Department of Economic Security
Division of Developmental Disabilities

FAMILY SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT
July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
CREDO
To support the choices of individuals with disabilities and their families by promoting and
providing within communities, flexible, quality, consumer-driven services and supports.
Individuals with developmental disabilities are valued members of their communities and are
involved and participating based on their own choices.

VALUES
We Value:
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Healthy relationships with people;
Individual and family priorities and choices;
Equal access to quality services and supports for all individuals and families;
Partnerships and ongoing communication with individuals, family members,
advocates, providers, and community members;
Developmental approaches – changing conditions that affect people rather than
changing people who are affected by conditions;
Individual freedom from abuse, neglect and exploitation with a balance between the
right to make choices and experience life and individual safety;
A diverse workforce that is motivated, skilled and knowledgeable of and uses the
most effective practices known;
An environment rich in diversity in which each person is respected and has the
opportunity to reach their optimal potential;
An individual’s right to choose to participate in and contribute to all aspects of
home and community life; and
A system of services and supports which are:
 Responsive – timely and flexible responses to internal and external customers;
 Strength based – recognizing people’s strengths, promoting self-reliance,
enhancing confidence and building on community assets;
 Effective – ongoing identification of effective methods and practices and
incorporation of those practices into operations; and
 Accountable – to our customers and to the taxpayers.

THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS:
EXCEEDING THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR CUSTOMERS

Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

I.

Introduction

In 1993, Family Support Legislation was passed that defined a family support program for people
with developmental disabilities and their families, subject to funding appropriations. This
legislation was a result of collaboration with families, advocacy organizations, providers of
services, and the Division of Developmental Disabilities (Division) in recognition of the
significance of family support as a national initiative. While there is no appropriated funding for
a family support program in Arizona, the Division integrates the philosophy of the legislation
into its activities as indicated in its Credo and Values. This Annual Report highlights initiatives
and systems successfully implemented, and describes the ways in which individuals and families
are supported through the Division and its many collaborators.
Family support is defined as services, supports and other assistance provided to families with
members who have a developmental disability and that are designed to:
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II.

Strengthen the family’s role as a primary caregiver;
Prevent inappropriate out-of-home placement;
Maintain family unity;
Reunite families with members who have been placed out of home; and
Include respite care, assistive technology, appropriate personal assistance services, parent
training and counseling, home modifications, and assistance with extraordinary expenses
associated with the needs of a person with a developmental disability.
Overview of the Division of Developmental Disabilities

The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) within the Arizona Department of Economic
Security provides services and programs to 32,813 people with developmental disabilities as of
June 30, 2013. The Division believes that people can best be supported in integrated community
settings and the majority of the Division’s programs and services are tailored to meet the
individual needs of individuals and their families at home and in community-based settings.
The Division coordinates services and resources through central administrative offices, district
offices and local offices located in communities throughout Arizona. There are five (5) districts
statewide. They include: District Central, District East, District North, District South and District
West. These district and local offices promote the use of existing community resources and
program flexibility to meet the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their
families. While a few services are delivered directly by the state, most services and supports are
delivered through a network of individual and agency providers throughout Arizona.

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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

To be eligible for Division services a person must have a chronic disability that is manifested
before the age of 18 and is attributable to a cognitive/intellectual disability, cerebral palsy,
epilepsy or autism. The disability must also result in substantial functional limitations in three or
more of the following areas of major life activities:
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Self care: needing help with eating, hygiene, etc.;
Receptive and expressive language: needing help with communicating with others;
Learning: needing help with acquiring and processing new information;
Mobility: needing help with moving from place to place;
Self direction: needing help with managing personal finances or making decisions;
Capacity for independent living: needing supervision or assistance on a daily basis; and/or
Economic self sufficiency: not being financially independent.

