones.      

We would like to say thank you to the United Way of Defiance, the Defiance Area Foundation Clothes for Kids Program, the Knights of Columbus, and the Island Parkway Manor for their generosity and help to support our families. Your programs and donations are greatly appreciated.  

ATTENDANCE REMINDER

If a student is going to be absent from school please call the office to let us know. The bus drivers, bus assistants, and teachers do not always have time to report absences to the office.       

Good Samaritan School

November Lunch Menu

Defiance County Schools: Quarantine Exposure Guidelines

Updated by the Ohio Department of Health on 10/25/2021

Unless you are an adult with disabilities, or a family member of an adult, you probably don’t know a great deal about what the Service and Support Administration (SSA) Department does.

This is just a brief description of some of the things the SSA's do for individuals. SSA's pride themselves on knowing “their people” and being with them throughout their lifetimes.  

Determine Eligibility for Board Services. 

Eligibility consists of a diagnosis of a developmental disability prior to the age of 22, and an assessment to determine whether there are deficits in 4 of 7 different life areas (C/OEDI). Eligibility is done at ages 6 and 16. 

Provide Information and Referral. 

This can range from a family member needing help locating a dentist who bills Medicaid to problem solving a difficult case with another agency.

Develop Individual Person-Centered Plans. 

These plans are completed for anyone who receives a service paid for thorough board funds or a waiver (not including Family Support)

Coordinate MUIs. 

MUIs (Major Unusual Incidents) are those serious events that are out of the ordinary and cause some risk of health or safety to the individual. While the SSA department does not investigate these cases, we do file the reports and assure the investigations are complete and thorough. We then issue recommendations to the team and assure follow through.

Complete Assessments to Determine Abilities. 

These assessments include what skill areas the person has and in what areas do they need assistance, how much supervision he or she needs, how much support he or she gets from natural supports, what medical issues does the person have, and many other areas. These are done yearly and as needed. This helps us complete the person-centered plan.

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