Placement of Students with Disabilities in Children’s Residential Project (CRP) Programs
Twelve schools on the list of in-state approved residential schools are designated as Children’s Residential Project (CRP) programs. Placement of students in CRP programs requires special procedures as described below.
CPR programs are the result of a joint endeavor between the State Education Department (SED) and the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) to provide educational and residential programs for severely developmentally disabled children. Children classified within the education system as autistic, mentally retarded, orthopedically impaired, other health impaired, traumatically brain injured or multiply disabled may be eligible for placement in a CRP program. The CRP is a voluntary program, and parents must agree to participate before a district can pursue placement.
Children’s Residential Project programs consist of an SED-approved private school, also known as an 853 School, and an OMRDD-certified residential facility, known as an Intermediate Care Facility for Developmentally Disabled (ICF/DD). As a result of this joint State agency involvement, admission to CRP programs is limited to those children identified through the education system as needing educational/residential services who also meet the residential eligibility criteria for the ICF/DD established by OMRDD.
- If the school district is considering residential placement for
a student in a CRP program, the district must first discuss this
option with the parent and obtain parental consent to participate
in the CRP. The district then contacts the OMRDD district
office (referred to as the DDSO) concerning the referral to the CRP
program and assists the parent in the application process for the
child’s admission to the ICF/DD. When this is complete, the district
refers the child to the CRP’s education program (i.e., approved private
school).
- While the school district can apply for admission to the approved
private school, only the parent can apply for admission to
the ICFDD. The district, however, should act to coordinate
the two referral processes and should work cooperatively with
the DDSOs to help them obtain necessary information. The parental consent
to participate in the CRP program, which is obtained by the district
upon initiation of the process, allows for the releases of information
to and contact with the appropriate DDSO regarding the placement of
the child.
- The CRP referral process is complete when the CRP provider notifies
the school district and the DDSO of the student’s acceptance
or rejection.
- ICF/DDs are Medicaid-funded facilities; therefore, an evaluation
of the child’s status to determine financial eligibility
for Medicaid is required in addition to an evaluation of the severity
of the child’s disability. The financial status is reviewed
by the DDSO and involves only the child’s income and assets.
The financial evaluation does not consider the parent’s income
and assets as part of the determination. Children not financially
eligible for Medicaid are required to contribute to the cost of care
provided by the ICF/DD until eligibility levels are attained.
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The DDSO will provide all the necessary evaluations required by the ICF/DD, including a review of Medicaid eligibility. Districts are not expected to answer detailed questions about Medicaid eligibility. Their role is to refer the parent to the appropriate OMRDD DDSO for specific questions concerning Medicaid requirements and admission to the ICF/DD. DDOS staffs are available to meet with families to discuss Medicaid and other ICF/DD requirements.