DDS Quality Assurance Section
The Quality Assurance Section’s primary role is to review the quality of community services provided to people with developmental disabilities. Staff conducts on-site monitoring to ensure providers are in compliance with WHAT standards, completes Consumer Satisfaction Surveys through the National Core Indicators project, investigates complaints/incidents, assists with emergency services, develops policy, conducts initial intakes, makes referrals for adults and determines eligibility and appeals.
DDS Licensure and Certification
Oversees granting of valid licensure certificates to specific community programs in Arkansas serving individuals who have a developmental disability. The primary objective for the Licensure unit is to conduct reviews of community programs and provide an on-going mechanism for the evaluation of the impact of the programs on services provided to individuals with developmental disabilities. In addition to reviews, the unit is responsible for conducting technical assistance to community programs, investigating service concerns, and evaluation research.
Please call
(501) 682-8675 for the names of providers in a certain area of the state.
Waiver Section
DDS Home and Community Based Waiver Services Unit
This section ensures that home and community-based services are maintained as an alternative to institutional placement. In all, up to 4,143 eligible people can receive their choice of services through community-based programs. This section also works to ensure that the individual program mix is programmatically correct for each person and is cost effective under standards established by Medicaid and the DDS. Through networking and on-going educational activities, unit staff works to improve and expand waiver service opportunities. Currently 2,183 people are receiving these community services. Assessments for additional applicants are on-going.
Children's Services
Early Intervention Services for Children Birth to 3 Years of Age
The First Connections Program (through Parts C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act-IDEA) is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of statewide services for infants and toddlers (0 to 36 months of age). Currently, this unit provides services for approximately 3,000 infants and toddlers. Eleven (11) DHS Program Coordinators and one (1) Program Administrator provide intake, service option presentations, individual social history development, referrals, transition to Early Childhood, individual service coordination (case management), obtaining and maintaining client data tracking information and case notes. Early Intervention services include the following 16 federally mandated components: identification; evaluation; procedural safeguards; case management; speech, physical and occupational therapies; audiological services; developmental therapy; family training, health/medical services; nutrition services; psychological services; social work services and transportation. Additionally, this program works closely with both the State and Local Interagency Coordinating Councils, whose responsibility is to provide advice and assistance regarding early intervention services in the local community. Procedures and responsibilities designated by Part C of the IDEA are developed and supervised by First Connections staff. Home-based early intervention for infants and toddlers provides speech/language, physical and occupational therapies, and specialized services are provided in integrated day care programs, therapeutic settings, or the child's home.
Title V Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN)
Title V Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Service Coordination staff consists of Registered Nurses, Social Workers and clerical support located in 16 DHS offices around the State of Arkansas.
Case Management/Care Coordination
DDS Children’s Services provides case management/care coordination for children birth to 21 years of age. Title V Care Coordinators will provide individuals and their families with information about the array of services that are available in their community and assist with referrals and applications for those services.
Title V Family Support/Respite Program
This Title V Program is available to SSI and TEFRA recipients under age 18 on a first come first served basis based on need and financial eligibility. With approval of the application, families are eligible for up to $1,000. Title V does not have a registry of certified respite providers.
Parent Advisory Council
The Parent Advisory Council meets four times a year and provides input and guidance on issues related to the Title V Children with Special Health Care Needs program staff.
Transition
Transition to all aspects of adult life, including adult health care, work and independence is a goal for all youth with special health care needs.
Medical Home
A family-centered medical home is not a building, house, hospital, or home healthcare service, but rather an approach to providing comprehensive primary care. In a family-centered medical home, the pediatric care team works in partnership with a child and a child's family to assure that all of the medical and non-medical needs of the patient are met. Through this partnership the pediatric care team can help the family/patient access, coordinate, and understand specialty care, educational services, out-of-home care, family support, and other public and private community services that are important for the overall health of the child and family.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) developed the medical home model for delivering primary care that is accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family-centered, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective to all children and youth, including those with special health care needs.
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Healthy and Ready to Work
Health Impacts All Aspects of Life
Success in the classroom, within the community, and on the job requires that young people with special health care needs stay healthy. To stay healthy, young people need an understanding of their health and to participate in their health care decisions. This site provides information and connections to health and transition expertise nationwide – from those in the know, doing the work and living it!
This site focuses on understanding systems, access to quality health care, and increasing the involvement of youth. It also includes provider preparation plus tools and resources needed to make more informed choices!