Infants and toddlers under the age of three years may be eligible for services if they exhibit a
significant delay in one or more areas of development or, for children under the age of six, are
determined to be at risk of having a developmental disability without services. The following
chart shows the breakdown of eligible individuals by primary disability as of June 30, 2013:

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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

The Division supports people of all ages. The following chart shows the breakdown of eligible
individuals by age as of June 30, 2013:

The Division provides services through three primary funding sources: DDD State funded
services (NON-ALTCS), Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) and Targeted Support
Coordination (TSC).
State funded services (NON-ALTCS) cover individuals who meet the statutory criteria described
above. State funded services for individuals over the age of three can only be provided up to the
Division’s legislative budget appropriation. There is a waiting list to receive these services after
the age of three (3); the types of services provided are listed in Section III of this report.
Individuals with developmental disabilities who qualify for services through the Division may
also be eligible for services through ALTCS. ALTCS provides long term and acute care services
to individuals with developmental disabilities who are at risk of institutionalization. ALTCS is
the Medicaid Title XIX program for persons with developmental disabilities who meet the
ALTCS eligibility criteria. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
determines eligibility for Long Term Care Services through a review of the person’s functional
needs and financial eligibility. The Arizona Medicaid program is a research and demonstration
waiver approved through the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is
intended to demonstrate that home and community-based services and a managed care approach

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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

are more cost effective than institutionalization. Long term and acute care services are bundled
to coordinate and enhance service delivery under a single system of support managed by the
Division.
Targeted Support Coordination (TSC) is an option for people who are eligible for Medicaid/Title
XIX health care through AHCCCS, but are not eligible for ALTCS. This option allows the
individual/responsible person to determine the frequency and type of contact he/she wants from
the Support Coordinator. This program does not provide for the other services covered by Long
Term Care such as respite, habilitation, etc. People who are eligible for Medicaid but not eligible
for Long Term Care are eligible for Targeted Support Coordination. TSC provides support to the
consumer by assisting in identifying community resources and helping to coordinate acute care
(medical) services.
The following chart shows the breakdown of eligible individuals by funding source as of
June 30, 2013:

The Division provides most of its services through a statewide network of profit and non-profit
agencies (Qualified Vendors) and independent providers. Services are provided based on the
person’s identified needs, state and/or federal guidelines and, when applicable, the availability of
funds. See Section VI for the number of providers.
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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

III. Services and Supports
People receive assistance from a support coordinator (case manager) in determining eligibility,
assessing needs, and obtaining services and supports. Support coordinators:
 Gather information to help determine eligibility;
 Develop, with ideas and suggestions from the person and his/her family, an Individual
Service/Support Plan that identifies the supports and services needed;
 Assist the person and family in obtaining the needed services and supports;
 Monitor the provision and effectiveness of services; and
 Provide information about services available from other state and community agencies as
well as from private organizations.
The Arizona Long Term Care System provides funding for many services based on assessed
need. Based on the availability of state funding, the Developmental Disabilities (DD) statefunded program (NON-ALTCS) offers essentially the same services as does the Arizona Long
Term Care program except for acute and behavioral health services. An asterisk (*) indicates
services that are available for Arizona Long Term Care members only.
 Augmentative Communication Devices (devices that help a person communicate, such as a
notebook, communication board, or computer system. Each device is individualized to a
person’s specific needs and strengths).*
 Attendant Care (help with personal care and housekeeping).
 Behavioral Health (care and treatment for people with behavioral health needs such as crisis
services, evaluation and diagnosis, counseling, behavioral health rehabilitation,
transportation, respite, medication, psychiatric medication adjustment and monitoring or inpatient hospital services).*
 Day Treatment and Training (training, supervision, therapeutic activities, and support to
promote skill development in independent living, self care, communication, and social
relationships. Services can be provided in both congregate and individual community
settings).
 Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Services (EPSDT).*
 Employment Services (center based employment, group supported employment, and
individual supported employment).
 Environmental modifications (building modifications to allow an individual to function as
independently as possible in their own home). *
 Habilitation (interventions such as habilitative therapies, special developmental skills,
behavioral intervention, sensory-motor development designed to increase the person’s skills
and functioning).
 Health Plan Services (acute care).*
 Homemaker (help with housekeeping).
 Home Health Aide (health maintenance, continued treatment or monitoring of a health
condition and supportive care with activities of daily living).*
 Home Health Nurse (skilled nursing services).*
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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

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Hospice (care for individuals who are terminally ill).*
Residential Services (see Section IV).
Therapies (Occupational, Physical, and Speech).*
Transportation (to ALTCS covered services).*
Respite Care (short term care and supervision to provide relief to the caregiver).*

Information about children’s services can be found in Section VII.
IV.

