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DIVISION FOR DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES (DDD)

 

Director: Dr. Sharon Jacksi

Mission: The mission of the Colorado Division for Developmental Disabilities is to join with others to offer the necessary supports so all people with developmental disabilities have their rightful chance to:

• be included in Colorado community life
• make increasingly responsible choices
• exert greater control over life circumstances
• establish and maintain relationships and a sense of belonging
• develop and exercise competencies and talents
• experience personal security and self-respect

The Division for Developmental Disabilities (DDD) is the State office that provides leadership for the direction, funding, and operation of services for children and adults (birth throughout life) with developmental disabilities both in community-based services and state-operated services that are funded under Colorado Revised Statute (C.R.S.) 27-10.5. DDD services are administered under the Office of Adult, Disability, and Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS).

State leadership and oversight includes: policy, planning, program development, budget development, program operational guidelines, technical assistance, training, determination of funding needs, setting priorities, contracting and allocation of resources, review of services and funding utilization, program approval, program quality, monitoring, evaluation, management information, coordination with other state and local service systems, and supervision of the three state-operated Regional Centers. These functions are performed in concert with service providers, advocacy groups, consumers and their families.

FY 08-09 Community Budget: $427,326,350

Number of Central Office Employees: 38.8

Number of Regional Center Employees: 956.2

Clients served in FY 06-07:

• Adults – 7,719
• Children – 6,046

Eligibility: For individuals five years of age or older, Developmental Disability means a disability that is manifested before the person reaches twenty-two (22) years of age, which constitutes a substantial disability to the affected individual, and is attributable to mental retardation or related conditions which include cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism or other neurological conditions when such conditions result in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of a person with mental retardation. Unless otherwise specifically stated, the federal definition of "Developmental Disability" found in 42 U.S.C. 6000, et seq., shall not apply.

For children under five years of age, eligibility is based on the determination of either a significant developmental delay, a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in significant delays in development or for children under three years of age who live with a parent(s) who have a developmental disability.

Colorado Service Delivery System: In accordance with State statute, CRS 27-10.5-102 (3) and 105), DDD contracts with Community Centered Boards (CCBs) who serve as the single entry point (case management agency) for services to persons with developmental disabilities. CCBs are private non-profit organizations that must be under the control and direction of a board of directors or trustees that are comprised of community members, family members and persons receiving services. There are twenty CCBs designated annually by DDD and each has a non-overlapping geographic service region of one to ten counties serving. The community-based service system provides services to approximately 96% of adults with developmental disabilities who receive services in Colorado with the remaining 4% being served through the three state-operated Regional Centers in Grand Junction (GJRC), Pueblo (PRC), and Wheat Ridge (WRRC). CCBs are responsible to provide case management services, such as intake, eligibility determination, service plan development, and service and support coordination of services, including periodic reviews. CCBs have quality assurance oversight responsibilities for their designated service areas that include monitoring of all services delivered to individuals, as well as ensuring the overall quality of the operations of service providers that includes recommending agencies for Program Approved Service Agency (PASA) certification by the State. Quality assurance functions also include serious incident investigations, dispute resolution and analysis of disputes and complaints for trends, ensuring that the rights of persons receiving and measuring satisfaction of persons receiving services or supports.

Additionally, CCBs must prepare and implement a long range plan and annual updates to that plan for the development and coordination of services and supports within their service areas. CCBs also must establish statutorily required committees, such as a Referral and Placement Committee, Human Rights Committee and Family Support Councils.

Programs:

• Comprehensive Services are intended to meet the needs of adults with developmental disabilities who require extensive supports to live safely in the community, and who do not have the resources available to meet their needs. Comprehensive Services include group and individualized residential services in a variety of community-based settings, employment or other day services, and transportation. These services include access to 24-hour supervision. The day services component offers support, habilitation, education, and training on work habits and work-related skills, so that adults receiving services can acquire and maintain paid employment, and can attain maximum functioning in the community.

