How Do You Do YOU?

The DDA wants to know “How do you do YOU?” Help us share how person-centered planning has helped you get DDA services and other resources you needed to become more independent, access technology, get a job, meet new friends, etc. 

Your story is worth telling! Click below if you are interested in participating in this project!

Waiver Amendment #1 2023 Reminder

The Maryland Department of Health is seeking public comment for waiver amendments for the three home and community-based waivers operated by the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA):

• Family Supports Waiver
• Community Supports Waiver
• Community Pathways Waiver

The purpose of these amendments is to provide an option to exempt live-in caregivers who provide Personal Support and Respite Care Services from Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) requirements. This applies to both the traditional and self-directed services delivery models. The exemption is that live-in caregiver staff do not have to clock in and out in real time. 

Public comments can be submitted to wfb.dda@maryland.gov or mailed to the DDA Federal Program Unit at 201 West Preston Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201. Comments will be accepted beginning May 31 through June 30, 2023. To support the stakeholder input process and minimize or alleviate stakeholder hardship, comments for all three waivers should be submitted together under one response.

To view the proposed amendments, click on the links below:

• Family Supports Waiver - Amendment #1 2023
• Community Supports Waiver - Amendment #1 2023
• Community Pathways Waiver - Amendment #1 2023

Programs Updates

Updates to Behavioral Respite/Mobile Crisis

Behavioral Respite

The DDA is committed to supporting people with their developmental disabilities and mental health support needs. 

Starting July 1, 2023, all requests for behavioral respite for children and adults who are DD eligible should be sent by the person’s coordinator of community services (CCS) by using the QR code below: 

The DDA will receive all requests for behavioral respite and do an intake within 48 hours. If the person is eligible for behavioral respite, the DDA will work with the person and their team to find a respite placement. If CCSs have any follow-up questions based on the request for behavioral respite or supporting documentation to support the respite request, please email DDA.Behavior-Respite-Request@maryland.gov. 

*Between now and July 1, 2023, please keep working with your regional director regarding access to behavioral respite.

To learn more about behavioral respite, please review our Behavioral Respite At a Glance. 

988 & Mobile Crisis 

Beginning July 1, 2023, mobile crisis will be available to people with developmental disabilities by dialing 988. 

988 is for all Marylanders, including people with developmental disabilities. The DDA believes this further supports our vision of people with developmental disabilities living full lives in their communities. 

For 988 information and reminders such as wallet cards, magnets or posters, visit the 988 Toolkit webpage. 

To learn more about mobile crisis support, please review our Mobile Crisis At a Glance. 

If you have any questions about the DDA’s behavioral respite program and/or our transition to 988 and mobile crisis services provided through the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration, please contact Dr. Meg DePasquale, DDA’s Clinical Director at meg.depasquale@maryland.gov. 

*Please note that the mobile crisis support system that is currently in place in the Eastern region will continue. The DDA is working closely with the Behavioral Health Administration, regional office, local crisis response team, and crisis provider to ensure access via 988. 

Register for the Charting the LifeCourse Roadshow

CCSs and providers, the DDA invites you to join us in your region to learn more about how Charting the LifeCourse Framework and tools are used to support individuals and their families in pursuit of their good life. Together, we will enhance our use of the Framework by enhancing the person-centered planning process.  

This forum will: 

• Encourage teamwork and collaboration among the PCP team to support the person in living their best life. 
• Share real-life examples and strategies that can be used to support you in your role in ensuring person-centered, high-quality support for people and families. 
• Discuss what is next in our continued enhancement of person-centered planning. 

Who should come: 

It is strongly encouraged that CCS and provider agency team members who participate in the PCP process attend this training. 

When and where:

Lunch will be provided and parking is free at each venue. Please let us know if you have any accommodation needs when you click to register. 

Should you have any questions, please contact Nicolette Paparoidamis, Statewide Director of Coordination of Community Services, at Nicolette.paparoidamis@maryland.gov.

