Message from the Director: People
with developmental disabilities and their families are valued citizens of the state of
Washington. The Division of Developmental Disabilities strives to develop and implement
public policies that will promote individual worth, self-respect, and dignity such
that each individual is valued as a contributing member of the
community.
The Residential Service Guidelines, issued in 1988, and the County Guidelines, issued in 1992, continue to support the Division's vision, mission, and core values. Both sets of guidelines were developed by a workgroup made up of consumers and their families, residential service providers, Counties and employment providers, advocates, and Division staff.
News YOU Can Use
This section has been developed to provide stakeholders with easy access to DDD news and information about new activities, data and resources.
- Feasibility Study for the Closure of State Institutions: Consultant Christopher Murray & Associates delivered its final report to the Office of Financial Management (OFM) about which state facilities could be closed or consolidated. The report contains recommendations regarding institutions in the Department of Corrections, the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, and the Division of Developmental Disabilities. The final report, with accompanying fiscal analyses, is posted in three parts, one for each subject area, on OFM’s website at http://www.ofm.wa.gov/facilities/default.asp.
- Budget Information: Update: Governor Gregoire has released a second version (referred to as “Book 2”) of her proposed 2010 Supplemental Budget. This budget restores some previously proposed reductions to programs and services. Click on the links below to learn more:
- Quality Assurance Indicators for Persons Who Moved from Residential Habilitation Centers to the Community from 1988 to 2009 Due to the Feasibility Study noted above, there is renewed interest in the quality of community supports and services. This updated report provides information on the quality assurance measures in place when a person leaves an RHC.
- H1N1 Virus: Concern about the H1N1 virus has generated a huge amount of information. You can find current information at these links:
- Children’s Intensive In-home Behavioral Support Waiver (CIIBS): 25 children and youth have been approved to date. Of these, 22 have diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders and 13 are new Medicaid recipients. DDD has contracted with 13 intensive service providers, including both agencies and individuals. Changes to 18.19 RCW and Chapter 246-810 WAC, related to the credentialing of counselors, have impacted the Division’s ability to recruit qualified providers of behavior support. Although new laws and rules have taken effect, the mechanisms necessary to implement the changes are not yet fully available. Currently there is an insufficient number of behavioral technicians to provide service to children on the CIIBS waiver. For more information, view the Children’s Intensive In-Home Behavior Support Waiver (CIIBS) Overview.
- Updated Events and Training Section on the DDD Internet: A new online training opportunity is now available:
- DDD 101: Provider Training - features a segment on DDD history by Linda Rolfe, Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and four segments on positive behavior supports and DDD service guidelines by Tom James, Ph.D., DDD Psychologist.
- The DDD Working Age Adult Policy emphasizes individual employment in community jobs and has been fully implemented for three years. During this time, the number of individuals who are working has risen from 4,951 in 2005 to 5,809 in 2008. Those individuals who were working in 2005 made a total of $30.8 billion; this amount rose to $40.8 billion by 2008. See attached charts.
- The Training Partnership (TP) is legislatively mandated to provide training to all Individual Providers (IP) who are members of SEIU 775 and who are currently authorized to provide services. The Training Partnership will register and track all training required and completed by IPs; regularly remind IPs of training requirements; and notify ADSA and Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) staff on the status of IPs’ training progress. See attached presentation for more information.
Visit the DSHS webpage Let's Talk to find current news on what’s happening in DSHS that may affect you as well as an opportunity for you to let DSHS know what matters to you.
To be notified when webpage content changes, send a request to stechsl2@dshs.wa.gov.
Artwork reprinted by permission of Martha Perske
from PERSKE: PENCIL PORTRAITS 1971-1990 (Nashville: Abingdon Press,
1998). |
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WHAT'S HAPPENING
01/19/2010
The DSHS Research and Data Analysis Division has published a report on the assessment findings for persons with developmental disabilities served in institutional and community settings. Read the report.
12/22/2009
The National Autism Center has published the National Standards Project report, the most comprehensive analysis available about treatment for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. The report covers a borad range of applied treatments and identifies the the level of scientific evidence available for each. Read the report.
12/21/2009
The House Bill 2078 Work Group has released its final report to the Legislature concerning persons with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury in correctional facilities and jails. Read the report.
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