OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
Developmental Disabilities Services Division
P.O. Box 25352
Oklahoma City, OK  73125
(405) 521-3571 

November 16, 2009

Dear Provider:

On September 29, 2009, in response to the State’s continuing revenue shortfall, the Human Services Commission voted to require reductions to the Department of Human Services’ FY2010 work program.  In addition to other reductions affecting the Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD), the Commission approved reducing DDSD classroom training contracts by 50 percent. 

The training contractors have been reviewing their expenditures and making decisions about how any remaining money can best be used.  The following information reflects the most current information we have from the training contractors.

• East Central University (ECU). At the current time, it appears that ECU will continue to offer the residential classes and mandatory case management classes (Individual Planning and Guardianship) statewide through the end of the current fiscal year with some reductions in the number of classes and the locations of classes.  ECU plans to increase the number of participants per class. 

DDSD is developing an online version of the residential Health course and the Individual Plan course for use in the online College of Direct  Support (CDS). The other residential courses are already available through  CDS. The Guardianship class can be taught by DDSD staff as necessary.

• The University of Oklahoma – vocational training. The University of Oklahoma vocational training provider plans to continue offering the General Employment Training (GET), basic job coach training (ETSO I), advanced job coach training (ETSO II) and the Program Manager training (PM) statewide through December 31, 2009. 

DDSD is developing an online version of the vocational classes, for use in the online College of Direct Support. 

• The University of Oklahoma – ETL. The University of Oklahoma contract managing the Effective/Teaching courses plans to continue offering the ETL I and ETL II courses statewide through the end of the fiscal year, with some reductions in the number of classes and the locations of the classes. There are plans to increase the number of participants per class.

Online alternatives for the ETL I and ETL II courses are already available through the College of Direct Support.

• Oklahoma State University. The classes offered through Oklahoma State University, Physical Assistance I, Physical Assistance II and Mealtime Challenges, will be ending December 1, 2009.  

Our immediate, interim plan is to allow individual-specific training by appropriate team professionals to count for the specialized training.  Specific instructions will be sent to case  managers, provider agencies and  team professionals.

DDSD is reviewing all training options and alternatives and determining how to best meet training needs in the future. All agencies currently participating in the College of Direct Support are encouraged to use the online training available to them to the fullest extent possible.  Agencies not participating in the CDS are strongly encouraged to join. Copies of the CDS materials are included with this letter. All provider agencies will receive an e-mail with this same information along with electronic copies of the CDS materials. There is a CDS administrator cost of $1,400 per agency. For agencies serving 10 individuals or less, DDSD will serve as the CDS Administrator and there will be no cost until the agency begins serving the 11th person.

Additional information regarding the status of the training contracts and the completion dates for classroom training conversion to online training will be sent as it becomes available. DDSD will grant temporary timeframe extensions for individual classes over the next few months as necessary, while the training system is in transition.  

If you have questions or need to request an extension, please contact Michaela Bishop, DDSD Training Director, at (405) 521-6264.

Sincerely,

James M. Nicholson, Director
Developmental Disabilities Services Division