CRITICAL NEEDSThe Critical Needs Program is a local program, operated by the Madison County Board of Developmental Disabilities, to financially support critical needs of the individuals that we serve by utilizing funds generated from our local tax levies. This fund is established on an annual basis with the allocation being determined by the Board. As these funds are very limited, only critical needs that are related to the health and welfare of the individual, and needs that cannot be met by other funding will be considered. The Board will establish an annual amount to be placed in this fund and used for purposes that are described in the Critical Needs policy. The Board will review and revise this amount as needed and at least annually. The Board may also place annual limits that any one individual and/or family may receive from this fund.
Request for assistance shall be initiated by the individual, family, or by someone on their behalf. Requests are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis for all individuals eligible for County Board services. Once the funding is exhausted, no additional requests will be considered. Approval for a Critical Needs funding request is granted through a committee of Board employees, with an additional level of approval from the Family Support Services Director. Final approval for all Critical Needs requests resides with the Superintendent. All requests for funding must be submitted prior to services being rendered. An application form must be completed along with a detailed description of the service / request. This request form will outline for the Request Review Committee other resources considered, an explanation of the request (including a breakdown of costs, vendor name, and frequency of expenditure), and a justification for the request. The justification for the request should include a description of the health and/or safety risks that approval of the request would eliminate and future plans to prevent the need from reoccurring. Any funding that is approved will only be paid to the vendor of service. Additionally, to maximize the available funding, all individuals or families requesting to utilize Critical Needs funding are expected to contribute towards the request based on yearly taxable income. As defined in the Critical Needs Program, “taxable income” has the same meaning as it has for Federal Income Tax purposes (after all deductions). The Board will cover the full cost of the approved request, with the individual or family paying their portion of the cost (called a co-pay) to the Board. If an individual or family submits an additional request while a co-pay is outstanding, payment arrangements must be made before the committee will review the new request. Again, all Critical Needs requests must meet the following criteria:
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