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Access to Recorded Confab 12.1.22- Capabilities

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Access to Recorded Confab 12.1.22- Capabilities

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Capabilities Career Communities Train the Trainer Curriculum (UPDATED) - Google Docs

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VIRTUAL from Ohio APSE           Learn and Connect:  How to Fade Job Coaching 11/17/2022 

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VIRTUAL from Ohio APSE           Learn and Connect:  How to Fade Job Coaching 11/17/2022 

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Learn and Connect with Ohio APSE- Novembers topic, Fading Coaching

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Summit DD Employment Symposium Oct 25...

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Summit DD Employment Symposium Oct 25...

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https://reg.planetreg.com/E101953633136658

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Online Event Registration - SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab October 27, 2022

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SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab October 27, 2022 - online management provided by PlanetReg

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How To Guide Training Series Flyer 22-23

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Please register for SafeinHome Supportive Tech Training on Sep 23, 2022 10:00 AM EDT at:

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Please register for SafeinHome Supportive Tech Training on Sep 23, 2022 10:00 AM EDT at:

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https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3639933668595595536

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Brought to you by GoTo Webinar®
Webinars Made Easy®

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National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

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The workplace is an important part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

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Relationships and Opportunities Final (2)

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As a part of DODD's DSP Workforce Crisis Taskforce work, a report has been generated defining how supportive technology is an asset in responding to Ohio's workforce crisis. The report sets three performance goals with the target of seeing an increase in the utilization of supportive technology.

"The information provided throughout Technology First and the DSP Workforce Crisis: Ohio's Future Paved by Technology report shows it is imperative that, as a system, we embrace the possibilities that technology offers Ohioans with developmental disabilities, their families, and providers of service."

Indicator 1 - Remote Supports Service Will Increase 15% by June 30, 2023

As of July 31, 2022, there were 1,476 people utilizing remote supports. If remote supports continue to grow at this current rate, Ohio will meet its goal of increasing Remote Supports 15 percent (1,561 people) by June 30, 2023.

Indicator 2 - 18% of People Who Use Residential Supports Will Use Remote Supports by 2026

As of July 31, 2022, there are 1,476 people that are utilizing remote supports and 38,945 people utilizing residential services on a Medicaid waiver. Of our 18 percent goal, we are currently at four percent of people using remote supports. With the current growth of residential services, we will need approximately 7,170 people using remote supports to meet our 18 percent goal by 2026.

Indicator 3 - 25% of People Who Utilize HCBS Services will use Technology or Virtual Supports by 2026

As of July 31, 2022, there are 7,556 people that are utilizing remote supports, assistive technology, and virtual services, out of 45,367 people utilizing home and community-based waiver services. We are currently at 17 percent of our 25 percent goal. With the current growth of home and community-based waiver services, we will need approximately 10,853 people using technology or virtual support to meet our 25 percent goal by 2026.

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As a part of DODD's DSP Workforce Crisis Taskforce work, a report has been generated defining how supportive technology is an asset in responding to Ohio's workforce crisis. The report sets three performance goals with the target of seeing an increase in the utilization of supportive technology.

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Introduction

In May 2021, The Kresge Foundation signed the Disability Inclusion Pledge signaling to the 61 million people with disabilities in the United States that we are committed to expanding inclusion beyond the minimum legal requirements. In addition, we are committed to deepening our collective understanding of disability justice and inclusion. This guide offers various resources for staff, board members, current and potential grantees, and other community partners to expand our knowledge of the disability justice movement. Through enhancing our collective awareness of disability, we can begin to embed an inclusive and justice-oriented framework into our culture.
Download: Disability and Inclusion Infographics
Best Practices

Inclusive Philanthropy

Inclusive philanthropy promotes the idea that all people, especially those with marginalized identities, are welcomed and valued within the philanthropic sector. Disability touches every demographic category (gender, age, race, sexual orientation, religion, etc.) and impacts 1 in 4 adults in the United States. Despite its prevalence, disability is frequently excluded from conversations about diversity and inclusion. The following articles details the ways in which philanthropic organizations can improve their commitment to disability inclusion.

Workplace Inclusion

Recruiting, Hiring, Training, and Promoting People with Disabilities (26 pages)
This article provides organizations with the resources they need to effectively support employees with disabilities through identifying federally funded resources that provide appropriate accommodations. Additionally, this guide offers best practices for recruiting, respecting, retaining, and promoting people with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations and the legal framework of the ADA are also discussed.

Agency Resources

The following organizations promote disability inclusion and justice under a variety of lenses. The national disability advocacy agencies promote disability inclusion at a national level through community organizing and stigma fighting. The place-based advocacy organizations focus on promoting disability justice in specific areas of the country. The marginalized identities organizations promote disability inclusion for people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. The education organization supports students with disabilities through a grassroot movement to promote social justice within the school system. The health/environment organizations advocate for mental health services and climate resilience through a racial justice lens. The criminal justice organizations support people with disabilities within the criminal justice system. The arts and culture organizations support artists with disabilities. The philanthropy serving organizations assist foundations on their journey to becoming more disability inclusive.

National Disability Advocacy

RespectAbility: A disability-led nonprofit that works to create systemic change in how society views people with disabilities and advance policies that empower people with disabilities to have a better future. Their mission is to fight stigmas and advance opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.

HEARD: A cross-disability abolitionist organization that unites across identities, communities, movements, and borders to end ableism, racism, capitalism, and all other forms of oppression and violence. HEARD supports disabled people and others who experience ableism by rejecting disability hierarchies and rigid definitions of disability, and by recognizing deaf people as part of disability communities. HEARD works to increase our collective capacity to identify, understand, and challenge oppression through grassroots advocacy, community organizing, peer support, mutual aid, education, and research.

Place-Based Disability Advocacy

Detroit Disability Power: This organization's mission is to leverage and build the political power of the disability community to ensure the full inclusion of people with disabilities in Metro Detroit through organizing to end disparities people with disabilities face in regard to housing, employment, education, transportation, healthcare and more.

Disability Lead: A network of people with disabilities who use our power to create an equitable and inclusive society by increasing civic engagement and diverse leadership in the Chicago region through developing and building a network of leaders with disabilities.

Marginalized Identities

The Divas with Disabilities Project: A digital movement and community that is committed to increasing the participation and representation of Black and brown women and girls -DIVAS- Dynamic, Illuminating, Victorious, Achieving Sisters with visible disabilities. Our mission is to amplify DIVAS' voices by providing a community and network that identifies opportunities for inclusion in mass media, and by partnering with organizations who have demonstrated a commitment to the inclusion of Black and brown women and girls with visible disabilities.

Sins Invalid: A disability justice-based performance project that incubates and celebrates artists with disabilities, centralizing artists of color and LGBTQ / gender-variant artists as communities who have been historically marginalized. Led by disabled people of color, Sins Invalid's performance work explores the themes of sexuality, embodiment and the disabled body, developing provocative work where paradigms of "normal" and "sexy" are challenged, offering instead a vision of beauty and sexuality inclusive of all bodies and communities.

El Grupo VIDA: A network of Hispanic/Latino parents formed to provide mutual support for people with disabilities or special needs, their parents, family, and guardians.

Education

Youth Celebrate Diversity: Youth Celebrate Diversity is building a grassroots movement of students and educators organizing locally, fighting for social justice, and making schools safe and inclusive for all identities. They organize student clubs for conflict resolution; disability justice; economic justice; gender justice and equity; immigrant and refugee youth; inclusive sports and activities; interfaith dialogue and cooperation; LGBTQ+ youth; mental wellness and healthy relationships; racial justice and anti-racism; student activism; and teaching for equality and social justice.

Health/Environment

Project LETS: Builds peer support collectives, lead political education, develop new knowledge and language around mental distress, organize and advocate for the liberation of our community members globally, and create innovative, peer-led, alternatives to our current mental health system.

Health Justice Commons: Works at the intersections of racial, economic, gender, disability, and environmental justice to support marginalized communities to re-imagine and re-design healthcare and healing for our times. They provide health justice training and consultation, engage in healing justice movement building, and incubate community-driven solutions, which generate health abundance and alleviate the devastating health burden of social injustice and environmental racism.

Fireweed Collective: Offers mental health education and mutual aid through a Healing Justice lens. They help support the emotional wellness of all people and center the needs of those most marginalized by our society. Their work seeks to disrupt the harm of systems of abuse and oppression, often reproduced by the mental health system.

Criminal Justice

Chainless Change, Inc.: Offers programs and services that promote self-sufficiency and public safety. They serve those impacted by criminal justice involvement by offering basic resources, advocacy, peer support, mentorship, workforce development, housing, educational and vocational training, and scholarships.

Arts and Culture

Visionaries of the Creative Arts: Established in response to the critical need of supporting the works of the D/deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing BIPOC artists all together locally and nationwide. The Deaf/HH BIPOC community and its artists have been overlooked and underrepresented in mainstream and Deaf culture, a form of social injustice that VOCA stands to redress.

Philanthropy Serving

Borealis Philanthropy: The Borealis Philanthropy created the Disability Inclusion Fund (DIF) which is a $20 million, five-year fund to support U.S. groups run by and for people with disabilities to lead transformational change. The DIF is a first-of-its-kind fund; they are the only fund working on disability inclusion in philanthropy. The fund is supported by the President's Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy.

Disability & Philanthropy Forum: An emerging philanthropy-serving organization created by the Presidents' Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy. Central to the Forum's mission is centering the perspectives of disabled people while engaging philanthropy on a collective journey to understand disability inclusion as key to advancing social justice.

Digital Resources

Blogs

What is Disability Justice?
This article highlights the difference between the Disability Rights Movement and the Disability Justice Movement. Disability rights is based in a single-issue identity, focusing exclusively on disability at the expense of other intersections of race, gender, sexuality, age, immigration status, religion, etc. In comparison, A disability justice framework understands that bodies are confined by ability, race, gender, sexuality, class, nation state, religion, and more, and we cannot separate them.

A Working Definition of Ableism (2022)
A system of assigning value to people's bodies and minds based on societally constructed ideas of normalcy, productivity, desirability, intelligence, excellence, and fitness. These constructed ideas are deeply rooted in eugenics, anti-Blackness, misogyny, colonialism, imperialism, and capitalism. This systemic oppression that leads to people and society determining people's value based on their culture, age, language, appearance, religion, birth or living place, "health/wellness", and/or their ability to satisfactorily re/produce, "excel" and "behave." You do not have to be disabled to experience ableism.

How our Communities Can Move Beyond Access to Wholeness
This article explains that many people think of disability as an individual flaw or problem, rather than a political experience or an encompassing a community full of rich histories, cultures and legacies. Though accessibility is concrete resistance to the isolation of people with disabilities, the liberation of the disabled community cannot be boiled down to logistics. Instead, we should question a culture that allows for the existence of inaccessibility. Ableism is connected to all systems of oppression; therefore, all justice movements should fight for disability liberation.

Forced Intimacy: An Ableist Norm
This article details the idea of "forced intimacy" that people with disabilities experience on a daily basis. This often takes the form of being expected to share personal information with able bodied people to get basic access. It also includes forced physical intimacy, especially for folks who need physical help that requires touching of their bodies. Able bodied people often treat access as a logistical interaction rather than a human interaction because they do not understand the inherent intimacy and vulnerability.

Can You Tell the Difference between Access and Accommodation?
This blog describes the difference between accessibility and accommodation. Accommodation shifts the burden to the person with disabilities by requiring them to interact with a gatekeeper, ask for something extra, and divulge personal information to prove that they are "disabled enough". Accessibility creates a space that is always welcoming to people with disabilities. As a society, we are people with disabilities; therefore, as a society, we must integrate spaces and procedures for people with disabilities.

Videos

Books

Movies/Television

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Disability Inclusion Resource Guide - Kresge Foundation

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Introduction In May 2021, The Kresge Foundation signed the Disability Inclusion Pledge signaling to the 61 million people with disabilities in the United States that we are committed to expanding inclusion beyond the minimum legal requirements. In addition, we are committed to deepening our collective understanding of disability justice and inclusion.

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Online Event Registration - SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab September 22, 2022

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SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab September 22, 2022 - online management provided by PlanetReg

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Link to recording of 7/13/022 Community Integration and Adult Day Supports + Vocational Habilitation webinar

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Link to recording of 7/13/022 Community Integration and Adult Day Supports + Vocational Habilitation webinar

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Link to join for virtual 9/22/2022 Confab

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Link to join for virtual 9/22/2022 Confab

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September 2022 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab
Thu, Sep 22, 2022 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (EDT)

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/545935261

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (872) 240-3212

Access Code: 545-935-261

Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install

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Ohio APSE Training and Conference 9/28/2022 and 9/29/2022...

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Ohio APSE Training and Conference 9/28/2022 and 9/29/2022...

