Header:
CODE OF RHODE ISLAND RULES
AGENCY 15. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
SUB-AGENCY 010. COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION
CHAPTER 005. SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
Date:
08/31/2009
Document:
15 010 005. SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
Section I. Description of State Agency.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has been designated by the Governor as the agency responsible for the planning and administration of the Social Services Block Grant.
The Department of Human Services is a multi-service agency which administers a broad range of financial aid, medical assistance and social services programs under several funding sources. The Director is appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate (Title 40 of the General Laws of Rhode Island ). The Director provides leadership in planning and directing all activities and functions of the Department; serves as liaison with all other state agencies and federal agencies; coordinates Department activities in respect to state and federal legislation; and responds to inquiries and requests regarding departmental activities from individuals and organizations outside of the Department. The Director is assisted by the Deputy Director in the discharge of her responsibility by Associate Directors and Executive Directors who head the divisions of the Department: (1) Division of Economic Support, (2) Division of Management and Operations Services, (3) Division of Elderly Affairs, (4) Division of Veterans Affairs (5) Division of Child Support Services. Associate Directors and Executive Directors are responsible for overall leadership of major programs. They are responsible for establishing priorities, program standards and policies, insuring provision for training of staff within their programs and providing general assistance to staff in program areas under their supervision. Within the divisions, specific programs are headed by an Administrator (or equivalent title) that has day to day responsibility for program operation.
The Division of Economic Support has overall responsibility for the operation of the Assistance Payment Programs (TANF and GPA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)and Social Service and Child Care Programs and the Social Service Block Grant.
The Division of Elderly Affairs is responsible for the development of comprehensive and coordinated systems for the delivery of services to the elderly in Rhode Island.
The Division of Veterans Affairs has administrative responsibility for the Veterans Home, Veterans Cemetery and other veterans affairs.
Section II. A Plan for the Use of Federal Funds.
Federal funds will be expended in accordance with Title XX of the Social Security Act, also called the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG)
GOALS - Services are directed at the goals of:
1. Achieving or maintaining economic self-support to prevent, reduce or eliminate dependency;
2. Achieving or maintaining self-sufficiency, including reduction or prevention of dependency;
3. Preventing or remedying neglect, abuse or exploitation of children and adults unable to protect their own interests, or preserving, rehabilitating or reuniting families;
4. Preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care by providing for community-based care, home-based care, or other forms of less intensive care; and
5. Securing referral or admission for institutional care when other forms of care are not appropriate, or providing services to individuals in institutions.
RESOURCES
Funds to support the Block Grant (SSBG) are appropriated by the Rhode Island General Assembly to the Department of Human Services as a component of the total budget of the Department for the variety of services it provides. When expenditures are made for social service activities, federal and state resources are distributed concurrently. Federal funds received by the state are deposited in the General Fund. The estimate of the amount of federal reimbursement is considered one of the revenue sources when the State Budget is developed and is considered by the Legislature when appropriations are made.
SERVICES
A. Services provided directly by the Department of Human Services consist primarily of casework counseling, and case management and include the cost of planning and administration of all SSBG activities and some staff training. They also include the referral to and authorization of contracted services.
Health services assist people to attain and maintain better physical and mental health by helping them to identify and understand their health needs and resources available to them including the Rhode Island Medical Assistance Program, EPSDT and Residential Services.
Housing services help people to obtain and retain adequate housing in the community, avert heating and utility shutoffs, mediate landlord/tenant problems, and address emergency shelter needs.
The Department's social workers play a key role in the area of Information and Referral Services linking people with appropriate community resources. Crisis intervention and follow-up activities are included in this component.
Specialized services are provided to individuals with physical or mental disabilities including individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
B. PURCHASE OF SERVICE AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS are negotiated with a number of community agencies and organizations for the provision of specific services.
Emergency Shelter services provide housing when a client's dwelling is made uninhabitable as the result of catastrophe such as fire or flood, or when severe domestic problems endanger the safety of family members. Through the Department of Administration, Office of Housing and Community Development, funding is provided to community agencies for the establishment and operation of shelters for the homeless.
Information and Referral Services are purchased from community-based agencies.
Maternity Home Services are provided by contract. A residential maternity home placement facility provides counseling and related services to unmarried pregnant girls.
Family Planning Services enable individuals of childbearing age voluntarily to limit their family size by providing counseling, information, and medical services. (Medical Services are provided through title XIX for persons eligible for that program).
The Department of Mental Health, Retardation & Hospitals provides residential services to individuals with mental health and/or substance abuse issues who cannot be cared for at home and could not otherwise afford to have access to treatment.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Services are available in every community in the State of Rhode Island. All persons in the State may apply for social services. There is no requirement of citizenship nor are there requirements related to duration of residence.
Although an individual or family may be eligible for most Block Grant Social Services, this does not mean that entitlement for a specific service exists. Additional eligibility requirements may be prescribed by the governing contracts and/or DHS Policy Manual. For example, transportation is only provided for individuals with disabilities, and documentation of the disability is required.
Provision of services depends not only upon the need of the individual or family, but also upon the availability of funding and the capacity of the provider agency. Waiting lists may be established when a provider is at the limit of its capacity to respond.
Agencies which enter into a contract with the Department of Human Services (or have subcontracts under Title XX) may not charge a fee for Title XX services, except in connection with an approved co-payment system. An agency may, of course, charge for other services not funded by DHS.
The State provides a system and procedure for fair hearings under which applicants or recipients may appeal denial, reduction or termination of services or failure to act upon a request for service within a reasonable time.
Medical care may be provided only as an integral but subordinate part of a social service.
Room and board will only be provided for a short-term as an integral but subordinate part of a social service or when temporary emergency shelter is provided as a protective service.
All providers agree to meet the requirements of all applicable State and Federal law including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as the longstanding policies of nondiscrimination in all DHS programs and the Drug Free Workplace Regulations. All providers agree to comply with the requirements of the Governor's Executive Order No. 05-01 and the Federal Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.
All providers agree to report to DHS and to submit economy, efficiency and program results, reviews, investigations and evaluations and audits which may be required on a quarterly fiscal basis with annual audits.
Public participation and comment are encouraged in all DHS programs and facilitated through wide dissemination of this report, by the legislative hearings open to the public, through the accessibility of all levels of department staff from field worker to the Office of the Director.
Specific comments regarding this plan may be addressed to the Division of of Individual and Family Support Services, Office of the Associate Director, 600 New London Avenue, Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Comments will be considered when Social Service Block Grant plans and reports are developed.
|