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Benton County Mental Health - Developmental Disabilities

The Benton County Developmental Disabilities (DD) program services children and adults with developmental disabilities.  We are the fixed point of referral to developmental disabilities services for people in Benton County, including residential, vocational, and support services.  Participation in the program is voluntary.

Who Are We?

Developmental Disabilities Program Staff (PDF)

Resources

Developmental Disabilities Transition Handbook (PDF)

What We Do

Service Coordination:

• Advocacy for the whole person with attention to the strengths, hopes, and special circumstances of each individual.
• Identification, access, creation, and coordination of services and resources.
• Assurance of the delivery of quality services
• Facilitation of individual choice and self-determination through person-centered planning.
• Provision of monitoring and support for health and safety.

Information and Referral:

• Referral to residential, vocational, and support services.
• Information and referral to community resources.

Mental Health Services:

• Individual, couple, and group counseling
• Psychiatric services
• Consultation

Education:

• Public education
• Support groups and educational classes
• Recreation, leisure, and social activities
• Consultation

Contract Services and Monitoring:

• Residential services (group homes, foster homes, supported living, semi-independent living program)
• Vocational services (supported employment, alternatives to employment)
• Transportation services
• Fiscal intermediary, representative payee, and bill paying services
• Support services (family support, comprehensive in-home support, respite, brokerage)

Quality Assurance and Protective Services:

• Abuse investigation
• Protective services
• Crisis services
• Quality assurance

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Eligibility

We service individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that meet state criteria for eligible diagnosis and level of impairment.  The onset of the developmental impairment must be before the age of 22.  Potentially qualifying diagnoses include mental retardation, autism, traumatic brain injury, fetal neurological disorders, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy.

Values

Put people first:  we use person-centered approaches to provide support, ensure health and safety, and foster independence, dignity, respect, productivity, integration, and self-determination

Advocate for equity:  we advocate for equal access to equal services to support inclusion and integration in the community.  We advocate for equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities.

Act with integrity:  We are honest, open, accountable, and ethical in our interactions.

Provide quality, cost-effective care:  We offer services that are responsive, effective, efficient, high-quality, compassionate, and family-friendly.

Build a collaborative community of support:  we work with individuals, families, and communities to ensure necessary support.

Mission Statement

• To promote the highest possible quality of life through support for health, independence and growth.
• To identify, access, coordinate, and provide the highest quality of services and resources to allow individuals and communities to utilize their abilities to the fullest extent.

Goals and Objectives

• To facilitate productivity, independence, and integration of our constituents.
• To ensure the rights and the dignity of each of our constituents.
• To provide compassionate, family-friendly, quality services.
• To individualize services, taking into account the specific strengths, hopes, and special circumstances of each individual.
• To work as a team in collaborating and consulting with agencies and other providers of services.
• To have someone in the Developmental Disabilities Program office to respond at all times during office hours.

Strategic Initiatives

Increase community awareness through delivery of culturally appropriate education, prevention, and early intervention services.

Persons with developmental disabilities should have equal access to services and services should be located and managed in their community residence. The Mental Health Division of the Benton County Health Department is committed to locally planned and delivered services for persons with developmental disabilities. To this end our program will assure and integrate comprehensive support services and safety net for persons with disabilities.

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Crisis Services

• Benton County Mental Health provides 24-hour crisis service.
• The Developmental Disabilities Program staff are available during work hours, and for consultation during after-hours crises.
• Mental Health Crisis/On-Call staff are also available on a 24-hour basis.

Crisis Phone Numbers

Business hours, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm – 541-766-6847
After-hours – 1-888-232-7192