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From the Warren County RAAC Task Force...

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From the Warren County RAAC Task Force...

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16 and 17 year old teens can be DSPs!!

Listen to a couple of teens share why they love working as direct support professionals! Austin Barton works for a day program and Sarah Lupinetti works 1:1 with her brother. Both provide excellent reasons to encourage other teens to apply for this role!

The Regional Autism Advisory Council (RAAC) is encouraging teens and those without a high school diploma to consider the DODD rule that allows for them to be employed as DSPs. Find a provider near you to begin the process! We hope you will help us spread the message that teen DSPs are a win-win for everyone! Forward this email or share via the RAAC Social media channels!

Share the webpage link with all video clips (short and long) http://raacswo.org/did-you-know-16-and-17-year-old-teens-can-serve-as-a-direct-support-professional/

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Webinar:  Technology First:  Project Management 6/23/2022 10 - 11 am

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Webinar:  Technology First:  Project Management 6/23/2022 10 - 11 am

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6/23/2022, 10 am to 11 am
In the training, Gerald Bernard of the Charles Lea Center, attendees will learn about utilizing effective project management tools in order to implement a successful Technology First plan, including aspects of organizing around supportive-technology concepts and using work group assignments and other tools to ensure supportive tech is the first “go-to” for people being served.

Registration link:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8298717264854095630

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Self Directed Transportation PowerPoint 2022

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Self Directed Transportation PowerPoint 2022

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Enrolling in a home and community-based services waiver is one way to access person-centered services. More than 40,000 Ohioans with developmental disabilities are enrolled in a waiver, with access to services while living on their own, with family, with a roommate, or with a paid caregiver.

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Enrolling in a home and community-based services waiver is one way to access person-centered services. More than 40,000 Ohioans with developmental disabilities are enrolled in a waiver, with access to services while living on their own, with family, with a roommate, or with a paid caregiver.

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Video:  Overview of Waiver Simplification Changes Coming July 1, 2022

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Video:  Overview of Waiver Simplification Changes Coming July 1, 2022

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Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

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Overview of Waiver Simplification Changes Coming July 1, 2022

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Registration link for recording:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/8246910476886030087

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Outcome Tracking System Data Entry Due June 30, 2022

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Outcome Tracking System Data Entry Due June 30, 2022

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DODD will start to review this updated data at our next monthly Q&A meeting. Monthly Q & A meetings are the last Wednesday of every month from 3 PM - 4 PM. The next meeting is May 25, 2022. Registration is not needed (just click on the link above).

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There were 40,935 people that were pulled into the OTS application for the 2020 Reporting Period. This is a 2% decrease from Reporting Period 2019. Many of those 40,935 people had multiple Questionnaires. For Reporting Period 2020, there were 47,545 Questionnaires created. This is a 5% decrease from Reporting Period 2019. We had a statewide completion rate of 61% for Reporting Period 2019, and a completion rate of 72% in Reporting Period 2020. The heat map below shows which counties people were pulled into the OTS for Reporting Period 2020. Individuals were pulled into the OTS application if they resided in an Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) or received an Adult Day and/or Employment Service. The more people that are represented, the darker the color of the county. You can view Reporting Period 2019 or Reporting Period 2020 by using the 'Reporting Period Name' filter. You may also filter this map by 'Questionnaire Status'. When using this filter, it will show the distribution of people based upon their Questionnaire status. When you hover over a particular county, it will show you the breakdown of Questionnaires and the Status, and it will also give you the distinct count of people for that county. A person may have more than one Questionnaire, which is why you will see that the counts of Questionnaires are often higher than the count of people. If you wish to see those people that reside in an ICF and the respective counts of Questionnaires, you will use the 'Person resides in an ICF' filter. When filtering, if a county is not represented on the map, it means that the county did not have any counts represented with that filtering criteria. Statewide Perspective Map
The majority of people pulled into OTS for Reporting Period 2020 were in the 30-39 and 22-29 years old age groupings (26% and 20%, respectively). There were 24 youth pulled in this Reporting Period as they were marked as receiving Career Planning services within CRM-IDS.
Ages For Reporting Period 2020, you can see with this visualization that there were 9,333 people or 30% employed, and 22,186 people or 70% not employed statewide. This is a 35% decrease from Reporting Period 2019. This 35% decrease in employment is most likely due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Employed vs. Not Employed The OTS application allows us to understand how people are spending their days. Of the 9,333 people within Reporting Period 2020 that are employed: 40% had a Facility-Based job; this is a 55% decrease from Reporting Period 2019. 49% had an Individual Competitive job; this is a 4% decrease from Reportiong Period 2019. 14% had a Group Integrated job; this is a 44% decrease from Reporting Period 2019. Less than 1% were Self-Employed; this is a 21% decrease from Reporting Period 2019. These decreases are most likely due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Job Categories This visualization shows the break down of each job category and the respective hours and wages for Reporting Period 2020. Individuals in Facility-Based work earned an average of $6 per hour and worked an average of 11 hours per week. There was a 14% increase in the amount earned and a 1% increase in the average number of hours worked from Reporting Period 2019 to Reporting Period 2020 for those in Facility-Based work. For those working in a Group Integrated job, they averaged 15 hours per week and $8 an hour. There was a 1% decrease in the amount earned, and a 12% increase in the number of hours worked from Reporting Period 2019 to Reporting Period 2020 for those working in a Group Integrated job. Individuals working in an Individual Competitive job earned $11 an hour and worked an average of 21 hours per week. There was a 5% increase in the amount earned, and a 3% increase in the average number of hours worked from Reporting Period 2019 to Reporting Period 2020 for those working in an Individual Competitive job. Those Self-Employed worked 10 hours per week earning on average $14 per hour. There was a 53% increase in the amount earned, and a 15% decrease in the average number of hours worked for those Self-Employed. Job Categories - Hours and Wages

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There were 40,935 people that were pulled into the OTS application for the 2020 Reporting Period. This is a 2% decrease from Reporting Period 2019. Many of those 40,935 people had multiple Questionnaires. For Reporting Period 2020, there were 47,545 Questionnaires created. This is a 5% decrease from Reporting Period 2019.

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Medicaid Buy In for Workers with Disabilities Board Game

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Medicaid Buy In for Workers with Disabilities Board Game

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All episodes and Supporting Docs  for Fear Factor: Confronting Fears About Losing Benefits Due to Employment Opportunities

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All episodes and Supporting Docs  for Fear Factor: Confronting Fears About Losing Benefits Due to Employment Opportunities

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Confronting Fears of Working + Benefits with Facts, Evaluation, Action, and R esults

"I can't work because I will lose my benefits!" If this statement sounds familiar, this information is for you! This training series, hosted by Lisa Comes (Ohio Association of County Boards) and Keith Banner (Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities), explores resources and tools that confront fears of losing benefits due to employment opportunities.
Fear Factor Resource Document

Season 1 Episode 3: Refresher about SSDI (January 24, 2022)
In Part 3 of F.E.A.R. FACTOR: Confronting Fears of Working with Facts, Evaluation, Action and Results our team of experts will delve into SSDI benefits and the effects of work and income on those Benefits. Join Christine Brown, Lisa Comes and Keith Banner as we all confront our fears of losing benefits while working together.

Presenter(s): Lisa Comes - OACBDD, Keith Banner - Community Life Engagement Liaison, Ohio Department of DD, Christine Brown - Nisonger Center, Jeanne Hall - Work Incentives Consulting, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Logo,, Darenda Geer, Certified Work Incentive Practitioner, Fairfield County Board of DD and Latosha Brown - Work Incentives Coordinator, Warren County DD Lisa Comes lcomes@oacbdd.org

Fear Factor S1E3 Presentation
Fear Factor S1E3 Recording
Season 1 Episode 2: SSI Benefits + Work (October 4, 2021)
Team of experts delve into SSI Benefits and the effects of work and income on those Benefits. Topic areas include:

-SSI Work Incentives

-Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)

-Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)

-Blind Work Expense (BWE)

-Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS)

-SSI Wage Reporting

-SSI Resource Limit

-STABLE Accounts

Presenters: Debora Wagner (Managing Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati), Jeanne Hall (Work Incentives Consulting, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities), Elizabeth Risner (Employment Coordinator, Butler DD), and Darenda Geer (Work Incentive Practitioner, Fairfield DD)
Fear Factor S1E2 Recording IRWE Request Template SSI Work Incentives What Counts as IRWE? Season 1 Episode 1: Maintaining Critical Services and Support (August 30, 2021)
Presenters share their expertise to help participants learn about ways to maintain critical services and supports for people with DD while they work and use "F.E.A.R." - Facts, Evaluations, Action, and Results - to their benefit. Topic areas include:

-Employer Subsidy

-Work Incentives Planning Report

-Maintaining Health Insurance Benefits

-Medicaid Buy-in For Workers with Disabilities (MBIWD)

Presenters: Christine Brown (Nisonger Center), Tanya Chiles (Benefit Analyst/CWIC, Owner of Chiles Creations, LLC), Jeanne Hall (Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities), Elizabeth Risner (Butler DD Employment Coordinator), and Darenda Geer (Fairfield DD Work Incentive Practitioner)
Fear Factor S1E1 Presentation Fear Factor S1E1 Recording Social Security Subsidy and Special Conditions Subsidy Work Activity Questionnaire

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Fear Factor: Confronting Fears About Losing Benefits Due to Employment Opportunities

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Confronting Fears of Working + Benefits with Facts, Evaluation, Action, and R esults "I can't work because I will lose my benefits!" If this statement sounds familiar, this information is for you! This training series, hosted by Lisa Comes (Ohio Association of County Boards) and Keith Banner (Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities), explores resources and tools that confront fears of losing benefits due to employment opportunities.

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New Technology First Rule:  April 21, 2022

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New Technology First Rule:  April 21, 2022

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The following rules will be effective on the date specified.

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May 2022 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab

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May 2022 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab

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An in-person training the SW Ohio Provider Support Network sponsored back in 2019 at the same venue where we will be for the May 3 , 2022 Innovation Lab...

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May 3, 2022 10 am to noon:  SW Ohio Struts Its Stuff...

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May 3, 2022 10 am to noon:  SW Ohio Struts Its Stuff...

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Register here:  https://ohioemploymentfirst.org/view.php?nav_id=560

SW Ohio Innovation 2022 Lab…  May 3, 2022, 10 am – noon

10:00 – 10:10 am:  Introductions and Just What Is This “Innovation” Thing?  Facilitators:  Tim Vogt and Keith Banner

10:10 – 11:00 am:  We’re Still Here, and Still Moving Forward:  Innovation, Relationships, and the Last Two Years in SW Ohio

Panelists: Cassandra Clemente (mom and advocate), Miranda Newton and Kelli Williamson (High Co Highland DD), Aimee Rittner and Jill Mays (PSU), Rachel Rice (self advocate), Aaron Bowman (self advocate), Amanda Tipkemper (Best Point), Carol Combs (mom and Family Network Coordinator), Melissa Stall (Warren DD).

11 – 11:10 am:  Break (and video)

11:10 – 11:30 am:  Building Innovative Service Models:  Agencies Making Innovation Real

Panelists:  ABS Transitions, 360 Total Care, LADD.

11: 30 – 11:50 am:  Employment First, SW-Ohio-Style:  10 Years of Innovating Ways to Support both Jobseekers and the Businesses that Hire Them

Panelists:  Employment Providers and Navigators from Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Montgomery, and Warren

11:50 – noon:  Wrap-up, Questions, and Next Steps

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Technology Helps Woman Find Successful Employment | Department of Developmental Disabilities

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Technology Helps Woman Find Successful Employment

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NEW and updated Trauma Informed Care page on DODD website

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NEW and updated Trauma Informed Care page on DODD website

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Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) | Department of Developmental Disabilities

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Since Summer of 2013, an interagency workgroup comprised of leaders from Ohio Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Developmental Disabilities has been meeting to formulate plans to expand TIC across the state.

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Virtual kick-off April 5, 2022, 10 am - noon...

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What does "innovation" mean in Ohio's DD system, and how do relationships make it happen?  Check out stories, successes, struggles, and examples of how we've made it work and are using these experiences to make lives better for people with DD in all areas of the state.

For more info and to register:  https://ohioemploymentfirst.org/view.php?nav_id=553

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This guidance is intended to provide information to Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities providers certified in adult day support, vocational habilitation, career planning, group employment supports, or individual employment supports on federal and state laws and rules that apply when someone is being paid while receiving Medicaid services.

