Click here to read a letter sent by Imagine! to individuals, or the parents or guardians of individuals, who receive Supported Living Services (SLS) regarding the SIS.
There is always a lot happening at and around Imagine! on any given day, and we do our best to keep you informed. Listed below are items of interest that you may not have heard about yet. Click on any item title for further information. Be sure to bookmark this page and return often.
The Supports Intensity Scale
In 2005 the federal agency responsible for oversight of developmental disabilities conducted an audit of services in the State of Colorado. The audit findings indicated a need to have a statewide, standardized process to identify the support needs of people receiving services. In response to this audit the State of Colorado Division for Developmental Disabilities (DDD) adopted the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) for use.
New Adult Apartment Living Program
Learn more about a new adult apartment living program designed to allow adults with developmental disabilities to live as independently as possible.
In 2005 the federal agency responsible for oversight of developmental disabilities conducted an audit of services in the State of Colorado. The audit findings indicated a need to have a statewide, standardized process to identify the support needs of people receiving services. In response to this audit the State of Colorado Division for Developmental Disabilities (DDD) adopted the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) for use.
The SIS was developed over a five-year period time by a group from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (formerly AAMR) and is currently used in 12 states. The SIS is an assessment that measures the type, intensity and duration of supports needed by an individual to complete particular tasks or participate in particular activities.
The assessment is completed through an informal interview process that includes people (respondents) who can identify supports needed by the individual in a variety of settings. This of course includes the person receiving services; if that person chooses to participate and can accurately identify needed supports. Typically, the interview takes about two hours of time to complete.
All interviewers are required to undergo training and a reliability test in order to pass certification before being allowed to administer the assessment. Each Community Centered Board makes the decision of how many interviewers to train and utilize within the agency.
In addition to using the SIS to identify support needs, DDD is attempting to use the information to try to establish a more standardized approach to funding. Medicaid services are required to have a consistent application, however, historically each Community Centered Board has had its own method for establishing funding levels. Therefore, DDD contracted with two independent agencies to formulate a tiered system of funding that will relate to support needs. The SIS, as a supplement to other information, will be incorporated into the funding mechanisms used by the state to set rates, beginning for comprehensive services in fiscal year 2008 and for SLS services beginning in fiscal year 2009.
Everyone in Medicaid Comprehensive and Medicaid Supported Living Services (SLS) must have a SIS completed. Interviews for people receiving Medicaid comprehensive services were completed between November 2006 and September 2007. Interviews for people in Medicaid SLS services will be completed between November 2007 and September 2008.
The Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) is an assessment that identifies the type, frequency and duration of supports needed for an individual receiving services in order to complete particular tasks or participate in particular activities. The process used to gather the information is through an informal interview. The interview typically takes about two hours to complete. The following is an overview of the assessment process.
The SIS covers different domains, or categories, of support need: Home Living Activities, Community Living Activities, Lifelong Learning Activities, Employment Activities, Health and Safety Activities, Social Activities. There is a supplemental section with questions about Protection and Advocacy, the purpose of which is to gather information on a systemic basis, and sections that address Exceptional Medical and Behavioral Support Needs.
Each domain has eight questions relating to the title of the particular category. For each question there are three answers that need to be addressed: 1) What type of support would be needed for the activity? 2) How frequently would that support needed? 3) How much time in one given day would that support take? The questions are asked in such a way as to identify the support needed to complete a task in the same way as someone without an identified disability; complete a task “successfully” is the term used. As an example, one of the questions speaks to getting dressed. The interviewer asks the question, “What type of support would be needed for the person to successfully get dressed? This includes physically getting dressed and choosing clothing appropriate for the weather. Things like putting on clothes, using zippers, snaps, buttons, etc.”. Then the question of frequency will be addressed, “How frequently would that support be needed?”. Last is the question, “How much time on a daily basis would that support take?”.
Responses to the questions are chosen from the rating key of the assessment.
Rating Key
Type of Support : “What type of support would be needed.”
0 = none
1 = monitoring
2 = verbal/gesture prompting
3 = partial physical assistance
4 = full physical support.
Frequency: “How frequently would that support be needed?”
0 = none or less than monthly
1 = at least once a month but not once a week
2 = at least once a week but not once a day
3 = at least once a day but not once an hour
4 = hourly or more frequently
Daily Support Time: “How much time in any given day would that support take?”
0 = none
1 = less than 30 minutes
2 = 30 minutes to less than 2 hours
3 = 2 hours to less than 4 hours
4 = 4 hours or more
The interview form, upon which answers are recorded, has only a small description of each question. The interviewer has been trained to expand on each item to explain the intent and scope of the question. Only three questions of the assessment encompass transportation needs. The interviewer will clearly identify those questions for which transportation is taken into consideration.
