R414-510-5. ICF Transition Program Education for Current ICF Residents

  (1) Education about the ICF Transition Program and home and community based services shall be provided by state staff to all individuals residing in ICFs. Education efforts shall be provided on an ongoing basis by state staff and will include, but are not limited to:

  (a) Displaying Transition Program and state staff contact information in conspicuous locations within each ICF;

  (b) Meeting with individuals living in ICFs, and with their guardians or representatives on a recurring basis;

  (c) Providing opportunities for individuals living in ICFs, their guardians or representatives to visit home and community based services settings; and

  (d) Providing opportunities for individuals living in ICFs, their guardians or representatives to receive support from peers who have experienced moving from an ICF to home and community based services.

  (2) Education about the ICF Transition Program and home and community based services shall be provided in multiple ways and in a manner that is responsive to each person's method of communication. Examples include in-person, one-on-one or group discussions, interactions in community based settings, and communication over the telephone or through email. Educational materials will be provided in print or other mediums.

  (3) As ongoing education about community based services is provided to individuals without guardians, state staff will work with the individual and anyone the individual invites to participate. At recurring intervals, state staff will work with the individual and anyone the individual invites to participate to express whether he or she wants to participate in the Transition Program. At each interval, state staff shall document and act upon the individual's decision;

  (4) As ongoing education about community based services is provided to individuals with guardians, state staff will work with the guardian and anyone the guardian invites to participate. State staff will rely on the decision rendered by the guardian regarding whether the guardian wants the individual to participate in the Transition Program.

  (5) Individuals or their guardians will be informed that they can express interest in participating in the Transition Program at any time in writing, or by any other means through which a reasonable person would believe that the individual is interested in living in the community. Interest can be expressed at any time prior to or after state staff make direct contact with the individual or their guardian, and the individual retains the right to amend his or her choice at any time.