• Pathways to Services

Quick Guide: Requesting Crisis Review

Am I Ready to Apply?

Below are the criteria that the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) uses to determine whether an individual meets the rule requirements for Crisis Waiver Enrollment.

To apply for Crisis Waiver Enrollment an individual must:

  • Be an applicant submitting a new application for APD services, or

  • Be an existing APD client in pre-enrollment, and

  • Have documentation of being homeless, danger to self and others, or their caregiver is unable to provide care

Make sure to gather all necessary documentation to submit.

If you have any general questions:

Please contact us at 1-866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273):

For specific questions regarding crisis, please call:

Find Your Local APD Office

Click on the Crisis Category Below for Specific Documentation Information

Documentation Needed When Requesting a Crisis Review at the Time of Applying for Services

For APD to begin the crisis review process, an individual must have been determined eligible for APD services pursuant to section 393.065, F.S., and must meet the level of care requirement for an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities pursuant to federal regulations. Please submit the necessary crisis documentation listed within the Quick Guide. Please note that the Quick Guide: Applying for APD Services and Requesting Crisis Review is a reference only and not an exhaustive list. If necessary, APD may request additional information or documentation in order to complete the crisis review.

Homeless

Eligibility:

The client is currently homeless, living in a homeless shelter, living in an unsafe environment, or is housing insecure. Such as a place where:

  • violence or illegal activities are taking place,

  • the applicant is at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation,

  • there is insufficient, inappropriate, or no room to shelter the applicant, or

  • the living arrangement is not expected to last more than several weeks. 

Examples of Documents That May Be Needed

One or more of the following types of documents* may be needed:

  • Eviction notice/foreclosure notice

  • Evidence of living in a shelter

  • Evidence of being released from jail with nowhere to live

  • Evidence of a temporary living setting

  • Credible evidence from either the caregiver, law enforcement, DCF protective service investigations, hospitals, court documents, or other professionals aware of the client’s health and safety being at imminent risk.

  • Written documents from any individual aware of the client’s situation.

*Note: documents should be current within the last 12 months.

Danger to Self or Others

Eligibility:

The client exhibits behaviors that without the provision of immediate waiver services may create a life-threatening situation for themselves or others. Such as:

  • the health and safety of the applicant or others in the household is at risk,

  • frequent or intense injury to self or others, 

  • risk for serious injury or permanent damage to self or others or

  • documented medical treatment for injury to self or others or

  • no other supports are available to address the behaviors.

Examples of Documents That May Be Needed:

One or more of the following documents* may be needed:

  • Police reports/arrest reports

  • School records (IEPs)

  • Incident reports

  • Behavior assessments/behavioral analysis reports and graphs

  • Medicaid State Plan approval / authorization / prior service authorization approval forms (if under age 21)

  • Legal documents (court documents / probation / restraining orders / final orders)

  • Baker Act reports

  • Medication lists

  • Videos, pictures, or letters

  • Safety plan and data (graphs) from a behavioral provider

  • Credible evidence from either the caregiver, law enforcement, DCF protective service investigations, hospitals, court documents, or other professionals aware of the client’s dangerous behaviors that place their health and safety at imminent risk.

*Note: documents should be current within the last 12 months.

Caregiver Unable to Provide Care

Eligibility:

The client is living with a caregiver who is in extreme duress and no longer able to provide for the applicant’s health and safety because of illness, injury, or advanced age, and the applicant requires a caregiver. Such as:

  • without immediate provision of waiver services, the applicant’s health and safety are at imminent risk,

  • without immediate provision of waiver services, the applicant cannot remain living with the caregiver,

  • other potential caregivers, such as another parent, stepparent, brother, sister or other relative or person, are unavailable or are unable to provide care,

  • the caregiver’s physical or mental condition prevents the provision of adequate care, or

  • the caregiver’s age impairs the caregiver’s ability to provide sufficient care to the applicant, or

  • the caregiver cannot provide sufficient care because of the age or size of the applicant, or the physical, functional, or behavioral demands of the applicant, or

  • other circumstances prevent the caregiver from providing sufficient care.

Examples of Documents That May Be Needed:

One or more of the following documents* may be needed:

  • Caregiver medical records

    • If the condition or circumstance is due to a medical condition, a physician’s statement must be provided to explain why the current caregiver cannot continue.

    • Circumstances that are not medical in nature must be described and signed by the caregiver.

  • Medicaid State Plan approval / authorization / prior service authorization approval forms (if under age 21)

  • Work schedule

  • Eviction notice/foreclosure notice

  • Medication lists

  • Letter from Social Security Disability 

  • More than one child with a disability/caregiving to others

  • Driver’s license/government ID

  • Law enforcement reports

  • Client’s high school diploma (if a need for supports/supervision is a basis for crisis application, ex: Adult Day Training (ADT), Personal Supports, etc.)

  • Dismissal letter from employer

  • Unemployment benefits statements

  • Denial of services from private health insurance

  • Written statement from caregiver describing reasons for not being able to obtain employment or support the client

  • Credible evidence from either the caregiver, law enforcement, DCF protective service investigations, hospitals, court documents, or other professionals aware of the client’s dangerous behaviors that place their health and safety at imminent risk.

*Note: documents should be current within the last 12 months.

See Chapter 393, Florida Statutes; Rule 65G-1.046-047, Florida Administrative Code for further details.

Additional information can be found at Apply for Services.