Since there are two or more respondents during the interview consensus for each rating is to be reached. If there are differences of opinion, the interviewer will ask clarifying questions to assist the group to come to consensus. Specific examples are very helpful in this. It is important to keep in mind that questions relate to overall support needs for a particular task or activity, not to each specific step of the task.
DDD FAQs
Click here for SIS FAQs on the Division for Developmental Disabilities website.
Do you know of an adult with developmental disabilities who is living at home or in a group situation who may be able to live more independently if given the opportunity?
Do you know of an adult with developmental disabilities who is living at home and doesn’t have a social life unless it is pre-arranged by someone else?
Do you worry about what will happen to your family member with developmental disabilities when you can no longer care for them?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, you may be interested in a new adult living program that has been developed and is ready to begin early in 2008. This program will provide minimal support services to help adults (at least 18 years old) with developmental disabilities to learn to live and to be as independent as possible. This program has been designed to encourage and promote peer interaction without parent or advocate intervention. And most importantly, this program has been designed to provide continual advocacy for the adult, even when family members can no longer care for them.
This apartment living program will make it possible for adults with developmental disabilities to learn to live as independently as possible and develop a strong social network in the least restrictive environment!
The program will include:
Apartment living without 24x7 supervision
Social environment of peers
Minimal support
The intent of the program is to:
Transition the participant from a dependent lifestyle to an independent lifestyle
Integrate the participant into the community where they will live, work and socialize
Provide on-going advocacy for the participant as they continue to live and socialize independently in society with a minimal amount of support
The program is unique because:
It facilitates a living and social environment that becomes progressively less structured and with less support as the participant’s self-reliance increases
It provides continuous support for more challenging life skills such as money management or dealing with health care issues
Friends of Broomfield, Inc. will be implementing this private pay program, with annual costs expected to be between $5,000 and $8,000. If you are interested in learning more about this new and unique program, please click here to tell us how to contact you.
After a lengthy and comprehensive search to find a replacement for retiring Chief Executive Officer John Taylor, Imagine!'s Board of Directors voted unanimously to offer the position to Imagine!'s current Chief Operating Officer Mark Emery. Mark will assume the role on May 1. Mark has worked for Imagine! since 1983, serving in a variety of roles including Adult Program Coordinator, Behavior Management Specialist, Director of Vocational Services, and Director of Supported Living Services, in addition to his current position.
The Board began the search process last fall by soliciting input from Imagine! managers, staff and other key stakeholders to help define the selection criteria. They then conducted a national recruitment effort which attracted over 160 applicants. Eight semi-finalists were selected and telephone interviews and reference checking were done. As a result, the Board was in the enviable position of having five extremely strong candidates participating in the final process.
"I want to publically congratulate Mark on his selection, and offer him my complete support as he transitions into his new role," said Taylor. "I hope all of the Imagine! community will do all they can to help this transition be as seamless and positive as possible."
"We are so fortunate to have a committed Board of Directors, intelligent administrative leadership, and a creative management and staff," Emery told Imagine! employees in an email announcing the decision. "I realize that we have challenges before us and I want you to know that there is no group I would rather face these challenges with, than with you. Together we have a very bright future."
Welcome Mark, we look forward to working with you!
Nursing Services is proud to announce a new live training class: Basic Gastrostomy Care. The class will initially be offered on a quarterly basis, but the frequency may be changed based on needs and/or interest. The first class will be May 16.
Class Description Gastrostomy is a surgical procedure for inserting a tube through the abdomen wall and into the stomach. The tube is used for infusing nutrition, fluids, medications or drainage. Gastrostomy is performed because a patient temporarily or permanently needs to be fed or administered medications directly through a tube in the stomach.
This three-hour class is designed to provide participants with a basic overview and understanding of Gastrostomy Tube use, nutrition and care. This course is a pre-requisite for individualized Gastrostomy Tube proficiency training.
Objectives:
Participants will be able to define the purpose of a Gastrostomy tube and discuss the rationale for its intervention.
Participants will be able to discuss the basic concepts of Gastrostomy tube feedings and intervention protocols.
Participants will be able to discuss complications and follow up associated with Gastrostomy care and services
Here’s the key details: Basic Gastrostomy Care 3 hours
$35
Instructor: Nancy Deklyn, BSN, RN, CDDN
First Class is May 16, 2008
9am to 12pm
Middle Conference Room ( Coal Creek Building)
