Dear Parents, Family Members, Guardians, and Advocates:
I want to share with you the progress we have made as we continue to transform Darke DD adult services to meet federal mandates. I originally scheduled an informational meeting for October 15th to give you an update on our progress, but I believe our progress is more easily shared in this letter format. Therefore, the October 15th informational meeting is cancelled.
The Darke County Board of Developmental Disabilities is committed to ensuring that individuals and families who receive services through Darke DD have a variety of service options available to them. With these increased options and choices comes change. New service options are currently being offered in Darke County, such as private day habilitation and transportation providers. These new choices are reflected in the vision of assuring that individuals can choose to lead the kind and quality of life they want.
In keeping with providing more opportunities, the Darke County Board of Developmental Disabilities voted to make Wayne Industries an independent provider of services in Darke County and is in the process of contracting with Person Centered Services, Inc., (PCS) to accomplish this goal. This action was taken at the Board’s June 2015 regular business meeting. PCS at Wayne Industries will officially become an independent provider on January 1, 2016. PCS at Wayne Industries will offer the same types of services that are offered today. You will see Wayne Industries referred to as “PCS at Wayne Industries” or “Wayne Industries operated by PCS.” The Wayne Industries facility will be a “Career and Life Enrichment Center.”
We realize that you may have questions about this transition, so we are offering the following information:
What will this mean to my family member or loved one who is attending Wayne Industries now? Our first and most important priority is to assure you and all individuals and families that day habilitation, nursing, and transportation services will continue at Wayne Industries. Darke DD is committed to a seamless transition for individuals, families, and staff from now through January 1st and beyond.
What will this mean for the Darke DD (Wayne Industries) staff? All Wayne Industries direct service staff members who wish to continue working at Wayne Industries (PCS) will be able to do so. Staff will actually complete their employment with Darke DD on December 31, 2015, and transition on January 1, 2016, to PCS at Wayne Industries. PCS at Wayne Industries will provide the same quality services at 5844 Jaysville-St. John’s Road in Greenville with many of the same staff who have developed professional relationships with the individuals who attend Wayne Industries.
So what’s different? Effective January 1, 2016, Darke DD (Wayne Industries) staff will begin receiving their paychecks through PCS, Inc. (instead of Darke DD). PCS will offer both adult day and transportation services at the Wayne Industries facility; Darke DD will no longer provide direct services (but will continue to pay for services).
What is the role of Darke DD following this transition? Darke DD will continue to maintain the responsibility of monitoring the quality of services delivered by ALL providers, including PCS at Wayne Industries. Darke DD will continue to fund ALL provider services. Service and Support Administrators (SSA’s) will continue to develop the plan of support for each person and will work to ensure the overall health and welfare of all eligible individuals.
Everyone involved in this process is working diligently so that individuals and families will not see any differences in the quality of service delivery. If you have questions regarding the transition, please contact your SSA at (937) 548-3350.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Beasecker
Superintendent
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