The Bermuda Hexagon

Today's big event is an assessment by the DDA (Developmental Disabilities Admin) to determine what level of care will be needed and funded after the hospital. The meeting is with Chelsey and the Social Worker at 2:30. The DDA manages funding and programs for those with disabilities, including autism, but they do not handle mental illness. They may hand off some or all of the decision making and coordination to the MD department of mental health and hygiene, and that august body has not been in the loop so far.

The insurance says they will not cover hospitalization after tomorrow (Wednesday). Through today's assessment and tomorrow's insurance cutoff, something will change very soon. The likeliest scenarios:

• Chelsey will come home to us and we'll monitor her 24/7. Scary, but we're bracing ourselves for it. We would probably continue to work towards finding and funding a group home before our school starts. Failing that, we would at least get her into an adult day program with activities and support.
• She'll go directly to a group home, even if it's not nearby and not her long-term placement.
• She'll go to temporary respite care pending long-term placement in a group home.

The helpful map below shows the relationships between the six parties determining Chelsey's treatment and next living arrangements. The big blue dot on the map shows Chelsey's position and needs, and keeping track of it has been critical to navigating the web of competing agendas.

Hey, what happened to the big blue dot? Who had it last? Hey, we can just talk with each party separately to confirm where the blue dot belongs. I'm pretty sure they'll all agree, right?