Residential Options

The Division provides services in a variety of living environments, the vast majority of which are
community based. Most services are provided in the family or person’s home. Opportunities are
provided for people to choose a place to live, with necessary supports, within their communities
such as receiving supports to live within the family home; living in one’s own home or
apartment; living in an adult developmental or child developmental home; or residing in a small
group home. When residential services are needed, the following options are available:
Individually Designed Living Arrangement – This service provides for an alternative, nonlicensed living situation for individuals to choose where and with whom he/she will live and
assume all responsibility for his/her residence. Generally, one or more individuals reside
together in a private residence that is leased or owned by the individual(s) and/or the
individual(s) representative(s). The focus of this service is to provide teaching supports
(habilitation) to individuals based on the collective need for support to eligible individuals
who have chosen to reside together and share their resources.
Adult Developmental Home – A licensed, private home contracted to provide room and
board, supervision, and teaching (habilitation) for up to three adults.
Child Developmental Home – A licensed, private home contracted to provide supervision,
teaching (habilitation) and room and board for up to three children. This includes children
who have been determined (adjudicated) dependent by the court as well as children who can
benefit from temporarily living away from home.
Group Home – A residential setting in the community for up to six people that provides
supervision, habilitation, and room and board. The group home provides a safe and homelike
atmosphere, which meets the needs of individuals who cannot physically or functionally live
independently in the community.
Rarely does a person need a more intensive residential setting.
following facilities may be accessed:

For those individuals, the

Nursing Facility – A Medicaid certified facility which provides residential care, supervision,
and skilled nursing services to individuals who need them on a continuous basis but who do
not require hospital care or direct daily care from a physician.
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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities – A facility whose
primary purpose is to provide health, habilitative, and rehabilitative services to people who
require them on a continuous basis.
The following chart shows the breakdown of eligible individuals by residence as of
June 30, 2013:

People Served by Residence

INSITUTION
0.5%
GROUP HOME
8%
ADULT DEV HOME
3%
CHILD DEV HOME
1%
HOME
88%

V.

Employment Options

The Division offers a variety of employment services. The Division works in coordination with
the Rehabilitation Services Administration/Vocational Rehabilitation Program to obtain
appropriate services and supports and where necessary provides supports beyond those available
through the Vocational Rehabilitation program. Based on a person’s needs and interests, the
following options are available:
Individual Supported Employment – This service provides job development, assistance in
matching the individual with an integrated competitive job and intensive time-limited
supports to an employed individual once placed. This time-limited service provides regular
contacts at an individual job site with the employed person and/or with the employer.
This service is intended to help the person develop the specific on-the-job skills necessary for
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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

successful employment and may also include job search when such services are not available
through the Rehabilitation Services Administration/Vocational Rehabilitation Program.
Employment Support Aide – This service provides people with the one-to-one supports
needed for the person to remain in his/her employment. These supports could include one or
more of the following three options: personal care services, behavioral supports and/or
follow-along supports needed to maintain stable employment. The actual supports provided
will depend upon the person’s need; however, it is the Division’s expectation that this service
will primarily be used to provide on-the-job follow-along supports for people in competitive
employment.
Group Supported Employment – This group service provides people with an on-site
supervised work environment in an integrated community employment setting. People are
provided the opportunity to work in an environment that allows for maximum interaction
with other members of the workforce. People are paid in accordance with state and federal
laws by a Qualified Vendor for work performed.
Center-Based Employment – This service is provided in a Qualified Vendor owned or
operated setting where participants are to be engaged in work and work-related activities.
People are supported in developing the skills, abilities and behaviors that will enable them to
realize their vocational goals, including transition to a more integrated setting. The Qualified
Vendor pays people in accordance with state and federal laws for the work the person
performs.
VI.

Provider Network

The Division provides most of its services through a statewide network of for-profit and nonprofit agencies (Qualified Vendors) and individual providers.
The Division contracts with agencies and professional providers through the Qualified Vendor
Application process. This is an electronic process that is open and continuous. This means the
Division accepts applications at any time.
In order to support choice, individuals/families have a variety of providers from which to choose.
Individuals/families can recruit someone through the local school, neighborhood, spiritual
community, family, etc. These potential providers can either work for an agency or be an
individual provider.
Individual providers receive training and must be certified prior to service provision. These
individual providers are employees of the person or family and are paid through a fiscal
intermediary. The fiscal intermediary for the Division is Public Partners Limited.

