The Hamilton County Board of Developmental Disabilities (HCDDS) is consolidating its four adult centers into three centers to comply with new CMS regulations prohibiting boards from providing direct waiver services if they also develop service plans. Jackson Adult Center will consolidate into Beckman, Kidd, and Franks centers by March 1, 2016. This consolidation aligns with HCDDS's strategic plan of community integration and helps address funding deficits. Individual transition plans will be developed by December 2015 to move clients to new providers, existing part-time providers, or one of the remaining three centers. A stakeholder workgroup and provider fair will provide input and connections to support successful client transitions.

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Consolidating to Three Adult Centers
Information Sheet
September 8, 2015
Ask questions or make comments about this consolidation by calling 513-559-6701
or emailing consolidationquestions@hamiltondds.org
As we have been sharingwithyouforthe past fouryears, several issuesare significantlychangingthe deliveryof
servicesforpeople withdisabilitiesinOhioandacrossthe nation. Many of these changes advocate forpeople
withdisabilitiestobe served insmallercommunitysettings andcome withfundingchallengesthatalsoimpact
services.
Part of this movementinvolvesthe CentersforMedicaid/Medicare Services(CMS) Rule thatprohibitsCounty
Boards of DD frombeingthe providerof directwaiverservicesif the Boardalsodevelopsservice plans. Thisis
consideredaconflictof interest. We nowknow that CountyBoardsof DD will have tobe out of directwaiver
servicesby2024, lessthannine years away.
Thisrule requires CountyBoards tosubmita planwithbenchmarks of progress. Thisplan will be senttothe Ohio
Departmentof DD inSeptember2015 withupdates completedeverysix monthsthereafter.
The firstmove that HCDDS is makingtocomplywiththe CMS rule is to consolidate fouradultcentersintothree by
March 1, 2016. Jackson AdultCenterwillconsolidate intoBeckman,KiddandFranks. Thisalignswithourcurrent
strategicplanof communityintegrationand helpsreducefundingdeficitsfromdecreasingfederaland state
revenue,aflatbudgetandlevyrevenue,andincreasingservice costs.
While difficult,these timesandthisdecisionare opportunitiestodesignservicesinwaysthatmake the most
sense foreachpersonserved focusingon theirindividual choicesandwhat theyfeelisbestforthem:
1. Thisbeginsthe processof HCDDS’ compliance withthe CMSConflictFree mandate aswell asotherstate
and federal regulations.
2. The percentage of people servedinadultcentershasdecreased 22percentfrom2011 to 2015. Current
dailyattendance averages81percentof capacity. These twofactorsallow usto serve the currentnumber
of adultsinthree centersinsteadof the currentfour centers,reducingoperational costs.
3. The Early RetirementIncentiveProgramresultedinasignificantreductioninstaff,particularlyinadult
centers. This givesthe agencythe opportunitytoconsolidatewithouthavingtolayoff staff or hire new
staff to replace those whoretired. All currentstaff will be transferred to other buildings/programs.
4. Criteriausedto make thisdeterminationinclude enrollment,budgetconsiderations,limitingdisruptionto
people served,staffingissues,andbuildingcapacities.
Membersof the HCDDS Service andSupportAdministration(SSA) Teamwill begin planningtransitions one person
at a time foradultswhoattendJacksonAdultCenter atindividualspecialplanningmeetingstobe completed by
December2015, usingone of the three followingoptions:
1. To a newproviderthatmeetsthe needsof the personserved
2. To anotherproviderfull-time,if the personservedalreadyattendsanotherproviderpart-time
3. To one of the three remainingadultcenters
In additionto special planningmeetings, aproviderfairwill be held in mid October. Thisfairwill connectpeople
servedandproviders. More detailswillbe sharedaboutthiseventsoon.

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A communicationforum forpeople served,families,providersandotherinterestedcommunitymemberswill be
heldat JacksonAdultCenter onTuesday, September 15, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Familiesandpeopleservedwillalso
have the opportunitytohearthe same informationaspartof the ongoingseries “FamiliesInTheKnow” on
Wednesday,Sept. 16, 2015, at 10 am. A flieraboutthese opportunities isattached.
For inputandplanningaboutfuture decisions, ashort-termstakeholderworkgroupof families,advocates,people
served,providers,andothercommunitypartnerswill convene andfinishbyDecember2015. In addition,we are
exploringarange of possible grantandfundingopportunitiesthatwill helpbuildprovidercapacityandsupport
successful transitionsforpeopleserved.
For specificquestionsaboutyourself orafamilymember,please contactthe SSA whoworkswithyoudirectly.
To ask questionsormake commentsaboutthisconsolidation, pleasecontactusby calling 513-559-6701 or
emailingconsolidationquestions@hamiltondds.org.
To stay connectedtogeneral agencyandstate information:
1. Sendyouremail addressto lisa.danford@hamiltondds.org forHCDDSnewslettersandemails
2. Like us onFacebook - www.facebook.com/HamiltonCountyDDServices
3. Visitourwebsite - www.hamiltondds.org
4. Become ourfolloweronTwitter- twitter.com/hamiltondds
5. VisitourEmploymentBlog - hamiltoncountydd.wordpress.com
6. Visitthe websitesof:
a) OhioDepartmentof DD (DODD) – www.dodd.ohio.gov
b) OhioAssociationof CountyBoardsof DD (OACB) - www.oacbdd.org
c) ARC of Ohio - www.thearcofohio.org
d) DisabilityRightsOhio(DRO) - www.disabilityrightsohio.org