[lucyjoy]

T called this weekend. He's on the highest level at the group home and should he maintain, we begin visits to home(however, the facility has YET to contact me or send me information I need). I'm suppose to have a SW but don't and will be informing the county that I switched counties shortly.

I have found no one willing to help me unjumble the maze to get adult services for T. He turns 18 this coming summer. I am planning to apply for SSI for him mainly to keep his insurance for medications.

However, he can't live here. Not sure how to handle that. One thought we had was putting him in a cheap apartment or trailer house. He can't manage money and he hates being alone-he has intense fears of everything.

Any suggestions on where to start?

[zebramom]

If you're only getting this from T, how reliable is the information?

What were his goals listed on his paperwork? Was it reunification? If not, then they can't force visits on you, at least that's the way it is here.

[lucyjoy]

There IS NO paperwork or goals and in MO, reunification is the required goal or there is NO funding. contract is up Jan 31. If he stays out of trouble he won't qualify at level for and due to IQ and psych issues no one under level 4 will touch him. This place was the only level 4 willing.

He turns 18 this summer anyway and his funding stops unless I can figure out how to extend it. He's gotta go somewhere. And I am the one who has to physically remove him at 18 or the bill starts coming to MY house.

[crick]

This seems impossible to figure out but surely there's someone with answers! How frustrating!

There's no such thing as like 1/2 way houses for this type of situation is there? For disturbed adults who can't live on their own well etc?

Were you able to talk to a sw for the county thing? Any help there?

[bumblebeeskies]

Lucy,

Is there a mental health board in your county? T needs a case manager. Maybe it's just Ohio, but everyone I have known to get one, has found it quite helpful. They are usually able to help w/ everything from housing, to meds, to getting to drs appointments. They are usually contracted through the county, so I would check out whatever agency in your county deals with mental health patients who either have no insurance or medicaid.

[Kerbchek]

Is T in high school? There is a whole part of the IEP designated to transition - an often overlooked part of the IEP, but is gaining importance and is to be started at age 14.

Are there any "waivers" he's elgible for? One of my biggest reasons for getting J on the MR waiver is so he'd have services once he turns 18... J has a case manager through the MR waiver... and they make sure his needs are being me, etc.

[lucyjoy]

Is the MR waiver you got a state or federal thing(or do you know?) T would qualify for such a thing. The IEP says unless I take custody of him again at age 18, I have no right to even see his IEP anymore. Hmm.

I know there is a way to get him hooked into the adult system, I just can't seem to find the right door. I did get the home he's in to agree to send me all the written work they've been sending to the subsidy worker so at least I'll know what it says.

If I just had 15 more hours each day I could get all this done.

[Kerbchek]

Not sure about the fed or state thing... I'll look into that closer. It's been a good thing... I think - it paid for J's camp last summer and a person comes and takes him places once a week, like the library... that part just sarted, its called community supported living.

I can also get respite through the MR waiver - but I used it all up for the summer camp - he qualifies for so many units of service... but it carries into adulthood

They ask a bunch of stuff like when I take J to the dr. and stuff - they're an advocate for persons with special needs and they want to make sure I'm taking care of him right, I guess...

[Lorraine123]

I have no advice, but I am reading everything that is written here for my knowledge. Good luck to you Lucy.

[ajmsw]

Your son T will require ongoing Transitional Age Youth Services. Does your state continue the adoption subsidy until the age of 21? Is your son graduating soon, or will his GH placement continue to be paid until he graduates? The Group Home should be working with you to have a transitional plan from the GH to home. They should have applied for SSI and hooked him up with services beyond 18. Be proactive in getting the county social worker and GH therapist to meet with you to formalize the mental health services, medicaid, and including housing. The goal should not be reunification otherwise the GH will not assist you to help your son with his ongoing specialized needs beyond 18. At 18 all of his bills are not legally your responsibility. As adoptive parents we need to keep informed on services for our youth beyond 18.

[lucyjoy]

I did get a SWer on the phone that told me they could continue his subsidy until graduation but I needed to get in touch with the department of mental health for anything further. I did get someone at the group home to agree to send me reports I should have been getting.

I appreciate your information and will be looking in to how to put it in use. Thanks.

[ajmsw]

I Don't Understand How The Goal Is Reunification If Your Son Has Ongoing Mental Health Needs. The Goal Should Be Independent Living. The Group Home Has An Obligation To Find Resources For Your Son If You Change The Goal. Find Out From Your County Sw What Do They Do For Those Youth That Do Not Have Adoptive Families. Let The County Sw And Gh Therapist Know You Cannot Afford To Care For Your Son's Specialized Mental Health Needs. You Will Be There To Emotionally Support Him, But He Needs An Ongoing Subsidy And Medicaid To Help Care For His Needs. Don't Give Up.

P.s. I Know What Your Going Through. Getting Services For Young Adults Is A Nightmare And Difficult To Do. I Have A Son 19 1/2 Yr. Old (no Resources Were Given To Me To Help Him By His Gh) , And An 18 Y.o. Currently In A Gh (goal Is Independent Living).

[lucyjoy]

Right goal or not, If I remove reunification as a possible goal, I run the risk of losing funding for my child and being charged with abandonment. It's stupid and no one thinks this is a good goal.

[ajmsw]

It would be a good idea to check out your facts within your state. I think that some counties try to put fear in a loving family of being charged with abandonment, but they have an oligation to help your son, and provide him with the funding he needs. Remember at age 18 your county can try to wash their hands from helping you or your son to get the ongoing help he needs. Who is then going to help? Consider speaking to an adoption obudsman or parent adocate to get the facts.
Best of luck!

[lucyjoy]

I have checked the facts and I need to list reunification as a possible goal. This, unfortunately, is not my first time through this, however, the other child can survive on his own, it's just a matter of who he poses a danger to. This one can't make it alone. I have some leads on possible resources and will be working on finding what I need. I also think I have to retake custody of him at 18 which is still fuzzy as to how. Otherwise, he can sign himself out-though I think he'd be too afraid to do that.