By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Community Developmental Disabilities Organization is the first point of contact for people who are seeking assistance with developmental disabilities. There are 27 regional CDDOs in Kansas.

Elizabeth Schmidt, director of Harvey-Marion County CDDO at Newton, explained the agency’s services Friday at the Marion County Interagency meeting in Hillsboro. She said the agency focuses on the person, not the disability. It serves individuals of all ages.

Eligibility is based on a diagnosis of mental retardation or having a condition such as autism, seizure disorder, or cerebral palsy as well as a need for long term support when there is little ability to manage one’s own services.

CDDO provides administration and coordination of services, and contracts with other agencies to provide actual services. These include respite care, case management, and monetary assistance from community resources. Eligible individuals can get approval for Medicaid funding.

Schmidt said there are 3,000 people statewide on a waiting list for home-based services including 53 from Harvey and Marion counties. Assistance is based on availability of state funding.

She said the agency may see a cut in state funding, and agency advocates will focus on raising awareness among state legislators of the need for services.

To learn more, contact Schmidt at 316-283-7997.

Attendees at the interagency meeting re-appointed Robert Carlton as chairman and Linda Ogden and Debbi Darrow as co-secretaries.

Tina Payne, director of Health Ministries Clinic of Newton, reported dental services have been reinstated.

Ogden, director of Marion County Interagency, reported the Family Financial Assistance Fund is depleted with a total allocation in 2008 of $8,614. Flex Fund allocations to date are $777.

The next meeting is Jan. 9, 2009 in Marion.