Since the State of Oregon Department of Human Services began taking on Personal Support Worker and provider payment through its eXPRS system, one of the most common questions brokerages have received from providers is “Did you get my timesheet?”
There’s a relatively easy way for providers to access this information via eXPRS. ODDS’ Julie Harrison and her team have created a How To guide entitled “How to Find/View Plan of Care Service Claims”. Check out the guide by clicking here. You’ll learn how to read the eXPRS screens and determine where your payment claim is in the process. Be sure to bookmark this guide for future reference. (Of note: eXPRS refers to hours or miles keyed into its system as SDEs – Service Delivered Entries.)
One additional note: If you are sending invoices or timesheets via email, please be sure to use the billing@independencenw.org email address. If you are faxing invoices or timesheets, please be sure you receive a return confirmation that the fax was received.
Thanks for your continued partnership through the ongoing systemic changes. Your work is very much appreciated.
Introducing “Everyone Communicates: A New Training for Personal Support Workers,” from the Oregon Home Care Commission. Learn strategies and techniques to promote communication partnering between individuals (of all ages and stages) who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities and their Personal Support Worker.
Topics Covered:
Communication is a basic human right.
Communication is key to self determination.
Your role in communication.
Communication is more than “speech.”
“Behavior” is communication.
Communication partner strategies.
Making it work: a take home activity.
(Note: This class focuses on communication. Use of low tech to high tech strategies is introduced.)
When: Monday, April 27, 2015
Time: 9:00 – 1:00
Where: NW Portland
Holiday Inn Express
2333 NW Vaughn St
Portland, OR
Register Today! Register Online through the Registry (OR-HCC.org).
The Oregon Office of Developmental Disabilities (ODDS) will be offering three eXPRS trainings for Provider Agency staff at Independence Northwest on February 20th (9am, 12 noon, and 3pm.) Come meet with state personnel, see the eXPRS interface, and have your questions answered. Please RSVP by calling Brenda at INW at 503.546.2950 or by emailing brenda@independencenw.org!
The 2013-15 HCW/PSW Collective Bargaining Agreement provides for a new level of worker and compensation. Enhanced and Exceptional Workers provide services to consumers with certain assessed medical and/or behavioral needs, AND have successfully completed additional training.
The Oregon Home Care Commission will be holding the first pilot Enhanced and Exceptional Worker trainings for both HCWs and PSWs in November/December in the Portland area. If you, or someone you know, are interested in being part of the pilot, follow these steps:
1. Make sure your CPR/First Aid is up-to-date. You will need to send a copy of your certification with the application.|
2. Go to the website: ohcc-training.org. Create an account, then log in to your account. Look under “Courses” for the Readiness Assessment for your work group (HCW or PSW).
3. You are allowed to take the Readiness Assessment one time only, so some study ahead of time will be helpful. It is highly recommended that you review course manuals from the classes you have attended that are listed on the website if you have taken them.
4. Complete the Readiness Assessment. You will be able to review your answers after you finish the assessment.
5. If you pass the assessment with a score of 80% or better, you will be directed to the application. Fill this out and send to the Home Care Commission. These must be received by October 20, 2014 to be eligible for the pilot course.
If you do not pass the readiness assessment, you can use the feedback online to determine which topics to learn more about or courses to attend. The assessment will open again in 2015 the next time the course is offered.
For more information contact: Joan Medlen Personal Support Worker Training Coordinator joan.e.medlen@state.or.us
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 implementation in a more manageable way. Additional information will be coming out over the coming weeks about the details behind these strategies so please pay close attention to emails and other communications over the coming days.
First, July 1 is a milestone for new employment services to be offered. These services are included in the Medicaid waivers that will be submitted for approval with a July 1 effective date. These new services will still be offered as of July 1. July 1 was also a targeted date for implementation of a new rate structure for employment services for both the comprehensive and support service system. The new rate structure will be finalized next week, however, at the request of multiple providers, we will hold off on implementation of those rates, with the exception of the rates for the new services, until September 1, 2014. The new services, which include Discovery and Job Development will be paid at the new outcome based rates. All other services will continue to be paid at the current, daily rate. This additional time will allow providers of employment services an opportunity to analyze how the new rates will apply to their service arrays. Additional information about the rate transition schedule, and expectations for tracking, billing and reporting of services provided during July and August will be coming shortly.
Additionally, we have been challenged to provide training to the large number of personal support workers, CDDP and Brokerage staff, and other providers on the new plan entry and claims process within the eXPRS system. In order to allow more time for training and other associated activities, we are delaying the implementation of Plan of Care functionality to September 1, 2014 as well. We will be working with partners, including SEIU and providers, to develop an implementation plan from September 1 forward, beginning with employment services. The delayed schedule and restaging of activities is important to assure successful implementation, but it does not deter or alter the strategic or programmatic outcomes the changes are designed to achieve.
