Overview
In order to deliver a more consistent and sustainable self-direction service model, OPWDD has used a portion of its enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) funds to examine how its current self-direction model compares to the models used by other states and countries and how it can be improved.
Through a competitive process, OPWDD selected Guidehouse to conduct the Self-Direction Program Evaluation. Read the announcement here.
Guidehouse is analyzing self-direction models from other states, evaluating OPWDD’s current practices, and addressing inefficiencies or inconsistencies, particularly in Fiscal Intermediary operations and geographic regions. The project also explores ways to improve access for underrepresented populations, to support people navigating self-direction independently, and the ways the program can assist people to self-direct their services when their parents can no longer help them navigate the program model. Feedback from stakeholders is essential to this process and will inform final recommendations to enhance the program’s delivery model and guide policy updates. Read more about the project.
Based on this analysis and stakeholder engagement, the final evaluation will make recommendations for changes to the Self-Direction Program/Delivery Model and recommend policy changes to improve the program. Feedback is now being collected from people and their families. It is also being collected from Support Brokers, Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs) and Care Coordination Organizations. You can read more about the evaluation process below.
Dates and times for town halls and focus groups are listed below.
Provide Feedback
Guidehouse is collecting feedback from community partners in the following ways:
- Web-based surveys that collect written information. The below surveys for the following groups were open through January 10, 2025
Survey for People with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families
Surveys for Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs), Support Brokers, Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs)
2. Town halls offer community partners the chance to:
Review preliminary survey results
Share additional feedback in a collaborative setting
Dates and Locations:
Upcoming Self-Direction Town Halls for People and Families
January 28, 2025
Morning Session at 10:00 a.m.
Register : https://guidehouse.zoom.us/meeting/register/lFY54uIBSsK0H61GXhI0gQ#/registration
Jan 30, 2025
Evening Session at 6:00 p.m.
Register now: https://guidehouse.zoom.us/meeting/register/y9YJeyeQQQmiS837AnLqnQ#/registration
Past Town Halls:
January 6, 2025
Morning and Evening Sessions were held Virtually and in person in New York City and Syracuse
Self-Direction Town Halls for Care Coordination Organizations and Staff
Past Town Halls:
January 14, 2025
A session was held via Zoom.
Self-Direction Town Halls for Fiscal Intermediaries
A session was held on December 9, 2024
Self-Direction Town Halls for upport Brokers
A session was held on December 11, 2024
3. Focus groups will provide smaller, targeted discussions during each Town Hall. This will allow community partners to provide additional in-depth feedback. Select focus groups will focus on hearing input directly from self-advocates.
4. Ongoing engagement with the Developmental Disability Advisory Committee’s (DDAC) Self-Direction Committee, including the following sub-committees:
- Sustainability and Equity Sub-Committee
- Self-Direction Manual for People and Families Sub-Committee
5. Guidehouse and OPWDD will meet with groups of diverse community members, including people unfamiliar with Self-Direction or people who could benefit from learning more about it.
How Feedback Collected Will Be Used
The goal is to use the data collected through engagement activities to assist with the following:
- Providing insight into promising practices as well as challenges shared by community partners in the existing OPWDD Self-Direction model. Examples include:
- Needs for children in the self-direction model and other resources available to children with developmental disabilities
- Needs for adults to live independently when self-directing, with additional focus on supporting those people with developmental disabilities who do not have natural supports
- Supports diverse communities to access self-direction
- Resources available to stakeholders in self-direction
- Roles of all stakeholders in self-direction
- Practices that support the long-term financial sustainability of the self-direction program
- Identifying best practices in other states and comparisons to OPWDD’s self-direction model
- Offering recommendations in a final report on how to improve OPWDD’s self-direction model
Evaluation Process
Guidehouse will examine the Self-Direction Program by gathering extensive input from the full range of Self-Direction stakeholders, examining current data about the Self-Direction Program and studying other models for self-direction used by other states. Specifically, Guidehouse will speak with self-advocates, their families, and government leaders about the current Self-Direction model, as well as with Care Coordination Organizations, Support Brokers, Fiscal Intermediary agencies and their staff and national and state experts. There will be opportunities for all parties to share feedback through surveys, town halls, focus groups and interviews. Guidehouse will also work with the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council’s Self-Direction Committee to ensure the program evaluation is examining the service model appropriately and hearing from the right community partners.
Guidehouse’s Program Evaluation will provide:
- Initial Report- will outline initial findings on the existing Self-Direction model
- Self-Direction Manual - a “how-to” guide for people with developmental disabilities and their families
- Gap analysis, describing how OPWDD’s Self-Direction program compares to similar programs in other states
- Spring 2025 - Final Report with recommendations on how to improve OPWDD’s Self-Direction model