Providers should always consider federal and state laws and rules regarding wages, inducements, and proper service delivery when making decisions on payments to beneficiaries. While the Department provides this guidance to help providers comply with the law, in a fee-for-service system, how a provider chooses to comply with federal and state law is up to them. It is important to note that the Department is not always the lead or sole agency responsible for enforcing the information within this guidance document.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") has made clear that individuals participating in prevocational services may be compensated in accordance with federal law and regulation. (Citation 1 below.) In Ohio, these services are provided through Vocational Habilitation. Vocational Habilitation is a time-limited service that provides opportunities to learn and gain experience to develop skills that lead to competitive, integrated employment. The expected outcome of this service is to provide training that will advance someone on his or her path to community employment and ultimately achieving competitive, integrated employment in a job well-matched for that person. An individual receiving Vocational Habilitation must have community employment outcomes in his or her individual service plan.

CMS has made it clear that day habilitation services, Adult Day Support in Ohio, may not provide for the payment of services that are vocational in nature. Adult Day Support is expected to support an individual's social development and performance of daily community living, not provide employment support. Individuals should not receive payment or wages for time periods when they are receiving Adult Day Support.

It is a violation of federal law to offer a Medicaid beneficiary an inducement. Section 1128A(a)(5) of the Social Security Act addresses inducements and makes it illegal to offer valuable gifts, or remuneration, to beneficiaries to influence their choice of Medicaid providers. (Citation 2 below.) Inexpensive gifts of nominal value are permitted and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") Office of Inspector General has interpreted "inexpensive" or "nominal" value as having a retail value of no more than $15 per item or $75 in the aggregate per person on an annual basis. (Citation 3 below.) Providers may offer beneficiaries more expensive items or services that fit within one of the statutory exceptions. (Citation 4 below.) It is unlikely that any of these exceptions would apply to a provider of adult day services and none of these exceptions permit providing cash or cash equivalents to a beneficiary.

Examples of improper inducements:

Gifts/Incentives:

Providing cash or gift cards to individuals based only on their days of attendance at the worksite or service location.

Offering a bonus to an individual for referring an individual to a day program.

Entering individuals receiving services into drawings for gifts based on their days of attendance.

Guaranteed pay:
Providing individuals with pay regardless of whether work is available or performed.

Conditional pay:
Offering jobs or payment based on the condition that an individual use another service from the provider; for example, an individual will be paid a wage if he or she also uses the provider for transportation. This would be an inducement and interfere with an individual's free choice of provider.

A provider that violates the law faces serious penalties. A provider who violates this law may be liable for civil monetary penalties of up to $10,000 for each wrongful act and HHS may initiate administrative proceedings to exclude the offending party from federal health care programs. (Citation 5 below.) This may also result in the provider's exclusion from state health care programs. Separately, the Department may issue a citation to an offending provider during a compliance review. (Citation 6 below.)

Nothing in this guidance should be interpreted or construed to limit or remove the benefits of integrated community services for people enrolled in Home and Community Based Services. Certified providers, in compliance with the HCBS Settings rule, must continue to provide waiver services, including adult day support, vocational habilitation, career planning, group employment supports, or individual employment supports in a setting that is integrated in and supports full access to the greater community.

The department wants to ensure that providers have access to this information in order to comply with federal and state law. Please use the references included in this document to further review and consider consulting legal counsel for additional questions.

Citations

1. Mann, Updates to the § 1915(c) Waiver Instructions and Technical Guide regarding employment and employment related services, CMCS Informational Bulletin (September 16, 2011)

2. 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7a(a)(5)

3. Office of Inspector General Policy Statement Regarding Gifts of Nominal Value to Medicare and Medicaid Beneficiaries, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (December 7, 2016).

4. These exceptions include waivers of cost-sharing amounts based on financial need; properly disclosed copayment differentials in health plans; incentives to promote the delivery of certain preventive care services; any practice permitted under the federal anti-kickback statute pursuant to 42 CFR 1001.952; waivers of hospital outpatient copayments in excess of the minimum copayment amounts; any other remuneration which promotes access to care and poses a low risk of harm to patients and federal health care programs; or retail rewards which are offered or transferred on equal terms available to the general public, regardless of health insurance status. 42 C.F.R. 1003.110.

5. 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7a(a)(5).

6. OAC 5123:2-2-04

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This guidance is intended to provide information to Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities providers certified in adult day support, vocational habilitation, career planning, group employment supports, or individual employment supports on federal and state laws and rules that apply when someone is being paid while receiving Medicaid services.

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Developing a Training for Summer 2022...

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Developing a Training for Summer 2022...

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Survey:  Developing a Business and Community Engagement Training for SW Ohio Summer 2022

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Survey:  Developing a Business and Community Engagement Training for SW Ohio Summer 2022

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Getting It All Together: Developing Relationships and Opportunities Summer 2022

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Web survey powered by SurveyMonkey.com. Create your own online survey now with SurveyMonkey's expert certified FREE templates.

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With support from 19 Services,
CCF is awarding mini grants
to individuals with disabilities, ages 14+ years, to help them achieve their community employment goals!
❖ The mini grants can be used for, but not limited to, accessing transportation, interview clothing, tools needed for work, professional services to help someone find employment, assistive technology, etc.
❖ Applications will be available January 1, 2022, online at www.19services.com
❖ For 2022, there will be 4 rounds of grant awardees.
❖ Submission deadlines:
January 31, 2022 July 31, 2022
April 30, 2022 October 31, 2022
❖ Submit applications and/ or questions to Catherine Hess at ccfgrants@19servicesinc.com

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2/24/2022 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab Agenda

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2/24/2022 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab Agenda

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Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

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December 27, 2021 Blueprint for Adult Day and Employment Services Updates Blueprint for Adult Day and Employment Services Highlights Implementation teams continue to meet. BEST implementation extended

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Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/99293793096?pwd=ajhOOU5hVVlZd2RDejhYTE5QZXRVZz09

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disability & enabling technology learning standards and community

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Services 2 - disability & enabling technology learning standards and community

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The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) has purchased a limited number of slots for each of Shift's four programs intended for Ohio provider, county board, and ICF/IDD staff. Review the four program descriptions and instructions for registration below. For questions or to discuss this project further, please contact the DODD Community Life Engagement team at: technologyfirst@dodd.ohio.gov.

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LADD Innovative Tech Recorded Webinar 1/28/2022 

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LADD Innovative Tech Recorded Webinar 1/28/2022 

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During the webinar, Brian Hart, LADD's Chief Strategy Officer, will share with the field information about their Innovative Technology Solutions projects, including aspects of the Smart Homes they support, and how supportive technology is helping LADD and the people they support to move successfully into the future.

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Agenda + PowerPoint for 1/27/2022 Confab

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Agenda + PowerPoint for 1/27/2022 Confab

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January 27. 2022 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab Go-to Link

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January 27. 2022 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab Go-to Link

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January 2022 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab
Thu, Jan 27, 2022 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (EST)

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/675754605

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (571) 317-3122

Access Code: 675-754-605

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/675754605

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Employment Services Training Resources 2022

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Link for 12/16/2021 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab recording...

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Link for 12/16/2021 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab recording...

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Agenda + PowerPoint for 12/16/2021 Confab...

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Agenda + PowerPoint for 12/16/2021 Confab...

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Job Growth for People with Disabilities Outpaces that of People without...

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Job Growth for People with Disabilities Outpaces that of People without...

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Washington, D.C., December 11 - With the holiday season here and 2022 around the corner, workers with disabilities face a transformed labor market hungry for their ideas, innovations, and insights. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor force participation rate for working-age people with disabilities is now at 37.7 percent. This number is fully 2 percentage points higher than it was before the pandemic started.

What does this mean for Americans with disabilities? It means that more than a million people with disabilities got jobs or started a business! A historic number of workers with disabilities are seeking work, improving their skills, starting new jobs and earning an income, just like anyone else.

There is an opportunity for more workers with disabilities to learn entrepreneurial skills and start their very own businesses. As highlighted by the ground-breaking, stigma-busting TV show Born for Business, people with disabilities can strike on their own as business owners and earn an income in the competitive marketplace. As of the 2019 American Community Survey, approximately 700,000 workers with disabilities were self-employed, enjoying the flexibility and opportunities that entrepreneurship provides. Potential entrepreneurs with disabilities need resources, assets and support to translate their entrepreneurial ideas into actual, viable businesses.

"If sustained leadership from the public and private sectors continue to focus on advancing opportunities, then this will truly become an inclusive recovery that helps more Americans succeed," said Philip Kahn-Pauli, Policy and Practices Director at RespectAbility.

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Bureau of Labor Statistics: Labor Force Participation Rate for People with Disabilities is Two Percent Higher Than Before The Pandemic - Respect Ability

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Washington, D.C., December 11 - With the holiday season here and 2022 around the corner, workers with disabilities face a transformed labor market hungry for their ideas, innovations, and insights. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor force participation rate for working-age people with disabilities is now at 37.7 percent.

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What Is the SW Provider Support Network Confab?

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What Is the SW Provider Support Network Confab?

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SW Ohio Provider Support Network Notes for 10/28/2021

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SW Ohio Provider Support Network Notes for 10/28/2021

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SW Ohio Provider Support Network Survey for 2022

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SW Ohio Provider Support Network Survey for 2022

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Please share your feedback regarding the Confab, a Community of Practice for providers and other stakeholders supporting people with developmental disabilities to live, work, and thrive in their homes and communities in SW Ohio.

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Please share your feedback regarding the Confab, a Community of Practice for providers and other stakeholders supporting people with developmental disabilities to live, work, and thrive in their homes and communities in SW Ohio.

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Fear Factor: Confronting Fears About Losing Benefits Due to Employment Opportunities

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The Abilities Connections Online Courses

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The Abilities Connections Online Courses

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"I want all of you to know how much we appreciate the TAC Academy. We have been working here at home on getting him to talk more and to speak louder when he does. The classes have been great, because he has to make choices, state those choices, and speak loud enough for the host and all to hear. It's still a work in progress, but he is enjoying the opportunity to stay connected."

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Academy | Employability Skills Courses | The Abilities Connection

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"I want all of you to know how much we appreciate the TAC Academy. We have been working here at home on getting him to talk more and to speak louder when he does. The classes have been great, because he has to make choices, state those choices, and speak loud enough for the host and all to hear.

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Pics from one of our last in-person times together...

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Pics from one of our last in-person times together...

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Want to improve your commute?

The Gohio Mobility Hub provides resources that will help you Rethink Your Ride. We've got some ideas about how you can Commute Smarter:

Use Gohio Commute to compare transportation modes for your commute. Log your trips to track your environmental impact. Compete for valuable prizes. Companies can create private networks for employees to join. Our robust platform has ample tools for you to explore!

COTA riders can minimize their time waiting at the bus stop by tracking their bus in real-time using Transit App.

Get around with ease using a variety of transportation options including CBUS, CoGo bikeshare, or other mobility services such as Yellow Cab, Lyft, or Uber.

Interested in even more commute-related information? Check out our Getting Around pages to discover how you can choose smart commuting options. You may also want to view our main Commute Resources page, where you can learn more about the fantastic tools available, discover Carpool Creation Tips, and explore several other external resources.

If there's anything else we can do to help you find a smarter way to commute, let us know by contacting gohio@morpc.org.

Trip Explorer

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The Gohio Mobility Hub provides resources that will help you Rethink Your Ride. We've got some ideas about how you can Commute Smarter: Use Gohio Commute to compare transportation modes for your commute. Log your trips to track your environmental impact. Compete for valuable prizes. Companies can create private networks for employees to join.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - October is National Disability Employment Awareness month, and United Rehabilitation Services is spotlighting the success of two brothers.

For 23-year-old twins Kyle and Kalib Strines, it has been a journey. They faced many challenges living with autism, but that has never stopped them; both brothers successfully secured jobs with the help of the programs offered by URS.

"I've worked down the hall from them the whole time that I've been here at the hospital for the past six years, and to walk shoulder to shoulder with them, you can't help but have a positive attitude and want to deliver 100% every day just like they do," stated Jessica Pettit, Director of Volunteer and Auxiliary Services for Springfield Regional Medical Center and the liaison for Project SEARCH. "We are able to bring in these very gifted students who are finding their way in the world and learning how to be independent, and that just goes right along with all of our mission and core values."

Kyle is a dishwasher in the kitchen at Springfield Regional Medical Center.

"I like to encounter being with a team, working as a group," said Kyle. "My first job was housekeeping. Before that it was in the linen department."

Kalib is an assembler with the Rural King in Springfield.

"What I love is about building things. It's good to work with my hands," smiled Kalib.

According to URS Executive Director Dennis Grant, the Strines took part in the URS Employment Services Program in 2016 and then participated in the Summer Youth Career Exploration Program.

"The program has helped me to be a better example for others," Kyle said.

"Through our work with people with disabilities over the years and through our training, we've learned a lot about what people with disabilities are capable of doing in the community," said Jeremy Nelson, URS Employment Service Manager.

