Autism Waiver-Funded Services

What is the Autism Waiver?
The "Autism Waiver" is a Maryland Medicaid program through which eligible children with autism can receive services designed to support them in their homes and communities. To be eligible, children (ages one to 21) with autism must meet detailed medical, financial, and technical requirements.

Waiver Services We Provide
Under the "Autism Waiver," CSS provides:

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What

Trained caregivers provide each child with the direct support he/she needs.

INTENSIVE INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT SERVICES
Intensive Individual Support Services (IISS) are provided to children, who, without these services, would require a more restrictive residential placement. Services are provided in accordance with the child's Plan of Care up to 30 hrs./wk.. Services may be provided seven days/wk. on a schedule that meets the child's and family's needs and are coordinated with other services the child receives. Services may be provided in any setting other than a day or residential habilitation facility.

IISS are goal and task oriented. They are intended to yield the following outcomes: prevent or diffuse crises; promote developmental and social skills growth; provide a child with behavior management skills; give a sense of security and safety to the child; assist the child with maintaining self-sufficiency and impulse control; improve the child's positive self-expression and interpersonal communication; improve the child's ability to function and cooperate in the home and community; reverse negative behaviors and attitudes; and foster stabilization.

IISS use both the home and community as learning environments and as contexts in which to explicate and model appropriate patterns of behavior. The child is supported in achieving successful home and community living through structured support, reinforcement, modeling, and behavior management.

A CSS supervisor plans and regularly reviews the child's therapeutic activities and behavior plans, observes the child in the home setting, meets regularly with the child and his/her family, and trains and supervises the caregiver, particularly when crisis intervention is necessary.

THERAPEUTIC INTEGRATION SERVICES
Therapeutic Integration services target children and adolescents who have problems with socialization, isolation, hyperactivity, impulse control and behavioral or other related disorders. These services are therapeutic, or habilitative, in nature. They focus on expressive and recreational therapeutic activities. The development of socialization skills, the enhancement of self--esteem, and behavior management are also significant areas of focus.

TI services are provided weekdays after school at the CSS' Community Resource Center for between two and four hours each day. The program includes socialization groups and one or more of the following expressive therapies, as appropriate: art therapy; music therapy; dance therapy; and activity therapy. Individual or group counseling, as well as activities for building self-esteem, are also included, as appropriate.

FAMILY TRAINING SERVICES
Family Training provides hands-on instruction to family members designed to give them knowledge of how to help the child acquire and maintain the skills necessary for him/her to reside at home and function in the community as safely and as independently as possible. Training is provided by qualified, licensed or certified professionals up to 60 hours per year. Skills taught in Family Training include conversation, recognizing and responding to danger and threatening situations, making decisions, managing changes, expressing emotions and desires, acquiring socially appropriate behavior, improving daily living and socialization skills, managing money and fostering mobility in the home and community.

RESIDENTIAL HABILITATION SERVICES
Residential Habilitation is a 24-hrs./day, 365-days/yr. program. The flexible service emphasizes the development of the following life skills: social and behavioral; recreation/leisure; communication; household management; personal care; and community skills.

Homes are located in a community neighborhood and are easily accessible to public transportation, shopping, and community facilities. Every home is adapted to meet the unique needs of each child in residence. Each residence is also furnished to create a comfortable, pleasant environment. Families are encouraged to add their own personal touch to their child's residence.

The Residential Program, which follows the MCPS calendar for vacations and half days, offers a highly structured environment with systematic instruction in functional skills. The program's instructional agendas are designed by staff experienced in working with children with autism and other developmental disabilities. The program works to achieve the following outcomes: the development and enhancement of socialization, life, and communication skills; the provision and arrangement of daily leisure activities; and the coordination of educational, vocational, and transitional services with MCPS, as proscribed in the child's Individualized Education Program, or IEP.

For more information about CSS's Autism Waiver Program or to enroll a child in your care, please contact Tina Scala, Director of Instruction.