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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

Home and Community-Based Providers
Agencies (Qualified Vendors)
Individual Providers

# of Contracts
623
1,728

VII. Additional Services for Children
Children from birth to three (3) years of age who have a developmental delay and who are
eligible for services though the Division may also be eligible for services through the Arizona
Early Intervention Program (AzEIP), The Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASBD),
and the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS). The Division works with AzEIP, which is
the lead agency for Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, to provide services
designed to support growth and development for infants and toddlers and their families. An
Individualized Family Support Plan is developed to enhance the child’s development and the
capacity of the family. Division funded services may include special instruction, therapies,
service coordination, health services, or assistive technology devices. As of June 30, 2013, 2,643
DDD children are currently eligible for services through the Arizona Early Intervention Program.
VIII. Acute Care Health Plan Services
The Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) is unique in the nation in that it has always
followed a managed care model. A managed care approach has proved cost effective over many
years in Arizona. It is also the first program of its kind to bundle acute and long term care
services under a single program contractor.
The Division currently holds contracts with four health plans to provide acute medical care
services to Arizona Long Term Care System members served by the Division residing in every
Arizona county. The health plans are responsible to allow each person who is enrolled a choice
of a primary care provider. The Division’s contracted health plans are:
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Arizona Physicians Independent Physician Association (APIPA)
Capstone (through September 30, 2012)
Care First
Mercy Care

The Division also coordinates with Indian Health Services for children and adults who are tribal
members.
IX.

Other Division Activities that Support Arizona’s Families

In addition to the supports and services noted above, the Division strives to provide other
supports to individuals and families. Some of these include:
 The Division’s This Is MY Life contract provides curriculum development and training to
assist individuals in learning self-determination and self-advocacy principles. Project
objectives included focusing on abilities, developing a self-determination community,
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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

consumer controlled provider contracts, consumer budget control, promoting programs that
support inclusion, and improving operating efficiencies within DDD.
 The Division’s website provides information about the Qualified Vendor program (how the
Division contracts for services), the Fiscal Intermediary program (the network of individual
providers) and how to work with providers. It includes links to Division laws, rules, policies,
and forms; and links to many of the Division’s publications such as “Navigating the System”
(a handbook for people with developmental disabilities and families), the ALTCS “Member
Handbook”, DDD “Working with You” and others. The website also has a referral feature
for people to make a referral for an eligibility determination.
 The Division has been preparing for the implementation of “Agency with Choice”. “Agency
with Choice” is a new member-directed option available to ALTCS members who reside in
their own home and receive attendant care, housekeeping, and/or habilitation (hourly).
‘Agency with Choice” offers members or the member’s Individual Representative the ability
to play a more active role in directing their own care. Under the new model, the member will
enter into a partnership with the provider agency where the provider will serve as the legal
employer of record and the member will act as the day-to-day managing employer of the
direct care worker. Implementation is currently underway.
 The Division supports councils and family groups. Some of these include the Developmental
Disabilities Advisory Council (a Governor appointed Council that is advisory to the Assistant
Director); FACT groups (Families Actively Communicating Together – a parent driven group
that provides support and learning opportunities); and specialized groups for Autism, Down
Syndrome and groups for families who speak Spanish. These groups are located throughout
the state.
 The Division has a Policy Review Team (PRT) that provides input on all policy revisions.
New policies or major policy revisions are shared with the Developmental Disabilities
Advisory Council.
 The Division provides updates to policy via an Opt In list. Families, people with disabilities
and community stakeholders submit their contact information to the DDD Policy Unit so that
they can receive email updates when there are changes to policy. There are currently over 100
individuals on the Opt In list.
 All new support coordinators complete over one hundred (100) hours of initial training upon
hire that teaches them the philosophy of the Division and provides the foundation for further
on-the-job training.
 The Division, in conjunction with the Department’s Office of Accountability, provides
support to Human Rights Committees organized within each District across the state. These
committees are comprised of local volunteers who provide independent oversight in matters
related to the rights of people with developmental disabilities, such as incidents of abuse,
neglect, or exploitation.
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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

