Creating a flexible, person-centered, family-oriented system of supports so people can have full lives. 
DDA Transformation Update
The DDA Transformation Newsletter | Monday, Aug. 20, 2018 8
Successful Release of Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS)
The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) LTSS Release 1.0 was successfully deployed Aug. 1, 2018 and is now being used across the state by Coordinators of Community Services (CCS), DDA regional offices, and DDA headquarters personnel. With the release came the successful migration of more than 42,000 records from the DDA’s existing system into LTSS.

We appreciate the partnership of our CCS agencies that have worked with us over the last two weeks to identify and resolve issues. While there are still a few lingering challenges, the new DDA, CCS, and Person-Centered Planning (PCP) functionality in LTSS is a huge step forward in the transformation of policies and processes to create a more flexible, person-centered, and family-oriented system of supports so that people can have full lives.

The DDA looks forward to a continued partnership with our stakeholders as we work to improve Release 1.0 and prepare for future releases of DDA functionality in LTSS.
Direct Support Professional (DSP) Training and Development Framework
On Aug. 8, 2018 Supporting Employment, Equality and Community (SEEC) for people with Developmental Disabilities held an information exchange session with 60 stakeholders at the DDA Southern Maryland Regional Office.

SEEC was awarded a grant by the DDA to recommend a policy for a DSP Training and Development Framework. SEEC presented the process and basis for the policy, including data collection methods and stakeholder input opportunities. They shared information about competency-based models and how they differ from traditional training.

The image below illustrates the steps SEEC will complete in the next two months to inform the development of the training policy framework recommendations. SEEC will also be engaging with stakeholders through an advisory group which will meet three times between Sept. 1, 2018 and Oct. 15, 2018. If you have further questions, please email SEEC at ServiceFrameworkproject@seeconline.org.
The image above was provided courtesy of SEEC.
The Mandt System ®
The DDA is dedicated to training 350 trainers for the Mandt System ® . By the end of August, there will be 219 trainers across the state. With many provider agencies now having trainers for their organizations, there have been questions regarding DDA’s requirements for training all staff.  

A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is being developed and will be sent out outlining the process for staff training. Clinical staff that will be writing behavior support plans should be trained prior to DSPs. Each provider agency will need to submit a training implementation plan for the Mandt System ® to DDA’s regional offices, as well as the DDA Director of Clinical Services, Dr. Meg DePasquale.
Maryland Community of Practice (MD-CoP) for Supporting Families and Charting the LifeCourse Framework
Maryland joined the National CoP for Supporting Families of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) in 2016 to better support families caring for family members with developmental disabilities across the lifespan, using the Charting the LifeCourse Framework. For more information on national efforts, visit the National CoP for Supporting Families .

What is a CoP?
It is a group of people or stakeholders who share a concern or passion for something they do, or something of importance to them. They meet regularly to share knowledge, learn new techniques, and implement new strategies to improve policies, programs and practices.

MD-CoP Goal
The goal of the MD-CoP is to build capacity across and within the state to create policies, regulations, systems and practices to enhance the lives of people with I/DD and their families enabling all people to live, love, work, play, learn and pursue their aspirations in their community.

Why focus on families?
Families are the core unit in the community, serving as an essential source of support for all its members. For people with I/DD, the role of the family is unique and often central to the support and care provided across the lifespan. Based on prevalence rates, there are approximately 93,000 Marylanders with developmental disabilities, most of whom live within their family homes or are supported by family members.

New CoP on the Eastern Shore at Mid-Shore
The MD CoP Leadership Team and community members will launch the Mid-Shore Local CoP for Supporting Families Thursday, Sept. 13 at the Talbot County Library from 10 a.m. to noon. This will help to better support families in the Mid-Shore community in helping their loved ones to lead their “Good Life.”

Who Should Attend?
Family members, self-advocates, Coordinators of Community Services, local school systems, health departments, recreation programs, state and county employees, law enforcement, civil engineers, educators, and the general community.
Please contact Kathleen Walker Roberts, DDA Employment and Family Coordinator, by email at kathleen.walker1@maryland.gov or by phone at (410) 572-5923 for more information.

Upcoming Local CoP Meetings
The Montgomery County Local CoP is meeting Wednesday, Aug. 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Easter Seals in Silver Spring. For more information, please contact Cindy Kauffman by email at ckauffman@seeconline.org.

To learn more about the MD-CoP, a local CoP, and/or establishing a local CoP in your community, please contact one of the MD CoP statewide facilitators below:

Mary Anne Kane Breschi, DDA
mary.kane-breschi@maryland.gov
410-767-8880

Michael Lewis, Maryland Developmental Disability Council
mlewis@md-council.org
410-767-3669

Grace Williams, The Arc Maryland
gwilliams@thearcmd.org
301-938-4065
Employment
For updates on DDA's Employment First efforts, please view the August Employment First Newsletter .
Visit the DDA Website for access to Employment First training and webinars.
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