Posts by Oregon Support Services Association
An Update on Systems Vision and Direction from Brokerage Association President Margaret Theisen
On Monday, November 10, 2014, Kathryn Weit, OSSA Executive Director and I participated in a vision and values discussion organized by the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services and the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities. Later in the day I stopped on the way home for groceries and when asked how my day was by the clerk, I said my day was excellent. I can’t recall the last time I said that about work! I surprised myself with that comment. We spent an entire day discussing and refining the language for the values and vision statements that will be used to guide the system that provides services to people with Intellectual / Developmental Disabilities....
Read MoreState Delays eXPRS Implementation and Employment Rate Changes to Fall 2014
Late Friday afternoon (05.30.2014), Interim DD Director Trisha Baxter released the following statement to the I/DD community: “As you are aware we have many priorities that we are focusing on, all with a July 1 implementation date. We have heard from many of you that these converging priorities are causing angst, stress and strain on you, and on the system. We, as well, are discovering the complexities of handling so many moving parts all at once. As such, based upon feedback from many of you and weighing our internal priorities and commitments with SEIU, CMS and others, we have come up with the following strategy to delay portions of the work and to stage...
Read MoreState Looks to Reduced Rates for Supported Employment and Day Program Providers; Community Responds
On May 9, 2014, during a monthly meeting with brokerage directors, ODDS staff shared potential rate decreases to providers of Supported Employment and Day Habilitation (ATE programs). The proposed reduction would occur across the comprehensive and brokerage systems and go live as early as July 1st, 2014. Last week, the Oregon Support Services Association, the Oregon I/DD Coalition, the Oregon Rehabilitation Association and the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities each submitted letters to state leadership asking the state to reconsider any rate reductions. We all await responses and will update you once we have additional information on the direction the state...
Read MoreAn Interview with Brokerage Association Leader Kathryn Weit (Part One)
By Larry Deal Executive Director, Independence Northwest Communications Director, Oregon Support Services Association I recently sat down with newly-appointed Oregon Support Services Association Executive Director Kathryn Weit to discuss her history, her thoughts on the brokerage system, the implementation of the K Plan, and where she sees brokerage services headed. Kathryn has been a hugely influential player in services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities both in the northwest and nationally. She played an integral role in the development of brokerage services in Oregon and brokerages statewide could not be more pleased that she’s signed on to...
Read MoreOSSA Advocacy and Educational Statement on Systemic Changes
Read OSSA’s advocacy and education document related to current systemic changes here.
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