There is much work to be done over the upcoming months to ensure that individuals experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities continue to receive services and that those providing the services are paid accordingly. We thank all of you for your continued work with us as we pull together plans for full implementation. As always, if you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.” – Trisha Baxter
There are just 40 working days left between now and the end of the current fiscal year, June 30, 2014. Over the past year, that mid-summer date has been a much-publicized target for many changes in the Oregon’s developmental disabilities brokerage system. You’ve no doubt heard many times over: “this, that, or the other has to be done by July 1st”. This includes significant changes such as ensuring all 7,500 or so brokerage customers have been assessed with the new Functional Needs Assessment, ensuring that all providers are signed up in the state’s payment system, and preparing for having the state take over direct payment to all brokerage providers. In some areas of the state, customers are changing fiscal intermediaries as well. (Here at INW, this is not the case.)
There’s a lot happening. We understand that change can be confusing, frustrating and overwhelming. Sometimes all three. So here’s a cheat sheet for what you need to tend to in the next forty days.
If you’re a customer or a representative designee:
Be sure to respond to your Personal Agent’s (or a state worker’s) call to complete the new Functional Needs Assessment. It’s essential these are completed for everyone by June 30th. This allows the state to draw down increased federal funding via the new K Plan. Additionally, be ready to revise your plan to make some language changes. Your PA will help you with that.
If you have a provider, be sure that s/he has filled out a Provider Enrollment Agreement. We want to be sure they can continue to get paid after the state takes over payment (currently planned for July 1st.)
Make sure the customers you serve have scheduled a Functional Needs Assessment with their PA (or a state worker.) If they need some support during the assessment and would like you to assist, offer your help.
If you have not already, you must apply for and receive a Medicaid provider number. Sign up by filling out the Provider Enrollment Agreement form as soon as possible.
If you have already applied for a provider number, but haven’t heard back from the state, please contact them directly at DD-MH.OHCC@state.or.us
If we’ve contacted you about updating your Criminal History Check, be sure you respond quickly. All PSWs must have a CHC completed every two years. You cannot be paid without a current check on file.
Attend one of the upcoming Personal Support Worker webinars. There are currently three scheduled. The webinars will give you basic details on the state’s payment system (eXPRS) and how the way you’ll be paid is changing. Click here to learn more.
If there are changes to the deadlines or expectations (and there may be), we’ll keep you updated via additional mailing. In the meantime, keep an eye on the INW blog or our Facebook page for the latest. As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve you, your family, and this community.
The Oregon of Office of Developmental Disabilities (the state) is putting on a series of training for brokerage PSW providers. The training is called “Using eXPRS for DD Personal Support Workers and DD Independent Contractor PSWs.”
Per the state, “Use of the eXPRS Payment System will begin July 1st, 2014. This training is a repeat of the April 22nd webinar training session and will cover the information PSW or IC-PSWs need to know to get ready for July 1st. These trainings are online, computer-based trainings.
Training participants will need a computer and internet to view the training materials AND access to a phone to listen to the discussion. Pre-registration for these trainings is required as each session has a limit to the number of participants.”
Once registered, participants will receive an email with the training site link, conference phone number and instructions on how to connect to the training on the date you are registered to participate. If you have questions, contact Julie Harrison at JULIE.A.HARRISON@dhsoha.state.or.us.
The GO! Project, a project of the Oregon Developmental Disabilities Coalition, will be holding its Legislative Advocacy Training: Meet and Greet Your Local Legislator this January! The DD Coalition works to inform legislators about issues experienced by individuals and families experiencing disabilities. Customers, families, advocates, and professionals are welcome to come and learn:
How the Oregon Legislative process works
How to develop relationships with Legislators
How to be an effective advocate
Current issues pertinent to Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities advocates
Are you currently paid to provide supports to an adult receiving brokerage services? If so, you are a Mandatory Abuse Reporterand have certain legal responsibilities. If you have reasonable cause to believe an adult with developmental disabilities has been abused, or that any person with whom you come in contact in your job has abused an adult, you must immediately report the abuse.
Abuse includes but is not limited to: abandonment, financial exploitation, involuntary seclusion, neglect, physical abuse, restraint (not approved in a behavior support plan or by doctor’s order,) sexual abuse or verbal abuse.
If you believe any of these things or another concerning/suspicious event has taken place, you must:
Report the situation to the Community Developmental Disabilities Program in Washington, Clackamas or Multnomah counties. This is required by law.