In 2018, the Strines enrolled in the Project SEARCH Program, and after completing training, a year later, they both were employed.

"They offer a lot of value to the workplace," stated Nelson. "We think it's really cool that these employers take an interest hiring people with disabilities and doing something different than they may have done normally."

Grant said Kalib has come full circle, becoming a mentor for others in the program.

"It was a little bit hard for me to teach them," admitted Kalib. "But at the same time, it was also an honor and a responsibility."

The honor and reward is even greater for those who have the opportunity to work alongside the brothers.

"During the pandemic, there's been a staffing shortage, and the partnership that we've had with United Rehabilitation Services through Project SEARCH and their ability to fill some much needed positions that have not been filled is a tremendous help. And their contribution to our culture is boundless. The things that they support whether it's their positive attitude, their incredibly strong work ethic, their determination to do well, be well, and make sure the rest of us are too is something that you just can't teach," said Pettit.

URS has been serving children and adults with disabilities in our area since 1956.

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national disability employment awareness month

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Twin brothers share employment success through URS program

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - October is National Disability Employment Awareness month, and United Rehabilitation Services is spotlighting the success of two brothers. For 23-year-old twins Kyle and Kalib Strines, it has been a journey. They faced many challenges living with autism, but that has never stopped them; both brothers successfully secured jobs with the help of the programs offered by URS.

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We're celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) by sharing local employment success stories. As Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine stated in his proclamation on Oct. 1, this awareness month helps educate the public about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities. This year is the 76th anniversary of NDEAM!

Nathan Michelson - Fifth Third Bank

Nathan Michelson has been a full-time employee at Fifth Third Bank for 16 Years. He recently changed positions and has adjusted well to his new tasks. "I'm happy to be a part of my new team at Fifth Third and love being able to go to work every day," he said. "I feel like I fit in well with my new co-workers."

Maya Walton - Kroger

Maya Walton works at the Forest Park Kroger, where she's been for almost seven years. She is a bagging and lot associate and also helps stock shelves. Maya always comes into work with a positive outlook and a huge smile on her face. She is a favorite among her co-workers, who consistently give her positive feedback and praise during her shifts. "I look forward to continuing to provide great customer service in my community," Maya says.

Tim Albert - Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Tim Albert has worked at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) for more than 20 years. He began as an operating room tech and was responsible for refilling all the supplies in the 19 operating rooms and in the surrounding area. Tim is now a histology tech in the Division of Pathology where he has been for 14 years.

In this job, Tim scans and organizes the biopsy slides for filing, puts away supplies for the laboratory, checks the temperatures of the refrigerators and freezers to make sure they are within range, files paperwork, goes to the morgue to dispose of remnant tissue specimens, and helps coworkers as needed with any side jobs.

He enjoys his work because it "keeps me busy. It can be different every day." Tim also uses a computer to complete his work, and his job coach created step-by-step instructions to help him learn the software.

"I like working in the medical field because I have been involved with doctors my whole life," he says. "Just because you have a disability doesn't mean you have to get a job in a fast-food place. Project SEARCH helped me find a job at CCHMC and there are other ways to get help with getting a job."

Cody Steele - Frisch's

Cody Steele's warm smile and gentle demeanor make him a favorite among his coworkers. Cody washes dishes and busses tables at Frisch's in Hartwell, and occasionally helps the cook flip a few burgers! He has also worked in food service for several years at Kings Island Festhaus. "Cody is appreciated by his coworkers and customers for his hard work and friendly personality," says Beth Maltry, job developer and coach at IKRON Corporation. "This year, Cody has learned to take the Access transportation to work, developing even more independence. He always seems to rise to meet new challenges!"

Mike Holmes - GBBN Architects

For the past decade, Mike Holmes has been the guest and staff experience ambassador at GBBN Architects. On a daily basis, Mike delivers mail, restocks supplies or cleans, and he maintained his job during the pandemic. In his free time, Mike enjoys coaching girls' basketball and being a part of the Cincy Swish team.

Jenny Scurry - Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Jenny Scurry works in guest services at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and helps patients navigate the maze of buildings to get to their appointments. Jenny has worked there for 20 years-she knows all the shortcuts and always jumps at the chance to share her knowledge! She always has a smile on her face and never hesitates when coworkers need something. "I like my job and I like everything I do," she said. "I always try to do my best and help people get to where they are going."

Jenny especially enjoys talking to the families and loves the kids, and visitors often comment on how thankful they are for her assistance.

Eddie Gregory - HomeBuys

Eddie Gregory works at HomeBuys on Highland Avenue, a job he started at the beginning of 2021. He says it is a great place to work and shop because of all the great deals. Eddie takes pride in unloading trucks and stocking the merchandise. He also likes having daytime hours that fit with the rest of his schedule. "The job is easy and offers me a plenty to do," Eddie says. "It is fun because you never know what we are going to get in!"

Hayden Schunk - TopGolf in West Chester

Hayden Schunk works at TopGolf in West Chester, where he's been for three years. He wanted to find a job at an entertainment venue and worked with LADD to make that happen. Hayden loves the atmosphere and helping customers as they arrive at the venue. "I work with a great team and the benefits are great because I feel that I can work and play at the same time," he says. "I'm also getting pretty good at driving a golf ball!"

Raphael Price - Cincinnati Children's Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Raphael Price has been a supply chain tech at Cincinnati Children's Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics for 10 years. He cleans vital signs rooms that are used at the beginning of each appointment and cleans patient rooms after the appointment is finished. He also cleans and puts away toys used by patients.

Raphael must follow strict protocols for the cleaning such as wearing gloves and using the proper wipe, depending on what type of surface he is cleaning. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Raphael's department was closed for several weeks. As the hospital slowly re-opened, Raphael returned to his job but did not have enough work to stay busy. To fill his time and help his department, he eagerly and quickly learned new tasks such as stocking items.

Raphael likes everything about his job and coworkers love working with him. "Raphael is the positive encouragement that every department needs each day. He remembers each staff person by name, sometimes even has a fun nickname for them, and is always complimenting everyone," said Clinical Manager Stacey Van Stanten.

"Our patients love seeing him in our hallways working hard to make their visit as safe and enjoyable as possible. Raphael is truly an amazing, hard-working, and positive person, he is loved by our entire staff and of course our patients and families, too!"

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We're celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) by sharing local employment success stories. As Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine stated in his proclamation on Oct. 1, this awareness month helps educate the public about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities.

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SW Ohio Provider Support Network Training Topics 2018 - Now

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SW Ohio Provider Support Network Training Topics 2018 - Now

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Nate Frazer's Dream Job in Highland County

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Nate Frazer's Dream Job in Highland County

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This story on the DODD website was part of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) celebration this month, and got 200 likes/loves and over 180 shares on Facebook...  Fantastic!

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Nate Frazer from Highland County has always enjoyed farm life. As a member of his local FFA chapter in high school, Nate knew that he would like to work in the agricultural field someday. Molly Warnock, Transition Manager at the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities, worked with Nate to explore the opportunities through the Pre-Employment Transition Skills (PreETS) program. Nate also participated in a Summer Youth Work Experience through OOD, where he developed necessary employment skills.

Upon completion, Nate was ready to work with his job developer at the county board. Together, they found the perfect job for Nate's infectious personality and love for agriculture at Rural King in Hillsboro, Ohio. Nate's job developer stated, "Nate was great to work with through the whole hiring process and has since become a great employee. He is a hard worker and that showed as he worked with each new challenge to gain entrance into the workforce."

Nate enjoys his job and shared, "I like working hard at Rural King. It lets me use my strengths to get the job done." He currently works as a greeter/loader and uses his amazing customer service skills each day, often having customers specifically ask for his assistance with their purchases.

Learn more about transition services and OOD employment programs at ood.ohio.gov.

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Nate Frazer from Highland County has always enjoyed farm life. As a member of his local FFA chapter in high school, Nate knew that he would like to work in the agricultural field someday. Molly Warnock, Transition Manager at the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities, worked with Nate to explore the opportunities through the Pre-Employment Transition Skills (PreETS) program.

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OhioRise (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence)

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OhioRise (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence)

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As a part Ohio Medicaid's effort to launch the next generation of its managed care program, ODM will implement OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence), a specialized managed care program for youth with complex behavioral health and multi-system needs.
OhioRISE Summary
OhioRISE MCO

On April 1, 2021, ODM selected Aetna Better Health of Ohio to serve as the new OhioRISE specialized managed care organization for the state's children with the most complex behavioral health and multi-system needs. Click here to read the full press release.

OhioRISE services through Aetna Better Health of Ohio are projected to begin July 1, 2022. Additional updates about the OhioRISE implementation timeline will be communicated in the coming weeks.

On October 28, 2020, ODM released a request for applications (RFA) to solicit responses from managed care organizations (MCOs) interested in serving an estimated 60,000 Ohio children as the program's MCO. After the close of the December 16, 2020 response period, Ohio Medicaid evaluated responses from four bidders and conducted oral presentation with each.

This announcement is the culmination of years of work to create a stronger, family-focused system of care for children dealing with intense behavioral health needs.

As the OhioRISE MCO, Aetna, will partner with the state, providers, and community organizations to expand access to in-home and community-based services. Aetna will contract with regional care management entities to ensure OhioRISE members and families have the resources they need navigate their interactions with multiple systems such as juvenile justice and corrections, child protection, developmental disabilities, mental health and addiction, education, and others.

A link to the OhioRISE RFA can be found on the Ohio e-Procurement website. More information about the new OhioRISE MCO, Aetna, is coming soon.

November 2021 CANS Training Dates Announcement

ODM is pleased to announce November 2021 Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) training dates for CANS assessors. With leadership from Governor DeWine's Children's Initiative, the ODM in partnership with state child-serving agencies and the Praed Foundation created an Ohio-specific Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths tool and Decision Support Model that all Ohio CANS assessors will be expected to utilize.

The CANS is a support tool in the clinical decision-making process to determine eligibility into OhioRISE and level of care and service planning. The Ohio CANS assessment tool has been developed for broad application across multiple systems, including youth involved in child protection, developmental disability, department of youth services, and mental health and addiction. This ensures youth only need to go through one assessment across multiple providers. The tool gathers all dimensions of the youth and family story to determine needs and strengths and integrates multiple storytellers capturing the voice of the youth and family to produce a full consensus-based assessment. The CANS is updated routinely over the course of treatment to continue ongoing care planning.

Thank you to all CANS assessors for your participation and dedication to Ohio's youth and families.

October 2021 CANS Training Dates

November 2021 CANS Training Dates

OhioRISE Advisory Council and Workgroups

The OhioRISE Advisory Council and Workgroup meetings commenced at the start of 2021. The purpose of these meetings is to engage with stakeholders to obtain critical feedback and expert advice for OhioRISE's services and operations. You can find the members selected to be in the Advisory Council here and the presentation for the kickoff OhioRISE Stakeholder meeting on December 18, 2020 here.

Development of the OhioRISE services and major components of the program have been championed by four Workgroups - CANS and Care Coordination (CCC), Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS), Intensive Home-Based Treatment (IHBT), and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF). In August 2021, OhioRISE commenced a new set of Workgroups focused on implementation and operational items for the program. The OhioRISE team in coordination with stakeholders, state agencies, Aetna Better Health of Ohio, and the Child and Adolescent Center of Excellence (CoE) identified the following new Workgroups:

Systems of Care & Care Management Entities (CMEs) Workgroup - This Workgroup will discuss cross-system initiatives, the roles, responsibilities, and relationships across state and local partners, and how the CMEs will deliver care coordination using a system of care approach through interactions with multiple entities.

Business Practices Workgroup - This Workgroup will focus on how providers will contract with Aetna (the OhioRISE plan), the requirements to contract as a CME, how the provider network will be built, and other areas of oversight.

Service Development Workgroup - This Workgroup will combine the four current services Workgroups (IHBT, MRSS, PRTF, and CCC) to understand how services interlink while addressing training and workforce issues.

Outreach & Engagement Workgroup - This Workgroup will develop strategies to engage with youth and families across the state and local cross-system partners while acting as a feedback loop to strengthen communication tools and strategies to shape the OhioRISE program. The Outreach & Engagement Workgroup will work closely with the other Implementation and Operations workgroups to disseminate information more broadly.

Please select the 'Advisory Council and Workgroup Meetings' dropdown tab below to view presentation materials and meeting registration links.

Advisory Council and Workgroup Meetings

About OhioRISE

OhioRISE is governed by ODM, the Governor's Office of Children's Initiatives, and Ohio's Family and Children First Cabinet Council. Council members include: Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (MHAS), Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), Department of Youth Services (DYS), Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC), Ohio Department of Health (ODH), Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD), Ohio Department of Education (ODE), and the Office of Family & Children First. Ohio Medicaid will hold the contract with the OhioRISE plan.

