Service to the Aged & Disabled     Service for Families, Children and Youth

Social Services Outcomes

Social services are available in the State to help eligible individuals and families:

1. Experience the optimal level of health, safety and independence in a healthy and safe environment.
   
2. Receive support for caregivers allowing them to provide services at no cost.
   
3. Decrease or eliminate risk factors for abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Eligibility for services
Services will be available throughout the State to persons in need to help them reach one of the five program goals listed above. Persons must be eligible under one of the following categories:

1. Current recipients of the Aid to Dependent Children Program (ADC).
   
2. Current recipients of the Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI), persons eligible for SSI special benefits, or recipients of the Nebraska State Supplemental Program.
   
3. Low-Income Aged: Persons who are 60 years of age or older with gross monthly income of $924 or less for a family of one, or gross monthly income of $1,036 or less for family of two or more.
   
4. Low-Income Disabled: Persons age 19 through 59 with:

1. A medically verifiable physical or mental impairment which substantially hinders them from engaging in occupations such as employment or homemaking; and
2. Gross monthly income of $924 or less for a family of one, or gross monthly income of $1,036 or less for a family of two or more.

5. Low-Income Family: A family unit with gross monthly income, adjusted by family size must be less than $1,667 for a family of four.
   
6. Without Regard to Income: All persons requiring protective services, or families receiving family and child welfare services.
   
7. Disabled Persons and Family Support: Persons who need assistance with activities of daily living whose gross monthly income does not exceed Nebraska's 1989 median family income, adjusted for size (e.g., $1,364 for a family of one and $2,623 for a family of four).
   
8. Center Based Child Care Services: Persons whose gross monthly income is at or below 185% of poverty (e.g. below $3,084 for a family of four) for Transitional Child Care, and 120% of poverty (e.g. below $2,000 for a family of four) for non-Transitional Child Care.
   
9. Home and Community-Based Waiver: Persons applying for Medicaid Waiver funding to avoid unnecessary institutional care.

Need criteria for each specific service must also be met in order to establish eligibility for services.

Social services application
Information about Nebraska's Social Service Block Grant Program is available here and at local Health and Human Services Offices. In these locations, individuals may apply to receive any of the services listed below.

Services to the Aged and Disabled

Chore Services
Activities including housekeeping tasks, personal care, laundry, preparation of food and essential shopping.

Day Services for Adults

1. Services provided for part of the day in a supervised setting outside a person's own home to prevent unnecessary institutionalization through intensive and individualized opportunities for intellectual, physical, and social activities and instruction in personal care and independent living
   
2. In-home supervision to allow caregiver participation in employment and training.

Disabled Persons and Family Support

1. Service or assistance to persons who are disabled and employed (or who could be employed), earning at least $500 per month, in order to maintain their employment.
   
2. Service or assistance to families with a family member who is disabled living with them, to prevent out-of-home placement and keep families together.
   
3. Service or assistance to individuals who are disabled and reside in an independent living situation to maintain that living arrangement.

Home-Delivered and Congregate Meals
Preparation of nourishing meals delivered to a person's home, or served in a dining facility.

Homemaker Services for Adults
In-home assistance through education and/or instruction to the aged and persons with disabilities to maintain or strengthen their capacity to function as independent persons.

Protective Services for Adults

1. Receiving and responding to reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation of vulnerable adults 18 years of age and older who are unable to protect or care for themselves; and
   
2. Investigating reported situations, counseling and providing services coordination to arrange needed services or legal intervention.

Respite Service for Adults
Temporary care of an aged person or adult with a disability to provide relief for the usual caregiver.

Home and Community-Based Waiver
Services offered under the Medicaid Aged and Disabled Home and Community-Based Services Waiver to persons denied waiver funding. Temporary help during waiver application process.

Transportation Services for Adults
Travel for the aged and persons with disabilities to health related treatment or care and other designated community facilities and resources.

Services for Families, Children and Youth

Homemaker and Family Support Services - Families
In-home assistance and instruction to maintain and strengthen families and alleviate stress within the home, including the supervision and care of children. Out-of-home instruction in child welfare or child protective services cases to maintain and strengthen families, alleviate stresses in the home or prepare the biological family for return of the child to the home. In-home or out-of-home supervision and care of children for up to 24-hours per day due to temporary absence of the usual caregiver due to hospitalization and/or recovery from an illness.

Center-Based Child Care Services
Child care services provided to foster parents or low income families to support parent(s) in employment and/or training/education when such services are being provided in a proprietary child care center.

Protective Services for Children

1. Activities to protect the rights, health and welfare of children under age 18 to insure that they have an opportunity for healthy growth and development;
   
2. Receiving and responding to reports, investigating reported situations, counseling and arranging for services needed; and
   
3. Services to children and families to maintain and strengthen families and alleviate stresses within the home.
   
4. Services to foster parents who are employed or in an education/training program can receive child assistance with no co-pay requirement.

Transportation Services - Families
Travel necessary to receive Child Care Services, Family Planning Services, to participate in the Health Check (early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment) Program, to receive necessary health-related treatment or care, to allow parents to visit a child in the hospital and to receive Family and Child Welfare or protective services provided by the Health and Human Services agency or other community resources.

Comments on this information may be addressed to:
Jackie Rapier
Social Services Block Grant
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 95026
Lincoln, NE 68509-5044
E-mail: jackie.rapier@dhhs.ne.gov

Social Service Block Grant Plan Page