 The Division provides support to Program Review Committees across the state. These
volunteer committees review every proposed behavior plan to make sure they are properly
written, include positive strategies and do not violate people’s rights.
 The Division’s Quality Management System includes the Incident Management System
which is the automated system for incident reporting. The purpose of incident management
is to assist in promoting the health, safety, and welfare of people with developmental
disabilities through active reporting, investigating, tracking and trending of incidents and the
implementation of both individual-specific and systemic corrective actions and prevention
strategies.
 The Division’s Quality Management System also conducts residential monitoring of roughly
900 group homes once or twice a year for compliance with programmatic standards.
 The Division’s Consumer Resolution System is an automated system used to track member,
provider, and community concerns and complaints, and to describe the resolution of the
issue. This allows for the ability to identify patterns of concern to ensure systemic
identification and resolution. During this time period, the Division responded to 544
complaints.
 Activities of the Office of Compliance and Review and the Office of Administrative Review,
which include hardship reductions, Notices of Action appeals and hearings, are also reviewed
for trends and areas for improvement.
 Quality Management staff gather information to support the Division’s credentialing process
of Qualified Vendors. Staff also coordinate the gathering of data, analysis and responses to
Quality of Care concerns. The Division holds monthly meetings to analyze a variety of data
to use in its performance improvement plan. This plan includes a description of all planned
activities/tasks for both clinical care and other covered services; targeted implementation and
completion dates for measurable objectives and activities; methodologies to accomplish goals
and objectives; and identifies staff responsible and accountable for meeting established goals
and objectives.
 The statewide Quality Management Committee prioritizes, monitors, and coordinates all
organization wide quality/performance improvement activities in accordance with the quality
management plan. Its monitoring activities include utilization review data analysis, member
and provider satisfaction survey data review, quality of care concerns, performance
improvement plans, corrective action plans, etc.
 The Division, in partnership with the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP), is
implementing a team-based model of service to improve service delivery to infants and
toddlers. Team-based early intervention services provide every family with a team of early
intervention professionals who work together to support the child’s learning within everyday
routines and activities. In team-based early intervention services, a team lead is the primary
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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

partner with the family in the provision of services. The team lead has expertise relevant to
the child’s needs and the outcomes identified on the Individualized Family Service Plan
(IFSP). The team lead’s focus is on collaborative coaching of families as the primary
intervention strategy to implement jointly developed, functional IFSP outcomes in natural
environments with ongoing coaching and support from other team members. The other team
members support the team lead, through regular team meetings and joint visits with the
family. Families participate in the team meetings through in-person attendance, calling-in to
the meeting, or asking the team lead to share their questions/concerns.
X.

A Snapshot of 2013 Accomplishments

In partnership with consumers, families, and community stakeholders, the Division continues to
support innovations and improvements. Some achievements are as follows:
 In the annual report “Case for Inclusion 2013”, compiled by United Cerebral Palsy (UCP),
Arizona ranked first as the nation’s “Best Performing” state when it comes to key outcomes
for citizens with developmental disabilities. Arizona has been ranked first five times since the
annual survey started in 2006. The report tracks how well state Medicaid programs serve
Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD).
The UCP report also recognizes Arizona for being a family-focused state, where support
services are provided to families that are caring for children with disabilities in the home,
which keeps families together and people living with a disability in a community setting.
 From a national comparison, utilizing the “The State of the States in Developmental
Disabilities”, Ninth Edition, 2013 and the “Case for Inclusion 2013”, compiled by United
Cerebral Palsy (UCP):
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Arizona ranks very high in the number of citizens with developmental disabilities it
serves as a percentage of the general population.
Arizona ranks very high in the number of individuals served in the most integrated
setting.
Arizona ranks very high (third among states) in the percentage of people who receive
services living with their family.
Arizona ranks very high (sixth among states) in the percentage of people living in their
own homes or settings of six or less.
Arizona is a cost effective program as evidenced by its overall per capita funding of
$29,500 per person.