Education and Children with Special Health Care Needs
Some children experience difficulties in school, ranging from problems with concentration, learning, language, and perception to problems with behavior and/or making and keeping friends. These difficulties may be due to one or more of the following: physical disorders, psychiatric disorders, emotional problems, behavioral problems, and learning disorders (or disabilities). These children with special needs are usually entitled to receive special services or accommodations through the public schools. Federal law mandates that every child will receive a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. To support their ability to learn in school, three Federal laws apply to children with special needs:
- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (1975)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990)
Different states have different criteria for eligibility, services available, and procedures for implementing their laws. It is important for parents to be aware of these laws and regulations in their particular area.
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TEFRA
TEFRA 134(a), a provision of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, allows states to extend Medicaid coverage to certain disabled children. Also known as the Katie Beckett option, TEFRA is a category of Medicaid that provides care to disabled children in their homes rather than in institutions. In Arkansas, TEFRA is a Waiver program. A Waiver, in layman’s terms, is an agreement between the Federal government and the state’s Medicaid program that allows the state to “waive” some of their normal rules to provide Medicaid coverage. The Arkansas TEFRA waiver requires families to buy into the Medicaid program by paying a monthly premium based upon the parental income.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI is a Social Security Administration program that provides benefits to individuals (children and adults) who are determined disabled according to SSI standards. To apply for disability benefits for a child, you will need to complete an Application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) AND a Child Disability Report. The report collects information about the child’s disabling condition and how it affects his/her ability to function.
Developmental Services
DDS Developmental Services plans and provides continuous training for Speech Pathologists serving community programs as well as technical assistance to licensed community programs. Contracts for Early Childhood services are monitored by this unit.
Community Support Services
Provides a variety of services, including day programming (early intervention, preschool), respite care, family support, follow-along, case management, integrated supports, and community integration companions.
Individuals receiving services in the local community receive supervision from trained service providers in the most appropriate setting. Service providers must meet specified standards and criteria through either DDS licensure or certification. Community Support Services includes Field Services, First Connections (Part C Early Intervention), Early Childhood, Therapeutic Services, and Integrated Services that provide wraparound support to persons with dual diagnoses (developmental disabilities and mental illness).
Family-To-Family
The Family-To-Family Health Information Center of Arkansas (F2F HIC) is a non-profit family-run organization that assists families of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and the professionals who serve them. Health-related support, information, resources and training are provided by families for families.
Arkansas Guide to Services for Children with Disabilities
Resource information about programs and services available to families of children with disabilities is included in this easy to use booklet.
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MCH Block Grant
The Title V Children with Special Health Care Needs program receives federal funding via the MCH Block Grant. A comprehensive Needs Assessment is conducted at the beginning of every 5-year grant cycle with annual updates provided. Information about the grant is available for public review.
Financial Support Services Section
The Financial Support Services Section is inclusive of the following major areas of responsibilities: Contract support; Human Development Center (HDC) administration support; fiscal and personnel/payroll coordination; facility management and information systems coordination; purchasing and procurement; and risk assessment.
Contract support coordinates the provision of services through community programs. This area is responsible for community program funding authorization service approvals and expenditure monitoring of contracts/sub-grants. Technical assistance and planning is provided to ninety (90) community programs and providers and ninety-five (95) Early Intervention voucher providers. This unit also provides technical assistance to the human development centers in coordinating contractual agreements.
Fiscal Coordination is responsible for the development, monitoring of input and balancing the divisions’ annual operation and biennium budget. This unit develops forecasting reports and monitors utilization; coordinates resolution to fiscal questions and issues; insures expenditures are within budgeted amounts; processes budget amendments and deferral requests to maintain budget limits; coordinates and submits required federal reports in compliance with reporting requirements; coordinates with HDC/Administration to resolve budget related issues and provides support and technical assistance to all DDS sections.
Personnel and Payroll provides coordination of the personnel, payroll and benefit functions for the division. These activities include acquisition, retention efforts, improvement of human resources, payroll/benefits posting and processes. This unit serves as the division liaison with the DHS Human Resources Section.
Facility management unit assists the Human Development Centers’ in planning capital and maintenance projects; serves as liaison with the Arkansas Building Authority architects and engineers; assists with the development of operating and capital improvement budgets; coordinates development and monitors progress of capital projects from initiation through completion; responsible for the divisions inventory activities; coordinates information and data processing resources; ensures compliance with standards for data content, networking and information exchange by maintaining the DDS Information Systems Plan and provides technical assistance.
Purchasing/Procurement unit insures the divisions purchases are made in accordance with established rules and regulations serving as liaison for the division and providing problem resolution for all sections of DDS. Coordinates acquisition and disbursal of materials purchased.
Risk Assessment unit is responsible for the development, maintenance, revision and monitoring of the divisions risk assessment plan in accordance with established rules and regulations; and serves as the divisions’ liaison with the departmental risk assessment coordinators.