OhioRISE aims to shift the system of care and keep more kids and families together by creating new access to in-home and community-based services for children with the most complex behavioral health challenges. The OhioRISE program's child and family-centric delivery system recognizes the need to specialize services and support for this unique group of children and families. Aetna will partner with ODM, sister state agencies, providers, families, and other stakeholders to develop and implement new and enhanced services, including those listed below. OhioRISE will also feature a new 1915(c) Medicaid waiver that will drive toward improving cross-system outcomes for its enrollees. OhioRISE will feature intensive care coordination and both new and enhanced behavioral health services targeted toward this population and will offer a new Medicaid waiver program that will help families prevent custody relinquishment.

OhioRISE Eligibility

Enrolled in Ohio Medicaid - either managed care or fee for service

Under the age of 21

Meet a functional needs threshold for behavioral health care, as identified by the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) tool

OhioRISE Services

New services available through OhioRISE include:

Intensive Care Coordination: Two levels of this service (intensive and moderate) will be consistent with principles of High-Fidelity Wraparound and be delivered by a Care Management Entity-qualified agency.

Intensive Home Based Treatment (IHBT): OhioRISE will make changes to existing IHBT services and align with the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA).

Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF): This service is aimed at keeping youth with the most intensive behavioral health needs in-state and closer to their families and support systems.

Mobile Response and Stabilization Service (MRSS): Provide youth in crisis and their families with immediate behavioral health services to ensure they are safe and receive necessary supports and services (this new service will also be available to children who are not enrolled in OhioRISE).

Behavioral Health Respite: provide short-term, temporary relief to the primary caregiver(s) of an OhioRISE plan enrolled youth, in order to support and preserve the primary caregiving relationship.

These services will be provided through a collaborative delivery system, as illustrated in the image below.
OhioRISE Delivery System
For Ohio Medicaid managed care youth members who are not enrolled in the OhioRISE plan, Ohio Medicaid MCOs and the fee for service program will continue coverage for the Medicaid's existing behavioral health services and MRSS. MCOs will manage also administrative care coordination, utilization management, and quality improvement efforts. The Ohio Medicaid MCOs also will be responsible for assuring access to the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment to determine when a child needs the enhanced services of the OhioRISE plan.

ODM presented highlights of OhioRISE to stakeholders via webinar. To access the recording, please register here. Click here to view the presentation.

Along with the OhioRISE MCO procurement process, ODM engaged stakeholders in the process of designing the OhioRISE services package.

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OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence)

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As a part Ohio Medicaid's effort to launch the next generation of its managed care program, ODM will implement OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence), a specialized managed care program for youth with complex behavioral health and multi-system needs.

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The Ohio Aging and Disability Transportation Coalition (OADTC) will host a series of webinars in October on issues surrounding transportation equity designed to inform Ohioans who are aging and with disabilities on work around equity and access. October 5th, 12th, 20th, 28th Register here:

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The Ohio Aging and Disability Transportation Coalition (OADTC) will host a series of webinars in October on issues surrounding transportation equity designed to inform Ohioans who are aging and with disabilities on work around equity and access. October 5th, 12th, 20th, 28th Register here:

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Transportation has always been an issue, especially for those who are aging or have a disability. What can be done to improve this vital need? The Ohio Aging and Disability Coalition (an initiative of the Services for Independent Living) aims to answer this question and provide information to help others to take action!

The Coalition is offering a four-part series to inform and educate people. Attend and let your voice be heard!

Forum 1

Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Time: 10:30AM-11:30AM EST
Title: A deeper look into transportation surveys. How do they help our local communities?

Transportation surveys assist in gathering the data needed for research studies that can help legislators and administration officials better understand the unique needs and challenges of people with developmental disabilities. Join us for an in-depth discussion about the impact that transportation surveys have on our communities and what we can learn from them.

Speakers are:

Brandi Hesson - Mobility Manager Buckeye Hills Regional Council

Pamela Pate - Statewide Mobility Coordinator Ohio Department of Transportation

Melissa Grey - Senior Program Manager National Aging and Disability Transportation Center

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1528002721349622288

Forum 2

Date: Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Time: 1:30 PM-2:30PM EST
Title: Mobility Managers: The link between community partners and transportation providers

What is a Mobility Manager? Who do they help? What do they do? Join us for a Mobility Manager Transportation panel featuring mobility managers from across the state of Ohio as they educate us about the role that they play in our aging and disability communities. Learn about the importance of their facilitation of travel training, orientating individuals, and the impact of feeding data on unmet needs into the transportation planning processes across the state.

Speakers are:

Lisa Leckrone - Mobility Manager Perry County

Sharon Pearson - Mobility Manager at United Way of Greater Lorain County

Tracy Haines - Mobility Manager Coshocton County Mobility Management

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/763435320743116304

Forum 3

Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Time: 10:30 AM-11:30AM EST
Title: Improving access to transportation in Ohio's rural communities

Helping rural communities improve access to transportation assists in breaking a huge barrier that persist in the state of Ohio. Our featured speakers will describe how their programs and resources help benefit rural communities by describing their best practices for improving access to transportation, overcoming barriers, and improving transportation safety in Ohio's rural community's.

Speakers are:

Jessie Schmitzer - Mobility Manager Athens-Hocking County

Joseph Adray - Mobility Manager ARTS/Highland County

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/879414006264234000

Forum 4

Date: Thursday, October 28, 2021
Time: 1:30 PM-2:30PM EST
Title: Technology and Transportation; The future

Transportation can reduce social isolation and enhance individual autonomy and psychosocial well-being. It is important that we increase our knowledge and understanding of the potential benefits of using technology in relation to transportation for people with disabilities and who are aging. Hear from some of Ohio's Transportation networks on how they are making a difference in our communities and providing exceptional transportation services with the help of modern-day technology.

Speakers are:

Kate Schramm- Director of Partnerships Foenix Mobility Rising

Lexi Petrella- Mobility Coordinator Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission

Ryan Mancus- Founder and CEO SHARE Mobility

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4686873239671200528

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Aging and Disability Transportation Forum Series

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Transportation has always been an issue, especially for those who are aging or have a disability. What can be done to improve this vital need? The Ohio Aging and Disability Coalition (an initiative of the Services for Independent Living) aims to answer this question and provide information to help others to take action!

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Health Orders Rescinded

On June 2, 2021, the Adult Day Support and Vocational Habilitation Services order expired and the ICF/IID order was rescinded on April 27, 2021. Replacement orders from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) are not anticipated regarding Adult Day Support (ADS), Vocational Habilitation (VH) services, or Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF) settings.

Though these and other ODH orders have expired, the general public should continue to follow the Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Best Practice and Guidance
While there will no longer be any state-issued health orders in place, below is a summary of current Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and CDC guidance that may apply to residential or non-residential services. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) strongly encourages providers to use the guidance documents to establish the best practices to support people in various service delivery environments.

The CDC continues to recommend facial coverings for any person who is not fully vaccinated, meaning two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine.
Direct Support Professionals
According to the CDC, direct support professionals (DSPs) are in the same general risk category as health care personnel. DSPs are essential for the health and well-being of the people they support. Because of this, DSPs are exempt from the CDC Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People and should follow the Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel guidance from CDC which includes wearing facial coverings while working.
ICFs
According to the CDC guidance for Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel guidance, facial coverings are still required for all staff of ICFs regardless of vaccination status. Likewise, facial coverings are still required for all visitors to ICFs, according to CMS guidance QSO-21-14-ICF/IID, issued February 21, 2021 and updated (DATE).

ICFs should follow current guidance from the (CMS) to determine appropriate access to the facility and resident visitation.

Other Residential Settings

The CDC recommends that DSPs working in a person's own home, apartment, small group homes, and smaller licensed waiver facilities should continue to use facial coverings.

Providers of these services can mandate their employees wear facial coverings and people receiving services can request to be supported by someone who wears a facial covering or is vaccinated.

People with disabilities wrote these tips for working with support staff including wearing facial coverings. The person making the request should understand that they may need to find another provider if they are unwilling or unable to fulfill their request. You may find additional providers in your area through the DODD Provider Search, ProviderGuidePlus, or by contacting your local county board for assistance.
Adult Day Support, Vocational Habilitation, and Adult Day Programs
As of June 2, 2021, there are no longer group size limitations or cohorting requirements in ADS or VH settings. Providers may choose to keep some or all the practices included in the previous order in place at their discretion. DSPs working in ADS, VH, and adult day program settings should continue to follow CDC Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel guidance.

The provider assurance process ended on June 2, 2021, and the Risk/Benefit Discussion Guide is no longer required but will continue to be available to help guide conversations if needed. The adult day service flexibilities, including ADS restart and STEP flexibilities and codes, will remain on the DODD website for reference until identified end dates.

Transportation

DODD transportation providers are encouraged to follow the Ohio Public Transit Association COVID-19 Guidance for Ohio Public Transit and Human Service Transportation Agencies and CDC guidance on rideshares/carpooling.
General Questions about Vaccinations
Providers can inquire about a person or employee's vaccination status. However, DODD continues to encourage providers not to mandate or refuse to provide services for people who are not vaccinated as outlined in Memo Monday, March 8, 2021.
Best Practice Links and Resources
Below is DODD recommended resources to help understand the changing Ohio Department of Health Orders:
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Vaccine Requirements for Long-Term Care CMS QSO CDC Guidance regarding Transportation CDC Guidance regarding Adult Day Services CDC Guidance for Group Homes
Updated ODH Mask Flyers:

Version 1
Version 2
Regional Residential Crisis Support Plan

Purpose: To create a regional team structured to consult with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) on crisis issues that residential providers may be experiencing. The process will be built upon collaboration between DODD, county boards of developmental disabilities, providers, and members of local teams.

Contact information for each county can be found on the Residential Crisis Support Map.
The Regional Residential Crisis Support Plan is triggered when:
A residential provider does not have the resources, staff, or residential capacity to provide the services necessary to ensure the health and safety of a person or people receiving services.
The Regional Residential Crisis Support Plan operates as follows:
Provider > 2. County Board > 3. DODD Regional Team > 4. DODD Strike Team
Step 1: Provider Identifies Crisis Scenario and Attempts to Find Solutions
The provider shall try to use existing resources to address the need as best they can with local means within their control. This could include hiring new staff, incentivizing existing staff to return to duty, signing contracts with other residential providers for staffing "loans," etc.
If that does not address the crisis, proceed to Step 2 Step 2: Provider Contacts County Board Provider Support Liaison for Help
After exhausting existing resources within their control, the provider should contact their county board provider support liaison for assistance. The county board liaison will make every effort to work within that county's provider pool and community resources to coordinate with the person's team* to address the crisis through any available means.

*This does NOT mean that a formal team meeting must be held, just that the team lead is contacted to gather relevant information and to ensure that members of the team are engaged in the development and implementation of a solution.
If that does not address the crisis, proceed to Step 3 Step 3: County Board Contacts DODD Regional Provider Resources and Support CRC for Support
If a county board is unable to use existing resources within their county's control, the board should contact the DODD Provider Resources and Support CRC assigned to their region to explore possible solutions which may include utilizing support from resources and providers outside their county. The DODD Provider Resources and Support CRC will report all residential crisis issues to Ann Weisent, Provider Resources and Support Manager, and will utilize all resources available within their region to attempt to address the need. This may include contacting other DODD regional support team members or other state agencies representatives for resources. The assigned CRC will also contact provider association representatives to identify additional residential supports which may be available.
Regional Provider Resources and Support CRCs
Region 1 and 2 - Dawn Smith dawn.smith@dodd.ohio.gov 614-687-3548

Region 3 and 4 - Leigh Ann Smoot leighann.smoot@dodd.ohio.gov 513-432-6496

Region 5 and 6 - Michael Hogan michael.hogan@dodd.ohio.gov 330-360-6470

Provider Resources and Support Manager

Ann Weisent ann.weisent@dodd.ohio.gov 614-949-8792
If that does not address the crisis, proceed to Step 4 Step 4: DODD Regional Contacts DODD Strike Team for Help and Final Resolution

If the DODD regional support team organized by the Provider Resources and Supports CRCs cannot solve the problem with resources available to them, and all volunteer provider association representatives have been unable to identify additional capacity within the provider community, the DODD regional support team should elevate the crisis to Ann Weisent who will engage the DODD Strike Team. The Strike team will consist of a group of senior leaders at DODD who will work to take extraordinary measures using all departmental resources to attempt to solve the crisis.

Health and Safety

DODD encourages providers to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and DSPs are familiar with and follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) related to social distancing and personal hygiene.

Following these guidelines for social distancing, providers may limit the delivery of services in community settings when appropriate.

Providers may not discharge a person from services only due to the diagnosis of COVID-19. It is expected that the provider will follow appropriate procedures as recommended by the CDC, ODH, their local health department, or health care professionals.

