3701-8-02 Purpose and structure.

(A) The purpose of HMG is to provide and maintain a comprehensive, coordinated system to meet the needs of eligible expectant families, newborns, infants and toddlers and their families who reside in Ohio, and includes the following eight components:

(1) Outreach, child find, intake, and procedural safeguards;

(2) Prenatal visits;

(3) Newborn home visits;

(4) Home visiting services;

(5) Service coordination, IFSP development, implementation and review;

(6) Paraprofessional home visiting/ family support services;

(7) Multi-disciplinary evaluation; and

(8) Specialized services in everyday routines, activities and places.

(B) Help me grow funds shall be allocated to each county as follows:

(1) The director allocates Part C and GRF funds to county FCFC’s administrative agents; and

(2) The Ohio department of job and family services allocates TANF funds to the county departments of job and family services to provide HMG services in accordance with the county PRC plan.

(C) Counties receiving HMG funds shall enroll and serve at least the number of eligible participants in the county as determined by the director. Annually, the director shall determine and notify the respective FCFC of the number of eligible participants in their county.

(D) Help me grow funds shall be used to:

(1) Provide direct services for eligible participants in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, terms of contracts, grants and subsidy agreements authorizing the allocation of funds, the county PRC plan, and other state and federal laws as applicable.

(2) To expand and improve on existing services already provided by other public and private sources, including but not limited to education, mental retardation and developmental delays, mental health, job and family services, hospitals and other related providers.

(E) Subject to the availability of funds, the county PRC plan, TANF regulations at 45 C.F.R. part 260, and terms of any contract or grant authorizing the award of HMG funds, the following HMG services shall be provided to all eligible families:

(1) Child find;

(2) Developmental screening;

(3) Family assessment;

(4) Development, review and evaluation of IFSPs;

(5) Service coordination;

(6) Transition services;

(7) Family support; and

(8) County FCFC dispute resolution process.

(F) Subject to Part C regulations, the following HMG services are provided at no cost to Part C eligible infants, toddlers and their families:

(1) Child find;

(2) Developmental screening;

(3) Developmental evaluation and family assessment;

(4) Development, review and evaluation of IFSPs;

(5) Service coordination;

(6) Transition services;

(7) Procedural safeguards and due process procedures; and

(8) Family support.

(G) Specialized services may be subject to a system of payment or use of private insurance. Specialized services include, but are not limited to the following:

(1) Assistive technology;

(2) Audiology;

(3) Family training and counseling;

(4) Health services necessary to enable newborns, infants and toddlers with delays or disabilities to benefit from other services during the time the child is receiving specialized services;

(5) Medical services only for diagnostic or evaluation purposes;

(6) Nursing;

(7) Nutrition;

(8) Occupational therapy;

(9) Physical therapy;

(10) Psychological and social work;

(11) Special developmental instruction;

(12) Speech-language pathology;

(13) Transportation and related costs;

(14) Vision (including orientation and mobility); and

(15) Other services the IFSP team deems necessary.

(H) Specialized services shall only be paid for through Part C funds if all of the following parameters have been met and documented:

(1) The child is eligible for Part C;

(2) The IFSP team is in full agreement regarding the services;

(3) The service best supports the family and its needs;

(4) As payor of last resort, when there is no other alternative source for payment Documentation must include evidence of the parent’s inability to pay, as well as alternative funding sources that were sought; and

(5) Unless inappropriate, the service will be provided in the child’s everyday routines, activities and places.

(I) Help me grow funds cannot be used for the following:

(1) Medical health services that are routinely recommended for all children such as immunizations and “well-baby” health care; or

(2) Medical services that is surgical or purely medical in nature.

Effective: 08/08/2005

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 07/28/2010

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 3701.61

Rule Amplifies: 3701.61