Self-Directed Services Research Project

2007

Senate Bill 1015 created the Self-Directed Care Act which directed the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Services Division (OKDHS/DDSD) to establish a pilot program that provides a Self-Directed Services option for persons with disabilities who are eligible for the OKDHS/DDSD In-Home Supports Waiver. OKDHS/DDSD had previously implemented an In-Home Supports Waiver (IHSW) for individuals with developmental disabilities living on their own or with a family member. The intent of the IHSW was to provide the person or the family member more flexibility and choice in managing their own supports than was available on OKDHS/DDSD?s comprehensive Waiver. However, the program did not provide as much flexibility in areas that were important to the person and the family. For instance, there were restrictions on where supplies could be purchased that inhibited families from paying lower costs. Also, agency overhead costs consumed funds that families needed for direct services. Through the efforts of families and advocates, the legislation was passed to establish a Self-Directed Services pilot program that would restructure the existing IHSW program. The legislation called for the formation of the Self-Directed Services Advisory Committee, which had a majority of members who were families of individuals with disabilities. The committee assisted OKDHS/DDSD in planning changes to the IHSW that would allow for more flexibility and choice thus creating components of the Self-Directed Services (SDS) pilot program. The pilot program was implemented on August 1, 2006 and was planned to run for one year, through July 31, 2007, however it has since been extended to run through October 31, 2007. The committee has an ongoing role with the OKDHS/DDSD to address barriers that emerge during implementation of the pilot and to assist in planning for incorporation of the program into the OKDHS DDSD Waiver services at the conclusion of the pilot program. The legislation also mandated a third party evaluation of the pilot program. OKDHS/DDSD contracted with the Center for Learning and Leadership, a federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (CLL/UCEDD) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center to conduct the evaluation. The evaluation contains two components. The first is a cost-benefit analysis that will measure the cost effectiveness of the SDS pilot program compared to the previous In-Home Support Waiver (IHSW) program. The second component is intended to measure the success of the administration of and satisfaction with the pilot program.

Performing Research or Evaluation

Quality of Life

Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN

Specific Groups

Single-County, Mulit-County, State

N/A