• State-Operated Regional Centers are targeted to adults who have the most complex medical and behavioral needs and who cannot be safely served in the community-based service system. Regional Centers provide active treatment through a number of services including: 24-hour supervision, residential services, day programming, habilitation, medical, training and behavioral intervention, plus short-term emergency/crisis support to the community system. Regional Center Admission criteria focuses on three populations:
  • Adults who have extremely high needs requiring very specialized professional medical support services,
  • Adults who have extremely high needs due to challenging behaviors, and
  • Adults who pose significant community safety risks to others and require a secure setting.
    
• Supported Living Services are intended to augment available supports for adults who either are capable of living independently with limited supports, or who are principally supported by other sources, such as their family. SLS offers a variety of individualized and flexible supports to enable adults to live in their own homes or in family homes, and to avoid or delay more costly Comprehensive Services. The level of support and supervision provided through the SLS program varies based on the individual’s needs, and the availability of supports from other sources. These supports are provided in or outside the home and may include, but are not limited to the following: personal assistance for daily care or homemaking needs; employment or other day type services; community integration services; assistance with decision-making; assistive technology; home modification; professional therapies; transportation services; and twenty-four hour emergency assistance.
  
• Children’s Extensive Support program is a Medicaid waiver program that is targeted to children under the age of 18 who have a developmental disability who are at high risk of out-of-home placement and require near constant line-of-sight supervision due to one or more of the following: (a) self-injurious or self-endangering behavior or medical condition which, without intervention, will result in a life threatening condition or situation; (b) a demonstrated pattern of serious aggression toward self, others or property; or (c) constant vocalizations which are a significant disruption to family life. These children must meet the same level of care criteria as is used for institutional placement. The intense level of services provided by this program enhances the ability of the family to stay together, thus avoiding more costly out-of-home placement for these children.
  
• Family Support Services Program (FSSP) is targeted primarily to children under the age of 18 who have a developmental disability and who live at home with their families. FSSP assists families with costs beyond those normally experienced by other families without children with a developmental disability, and to avoid or delay costly out of home placements. Examples of FSSP services and supports include medical/dental expenses not funded by Medicaid or other insurance, respite care, special equipment, clothing or diets, home or vehicle modifications, therapies, family counseling, and homemaker services.
  
• Early Intervention Services are targeted to infants and toddlers, from birth through two years of age, who have significant developmental delays, a physical or mental condition known to have a high probability of resulting in developmental delays or disabilities, or who live with a parent(s) with a developmental disability. EI Services enhance child development in the areas of cognition, speech, communication, physical development, motor development, vision, hearing, social-and emotional development, self-help skills; parent-child interaction; and early identification, screening and assessment services. 98.4 % of services are provided in natural environments of which the family home is the primary location.

Key Stakeholders for the developmental disabilities system:

• Persons with developmental disabilities in the State of Colorado
• Parents, families and guardians of people with developmental disabilities
• 20 Community Centered Boards
• Over 200 provider organizations
• Speaking for Ourselves and People First
• The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People
• Developmental Disabilities Council
• ARC of Colorado and local affiliate chapters
• Communities, members of the public, taxpayers
• Colorado Departments of Health Care Policy and Financing, Public Health and Environment, and Education
• Employees working at the three state-operated Regional Centers
• Board of Nursing
• Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches of State Government
• Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Office of Special Education Programs
• Division of Aging and Adult Services
• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
• JFK Partners: The University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)

Key Achievements:

• The Division for Developmental Disabilities and the Department of Health Care Policy and Finance completed a new rate methodology system for the Home and Community Based Services comprehensive services waiver for people with Developmental Disabilities. This new rate methodology is the culmination of more than two years work to come into compliance with requirements of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide a consistent and transparent uniform rate methodology for all individuals receiving services.
  
• The legislature appropriated a significant number of new resources last fiscal year to address the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities waiting for services. Over 750 new resources totaling approximately $15.4 million dollars was made available.
  
  

Contact Information:

Colorado Department of Human Services
Division For Developmental Disabilities
3824 West Princeton Circle
Denver, CO 80236
303-866-7450 - Telephone
303-866-7470 - Fax

Revised December 31, 2008