Home and Community-Based Services (HCS)
By Annette Wilkins, Betty Hardwick Center (BHC)
The Home and Community Based Services (HCS) program is a Medicaid Waiver program approved by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). The HCS program provides community-based services and supports to individuals with mental retardation as an alternative to the Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation or Related Conditions. The HCS program is designed to assure:
· the individual’s health and welfare in the community,
· supplementation rather than replacement of the natural supports and other community services for which the individual is eligible, and
· the prevention of the individual’s admission to institutional services.
Funding for HCS comes from the State of Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, with matching Federal funds. The Betty Hardwick MHMR Center’s HCS program currently serves 96 individuals. Services are based on individual needs identified by the Interdisciplinary Team. Programming must be age-appropriate and community based. Services that can be provided based on need are:
day habilitation, adaptive aids, dietary assistance, respite care, foster care, nursing, residential support, supported home living, case management, occupational/physical therapy, speech/ audiology training, psychological counseling, social work services, supported employment, dental care, and home modifications.
The HCS program currently has (2) three-bed and (2) four-bed residential homes. An additional 24 foster care provider homes allow 40 of the program’s consumers to live in a family setting. Thirty-seven consumers live either in their own homes or with a family member.
Many HCS consumers being served by the Betty Hardwick MHMR Center are dually diagnosed with both mental retardation and a mental illness. Being dually diagnosed poses additional challenges for the consumers as they strive to function in their community as independently as possible. However, with staff support and assistance they are vital contributors to their community.
Statewide, more than 20,000 individuals are waiting for HCS services. Many have been waiting for 10 years or longer. BHC has 135 individuals on the waiting list in this area. It’s important to note they are not waiting just for BHC’s program, but for any slot in one of the area programs, which includes Daybreak, American Habilitation Services, Texas Choices, Integrated Community Services and D&S Residential.
For more information about HCS, call the Betty Hardwick Center at 690-5100.
Annette Wilkins is the Program Director for HCS. Mental Health Matters is sponsored by the Mental Health Association, phone (325) 673-2300, e-mail mhaa@bitstreet.com. Need help? Call the Hope Line (325) 673-2300.