September 12- 18, 2021 is Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) week, a time to recognize the important role of DSPs. Many of us know of a DSP who has made a meaningful difference in the life of the person they support. Tell them you appreciate their work and caring!

DSP is someone who works directly with people with disabilities to ensure that they have the necessary supports to work, play and live more independently, to lead self-directed lives and participate fully in our communities. DSPs work in partnership with the person they support and the person’s loved ones, and they are guided by the preferences, gifts and needs of the person supported. DSPs are direct care workers, in-home support workers, personal assistants, employment service coaches and others.

Our DDRC Board of Directors have issued a proclamation acknowledging DSPs and DSP Week. During the week, DDRC will be taking the opportunity to reach out to our many DSP staff to express our gratitude to them.

Looking for an exciting and dynamic new career? Join COAPSE and their partners as they welcome a diverse panel of local Employment Specialists who are eager to share why they love their job! Don't miss this zoom presentation: 'The Dream Job You Never Knew You Wanted!' on Monday, September 13th at 2:00 p.m.

DDRC is excited that our Employment Services team are part of the group helping COAPSE to plan for and present at this panel. Our Employment Specialists love working alongside people with developmental disabilities in their journey to a fulfilling career.

Register today:

See the Flyer 

Each year community members gather for the Legislative BBQ hosted by four of the largest nonprofits in Jefferson County: DDRC, Family Tree, Jefferson Center, and Seniors Resource Center. Participants will hear from county, state and federal elected officials and candidates about issues that are important to our nonprofits and the community, and how we can work with officials to improve the lives of the people we serve.

We’re doing it virtually on October 6 and you’re invited! We’ll even have a drawing for BBQ restaurant gift cards. The event is free. Advance registration required.

See www.ddrcco.com for registration information posted in mid-September.

Attention parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches and others: getting cooperation from someone you care for or work with can sometimes be a struggle, but the right approach can help. DDRC’s Behavioral Health Team is hosting a free training to help attendees learn how to motivate positive behavior, applicable to many ages and settings. The class will be held in-person on October 20, from 9 am- 3 pm, at DDRC offices at 11177 W. 8th Ave., Lakewood 80215. If circumstances change, the class will be held virtually, and details will be provided to registrants.

Advance registration required: email your name and phone number to Zachary.Maple@ddrcco.com

See class flyer

DDRC will hold our Annual Meeting for members on the evening of Wednesday, October 27. Members include people who have been determined eligible for DDRC services and their families.

The agenda includes meeting your DDRC Board of Directors, approving minutes of the prior meeting, and hearing from the Board President and Executive Director. We will also present awards to individuals or groups who have been significant in our DDRC community and its mission. The awards presentations are uplifting and enjoyable and we hope you will join us to honor awardees!

An invitation with details of whether the meeting will be in-person or virtual, and how to register and rsvp will be sent out soon to members.

DDRC’s Family Support Services Program (FSSP) has funds to help families living in Jefferson, Clear Creek, Gilpin and Summit Counties with a child or adult family member living at home with developmental disabilities or delays. Funding helps with out-of-pocket expenses for disability related services not covered by insurance or another program. To apply, complete a “Most in Need” form. Funding amounts vary across low, moderate and high MIN scores and most families quality for some level of support so don’t hesitate to apply!

We can reimburse you for covered disability services provided on or after 7/1/2021, or advance funds for the purchase of covered services or items prior to 6/30/2022. Receipts are required and funding is not guaranteed.

A few examples of services or items that may be reimbursed include respite, therapies, adaptive items, medical dental copay/ deductible costs, counseling, therapeutic recreation, camps, classes, mileage reimbursement, bus pass for medical trips, and more.  

The Masons’ tagline and guidepost is the value of “making good men better,” and striving to help make better communities too. On a recent weekend in August, they came together to do just that while cultivating camaraderie among their members.

They worked shoulder to shoulder to cut, trim, pull, dig out and stack all kinds of overgrown plants and weeds of the DDRC Belmar apartments in Lakewood, currently serving 8 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

They painted a long stretch of privacy fence, trimmed trees, and cut bushes to create wider, easier walkways for residents. They spread new mulch to create a fresh look and pulled many dying bushes from the streetside to give the property a prouder, neat look. It was two days of work, creating heaping piles of debris and filling a big dumpster, and when they were done, they made the yard better - a lot better. In fact, they transformed the property!

