Notes
DHS / DDS Waiting List Meeting
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Thursday – December 11, 2014
1:30 PM
Serving Application Date: January 20, 2006
Attendees: 20
Represented in attendance:
8 – Parent or Family Member
1 – Self-Advocate (person with a disability)
3 – DHS/DDS
1 – OHCA (Health Care Authority) via telephone
1 – Oklahoma House of Representatives
7 – Agency supporting those with developmental disabilities in Oklahoma
Representing those on the Waiting List – 6
First Time Attendees – 13
Locations represented – Tulsa, Jenks, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma City, Norman, and Haskell
Community agencies, programs or organizations represented: Center for Learning and Leadership/OK UCEDD, SoonerSUCCESS, ResCare, CAP Tulsa, Jenks Public Schools
Mark Jones, Director of Community Living and Support Services, talked about the budget request submitted to the Oklahoma Legislature. He said that DHS has reduced the number of priorities to seven. Where, in the past they could have over 20 priorities. He said the first priority on DHS list is to be able to fulfil the Pinnacle plan addressing the Foster Care system in Oklahoma. The DDS Waiting List is included in their top priorities. Mark continued to explain that DHS has request more than $4,000,000 to make a significant impact to the waiting list. He estimates that this funding could serve more than 400 people, with removal of more from the list.
JoAnne Goin, DDS Director, reported DDS is working application date January 20, 2006. The current number on the list is 7,012. Since 2012, they have worked 1,166 application from the waiting list, meaning they have removed 1,116 from the waiting list. She also reported that as of three weeks ago the Northern Oklahoma Resource Center in Enid is now closed. All residents have been transitioned to a community supported living situation. She added the at this time there were still 13 residents living at the Southern Oklahoma Resource Center in Pauls Valley.
JoAnne reported the appropriations for the Waiting list from the 2014 legislative session has been used as of October 2014. She explained that due to the amount of time on the waiting list, locating those who have waited the longest seems to be the greatest challenge. With that DDS has contracted with a “locator” service to help assist finding applicants when the typical means of using state service directors is not working.
She also reported that DDS has made a few changes to the “In-take” process when a person requests the waiver application. In-Take is not increasing referrals to community supports and services. JoAnne also mentioned the federal planning grant that was been awarded to Oklahoma called the “No Wrong Door”. This grant is an opportunity for developmental disability services and the aging supports division to create and plan to streamline the in-take process for each program. She is very excited about the potential of this planning grant. She also said that ADRC website/portal should be up and running in March or April 2015
JoAnne, also said that as of October 2014, DHS had hired a new Adult Protection Services director, Gail Welstein. She also discussed that this year the focus will be on improve and increase the use of the state funded employment services and DRS’ change in transition efforts for students with the employment first focus.
waiting-list-breakdown_oct-6-2014
Lisa DeBolt, Parent & Tulsa County Coordinator, SoonerSUCCESS brought up a situation that seems to be happening more and more in the Tulsa area. Lisa brought another parent who she’s been supporting through SoonerSUCCESS. This mom’s son has graduated from high school and is in need of a day program so mom can continue working. All the programs this mom looked into, had no openings for DD waivers. After looking deeper into the situation in the Tulsa area this mom learned that many of the day programs for adults was designed for the aging adult. She only found four adult day programs who would accept an adult with developmental disabilities and who’s support level was not too high. She also learned the payment or reimbursement structure actually supported more aging adults than adults with developmental disabilities. It was explained to her that for a person with DD the day rate is $45 a day, and the rate for an aging adult is $60 a day. This explains the limited number of “slots” available for individuals with DD. This mom wanted to request equal funding no matter which program they are accesses the service through.
Family Questions & Comments: Another parent brought up a similar situation but in regards to after school programs for students with DD. She said in her area she is not able to find any program and this is challenging her family and her job as her son must be cared for in a safe environment. She would like DDS to help build the capacity in the communities to help meet this need of families.
One other mom brought up a challenge for her son who needs incontinent briefs to keep him clean. While her son was in toddler diapers, she was able to receive name brand diapers up to a size 4. While the name brand diapers to go a size 6 because the program that provides them, they are not able to access those sized. They are required to now use the state contract adult briefs which appear to be about three sizes too big. This mom said that when she put the new adult briefs on her son, her covered his abdomen up to his chest. She would like the SSI-DCP program to consider using toddler diapers up to the limit size they have available. I took a picture of the diapers to compare the difference in sized.
Next Meeting – Oklahoma City
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Sequoyah Building – Capitol Complex
Room C-47 (Basement)
1:30 pm