In addition, you must immediately file a report with local law enforcement if you believe a crime has been committed. This is required by law.
Write an incident report and submit it to the individual’s Personal Agent at Independence Northwest. This is required per your signed service agreement with the INW customer(s) you serve.
Please note: Mandatory Abuse Reportersare not limited to reporting only potential abuse and crimes against people with developmental disabilities. Reporters must also call in any issues involving, children, seniors (people 65 and older,) people with mental health issues and people with physical disabilities. You do not need direct evidence and it is not your responsibility or role to investigate the claim, but you have a legal obligation to pick up the phone and make a report as soon as possible.
Incident Reporting
Additionally, you have a responsibility to report in writing/via phone to Independence Northwest when you have seen, heard or been told about the death of a brokerage customer; when there has been police, ambulance or fire department response; with regard to criminal referrals, medical hospitalizations, emergency room visits, psychiatric hospitalizations or any other incidents that are unusual for the individual/are of concern. You must do so within 24 hours of hearing of/witnessing the event.
When in doubt, report!
Washington County: Business Hours: 503.846.3150
After Hours: 503.291.9111
Clackamas County: All Hours: Report directly to Bryan Pollard: 503.557.2874
Multnomah County: Business Hours: 503.988.3658 (Ask for Adult DD Protective Services Screener)24 Hour Crisis Line: 503.988.4888
Department of Human Services: If you are unsure who to report adult abuse to, please call the state at1-800-232-3020
The folks at Clackamas County Developmental Disabilities Program are offering a great training opportunity for all professionals serving people with disabilities: a one hour training on Abuse Reporting led by Abuse Investigator Brian Pollard.
WHAT: Abuse Reporting Training WHEN: Tuesday September 18th, 2012 from 11am to 12 noon WHERE: Clackamas County Public Services Building (2051 Kaen Road Room 369B Oregon City, OR 97045)
Abuse Reporting is geared toward adults eligible for DD Services, their families, Personal Support Workers, Foster Care Providers and staff, Residential and Vocational staff. Adults eligible for DD services are a protected class and therefore those paid to support them are Mandatory Abuse Reporters. The class will address when and how to report abuse and neglect of adults eligible for DD services.
If you are a Personal Support Worker, Domestic Employee or Independent Contractor, we at Independence Northwest strongly urge you consider this training opportunity.
Please contact Robyn Hoffman at 503.557.2872 or robynhof@co.clackamas.or.us for any questions and to RSVP. Space is limited, so please register to reserve your place.
October 24th & 25th, 2011 at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel
8235 Northeast Airport Way Portland, Oregon 97220
Building Futures is for youth with disabilities and anyone who has an interest in supporting youth with disabilities as they transition from school to adult life.
This includes Secondary Educators, Post Secondary Educators, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Special Educators, therapists, counselors, service providers, job developers, and other rehabilitation specialists, and especially secondary students with disabilities and their families.
Throughout this two-day event there will be presentations by regional and national experts on issues surrounding secondary transition, post-secondary transition, employment, higher education and assistive technology.
If you would like to sponsor this annual event or receive more information, please contact Karen Ripplinger at: 503.581.8156 ext. 210 or kripplinger@oregonrisecenter.org.
Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
This workshop will identify the variety of economic issues that impact survivors of sexual violence. We will explore community resources, consider tools, provide information and problem solving so that attendees are able to strengthen their advocacy response to the needs identified by sexual violence survivors.
Monday January 31, 2011
10am-12pm
Multnomah County Southeast Health Center
3653 SE 34th Ave(1/2 block South of SE Powell Blvd)
Basement Training Room
This training is free of charge.Registration is required.
To register for the training, please email your name, agency, and contact information to
Confused about your rights as a student in transition?
Have questions about school practices, responsibilities and the law?
Looking for resources and contacts?
Need expert opinion and guidance on school-related issues?
Want to connect with other students and families?
As part of its commitment to demystifying the transition process for adults with disabilities,Independence Northwest is partnering with Disability Rights Oregonto bring you a great resource in the month of October. Susana Ramirez, the Special Education Advocate for Disability Rights Oregon, will be presenting “Understanding Your Rights as a Transition Student”. The training is designed for students and their families as well as professionals interested in learning about increasing their advocacy skills.
Join us Wednesday October 27th from 4 – 6pm at the Independence Northwest office located at 541 NE 20th Avenue Suite 103 in Portland. We’re just off Glisan and 20th in the Jantzen Building.