DDA Statewide Nurses Meeting  

Drug-Induced Movement Disorders 

The DDA regional nurses invite the DDA nurses (RN CM/DNs) for a statewide nurse meeting and training on July 11, 2023, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. This presentation will be facilitated by Joyce Chen, DNP, PMHNP-BC, PHN. She is the Mid-Atlantic Clinical Practice Liaison for Neurocrine Biosciences and a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. Ms. Chen has a wide range of clinical experience in mental health, including field services for the homeless and severely mentally ill, private practice, management and education. 

This training is an opportunity for nurses to review drug-induced movement disorders, including tardive dyskinesia, dystonia, akathisia and drug-induced parkinsonism. 

Training Objectives: 

● Overview of drug-induced movement disorders 

● Identification of onset of drug-induced movement disorders 

● Identification of symptoms of drug-induced movement disorders 

● Timeline of drug-induced movement disorders 

● Presentation of available treatment options for drug-induced movement disorders 

● Presentation of AIMS assessment and how to utilize it



For DDA RN CM DNs: This training counts for attendance to one of the two required trainings for the fiscal year. You must be online during the training for at least one hour to qualify for attendance purposes. 

If you have any questions about the event or how to register, please reach out to Alison  Johnston at alison.johnston@maryland.gov. 

All nursing-related questions should be directed to Kelly Jones, BSN, RN at  Kelly.Jones2@maryland.gov.

Self-Directed Services

Individual and Family Directed Goods and Services (IFDGS) 

On Wednesday, June 21, 2023 we held a webinar about the updates to Individual and Family Directed Goods and Services (IFDGS). The following topics were highlighted: 

• Updates to recruitment and advertising
• The new role of Day-to-Day Administrator
• Updates to other IFDGS requests

Our updated IFDGS Guidance can be found here on the DDA website. Please note that the IFDGS Policy has been shared for public comment; the guidance may be updated based on community feedback.

Anyone who self-directs their services can begin requesting Goods and Services for July 1, 2023 and onward using the online IFDGS Request Form.

Support Broker Services

On Wednesday, July 19, 2023 we will hold a webinar to review the updates to Support Broker Services. The webinar will review:

• The expanded role of the Support Broker
• Support Broker requirements for people who hire family members

Operations Update

Release of the Journey Towards Person-Centered Excellence Monthly Newsletter

Liberty Healthcare Corporation, on behalf of the DDA, will be providing regular updates and important information related to the joint work of the DDA, The Council for Quality and Leadership and Liberty as we continue on our journey towards person-centered excellence within the DD system.

Please review the May edition of The Journey newsletter here or on the QIO web page of the DDA website here:

If you have any questions please contact Jennifer Mettrick at jennifer.mettrick@libertyhealth.com.

CQL: Basic Assurances and Personal Outcomes Measures SOP

The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) is an international leader in establishing standards for quality. The DDA aims to achieve Network Accreditation with the CQL and will use information from provider Basic Assurances® Reviews (BA) and Personal Outcome Measures® (POM) Interviews to inform the current state of Maryland’s system and offer areas for improvement. Liberty Healthcare will begin conducting Basic Assurances® Reviews and Personal Outcome Measures® Interviews beginning in July 2023.

The CQL Standard Operating Procedure can be found on the DDA’s QIO webpage.

Resources

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Affordable Connectivity Program is the largest internet affordability program in our nation’s history.

Want to see if you qualify? Go to GetInternet.gov.

Upcoming Events

6/27 Technology First Task Force “Tech Tuesdays” Lunch and Learn Series

6/27 Support Broker Initial Certification Training 

6/28 Update: DDA and DORS Quarterly Joint Trainings

6/30 The Deputy Secretary's Webinar Series of Monthly Updates

Missed a previous DDA Connection? 

Click here to view the archive.



Click here to view upcoming events on our DDA Training Calendar.

DDA Vision

People with developmental disabilities will have full lives in the communities of their choice where they are included, participate and are active citizens.

DDA Mission

Create a flexible, person-centered, family-oriented system of support so people can have full lives.

DDA Headquarters

201 W. Preston Street, 4th Floor

Baltimore, MD 21201

Phone: (410)767-5600

Fax: (410)767-5850

Toll Free: 1(844)253-8694

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