The State serves more individuals per one-hundred thousand (100,000) population than all
but six other states, continues to expand the number of individuals served each year and has
no waiting list attributable to budget concerns for ALTCS services. The percentage of people
living in settings of six or fewer and the significant percent of people living in their own or
their family’s home further demonstrate the State’s commitment to individual choice,
community inclusion and support for families.
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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

 Creating a “Picture of Life”, a key collaboration with the Division, the University of Arizona
Sonoran Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), and the Arizona
Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, was launched in 2012 as a statewide project to
improve outcomes for foster youth with developmental disabilities (DD). The goal of the
project is to prepare youth with DD who are about to exit foster care to exercise choice,
promote the use of informal and community supports and to make knowledgeable decisions
on community living and work. In doing so, the project intends to improve transition
outcomes for these youth, which include the following desired outcomes: a safe and stable
home, self-determination and self-advocacy, framing a vision for their future, a support
system to help with decision making, an ongoing circle of natural/informal support, and
employment exploration and opportunities. Ultimately, this model project will help to
improve services for individuals with DD exiting foster care in Arizona by offering a
mechanism for youth to exercise meaningful choice about their living arrangements, work
life, social networks and services.
 The Division is a partner in Arizona’s Aging and Disability Resource Center whose goal is to
create a coordinated system of information, assistance and access for all people seeking long
term care services. This system, known as AzLinks, includes a web site (www.azlinks.gov)
that provides links to federal, state, and other agencies, integrating resources on a variety of
relevant topics. AzLinks also has a reference manual for people who do not have access to
the internet.
 The Division continues to participate in the National Core Indicators Project a project that
has outlined approximately one-hundred (100) individual, family, systemic, cost, and health
and safety outcomes. Surveys measure areas such as the satisfaction with supports and
services provided to people with developmental disabilities and their families. The Division
continues to show areas of strength and areas where improvements are needed. Following
each survey completion, the Division identifies strategies to improve priority areas. Data
from recent surveys can be found on the Division’s website at:
 https://www.azdes.gov/uploadedFiles/Developmental_Disabilities/adult_family_survey_s
ummary.pdf and
 https://www.azdes.gov/uploadedFiles/Developmental_Disabilities/consumer_survey_sum
mary.pdf
 The Division participates in the Department’s Faith Based Initiative. This initiative seeks to
form cohesive partnerships with other government entities and faith based organizations to
improve access to community and government services and supports.
 The Division offered 1,013 training class sessions to its employees. There were over 7,000
combined attendees who participated in these trainings.
 The Division has developed a new curriculum, Prevention and Support, which has replaced
Client Intervention Training. The new curriculum is designed for direct support providers
and trains them to identify and prevent behavioral emergencies. In situations that involve a
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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

behavioral emergency, participants are trained in the least-restrictive responses, including
emergency physical intervention techniques. Over 60 Instructor candidates have begun the
certification process and over 1,000 direct support workers have received the training. The
Division offers free instructor clinics throughout the state during the year.
 The Division offers free statewide Article 9 Instructor Clinics throughout the year.
Approximately one hundred (100) instructors from the provider community completed the
Instructor Certification process for Article 9.
 The Division trained over 80 participants from the provider community in the area of
behavior plan development. This training provides an overview of the components of a
behavior plan.
 The Division coordinated with the Department of Economic Security Office of Licensing,
Certification, and Regulation (OLCR) and DDD’s Qualified Vendors to register
approximately one thousand (1,000) group home sites with AHCCCS and assigned a site
identifier code to each group home site.
 The Department of Economic Security commissioned the Arizona Sustainability and
Innovation Work Group, which was formed in response to the economic downturn the
country has been experiencing over the last several years. This workgroup was diverse and
composed of contracted agency providers, AHCCCS representatives, family members,
individual providers, state staff, self-advocates and others. The work group analyzed reliable
sources of information to determine how Arizona compared with other states on key
measures then issued a report making recommendations in a variety of areas such as home
based and residential services, employment, therapies, case management and other ideas to
explore for potential changes and innovations. The Division is working to implement some
of the recommendations from the group.
 Over the past year, the Division has continued its efforts to prioritize integrated employment
as the primary consideration for adults of working age. The Division continues to participate
in a broadly-based statewide partnership working toward a consistent “Employment First”
approach for individuals with any type of disability. In support of that effort, the Division
has also partnered with other state agencies and stakeholders who are developing the state’s
first business leadership network. “Untapped Arizona” supports businesses by connecting
them with qualified job candidates that meet their workforce needs and providing technical
assistance to support them in hiring and retaining workers with disabilities. The group is in
the process of hiring an Executive Director, creating a non-profit organization and creating a
Board of Directors representative of Arizona business leaders committed to workplace
diversity.
The Division continues to prioritize efforts directed toward enhancing the successful
transition of young adults with intellectual disabilities from school to work. There is an active
state level Community of Practice on Transition (CoPT) that meets monthly and is supporting
three (3) local CoPTs with several additional in the start-up phase. The Division
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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