This would not have been possible were it not for the values of the Masons, and especially due to Grant Sanders, Mason, who helped to spearhead the initiative. Grant invited participants from his lodge, the Marquis de Lafayette Lodge #41, who came as a large contingent, as well as Masons from Denver Lodge #5. They all worked hard, were so congenial, and seemed truly gratified to see the impact of their efforts.

The Masons and the Marquis de Lafayette Lodge have been especially supportive and helpful to DDRC over the years. They have donated significant funds, provided holiday gift cards for people DDRC serves who have few other resources, and they have done other construction projects for DDRC too. With all that they can truly say they are fulfilling their mission while also making a difference for people with developmental disabilities!

The Developmental Disabilities Foundation (DDF) and DDRC thank everyone who sponsored, golfed, volunteered and cheered us on for the Showdown at the Hiwan golf tournament, and who donated and bid in our online auction! Thanks to your generosity and involvement, these events were a big success, and we raised more than $65,000 in support of our mission. You make the difference!

The Hiwan Golf Club was stunning, the weather was superb, and spirts were high with such a great way to support DDF and DDRC and our work.

Would you like a rewarding career doing meaningful work to help people lead their best lives? Come to DDRC to make a difference for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Work with team members who care with inclusive and diverse values, a flexible 36-hour work week with 3 days off, remote work opportunities, superior benefits and be part of an organization committed to you and to an important mission! Help us build on abilities and ensure that people with developmental disabilities lead lives of opportunity and inclusion.

Apply today at https://ddrcco.com/careers

COVID and the Delta Variant are bringing the need to reinstitute health precautions. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) released updated guidance for group home settings that now require universal mask use for staff, visitors, and residents regardless of vaccination status, and the requirement to test fully vaccinated individuals who have had close contact with a COVID-positive person. Additionally, CDPHE continues to require and implement rapid testing for all unvaccinated staff and residents that leave the facility for longer than 24 hours. Please visit the DDRC website for COVID updates and other important links.

Changes are coming that affect Community Centered Boards – like DDRC. The changes relate to a major initiative of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) called Case Management Redesign (CMRD). CMRD includes Conflict-Free Case Management (CFCM), establishing one place to go for all Medicaid Waivers, developing a New Assessment and Person-Centered Support Plan Process that will help make accessing long-term service and supports easier, making sure there are the right number of case management agencies and increasing the quality of case management services in Colorado. HCPF held listening sessions about CMRD among people receiving Medicaid/Waivers and the feedback focused on quality, consistency, training and service availability within the case management system.

CFCM is a Federal rule that basically means that individuals under a Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver who get direct services and case management from the same agency will no longer be able to do so. Once CMRD is in place, they will have to choose to either get direct services OR case management from a particular agency. The timeline for CMRD implementation is July 2024.

A HCPF contractor is assisting in redefining the catchment areas that the new CMAs will serve, and the recommendation is expected this September. In December 2022, HCPF will issue a competitive solicitation to select the CMAs that will serve the respective areas.

The Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Early Childhood (OEC) is proposing several changes in the way Early Intervention Evaluations (EIEs) are administered, including a centralized intake system performed by the state.

What does this mean for families with children who are seeking early intervention services? Potentially, DDRC may not be the entity with whom they coordinate and communicate to do the evaluation to determination whether and what services are called for, for their child. The OEC also has a request for proposal for multi-county evaluations to which CCBs may respond too. We’ll share more information as it becomes available.

COVID - 19 Resources

The Colorado Vaccine Website          

Vaccine Hotline 1-877-268-2926

COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Information: Jeffco, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Summit

Update relating to DDRC operations during the pandemic: here

DDRC sends important information via this “Constant Contact" email platform, including information about your services and supports, announcements of emergencies (e.g. operations during Coronavirus), events, donor opportunities and more.

Please do not unsubscribe from Constant Contact emails since our communications will be restricted to U.S. mail and will take longer to get to you. If you prefer not to receive e-newsletters, invitations or donor opportunities please use our “Online Form” to indicate that you do not want to receive such emails, but will accept that you are open to receiving official notifications (i.e. notices of your services and supports ) via Constant Contact. Thank You!