Providers are encouraged to ensure that a person-centered approach to services is maintained by communicating with people receiving services, their families, guardians, and DSPs to keep them updated on how they can stay safe during this state of emergency.

DSPs should be familiar with their agency's emergency response plan.

DODD supports a provider's ability to prioritize medical appointments, follow-ups, and consultations based on the needs of the person and after consultation with the appropriate medical professional. When possible, telehealth options, such as 24/7 nurse phone lines, should be explored.

Independent providers should be aware of each person they serve who is the designated backup provider. Providers with questions should contact the person's service and support administrator (SSA) for details.

Billing Overview

To ensure service authorization and billing requirements are not undue barriers to service delivery and provider reimbursement throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) state of emergency, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) is making the following changes to its processes for services delivered on or after March 12, 2020:

Services authorized through electronic means (by telephone, email, etc.) will be reimbursed without being reflected in DODD's Payment Authorization for Waiver Services (PAWS) system. County board of developmental disabilities should document the authorization locally through TCM case notes when possible, or by any other means available.

An approved prior authorization (PA) will not be required for services that exceed the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Profile (ODDP) funding range for people enrolled in the Individual Options (IO) Waiver.

DODD's Medicaid Services System (MSS) will not prevent the submission of claims that exceed the three percent (3%) limitation within the Monthly Rate Calculator (MRC).

Homemaker/Personal Care (HPC) services will be permitted to be delivered and reimbursed on the same day as Ohio Shared Living if needed and authorized by the individual service plan (ISP) team.

Services for Level One Waiver enrollees will be reimbursed up to the total available funding within the waiver, which includes the current amount available for non-adult day array services ($6,750), plus the amounts currently available for adult day array services and Non-Medical Transportation.

The $8,520 Emergency Services Benefit for the Level One Waiver will continue to be available, in addition to the funding reference in the previous bullet.

The individual cost caps for the Self-Empowered Life Funding (SELF) Waiver are not being changed, but if enrollees require services that exceed the established cost caps for children or adults, county boards are being asked to identify ways to meet the specific needs.

Please direct any questions regarding reimbursement for services to the DODD Support Hotline at 1-800-617-6733, option 2.

It is likely that the expanded need for services in smaller groups and residential settings will increase the cost of waiver services during the state of emergency. DODD acknowledges that the financial commitment to support the required state matching funds obligation for waiver services is shared between the department and county boards. As such, expenditures during this period will be closely monitored, and DODD will fully honor its financial partnership with county boards. As more information becomes available regarding the specific details of the various emergency funds that might be utilized to support services, DODD will collaborate with county boards about how to best access and allocate any available funding.

Certification Spans

With the impact of the COVID-19 state of emergency, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) issued automatic 90-day certification extensions to all providers expiring in March, April, and May 2020.

For example, a provider's certification was set to expire April 5, 2020, was automatically extended, and the provider received a new expiration date of July 5, 2020.

This allowed providers time to focus on providing services to people with developmental disabilities and delay the need for submitting a renewal application. DODD will continue to monitor the situation during this time of emergency.

Behavioral Supports, Including Rights Restrictions

If under prior DODD guidance, plans with behavioral support strategies were implemented without human rights committee (HRC) review and approval, each county board of DD and ICF should develop a process to begin reviewing these plans and seeking HRC approval when necessary. DODD understands that county boards of DD and ICFs may have suspended restrictive measures notification (RMN) entries during the emergency. We expect county boards of DD and ICFs to begin implementing the process to accomplish all these activities now. However, the department also realizes that it will take some time to put everything in place. All plans should meet the requirements of the behavioral support rule by January 31, 2021. HRC meetings may be held virtually.

ICF Guidance

Facial coverings are still required for all staff of ICFs regardless of vaccination status according to the CDC guidance for Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel guidance. Likewise, facial coverings are still required for all visitors to ICFs, according to CMS guidance QSO-21-14-ICF/IID, issued February 21, 2021.

ICFs should follow current guidance from the (CMS) to determine appropriate access to the facility and resident visitation.

Visitation in Waiver Settings

When people with developmental disabilities express an interest in resuming social visits in their homes, their support teams and roommates should have conversations about the appropriateness of visits at this time. Teams and roommates need to determine when and how to plan for visits inside and outside of the home safely and responsibly.

Teams should assist in making visits as safe as possible by working with the person and other members of the household to follow the public health guidelines, including, but not limited to

educating all residents on the risks of the spread of COVID-19 and appropriate/applicable safety precautions to take when interacting with visitors,

educating all families/friends of the dangers of the spread of COVID-19 and the potential health impact for not just their loved one, but all residents and staff at the home,

educating all residents on the importance of face coverings and maintaining social distancing from people they do not currently live with when out of the home,

encouraging DSPs and visitors coming into the person's home to always wear a face covering,

continuing frequent cleaning and sanitation of high touch surfaces and shared bathrooms, at least several times per day,

continuing to encourage the utilization of technology to keep in touch with families and friends,

and evaluating whether outdoor visitation would be more appropriate for members of the home.

Direct Support Professional Onboarding and Training

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, DODD has granted certain flexibilities to certified providers and ICFs regarding the hiring and training of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Effective September 1, 2021, providers will be expected to resume full compliance with all rules applicable to the hiring and training of DSPs, except for flexibilities around initial training and First Aid/CPR described below.

Full compliance includes:

HSD/GED/rule waiver
Employers will be expected to have evidence of a High School Diploma/GED OR rule waiver from the Department prior to hiring the applicant. Information about requesting HSD/GED rule waivers can be found here.

Background checks

Employers will be required to initiate all applicable required Background Checks (BCII, FBI, required database checks, etc.) prior to employment.
Rule permits an agency to preliminarily employ a DSP for up to 60 days pending receipt of the results of the BCII check, provided the applicant has signed a Criminal
Notification/Attestation statement prior to employment. Upon receipt of the completed background check, appropriate action must be taken if any disqualifying offenses are revealed.

Agencies must continue to enroll persons in Rapback within 14 days of receipt of the BCII check.
Previously identified issues related to Rapback enrollment have been reported as resolved.

Initial Training
DODD will continue to accept condensed initial training through December 31, 2021
The condensed initial training must include:
Training to recognize and report major unusual incidents (MUIs) and unusual incidents (UIs). The training must include at a minimum the definitions of MUIs and UIs, as well as the agency's procedures for reporting.

Universal precautions.

Training provided or arranged by the agency provider specific to the individual service plan (ISP) of each person the DSP will support.

Initial training must always be conducted prior to the DSP providing services.

Resuming January 1, 2022, initial training conducted after this date will need to comply with the Agency and Independent Certification rules and/or the Administration of Licensed Facilities rule.

First Aid/CPR

Staring September 1, 2021, all DSPs must have First Aid/CPR training prior to providing services except for those employed at Facilities subject to OAC 5123:2-3-01 (F) (1)(h-i).

First Aid/CPR training that does not include an in-person skills assessment will continue to be accepted through December 31, 2021.

Training that includes an in-person skills assessment will again be required effective January 1, 2022.

For DSPs who obtain CPR/First Aid training that does not include an in-person skills demonstration prior to January 1, 2022, DODD will accept this as valid training through the certificate's expiration date. Upon renewal, the DSP will be expected to obtain training that includes the required in-person skills assessment.

Medication Administration Certification

Medication Administration Certificates that were set to expire between March 9, 2020 and April 1, 2021 were extended until July 1, 2021 by House Bill 404.

Any certificates set to expire during that time that have not been renewed have lapsed as of July 2, 2021.

All DSPs administering medication must have a current Medication Administration Certificate.

Agencies that share DSPs:
If agencies share DSPs, each agency is required to maintain their own personnel record that demonstrates that agency's compliance with personnel requirements

Compliance with all other applicable hiring and training requirements outlined in Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 5123.

For additional compliance resources, visit Compliance on DODD's website.

Independent Providers
Fee Waiver
Ohioans with developmental disabilities and their families depend on independent providers to deliver personalized care, which they require to remain healthy and safe. Due to the increased need for independent providers in Ohio's support system for people with developmental disabilities, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) is providing the following assistance to encourage more independent providers to be certified and start providing critical services during the state of emergency. The DODD website offers details about how to become an independent provider. In addition to the information on the website, DODD is providing the assistance detailed below.
Process Update
The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) is waiving the application fee for all initial applications for independent providers received between June 14, 2021, and September 30, 2021. The application must be completed by September 30, 2021, to receive the fee waiver.

DODD is initiating a process for people with developmental disabilities and families who have already selected a potential provider. We will be using the below process for submitted applications to expedite the applicant who has someone waiting to receive services. An application is considered complete once all required documentation and background checks are received.
Positive COVID-19 Diagnosis
If there is an independent provider applicant chosen by a person with disabilities, guardian, or family member and the application needs expedited, please contact the provider certification department at provider.certification@dodd.ohio.gov. Please include in the body of the email the person's county board SSA contact information, the potential provider's name, email, application number, and email contacts for the person, guardian, or family members.

Independent providers are encouraged to maintain a person-centered approach to services. Communication is critical during a state of emergency. Ensure that there is consistent communication among independent providers, the person receiving services, the person's service, and support administrator (SSA), as well as with families or guardians.

DODD supports independent providers' abilities to prioritize medical appointments, follow-ups, and consultations based on the needs of the person and any advice from appropriate medical professionals. Independent providers are encouraged to utilize telehealth options when available.
Exceeding 60 Hours for Services
To maintain the health and safety of people receiving supports, independent providers should be aware of who is the designated backup provider for each person they support. If there is any question, providers should reach out to the person's SSA for details.
Training and Service Changes
During this state of emergency, independent providers are enabled to exceed the 60-hour ceiling for providing services, if necessary, to maintain the health and safety of people receiving supports. Independent providers will still require authorization from the SSA. Independent providers may be authorized to deliver overtime hours through verbal or electronic authorization from the County Board prior to individual service plan (ISP) updates. Payment authorization for waiver services (PAWS) updates may be needed to reflect additional units for payment.

Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) training requirements are not being collected as part of the certification application at this time. The applicant may upload a blank page to that part of the independent provider application.

First Aid and CPR online-only classes are being accepted, with in-person requirements to resume in the future.

When entering Supplier ID on the application, be aware that the Supplier ID number and the Registration number from Ohio Shared Services for an account are very similar. Supplier ID numbers can be obtained here.

Even with the lenient training requirements described above, medication administration training requirements  have not changed. All independent providers who are responsible for administering medication must have medication administration training.

Alternative Service Delivery Methods

For independent providers who are currently certified but not engaged in the delivery of services, or who may only be providing services on a part-time basis, there are many opportunities available to meet this high demand for service.

Notify the local county board of developmental disabilities (CBDD) of the willingness to assist more people.

Contract with an agency provider for services.

Be hired as an employee of an agency provider.

If you are an independent provider with current, active certification, you may be hired by an agency provider without undergoing some of the traditional hiring requirements.

Agency providers hiring independent providers for direct services may forgo obtaining a BCII check if the independent provider is currently certified by DODD. Additionally, the agency can assume initial training requirements have been met as part of the independent provider certification process but must provide the independent provider with major unusual incidents (MUIs) and unusual incidents (UIs) training specific to the agency. BCII checks and enrollment in RAPBACK must be obtained if the agency maintains the independent provider in a direct support position for more than 90 days.

In addition to MUI training, the agency must provide person-specific training and in a licensed facility emergency response training for the locations in which the independent provider will be working. The condensed training referenced in the Resources for Onboarding DSPs guidance is acceptable.

With the uncertainty that many people with developmental disabilities and their families are facing, some independent providers may not be providing services to every person who they usually do provide services. If you are an independent provider and looking for more work, reach out to your local county board of developmental disabilities or local agency providers. Many people will be requiring more supports during this state of emergency, and agency providers will be looking for additional DSPs. Working for an agency may be a good way to supplement any income that may be lost during this state of emergency.

Filing for unemployment may be an option for independent providers. The unemployment guidelines have changed due to the state of emergency.

DODD recognizes that the following situational actions may seem excessive or unattainable due to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), residential space, the number of direct support professionals (DSP) or residential waiver settings that do not serve elderly or medically compromised people.

However, the following is intended to serve as a guide and is highly recommended to protect the people who the department serves and those caring for them.

All DSPs entering the residential waiver setting should be screened for symptoms using the Entry Screening Process for Prevention of COVID-19 Transmission tool. Staff performing health check screenings should wear facemasks.

DSPs with symptoms or with temperatures greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit should be sent home. DSPs who develop symptoms or fever while in the residential waiver setting should immediately go home (not to the urgent care or emergency room unless severely ill).

