Early Intervention Program: Referrals into Good Samaritan’s early intervention program are coordinated by the Help Me Grow Office. Once a referral is made to the Help Me Grow Office, screenings and a developmental assessment are done to determine if the infant or toddler has a delay. The written evaluation will discuss the child’s strengths and needs. A family assessment is also done to help determine what the family’s strengths and needs are in relationship to the infant or toddler. To contact the Help Me Grow Office for further information or to inquire about services, please call 419-782-6934.

Preschool & School-Age Programs: Referrals for entrance into Good Samaritan’s preschool and school age programs must come from the school districts. Eligibility criteria is based upon the special education rules of the Ohio Department of Education.

Adult Services, Family Support Services, Residential Services, Service & Support Administration, Waiver Services: To receive any of the services listed in this section, an individual must be determined eligible as per the criteria of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. The first step to determine eligibility is to establish the presence of a disability. A disability needs to be diagnosed by a physician if it is a medical disability or a psychologist if it is a mental disability. The disability needs to be a lifelong disability in which the functional limitations developed prior to the age of 22.

Once the disability is documented and received by the county board’s eligibility coordinator, a meeting will be arranged with the individual for the eligibility coordinator to administer the Ohio Eligibility Determination Instrument (OEDI) which is a requirement of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. If the individual wishing one of the services listed in this section is between the ages of 6 and 16, the Children’s Ohio Eligibility Determination Instrument (COEDI) will be used.

The OEDI evaluates seven life areas which include self care, receptive and expressive language, mobility, self direction, capacity for independent living, learning, and economic self sufficiency. The COEDI evaluates the same life areas with the exception of economic self-sufficiency. To be eligible, an individual has to demonstrate functional limitations in three of the life areas.

For further information or to inquire about receiving services, please contact Chris Palmer at 419-782-6621.