The Williams County Board of Developmental Disabilities (WCBDD) Board met on January 28, 2019. At the meeting, Debra Guilford, Superintendent, announced her retirement effective July 1, 2019.
Guilford is in her seventh year as Superintendent at WCBDD. She has been a shared Superintendent at the Paulding County Board of Developmental Disabilities for the past three years. Guilford began her career in 1977 as a speech therapist at the Good Samaritan School in Defiance.
Guilford also discussed Strategic Plan priority areas: supporting and increasing direct support providers, addressing the waiting list, expanding community employment, enhancing community presence, and promoting the self-advocacy of individuals with disabilities. The Board approved the 2017 – 2019 revised Strategic Plan and the Preliminary 2019 Annual Plan.
Per the Strategic Plan update, families and individuals were provided clarity about the waiver waiting list and Waiting List rule changes in 2018. In the Preliminary 2019 Annual Plan, the goal is to reduce the waiver waiting list by 50% within the year. Through assessments, WCBDD will determine if individuals on the waiting list have an immediate need for service, or if current needs are being met.
The report noted, in 2018, the WCBDD self-advocacy group, “Voices of the People,” had a growing presence in the community, volunteering with many organizations including the Salvation Army, United Way, and the Williams County Fair. A proposed 2019 Annual Plan goal is to analyze employment transportation availability and needs.
To build upon the person-centered planning process, Heidi Hull, WCBDD Director of Community Services, discussed the use of dream boards for individuals to direct their own lives. This initiative was shared at a recent meeting with all the Williams County residential providers. A similar meeting will be scheduled with the day program providers in the near future.
The public is invited to learn more about the Preliminary 2019 Annual Plan on February 25, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. in the Board conference room at the Enrichment Center located at 11246 St. Rt. 15, Montpelier, Ohio.
The 2019 Board Meeting schedule was approved as the 3rd Monday of each month, except July and December, at the Enrichment Center starting at 11:30 a.m., with an exception, January and February meetings would be on the 4th Monday due to federal holidays.
Judge Steven Bird presented the Oath of Office to Mike Johnson and Robin Kurtz as they begin their second terms on the Board. Other 2019 Board members include Mike Elkins, Neil Oberlin, Diane Peters, Mark Tipton, and Tanya Robarge. Robin Kurtz was elected President, Neil Oberlin was elected Vice-President and Diane Peters was elected Secretary.
Lastly, a motion to commit $446,031.32 as payment for the non-federal share of Medicaid expenditures for home and community-based waiver services was approved.
