What is a Service and Support Administrator? (SSA)

Service and support administration includes many job duties of a person who works for a County Board of Developmental Disabilities (County Board of DD). In many counties the person who has this job is called a Service and Support Administrator or SSA. In other counties the person has other titles.

What is an SSA?

A service and support administrator (SSA) is a person who works for a County Board of DD and is assigned to you* to act as the primary, or main point of coordination for your services and supports. Your SSA is a trouble-shooter, problem-solver and an advocate for you.

Who can receive Service and Support Administration Services?

If you are a person with a developmental disability, you are eligible to have an SSA and receive service and support administration when:

- You receive Medicaid Waiver services administered by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD), or

- You are age 3 or older and request (ask) to have an SSA, or

- You live in an Intermediate Care Facility (nursing home or ICF) and ask for help to move from the facility to the community.

When you are eligible to receive services from the CBDD and ask for an SSA, the SSA must be provided to you, and you cannot be placed on a waiting list.

Who do I ask if I want an SSA?

Call your local County Board of Developmental Disabilities and ask to be connected to the Intake Department. This is where they see if you are eligible for County Board services.

Why would I want an SSA assigned to me?

Because...

-You want to know what services may be available to you

-You want to receive or want to receive several different services or supports and need an Individual Service Plan (ISP) developed or revised with you.

You live in an ICF and would like to move to a place in the community.

You want a community job with meaningful pay.

You want to help in getting a provider (or a new provider) for some of your services).

You want help to fix a problem you may have with your services, a provider, or with a direct support staff person who works with you.

If you already are on a waiting listing, to say what you are waiting for, and ask how soon it will be available.

Once you have an SSA, you can expect your SSA to:

-Call you back promptly

-Be honest with you about what you can receive from the system

-Help you find housemates and providers who suit you

-Connect you with people who can help you get a job or day services that interest you.

-Change your ISP when needed

-Help you decide what is in your ISP

What is an Individual Service Plan (ISP)?

Individual Service Plan (ISP) means the written description of services, supports, and activities to be provided to a person with a disability. You may ask for this description to be in words, pictures, a video, or a combination of any or all of these. Your SSA helps you and the rest of your team decide what supports to put in your ISP for these areas of your life:

-Self determination (choices, opportunities, self advocacy, personal control);

-Health care and daily living skills (personal care and independence);

-Emotional health (self worth, self esteem, satisfaction with life and spirituality);

-Material well being (employment, money, education and housing);

-Personal development (experiencing success, learning to do new things on your own);

-Inter-personal relationships (social contacts, relationships, emotional supports);

-Social inclusions (doing things in your community that include people with no disability), doing things with friends/family.

What is a team?

Your team is a group of people who can give you support to develop and change your ISP. The group that makes up your team includes your SSA, staff who work with you, providers, professionals, an adult that you want to have help you, and your guardian (if you have a guardian) and any other people you choose to help you consider possibilities and make decisions. In thinking about people you want to include, consider people you know and trust, such as family members, friends, and others who have your best interests in mind. Your Service & Support Administrator (SSA) is there to help you. Keep your SSA aware of services you need. Your SSA can help you decide who you want on your team, and who you want to invite to meetings about your ISP. Your SSA helps you and your team understand your decision-making rights and responsibilities, and those of guardians and others you allow to help make decisions for you.