Advise people who screen positive to contact their primary care physician by phone or telehealth. The HCP will determine whether the person needs to be evaluated in person and will make a referral for evaluation and treatment, as necessary.
Ohio Public Health Advisory System LTSS Pre-Surge Planning Toolkit
A county board of developmental disabilities may approve an extension during this time, as appropriate for the person, and begin discharge planning again once the state of emergency has concluded.

Electronic Visit Verification

Providers who are employing a high volume of new staff or new clients are reminded that Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) visit logging requirements remain in effect. The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) is monitoring EVV visits as part of a larger strategy to identify people at risk during the state of emergency who may not be receiving the support they require to stay healthy and safe. However, it is understood that no available EVV device and other barriers may exist when logging a visit during service delivery. Please keep in mind that any visit that is not recorded in real-time can be entered manually online at a later point. EVV is not used to deny claims payment at this time.

Please note the certification requirement for EVV training is being waived at this time for new providers and existing providers adding Homemaker/Personal Care (HPC) services during the state of emergency. Providers who have not completed training will not be able to access EVV data and log visits. Because EVV is not used to deny claims payment at this time, this will have no impact on reimbursement for services provided.

Providers who wish to continue delivering HPC services after the state of emergency will be required to take EVV training and begin logging visits at a later date.

While ODM and its partner agencies suspended the requirement that new providers complete EVV training before getting a Medicaid ID during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cures Act still requires providers to use EVV. Core training requirements must be completed before a provider can use the EVV system. For agency providers, core training requirements are the System Overview and Security modules. Non-agency providers must complete the System Overview.

Providers new to Medicaid or who are just starting to provide services subject to EVV must complete core training as soon as possible after receiving their Medicaid provider number. After they complete core training, they will receive a link to their welcome kits by email and can begin to log visits. Information on EVV training is located on ODM's website https://medicaid.ohio.gov/INITIATIVES/Electronic-Visit-Verification/TrainingProviders who wish to continue delivering HPC services after the state of emergency has subsided will be required to take EVV training and begin logging visits at a later date.

Adult Day Guidance

As more Ohioans with developmental disabilities are receiving COVID-19 vaccines, they are looking to safely return to the places, jobs, and activities they love. People should engage in the activities they choose and services they need in the safest way possible.

The process always begins with the person's choice of services and is bolstered by a team discussion of the risk and benefits of that decision. To help with this discussion, reference the Risk/Benefit Discussion Guide.

DODD encourages providers to use the best practices to support a person's choice to safely receive services.

DODD also encourages providers to explore alternative service delivery methods, such as the use of Remote Support or allowing people to receive services in the homes of DSPs. People receiving services, guardians, and teams must be consulted and approve these alternatives.

It is recommended that staffing ratios be maintained whenever possible, but when not possible, the provider should ensure that the SSA is aware and be prepared to discuss ways in which the provider can continue to ensure the health and safety of the person.

Adult Day Service Best Practices

As of June 2, 2021, there are no longer group size limitations or cohort requirements in ADS or VH settings. Providers may choose to keep some or all the practices included in the previous order in place at their discretion. DSPs working in ADS, VH, and adult day program settings should continue to follow CDC I nfection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel guidance.

The provider assurance process ended on June 2, 2021, and the Risk/Benefit Discussion Guide is no longer required but will continue to be available to help guide conversations if needed. The adult day service flexibilities, including ADS restart and STEP flexibilities and codes, will remain with the details listed below.

Adult Day Service Flexibilities

Current flexibilities that exist for providers:

ADS/VH can be provided in a person's home, virtually, or on behalf of when determined appropriate through the person-centered planning process.

Personnel flexibility

ADS/VH providers may provide Homemaker/Personal Care (HPC) and Residential Respite.

Subcontracting with residential providers; or,

Expediting adding these services to their provider certification.

Onboarding training of DSPs.

Sharing of DSPs across agencies.

Subcontracting with DSPs certified as independent providers of HPC.

Adult Day Service Restart

DODD will resume using the ADS/VH rates associated with the acuity group assignment for each person receiving services effective September 1, 2021. Providers may continue to use the Restart billing codes for ADS/VH services delivered on or before August 31, 2021. For services delivered on or after September 1, 2021, providers should use the traditional ADS/VH billing codes.

It is not necessary for individual services plans (ISPs) and Payment Authorizations for Waiver Services (PAWS) to be updated prior to September 1, 2021, for providers to be properly reimbursed. ADS and VH services are represented on the PAWS by roll-up codes rather than by distinct billing codes, therefore, as long as ADS and/or VH services are authorized in the ISP, the billing system will look for the associated roll-up code on the PAWS to properly process claims.

STEP Billing Code
STEP Specifics Effective January 1, 2021
During the COVID-19 pandemic, via Appendix K, DODD was able to approve the adult day support (ADS) and vocational habilitation (VH) service to be provided in modified ways to ensure essential adult day and employment services were available in smaller groups and alternative settings. Appendix K allowed DODD to approve adult day support and vocational habilitation service to be provided in someone's home, virtually, or on behalf of. These are in conjunction with these services already being able to be provided in a developmental disability-specific facility or community setting. Currently, Appendix K has been authorized until January 21, 2022.

Providing ADS and/or VH in a group of no larger than five people, not including a DSP.

Providing ADS and/or VH in someone's home, virtually, on behalf of, in the community, or a combination of these ways.
STEP Billing Rates and Codes

Services should not be delivered in a facility-based ADS or VH site, except for when a drop-in is needed. A provider delivering ADS and/or VH in this way may drop into a congregate setting. Groups must remain separated from ADS/VH cohorts within the congregate setting. People may remain within the congregate setting the amount of time necessary to address individual needs.

To support ADS and VH being provided in alternative ways, DODD created a billing code for providers to use when offering STEP services.

The STEP billing code reimbursement rate is based on the service rates for Acuity Group C.

Services can be billed in 15 minutes or at a daily rate. Please see ADS and/or VH rules regarding daily billing requirements.

County boards do not need to request an administrative budget override for each person who utilizes ADS/VH STEP. DODD's billing system will recognize that these billing codes are to be paid at the rates established for Acuity Group C.

If a person meets the established criteria, the provider may also bill for the Medical Add-On and/or Behavioral Add-On as appropriate.

As a rule, routine Homemaker/Personal Care (HPC), Shared Living, and ADS are not permitted to be billed concurrently. Any potential for overlaps between HPC or Shared Living services and this modified adult day service option will need to be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis and only authorized when supported by a documented need.

Providers who are interested in delivering ADS/VH in these alternative ways should contact the local county board to discuss which people might need and benefit from ADS or VH services delivered in this fashion.

The chart below includes the STEP billing codes and PAWS Roll-up codes which include both 15-minute unit codes and the new day unit codes.

Waiver

Service Title

Unit Type

DODD Billing Code

PAWS Roll-up Code

HPC Options for ADS Providers

To deliver needed services and support to people with developmental disabilities, residential providers may need to augment their staff, as people will not be leaving their homes to attend day services and may need additional Homemaker/Personal Care (HPC) services in their homes.

Adult Day Support and Vocational Habilitation service providers may provide HPC services in the following ways.

If the Adult Day Support or Vocational Habilitation service provider is already certified to deliver HPC services, the provider may submit claims for HPC services directly to DODD through the Medicaid Billing System (eMBS).

If the Adult Day Support or Vocational Habilitation service provider is not already certified to deliver HPC services, the provider can still utilize its staff to deliver HPC services by using one of the following two approaches:

The provider may subcontract with a residential services provider. The residential services provider would bill DODD for the HPC services through eMBS and use the funding received to reimburse the Adult Day Support or Vocational Habilitation provider for the services rendered by their employees.

The provider may apply through DODD's Provider Services Management (PSM) system to have HPC added to their existing certification. Once the application has been submitted, the provider can utilize the "Communicate" feature within PSM to alert DODD that the application is a request to add HPC to an existing certification for an Adult Day Support or Vocational Habilitation provider. Upon receipt of the alert through the "Communicate" feature within PSM, DODD will expedite the processing of the application for HPC. The provider will be able to bill HPC through DODD's eMBS for services rendered for any date on or after the date the application is submitted.

Adult Day Support and Vocational Habilitation service providers may also become certified in an expedited process to provide Residential Respite and Participant-Directed HPC services to people in need of those services.

Providers may explore the availability of an alternative workforce, such as college students or people without high school diplomas or GEDs, as well as the possibility of working with local county boards of developmental disabilities to identify other potential groups of people in local communities. The staff person may be placed in a direct support position immediately. Providers must ensure that newly hired or reassigned DSPs have condensed training to recognize and report major unusual incidents (MUIs) and unusual incidents (UIs), as well as universal precautions. The training must include, at minimum, the definitions of MUIs and UIs and the agency's procedures for reporting.

If provider agencies need to share DSPs, a statement can be accepted from a DSP's primary employer stating that the DSP has required training and background checks for them to work for a different agency. These employees must still receive person-specific training (including crisis intervention, if necessary) and site emergency response training. A provider who chooses to utilize non-traditional DSPs in direct support positions must initiate appropriate background checks, driver's abstract (if driving), and the required registry checks, but may place the staff person on the schedule immediately. Online CPR/first aid classes will be accepted until further notice. CPR/first aid certification as required by rule must be obtained if the staff person maintains a direct support position beyond the state of emergency. DSPs without current CPR/first aid may provide direct supports if the DSP is working with a nurse or at least one other DSP who has current CPR/first aid certification.

Even with the lenient training requirements described above, medication administration training requirements have not changed. All independent providers and DSPs who are responsible for administering medication must have medication administration training. Providers whose certifications are expired for no more than 180 days may continue to administer medications and get renewal of certifications during that extension.

If provider agencies need to share DSPs, a statement can be accepted from a DSP's primary employer stating that the DSP has the required training and background checks for them to work for a different agency. These employees must still receive person-specific training (including crisis intervention, if necessary) and site emergency response training. Additionally, HPC services may be provided by the utilization of DSPs currently employed by Adult Day Array provider agencies.

If the Adult Day Array service provider is already certified to deliver HPC services, the provider may submit claims for HPC services directly to DODD through the Medicaid Billing System.

If the Adult Day Array service provider is not already certified to deliver HPC services, the provider may enter into a sub-contractual arrangement with the residential services provider. The residential services provider would bill for the HPC services to DODD through the Medicaid Billing System and use the funding received to reimburse the Adult Day Services provider for the services rendered by their employees.

The provider may apply through DODD's Provider Services Management (PSM) system to have HPC added to their existing certification. Once the application has been submitted, the provider can utilize the Communicate feature within PSM to alert DODD that the application is a request to add HPC to an existing certification for an Adult Day Support or Vocational Habilitation provider. Upon receipt of the alert through the Communicate feature within PSM, DODD will expedite the processing of the application for HPC. The provider will be able to bill HPC through DODD's eMBS for services rendered for any date on or after the date the application is submitted.

Transportation

DODD transportation providers are encouraged to follow the Ohio Public Transit Association COVID-19 Guidance for Ohio Public Transit and Human Service Transportation Agencies and CDC guidance on rideshares/carpooling.

Respite

DODD recognizes that many places, including residential waiver settings and ICFs, provide much-needed respite services. During this time, providers should cancel all non-emergency respite stays. If a residential waiver setting is contacted to provide respite services, they must first contact the person's local county board of developmental disabilities to discuss the need for the respite service.

If it is determined that the need is of an emergency nature, the provider may provide respite services to the person following the initial screening of the person.

To continue to support people being safe and staying in their current locations, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities has received approval to temporarily lift the maximum days allowed for Residential Respite services identified in the waiver rules for a person during their waiver span.

If, by having a person using respite in the facility, the facility is caused to go over capacity, the facility must still submit a request for a waiver of licensed capacity. Those requests will be reviewed and responded to as quickly as possible.

Cares Act Provider Relief Fund

The CARES Act created a Provider Relief Fund to distribute federal funds to providers in response to COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expects to distribute $15 billion to eligible Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) providers.

All Ohio providers are eligible to apply for relief funds through the provider relief portal. This portal allows providers to attest to relief fund payments made for healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19.

Before applying through the provider relief portal, The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities strongly encourages applicants to read the Medicaid Provider Distribution Instructions and download and complete the Medicaid Provider Distribution Application Form.

Questions? Support is available by contacting HHS at (866) 569-3522.
Plain Language Doc - COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Best Practices Getting a Vaccine: What to Know About Me Getting a Vaccine: What to Expect Plain Language: Ohio's COVID-19 Vaccination Program
Monoclonal Antibodies Treatment for COVID-19 DODD-ODH Recorded Infection Control Webinar Guidance - Health and Safety Supplies
Resources
What COVID-19 Means for Families LTSS Toolkit DODD Support Teams COVID-19 Resources: Non-Guidance Sign up for information from DODD
Social Story: Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine (From UC UCEDD and the Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities)

What COVID-19 Means for DSPs

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On June 2, 2021, the Adult Day Support and Vocational Habilitation Services order expired and the ICF/IID order was rescinded on April 27, 2021. Replacement orders from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) are not anticipated regarding Adult Day Support (ADS), Vocational Habilitation (VH) services, or Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF) settings.

