By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
In recent years, the Wood County NET Plus service has provided local adults with free non-emergency transportation to medical appointments. Soon the service may be transporting some children in an effort to reduce their emotional trauma.
The Wood County Commissioners were asked last week to use some of their support of the NET Plus program to benefit children removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect, and those in foster homes.
According to David Wigent, director of the Wood County Department of Job and Family Services, these children are provided supervised visits with family members in an effort to reduce emotional trauma for the children.
But as it is now, Children’s Services social workers have to provide the transportation. That, Wigent said, is not a good use of funds since the social workers are skilled employees. They will continue to supervise the visits – most of them at Job and Family Services – but they won’t have to transport the children.
Wigent explained the importance of the visits to decrease childhood trauma.
“It’s a very real thing that affects child development,” he said.
As of last week, Wood County had about 65 children in its care. Wigent estimated using the NET Plus program for visits would add up to about 15 rides a week. The service currently averages about 1,000 rides for adults each month, he said.
The county commissioners put $12,000 a year toward the NET Plus program. But some goes unused each year. Wigent asked the commissioners to approve using the remaining amount to contract with the Children’s Resource Center’s fleet of vans that is already used for NET Plus transports.
The commissioners voiced their support.
“It seems like a good use of funds,” Commissioner Craig LaHote said.
“Sounds like a good idea – to reduce trauma any way you can,” Commissioner Ted Bowlus said.
Wood County NET Plus is an ADA accessible non-emergency transportation to medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, mental health and addiction treatment appointments/services. Transportation is not provided to free services such as health fairs, support groups, and meetings with social service organizations. Currently, transportation is not provided to the grocery store or other shopping, trips to the laundry, or to employment or schooling.
Transportation is provided to locations in Wood, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties. Appointments outside of this area are referred to as “out-of-community” and require special approval and may not be covered by the funding source unless allowable.
There is no limit to the number of trips provided and there is no cost to the individual; however, consideration may be made concerning the time of appointments and ability of the transportation provider to provide services to multiple appointments within the same day.
People needing rides, must call the hotline at least five business days before the scheduled appointment. They will be screened for eligibility for one of the Wood County NET Plus funding sources. There is no income or asset limit.
Funds are provided through Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation and Title XX Funds, which are both administered through the Wood County Department of Job and Family Services; Mental Health funds through the Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board; and Physical Health funds through the Wood County Health District and the Wood County Board of Commissioners.
Contact the hotline at 1-844-353-6779 for more information.
