At Hope Community Resource, Inc. (Hope), we provide a wide range of supports to many individuals who experience a disability under a variety of funding sources. The best method to check and see if you meet eligibility requirements is to call us directly.

There are four (4) major funding sources, with each having separate eligibility criteria. Below are State of Alaska descriptions of these funding sources.

1. DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY: Eligibility for State sponsored developmental disability programs/funding is based on the State of Alaska's definition as set forth in AS 47.80.900:

(7) "person with a developmental disability" means a person who is experiencing a severe, chronic disability that

(A) is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or a combination of mental and physical impairments;
(B) is manifested before the person attains the age of 22;
(C) is likely to continue indefinitely;
(D) results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity; self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency; and
(E) reflects the person's need for a combination and a sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment, or other services that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.

Exception to: (A) Impairments, mental or physical, caused by mental illness are not considered developmental disability. This would include all mental illness diagnoses that are coded on Axis I using the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders III-R.

2. ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES: Individuals between the ages of 21 and 64 who experience severe disabilities may be eligible for this service. In order to qualify, an individual must require either skilled or intermediate nursing facility level of care as determined by information contained in the Long Term Care Assessment. In addition to level of care qualifications, individuals must not exceed/meet defined financial/resource limitations.

3. SEVERELY EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED (SED) CHILDREN: A severely emotionally disturbed child must meet the following criteria to be eligible to receive mental health rehabilitation services.

The recipient is:

(A) under the age of 21
(B) the recipient's specific symptoms and maladaptive behavior are identified during an intake assessment and functional assessment the provide the basis for the recipient's diagnosis;
(C) the recipient has, as a result of the symptoms and maladaptive behavior, serious functional impairment in one or more areas of social functioning, including family, school, or community, as indicated by
(D) an Axis V Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) rating at admission of 50 or less per the American Psychiatric Association/s DSM IV or
(E) the exhibition of specific mental, behavior, or emotional disorders that place the recipient at imminent risk for out-of-home supervision or protective custody by state or local authorities.
(F) the clinical record confirms that the symptoms and maladaptive behavior have lasted at least six months and require mental health rehabilitation services that are medically necessary;
(G) the symptoms and maladaptive behavior are not the result of intellectual, physical, or sensory deficits;
(H) the recipient's treatment planning process requires active collaboration of the interdisciplinary team; and
(I) the clinical record documents that the interdisciplinary team has recommended and approved, the mental health clinic and rehabilitation service specified in the individual's treatment plan.

4. ALASKA YOUTH INITIATIVE: The criteria for acceptance into the Alaska Youth Initiative (AYI) include:

The youth is under the age of 18; or under age of 22 if he or she has not completed their high school education or received a GED. The youth, through a comprehensive assessment, has been determined to meet the criteria for severe emotional disturbance (as defined by 7 AAC 43.479) including the following factors:

(A) A current DSM-IV primary diagnosis established through a comprehensive assessment conducted by a qualified professional that certifies a severe emotional disturbance.

(B) Current functional impairments in at least two of the following three areas:

1. Inability to function independently in the role of student within their educational environment.
2. Inability to engage in personal care or community living activities appropriate to their expected developmental level.
3. Inability to exhibit developmentally appropriate interpersonal and social behavior, resulting in interventions by the mental health or judicial system.

(C) The existing human service system has exhausted its current resources and has been unable to treat the youth and their family through ordinary treatment, rehabilitation and support programs. The youth therefore requires a highly intensive and interdepartmental team that brings together the family, local school district, mental health, local service providers, and other natural supports to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan.

(D) Immediate intervention is required to avoid out of state placement or highly restrictive institutional placement.

(E) The identified disabilities cannot be attributes solely to intellectual, physical, or sensory deficits.

As is evident, there are multiple avenues by which an individual can access services depending on their particular situation and needs. The staff at Hope Community Resources is well equipped to explain eligibility requirements for various programs and to answer questions. Please contact the New Services Coordinator at 1-907-561-5335 or by email at dray@hopealaska.org.