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SW Ohio Provider Support Network Agenda and Notes for 9/30/2021

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SW Ohio Provider Support Network Agenda and Notes for 9/30/2021

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Sept 2021 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab Agenda

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CDC:  COVID-19 Materials for People with IDD 

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CDC:  COVID-19 Materials for People with IDD 

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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COVID-19 is challenging to explain, live through, and communicate about. The materials on this page were created to help make communicating about COVID-19 a little easier. Choose from videos, posters, social stories, and interactive activities to best meet your communication needs.

These materials ( also available in Spanish) will cover 5 basic topics: getting the COVID-19 shot, washing your hands, getting a COVID-19 test, as well as wearing a mask and keeping a safe distance until you have gotten your shot.

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covid-19 materials for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

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COVID-19 is challenging to explain, live through, and communicate about. The materials on this page were created to help make communicating about COVID-19 a little easier. Choose from videos, posters, social stories, and interactive activities to best meet your communication needs.

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Amazing Report from ACL about People with Developmental Disabilities + Community -- a 30-Year (1987- 2017) survey full of data, stories, and insights.   

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Amazing Report from ACL about People with Developmental Disabilities + Community -- a 30-Year (1987- 2017) survey full of data, stories, and insights.   

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On July 12, 2021, three ACL grantees released 30 Years of Commu nity Living for Individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities. Featuring infographics, photos, and accessible language, as well as personal perspectives on community living and inclusion shared by people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) who served as advisors to the project, the free digital book explores the evolution of integration and inclusion of people ID/DD in American society. The book was written collaboratively by the directors of three longitudinal studies funded by ACL's Projects of National Significance program.

A summary of data collected between 1987 and 2017, the book illustrates the progress made since the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed 31 years ago and the work yet to be done to achieve its promise. It starkly illustrates that although opportunities for community living have significantly expanded, far too many people with ID/DD are still unable to access the supports they need to live - and fully participate -- in their community. Highlights include:

Where people live: The vast majority of people with ID/DD live in homes in the community, not in institutions. The number of people with ID/DD who receive paid support who do not live with a family member more than doubled, and most of them lived in homes shared by six or fewer people with ID/DD.

Funding for services and supports: A huge shift was seen in Medicaid-funded supports. In 1987, 9 of 10 people who received Medicaid-funded supports lived in an institution. By 2017, 9 of 10 people who received supports through Medicaid were receiving them in the community. However, availability of paid supports still trailed the need; in 2017, fewer than one in five people with ID/DD (or 17%) receive paid supports for community living.

Employment: The number of people with ID/DD working in competitive, integrated employment grew from a few thousand to nearly 150,000, and the number of people receiving supports to work in the community quadrupled. However, those numbers still represent a small fraction of the people with ID/DD who would like to be working in the community. Although 60 percent of people with ID/DD would like to be working in a paid job, alongside people without disabilities, only 20 percent of people with ID/DD are. Similarly, only about 1 in 5 people who receives employment or day services from a state ID/DD agency received support to work in an integrated job.

Technology: Although technology is an increasingly powerful tool for enhancing well-being and community engagement, investment in technology for people with ID/DD has remained relatively flat over the last 10 years. Few states have "technology first" policies that require technology to be considered when planning for services to support people with ID/DD, but that number is growing - in 2020, 17 states and the District of Columbia had "technology first" initiatives.

Read a descriptive story about the "30 Years of Community Living" book.

About the authors

Projects of National Significance focus on the most pressing issues affecting people with developmental disabilities and their families. Through the projects, ACL supports the development of national and state policy and awards grants and contracts that enhance the independence, productivity, inclusion, and integration of people with developmental disabilities. The program funds three data collection projects, which collaborated to produce 30 Years of Community Living for Individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities:

The Residential Information Systems Project (RISP) is a project of the Institute on Community Integration at University of Minnesota. It studies 1) how many people with ID/DD get paid supports, 2) the types and sizes of the places where people live, 3) how services differ for children and adults, and 4) how services change from year to year. RISP data are used for the Community Living chapter.
Contact:Sheryl Larson, PhD

StateData.info is a project of ThinkWork! at the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston. StateData and ThinkWork! describe the employment experiences of people with ID/DD and other disabilities, describe policies and supports that lead to employment and other meaningful day activities, and tell personal stories about employment success. StateData research is used in the Employment chapter.
Contact:John Butterworth, PhD

The State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities project is run by the University of Colorado at the Anschutz Medical Campus. It studies how much money is spent on supports for people with ID/DD, how services are funded, and how technology changes people's lives. State of the States data are used in the Expenditures and Technology chapters.
Contact:Shea Tanis, Phd

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On July 12, 2021, three ACL grantees released 30 Years of Commu nity Living for Individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities. Featuring infographics, photos, and accessible language, as well as personal perspectives on community living and inclusion shared by people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) who served as advisors to the project, the free digital book explores the evolution of integration and inclusion of people ID/DD in American society.

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Blueprint Work Group Next Step:  Implementation

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Blueprint Work Group Next Step:  Implementation

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Blueprint for Adult Day and Employment Services Proposal 2021

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Blueprint for Adult Day and Employment Services Proposal 2021

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Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

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Entering the Place on the Path to Community Employment (County Board Users)

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Ohio's developmental disability (DD) system is designed to support people with developmental disabilities leading them toward healthy lives focused on their talents, interests, and skills.

Ohio's DD system is supported by thousands of professionals who ensure Ohioans with disabilities and their families receive the supports they need daily. Meeting those needs requires skilled professionals who provide indirect and direct support. The quality of the workforce impacts options for those needing services and the outcomes achieved.

Recruiting and retaining the number of qualified staff required to provide supports has become increasingly difficult. This leads to the inability to find the right staff for the job and jeopardizes how and when these vital services are delivered.

Two years ago, Ohio's state operating budget addressed workforce issues by increasing Homemaker/Personal Care (HPC) rates to facilitate higher average wages for direct support professionals (DSPs). The state budget also supported a specialized rate formula within Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs) to assist with ICF workforce issues.

Today, exacerbated by pandemic conditions, workforce issues are a preeminent challenge to the DD system. Short and long-term solutions must be developed to:

improve conditions to attract, recruit, and maintain a DD workforce large enough to meet adequate staffing levels in the face of a highly competitive job market,

build a quality workforce that is compensated fairly,

position DSPs as a potentially rewarding career opportunity,

and address the DD system's design, policies, procedures, rate structures, and other necessary elements to sustain the DD system if the current workforce shortage remains an ongoing scarcity.

In support of the workforce, additional strategies may also warrant attention to:

generate professional development capacity for ongoing skill-building, including in the support of DSPs,

promote adaptable skills, workforce cultures, and empathy to meet modern service delivery challenges,

educate people with disabilities, families, and guardians on how best to understand their roles and responsibilities within a home-care model, how to employ and supervise DSPs, and how to manage other support functions.

and foster a workforce that maximizes positive relationships with the people receiving services and their circle of support as they move toward their goals.

Over the next two years, the Ohio DSP Workforce Crisis Task Force (WCTF) will examine the DD system's current and projected workforce needs. This information will help WCTF pursue strategic action to meet identified needs. Reports and action steps will be completed by the task force throughout the two years to address immediate needs and future planning.

Task Force Members

External organizations and all individual members are listed below.

Task Force Meetings and Notes

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Ohio's developmental disability (DD) system is designed to support people with developmental disabilities leading them toward healthy lives focused on their talents, interests, and skills. Ohio's DD system is supported by thousands of professionals who ensure Ohioans with disabilities and their families receive the supports they need daily.

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July 22, 2021 SW Ohio Provider Support Confab NOTES

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July 22, 2021 SW Ohio Provider Support Confab NOTES

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July 2021 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab NOTES

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Only the state agency that provides data under the program may be required under the law of this state to respond to requests for records or information regarding the provided data, including public records requests, subpoenas, warrants, and investigatory requests. Data.Ohio.gov is not intended for use as a vehicle to make public records requests.

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Cool resource to help people walk through steps around getting, keeping, and retiring from, a job.

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If you have been out of work or financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, you are not alone.

The pandemic has disrupted the personal finances of many Americans. As a result, large numbers of people - including those with disabilities - are making employment-related decisions based on their new financial situation. You may be one of them.

We all need clear and accurate information to secure our financial well-being. This toolkit provides a path forward, based on where you are in your employment journey. Just click on any of the topic areas below - Preparing for a Job, Starting a Job, Maintaining a Job, Changing or Losing a Job, and Retiring from a Job - for answers to important questions, including tools and resources to help you meet your financial goals.

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The pandemic has disrupted the personal finances of many Americans. As a result, large numbers of people - including those with disabilities - are making employment-related decisions based on their new financial situation. You may be one of them. We all need clear and accurate information to secure our financial well-being.

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Innovating Support Solutions for People with Complex Needs Conversation:  6/30/2021 1 – 2:30 pm

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Innovating Support Solutions for People with Complex Needs Conversation:  6/30/2021 1 – 2:30 pm

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County board and provider staff in NW and SW Ohio met 6/10/2021, to discuss how to work toward supporting people with complex needs better.

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You can find a "lending library" in our region with this map -- might be great tool for ADS providers to have on-hand...

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Ohio Lending Libraries - Map - Google My Maps

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June 17, 2021 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab NOTES

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June 17, 2021 SW Ohio Provider Support Network Confab NOTES

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Provider Transportation Guidance 2020 (1)

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Many Ohioans with developmental disabilities encounter obstacles in daily tasks and activities as well as accessing education and jobs. Devices that engage in two-way communication or provide step-by step assistance can help people overcome these barriers and help them live the lives they want. For example, many new technologies can help someone feel more secure in their home, provide instruction on how to prepare an evening meal, or help to access public transportation. With these advancements, more Ohioans with developmental disabilities will have the opportunity to experience a life more fully integrated into their community.

Under Ohio's Technology First initiative, DODD will work with county boards of developmental disabilities to ensure technology is considered as part of all service and support plans for people with disabilities. Remote Support must be considered as the first option when authorizing services for a person with disabilities before authorizing on-site Homemaker/Personal Care staff. Technology First, created through a 2018 executive order, is not a technology-only policy but aims to help people learn more about how to use technology to improve their quality of life and how they can experience more independence and personal freedom.

Marci uses Assistive Technology in her home in Franklin County.

Supportive Technology

DODD's supportive technology-based services include Assistive Technology and Remote Support. Something is considered Assistive Technology if it helps provide personalized support for daily tasks, such as a cellphone application that reminds someone to stay on task at their job, or appliances with automatic shut-off features.

Remote Support uses two-way communication in real time, just like Skype or FaceTime, so a person can communicate with their providers when they need them. This allows for a person to be more independent in their home without a provider being on site.

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Many Ohioans with developmental disabilities encounter obstacles in daily tasks and activities as well as accessing education and jobs. Devices that engage in two-way communication or provide step-by step assistance can help people overcome these barriers and help them live the lives they want.

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2021 Transformation Series - #MovingForwardTogether

This year, the Provider Transformation Summit is transforming into the 2021 Provider Transformation Series - a collection of resources and online events that assist providers, county boards, families, individuals, and others to think about and move from facility to community-minded supports.

This change in format allows the concept of transformation to be considered from multiple points of view, as well as giving us all a chance to come to a fuller understanding of what makes actual provider transformation successful. Many times, it is not about making big moves, but the daily actions providers and others take toward supporting people where they are to where they want to go. During the 2020/21 Pandemic, of course, everyone involved in the service system had to reinvent supports and the way they are provided, to maintain health and safety, as well as to support meaningful routines. This lived experience helps all of us appreciate the necessity of transformation and how it starts and succeeds with attention to how programs are organized and perceived by the DSPs and managers running them, as well as the individuals and families who depend on them.

The 2021 Provider Transformation Series has been designed to allow everyone interested in the subject matter a variety of formats and styles so individual and organizational needs and expectations can be met. It provides an opportunity for stakeholders to gather and share ideas, strategies, and practices that will assist them as they move through the systems change process and help improve person-centered planning, community membership, and employment opportunities for individuals across Ohio.

The 2021 series features two great offerings to help support your continued transformation journey:

Transformation Talks will be posted in late March 2021.

Transformation Tuesdays registration is NOW OPEN!
Register for Transformation Tuesdays!

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This year, the Provider Transformation Summit is transforming into the 2021 Provider Transformation Series - a collection of resources and online events that assist providers, county boards, families, individuals, and others to think about and move from facility to community-minded supports.