Please take a moment to RSVP so we know you’ll be joining the conversation. Contact Summer Rose at Independence Northwest via phone (503.546.2950) or email (summer.rose@independencenw.org) to register. You can RSVP via Facebook here.This presentation is FREE and light refreshments will be served.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER Susana Ramírez has been advocating for the rights of children and adults with disabilities with Disability Rights Oregon for the last 9 years. Susana brings a skill set combining her personal experiences as a parent advocate at the state and national level and her professional expertise in special education law and community organizing.
Reynolds School District in collaboration with Multnomah County School Districts presents the 2010 Multnomah County Transition Resource Fair.
Time – 10am – 6pm on April 9th, 2010
Place: Four Corners, Reynolds School District
14513 SE Stark Street, Portland, OR 97233
Independence Northwest will be sharing a table with several other metro area brokerages.
The fair will include resources on jobs, self-determination, health care, housing and training available to individuals living in Multnomah County and receiving (or preparing to receive) high school transition services.
For questions, please contact Shirley Burns (503.328.0428) or Shannon Selby (503.328.0423), the co-chairs of the 2010 Transition Resource Fair.
Emerging Leaders Northwest is a community, web-based information and guidance center for young adults with disabilities. The organization provides ways to develop leadership skills through workshops and trainings, mentorships and internships and an interactive website. ELN works closely with yound adults with disabilities between the ages of 13 and 30.
ELN provides a wide variety of trainings including:
Your Education and How to Succeed
Solving the Employment Puzzle
Healthy Lifestyles
Disability Culture and Family
Person Centered Planning
ELN currently has internships available through: Portland Development Commission, City of Portland, PacifiCorp, State of Oregon, McMenamins, PGE, Care Medical and OHSU.
For more information check out their website at www.emergingleadersnw.org and contact Chuck Davis at 503.494.3281 for more information.
Check out Partners in Education, a self-study course designed by the fine folks at Partners in Policymaking to help parents of children with developmental disabilities navigate the special education system and help their children make the most of their potential.
Schools are places where children learn new information and skills. But they also are places where children are exposed to a multitude of life lessons…lessons like respecting each other as individuals, personal responsibility and the importance of contributing to the community.
This course has been developed to give you the practical skills you need to create an inclusive, quality education for your child. After completing this course, you will:
Understand the history of education of children with developmental disabilities;
Know and understand the key laws governing special education and how they protect your child’s rights;
Understand your role in your child’s educational experience;
Recognize the elements of an individualized education program and the role parents play in its creation and implementation;
Know how to advocate for your child to ensure a positive, quality educational experience;
Understand your rights to due process if you feel your child’s educational rights have been violated.
A new “Now What” Group is now forming in the Tigard area. This is a private-pay opportunity for individuals with Autism or Asperger Syndrome offerings tools, support, and social experience for post-high school young adults, (age 18–28 years).
About the course:
This series of 12 sessions is designed to address some of the cognitive-social issues that are common to individuals with Asperger’s, Non-verbal Learning Disorder, and High-Functioning Autism. Our group supports the inclusion of a variety of abilities. The series follows a sequence of topics that range from discussions about the member’s individual interests, to talking about plans for the future. Our final meeting is a “group date” for dinner, during which we enjoy each other’s company and apply some of the things we have discussed over the preceding weeks.
The topics that we discuss overlap from one series to the next, but this is not a comprehensive course. We often have much more material than time to cover it. There is new material in each series. As a consequence of that, and of having some new members in each series, it is a different experience every time we do it. Each series is, to some extent, tailored to the needs of the members. Many members are returning from earlier groups.
We are committed to providing an emotionally and physically safe environment. In order to maintain that safety, we discourage negative comments, and will not tolerate disparaging remarks directed at any member. We maintain confidentiality and respect for the young adults who participate in the group experience.
Each weekly meeting builds on the ones before it. In order to get the most benefit from the series, it is important that members attend every group. It is also important for the members to be able to count on each other’s support from one week to the next. We know that life happens. If you know ahead of time that you will not make many of the groups, it might be better to consider joining the next series.
Free informational meeting
Wednesday, September 9 2009, from 8:00pm to 9:00pm (at the end of clinic hours) at Southwest Family Physicians, 11900 SW Greenburg Rd., Tigard, Oregon, 97223
Meeting Schedule
Wednesday evenings 6:30 to 8:00 pm
At: Southwest Family Physicians
11900 SW Greenburg Rd.
Tigard, Oregon, 97223
$55* per 90-minute group. 12 weekly meetings.
Skills Notebook and other materials included.
*NOTE: Brokerage funds cannot be used to pay for this resource due to the rate structure.
