Purpose
The Family Support Assistance Program provides a cash payment for children with developmental disabilities who reside in their family home and who meet other required eligibility criteria. These payments help families pay for needed services such as respite care, technical assistance, attendant services, or personal items including assistive technology devices and services. Payments range from $250 - $400 a month, depending on the number of children with developmental disabilities living in the home.
Contact
Developmental Disabilities Services
Oklahoma DHS
P. O. Box 25352
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
(405) 521-3571
FAX: (405) 522-8016
Family Support and Prevention Services webpage
Eligibility
The family member for whom the application is made must:
- be under 18 years of age;
- have an intellectual disability or other developmental disability;
- live in the family home or has plans to return to the family home; and
- not receive Home and Community-Based Waiver Services.
The family with whom the eligible family member is a residing must:
- reside in the State of Oklahoma;
- have an annual gross adjusted income that does not exceed $45,000; and
- household led by a biological parent, adoptive parent, or legal guardian of the eligible family member. If the eligible family member lives with an adoptive parent or parents who already receive the Department of Human Services’ Adoption subsidy, the family cannot receive family support assistance under this program.
AT Services Provided/Covered
- No, AT services are provided or covered. The cash payments, however, can be used for any purpose including AT services.
AT Devices Provided/Covered
- No, AT devices are provided or covered. The cash payments, however, can be used for any purpose including AT devices.
How to Get the AT
- Applications are available through the Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) Area Offices.
- Application forms are also available from the Department of Human Services (DHS) county offices.
Pieces of the Puzzle
- Funds are limited; families who qualify are served in chronological order, based on the date of their application.
- It is better for families to contact the DDS area offices for application because they can assist the family in determining if there are other programs under the Developmental Disabilities Services that they may be eligible to receive.
- Documents that will need to be submitted with the application are tax documents and disability supporting information.
- Families do not have to be receiving Medicaid to be eligible for the Family Support Assistance Program.
- Generally, a child must have an I.Q. of 70 or below to be determined eligible.
- Families who meet the income eligibility may choose this State-funded cash payment in lieu of Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services.
Dispute Resolution Process
- The appeal process for the Family Support Assistance Program is through the fair hearing process. If a service is denied, a denial notice will be sent explaining why the service was denied and the appeal rights. A person follows the instructions listed on the denial notice in order to file an appeal.
- For grievances that have not been informally resolved, individuals may file a formal grievance using form 15GROO6E with the assistance of the Local Grievance Coordinator (LGC). The grievant keeps the yellow copy and the white copy stays with the LGC.
- A first-level response to the grievance indicating specific actions to resolve the complaint is due five (5) working days from the date the LGC assigns the grievance to a respondent. The proposed resolution, as documented on form 15GR002E, will be presented to the grievant. The grievant has 3 business days to either accept or reject the resolution proposed.
- Resolutions not accepted by the grievant are appealed to the second level. At this level, the second level respondent has (7) working days to issue response from the date the LGC assigned it.
- Further appeals are facilitated by the Office of Client Advocacy Grievance Liaison.