are provided to all persons seeking admission to services or seeking placement in State Schools for the Mentally Retarded, Home and Community Based Services, or Intermediate Care Facilities for Mental Retardation. An intake specialist will gather detailed information about the person, including their developmental history, family and social history, previous services, and previous evaluations. Because formalized psychological evaluation testing is a necessary part of admissions, it will be necessary to try and obtain these test results for review whenever possible. When necessary, a person may have to be tested again to verify eligibility.

are provided to all persons served. These services monitor how a person is responding to treatment, develops treatment plans, links the person to other community agencies, and helps the person plan for future care that may or may not involve TriCounty Services.

are provided to ensure a smooth transition of services between TriCounty and State Facilities. This may include assistance in getting admitted to a State School or assistance in finding a suitable placement in the community for those leaving a State School. Assistance is provided to locate Home and Community Based Service and Intermediate Care Facility for Mental Retardation providers.

provides funds to persons with mental retardation and their families to enable persons to remain in their natural family homes. This support is limited to specific items linked to the persons disability and may involve a one time modification of the living environment. These funds are available for children up to four years of age with a developmental delay and to individuals with mental retardation and/or Autism. There is often a waiting list for the program due to the limited amount of funds available.

are provided to enable families to arrange a temporary alternative caregiver for their family member with mental retardation who requires constant support. TriCounty provides as much respite as possible during summer months for school age children and that periodically has included support for summer camp programs. The goal is to enable persons to continue living in a family home by providing brief breaks from the care giving responsibilities. Consumers enrolled in the Texas Home Living program are provided respite by TriCounty employees.

are day treatment programs for adults. Training is provided at these sites to develop vocational skills and personal and social skills such as grooming, communication, social interactions, domestic skills, academic skills, and recreational and leisure time skills. Individuals receive training in self advocacy, rights and responsibilities, and are taught the importance of exercising “choice” in their decision making opportunities. Pre-employment skills training occurs both onsite and in the community and are coordinated with the Supported Employment Program in the process of transitioning into competitive employment.

provides assistance to persons in finding and maintaining employment. Once a person starts a job, staff job coaches assist them in working through employment challenges and adjusting to the demands and expectations of a job.

is a Medicaid funded program to enable a person with mental retardation to remain in the community and function as independently as possible. Services include residential support, training, transportation, case management, day services, nursing services, and respite for the family. When residential support is needed, it is provided in the consumers/family home, in homes or apartments where no more than four people with disabilities live, or in foster homes. As part of the program, there is one Respite House, one Supervised Living Program, and 28 Foster Homes. TriCounty Services is one provider of HCS Services, but TriCounty also assists eligible persons exercise choice among all HCS providers in our area and will assist them in admission to other private community HCS providers they select.

HCS and ICF/MR Housing