For more information, please contact:
Peggy Piers, M.Ed.-counseling (503) 977-2411
Email: piers.p@comcast.net
Through September 18th, Future Horizons is offering a 25% discount to customers. Just enter the code BACK2SCHOOL when you check out.
About Future Horizons:
Future Horizons was founded in 1996 in the belief that dissemination of information about autism and Asperger’s Syndrome through books, conferences, and other media would beneficially impact those who live and work with the condition, personally and professionally. Devoted entirely to supporting and fostering such works and programs, Future Horizons has grown to be a world leader in publications and conferences on autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.
Last Friday, the metro area brokerages (Independence Northwest, Inclusion, Mentor Oregon and The Arc Brokerage Services) held the 2009 Resource Fair. The fair was an enormous success. We’re still tallying the attendee count, but it will likely surpass 400! Special thanks to all the vendors who came and presented their resources to metro area brokerage customers. You can check out their services below.
*NOTE: Not all vendors listed above provide services that can be paid for through Support Services funding. Some are natural resources and others are available through private pay. Check with your Personal Agent if you have questions.
September 25, 2009 – Supporting Individuals with Sexual Offending Behaviors
Presented by Jim Haaven, MA, Portland, Oregon & Steve Mussack, PhD, Eugene, Oregon
Jim Haaven will open with a discussion around best practices – evidenced based approaches including (but not limited to):
* Importance of sexual awareness training
* Effective teaming for “wrap around” support
* Risk management tools
* Supervision.
Steve Mussack will follow with recommendations for direct support staff and programs focusing on therapeutic practices on the milieu, increasing communication between program and therapy, and methods for support providers to feel supported. A panel presentation will be facilitated by Dr Mussack. The panel discussion will focus on community integration, job placement, legal issues, and overcoming neighborhood mentality.
Host: OTAC – Oregon Technical Assistance Corporation
3886 Beverly Avenue NE
Suite I-21
Salem, OR 97305
Phone: 503-364-9943
Fax: 503-364-1939
Check in at 8:00 am
8:30 to 4:30
Lunch on your own (11:30 – 12:30)
The ONLY local site for this video conference: Oregon State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland (45 seats available) **There is no registration fee for this training series** Registration: ** There is no registration fee for this training** Complete 1 registration for each participant by the following method:
To register to attend this training, please visit our website at <http://www.otac.org/gro/training-registration?template=gro>.
If you are registering five (5) or more people, please send an email to Jessica at jkaton@otac.org <mailto:jkaton@otac.org>. She will collect your information and register your group.
You will receive an email confirmation containing the venue’s address and a link to directions, so please enter your email information.
Registration will close on September 17, 2009.
If you have any questions please contact Jessica Katon at 503-364-9943, x 41 or by email at jkaton@otac.org <mailto:jkaton@otac.org>.
New to brokerage services? The Roadmap to Support Services is a great primer. The Roadmap is available in four languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Russian.
Thanks to Multnomah County DD Services for translation of this excellent resource into Vietnamese and Russian for our community.
The Roadmap is a collaboration amongst Disability Rights Oregon (formerly Oregon Advocacy Center), Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Oregon Department of Human Services Seniors and People with Disabilities.
Can I work and still keep my Social Security benefits?
Can I work and keep my healthcare benefits?
Who can help me understand how working will affect my benefits?
Who can help me find a job?
Disability Rights Oregon and Work Incentives Network are hosting the 2009 Work Incentives Seminar and Employment Supports Fair on Wednesday September 16th with morning and afternoon sessions running 9am – 3pm. Agenda below:
10:00 & 1:00 Overview of Employment Process Molly Sullivan, WIN Program
10:30 & 1:30 Benefits Planning Presentation Disability Rights Oregon, Planning for Work / WIN
11:00 & 2:00 Health Care Benefits Disability Rights Oregon / Community Partners
Are you currently paid to provide supports to an adult receiving brokerage services? If so, you are a 
The folks at Clackamas County Developmental Disabilities Program are offering a great training opportunity for all professionals serving people with disabilities: a one hour training on Abuse Reporting led by Abuse Investigator Brian Pollard.
Quarterly training sponsored by the Tri-County Sexual Assault Task Force:
Emerging Leaders Northwest
Check out 
A new “Now What” Group is now forming in the Tigard area. This is a private-pay opportunity for individuals with Autism or Asperger Syndrome offerings tools, support, and social experience for post-high school young adults, (age 18–28 years).
Through September 18th, 
Last Friday, the metro area brokerages (
People First Connection
September 25, 2009 – Supporting Individuals with Sexual Offending Behaviors
New to brokerage services? The Roadmap to Support Services is a great primer. The Roadmap is available in four languages: 
Do you have questions about work like these…