This service offers assistance to individuals seeking Medicaid eligibility and access to other Social Security Administration services and programs. Services include, but are not limited to, assistance in applying for and maintaining Social Security Disability and/or Supplemental Security income benefits.

Lakes Regional’s Continuity of Services department provides Waiver Interest List Management as well as enrollment services into the Home and Community Based Services (HCS) and Texas Home Living (TxHml) waiver programs. Continuity of Services also provides monitoring, coordination, and placement activities for individuals of State Supported Living Centers, State Mental Health Facilities and community group homes.

Continuity of Services Manager
Kayla Gamez
903.243.9088, ext 2311
kaylag@lakesregional.org

Interest List Manager
Megan Holguin
903.243.9088, ext 2305
meganh@lakesregional.org

LIDDA (Local Authority for IDD services) must ensure a crisis intervention specialist (the “specialist”) provides education to and collaborates with agencies in the community regarding crisis intervention for IDD, and coordinates support for crisis prevention and intervention for individuals with IDD.

The Crisis Intervention Specialist also coordinates Crisis Respite services for eligible individuals when needed. “Crisis respite” means short-term (up to 14 calendar days) respite for IDD as follows: Lakes Regional LIDDA coordinates out-of-home respite with contracted providers for individuals with IDD to provide therapeutic support in a safe environment.

The service provides 24-hour supervision to an individuals who is demonstrating a crisis that cannot be stabilized in a less intensive setting.

Crisis Intervention Specialist
Terri Baker
903.461.7360 ext 4317
terrib@lakesregional.org

Respite is an emergency short-term relief provided by trained staff to the person’s unpaid caregiver when the caregiver is temporarily unavailable.

Crisis Respite Services
Terri Baker
903.461.7360 ext 4317
terrib@lakesregional.org

The Eligibility Determination process includes standardized general intelligence testing, standardized adaptive skills testing, and estimated age when an intellectual disability was identified, including the source of the information. The evaluation must include evidence supporting the origination of the disability during the individual’s developmental period. These required elements may be located in a report identified as a DID (Determination of an Intellectual Disability, previously referred to as a DMR) report; a psychological evaluation or update; a Diagnosis and Evaluation report; or diagnostic testing by the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS – formerly TRC) or the school district. An interview and assessment or an endorsement conducted in accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code, §593.005, and 40 TAC Chapter 5, Subchapter D to determine if an individual has an intellectual disability or is a member of the IDD priority population. As an optional activity, this service includes activities leading up to and/or related to the actual determination of eligibility, including but not limited to research of previous assessment information, etc.

Community support provides services and supports in an individual’s home and at other community locations that are intended to teach individuals skills of interest. Development and improvement of skills that allow the individuals to live more independently is our goal.

This program assists with acquiring, retaining, or improving self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills necessary to live successfully in the community and to participate in home and community life. Individualized activities are consistent with achieving the outcomes identified in the individual’s person-directed plan and activities are designed to reinforce therapeutic outcomes targeted by other service components, school or other support providers. Day habilitation is normally furnished in a group setting other than the individual’s residence for up to six (6) hours a day, five days per week on a regularly scheduled basis. The service includes personal assistance for individuals who cannot manage their personal care needs during the day habilitation activity as well as assistance with medications and the performance of tasks delegated by a RN in accordance with state law.

This service is designed to provide assistance to an individual to help the individual locate competitive employment or self-employment within the community.

A program administered by the Department of Aging and Disability Services (HHSC/DADS ), other than the Texas Home Living Program, that provides services under a waiver granted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in accordance with §1915(c) of the Social Security Act.

Twenty-four hour services provided to an individual who does not live independently or with his or her natural family. These services are provided by employees or contractors of the LAR who regularly stay overnight in the individual’s home. Residential Services provided to more than three individuals living in a single residence that is not a Contracted Specialized Residence.

HCS Program services ensure the individual’s health, safety, and welfare in the community, supplement rather than replace the individual’s natural supports and other community services for which the individual may be eligible, and prevent the individual’s admission to institutional services.

The Host Home / Companion Care Program is designed to assist individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities while remaining in a community setting. Host Home Companion Care forms and qualifications for providers with attachment of required forms

An ICF is intended for individuals who need 24-hour active treatment in a supervised setting.

Assistance in accessing medical, social, educational, and other appropriate services and supports that will help an individual achieve a quality of life and community participation acceptable to the individual as described in the Plan of Services and Supports.

Service Coordinators/Case Managers have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in a qualified social, behavioral, or human service field, such as psychology, counseling, or social work. Or a high school diploma or GED, plus graduation from Partners in Policymaking and personal experience as an immediate family member of an individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Lakes Regional Clinical and Skills Enhancement Services is a community-based program that provides counseling, tele-med, behavior support and skills training to individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or related conditions. The program provides evidenced-based treatment to adults and children. Clinical and Enhancement program identifies the needs and strengths of individuals and maximizes every opportunity for the individual manage their symptoms while living productively in the community.

Community services is an outreach program providing education and support to individuals in their home and at other community locations in order to teach them skills of their interest. The Employment Assistance service is designed to assist the individual in locating competitive employment or self-employment within the community. The Vocational Services assists individuals who, because of a disability, require intensive, ongoing support to be self-employed, work from home, or perform in a work setting at which individuals without disabilities are employed. Supported employment includes employment adaptations, supervision, and training related to an individual’s assessed needs, and earning at least a minimum wage (if not self-employed).

The TxHmL Program is a Medicaid waiver program that provides community-based services and supports to eligible individuals who live in their own homes or in their family homes. The TxHmL Program is operated by HHSC/DADS  under the authority of HHSC.