co-sponsored the 12th Arizona Transition Conference, drawing over 800 participants. The
Division’s nine (9) District Employment Specialists regularly participate in local high school
transitions fairs, job fairs, and other events highlighting employment. All Division
Employment staff are members of the Arizona Department of Education’s Secondary
Transition Mentoring Project, working with local school districts on collaborative transition
planning. A new Transition to Employment service description was recently released for
public comment with a focus toward its availability as a new contracted service in the next
year.
Related to successful transition to adult life, after many years in the planning, the Division
has launched a joint project with the state’s Rehabilitation Services
Administration/Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program. Through a Memorandum of
Understanding, the Division provided matching funds to allow the VR program to obtain
additional federal 110 monies and hire dedicated staff to work with Division eligible youth in
the foster care system. The project established a system of coordinated planning and service
provision for youth beginning at age fourteen (14) to better ensure their successful transition
to meaningful and sustained employment, education and community living.
Additionally, the Division is broadening both internal and external awareness of the value of
employment for individuals with intellectual disabilities. A new computer-based training
(CBT) module has been created that will be mandatory training for all Division support
coordinators and their supervisors. A “new and improved” one day training course on
employment is in the process of development. This course will also be mandatory for all
Division field staff. The Division has been successful in generating several success stories
highlighting Division consumers on the job that have been featured by local newspapers and
TV news and plan to make this a standing feature on the Division’s website.
The Division has initiated the process of revising our employment service rate-setting with a
goal toward building rates that will encourage the provision of integrated, supported and
competitive employment services and supports. It is anticipated that the process will be
completed in the upcoming months.
 The Division partners with Pilot Parents of Southern Arizona to provide Partners in
Policymaking. Partners in Policymaking is an innovative leadership training program that
teaches people to be community leaders, and to affect systems and policy change at the local,
state and national levels. The program is designed for individuals who have a disability and
for parents raising children with a disability. Partners provides the most current information
and education about disability policy, the legislative process, and local, state and national
issues that affect individuals with disabilities. Partners’ participants are people who are ready
to work for long term systems change and for change in public policy. The overall goal of the
program is to foster a partnership between people who need and use services for disabilities,
and those who determine public policy. Partners’ graduates gain the abilities to teach
policymakers a new way of thinking about people with disabilities.

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Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Family Support Annual Report, July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013

 The Division contracts with Raising Special Kids and Pilot Parents of Southern Arizona to
provide peer counseling which provides self-help opportunities through education, training,
information, encouragement and support to individuals, families and other caregivers. This
service also communicates with professionals in fields such as education, healthcare, child
protection and law enforcement to increase awareness and understanding of developmental
disabilities.
 The Division’s Office of Family and Community Resources, formerly known as the Office of
Consumer and Family Support Services, delivered 56 presentations during this fiscal year.
Attendees included stakeholders, community partners, emergency management teams, school
districts, family groups, Division staff, various community fair attendees and health and
wellness event attendees.
 The Division, along with its community partners, sponsored the Ninth Annual Direct Support
Professionals Recognition event on Friday, September 28, 2012 at the Disability
Empowerment Center. These outstanding individuals were honored for their superior service
in working with individuals with developmental disabilities. There were four (4) awardees
which included three (3) Direct Support Professionals and one (1) Direct Care Supervisor.
XI.

Conclusion

The Division is proud to be a leader for its support of individuals and families and continuously
seeks to improve its system of family and individual supports. Staff is updating the Qualified
Vendor System, including revising the service descriptions and expectations for the services.
The Division continues to engage consumers and families to provide valuable ideas on how
services should be provided. With the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council, the
Division continues to explore new ways to receive input from people with developmental
disabilities and their families on how to improve the service delivery system. The Division
actively pursues additional employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.
The Division looks forward to continuing collaboration with the community, stakeholders and
other entities to provide quality supports and services in the most inclusive ways and settings.

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