State Supported Living Centers (SSLCs)

About State Supported Living Centers

Texas Health and Human Services operates state supported living centers.

The living centers provide campus-based direct services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at 13 locations — Abilene, Austin, Brenham, Corpus Christi, Denton, El Paso, Lubbock, Lufkin, Mexia, Richmond, Rio Grande, San Angelo, and San Antonio.

They serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile, have behavioral challenges, or have  mental health issues.

Admission to an SSLC

The first step in the admission process is to contact your local intellectual and developmental disability authority. Search by county or ZIP code to find your LIDDA. The LIDDA will explain both community and residential services. The LIDDA also will determine whether someone meets criteria for admission or commitment to a state supported living center.

If the person is determined eligible, and the person or his or her legally authorized representative chooses to pursue admission, the LIDDA will submit an application packet to the state supported living center that serves the person's county of residence. If an appropriate vacancy does not exist at the local state supported living center, HHS staff will help find an appropriate vacancy at another state supported living center.

Types of Admission

Voluntary

Voluntary admission is the long-term placement of someone who requires habilitative services, care, training and treatment. Voluntary admission requires the consent of the proposed resident, if he or she is capable of giving legally adequate consent. State supported living centers will not permit the voluntary admission of a minor or an adult with a guardian.

Court Commitment

A court commitment is the placement of someone who requires habilitative services, care, training and treatment as directed by a civil court. Admission with a court commitment does not require the consent of the proposed resident. Minors and adults with guardians are required to seek court commitments for admission to an SSLC. 

Respite

Respite is temporary care to provide help or relief to a person with a developmental disability or his or her family. Respite can be provided for up to 30 days with one 30-day extension. Respite admission is considered voluntary and requires the consent of the proposed resident, if he or she is capable of giving legally adequate consent; the guardian of an adult who can't give consent; or the parent of a minor.

Emergency

An emergency admission is temporary care for someone who has a time limited need for treatment through an SSLC. This can last for up to 12 months with anticipated return to community living. An emergency admission is considered voluntary and requires the consent of the proposed resident, if he or she is capable of giving legally adequate consent; the guardian of an adult who can't give consent; or the parent of a minor.

Services

State supported living centers provide 24-hour residential services, comprehensive behavioral treatment services and health care services, including physician services, nursing services and dental services. Other services include skills training; occupational, physical and speech therapies; vocational programs; and services to maintain connections between residents and their families and natural support systems.

State Supported Living Center Fee Assessment

Current maximum daily rate of charges

Charges to an individual served at an SSLC will not exceed the facility’s current maximum rate. The current maximum rate is established by HHSC and reflects the average daily cost of support, maintenance, and treatment (SMT).

The current maximum daily rate of charges to individuals served at state supported living centers: $1,305.78.

Assessing fees for services provided to a minor individual in an SSLC

The following sources of funds are property from which the state may be reimbursed for a minor individual's SMT and are considered separately in assessing a fee:

• third-party coverage of the minor individual;
• the minor individual's benefits from governmental and non-governmental agencies and institutions;
• child support ordered in a divorce or attorney general proceeding or a suit affecting the parent-child relationship pursuant to Texas Health and Safety Code §552.014 and §593.077;
• real or personal property in the minor individual's guardianship estate or owned by the minor individual;
• the net taxable income of the minor individual's parent, in accordance with the Taxable Income of Parents (PDF) formula; and
• monthly net income of the minor individual (excluding income from the minor individual's benefits from governmental and non-governmental agencies and institutions) receiving services at a state supported living center, in accordance with the Individuals in State Supported Living Centers (PDF) formula.

Assessing fees for services provided to an adult individual in an SSLC

The following sources of funds are considered separately in assessing a fee:

• third-party coverage of the adult individual;
• the adult individual's benefits from governmental and non-governmental agencies and institutions;
• real or personal property in the adult individual's guardianship estate or owned by the adult individual or spouse;
• the adult individual's monthly net earned income in accordance with the Individuals in State Supported Living Centers (PDF) formula; and
• income of the adult individual (excluding the adult individual's benefits from governmental and non-governmental agencies and institutions and the adult individual's monthly net earned income) and income of the spouse.

Appealing charges

If the individual or legally authorized representative (LAR) has provided complete financial information and disagrees with any fees assessed by HHSC, the individual or LAR is entitled to appeal such fees.

If considering filing an appeal, the individual or LAR must contact the reimbursement office of the facility providing services. HHSC reimbursement staff will determine if HHSC received complete financial information and notify the individual or LAR of the determination. HHSC recommends learning of the determination prior to initiating an appeal.

To initiate an appeal, the individual or LAR must complete and submit the Request for Appeal form (MS Word) to the HHSC Appeals Division per the instructions on the form. If you are unable to access the Request for Appeal form, contact the facility providing services and request to speak with the Reimbursement Office:

Further information

For further information, see the Texas Administrative Code pertaining to charges for services in state facilities: Title 26, Chapter 910, Subchapter A, Section 910.8 relating to Appeal Process.

Reports

• SSLC Community Transitions by Fiscal Year (PDF)
• SSLC Counts of Residents Removed from Referrals (PDF)
• SSLC New Admissions (PDF)
• SSLC Referrals for Transition Update (PDF)
• SSLC School Age Admissions FY2006 to FY2024 (PDF)
• SSLC School Age Community Transition FY2016 to FY2024 (PDF)
• SSLC Total Transitions and Returns within Twelve Months (PDF)
• SSLC Obstacles to Community Referral and Transition in Fiscal Year 2019 (PDF)