DDES INFO MEMO 2005-05
June 17, 2005
TO:
Area Administrators / Human Services Area Coordinators
Bureau Directors
County Departments of Community Programs Directors
County Departments of Developmental Disabilities Services Directors
County Departments of Human Services Directors
County Departments of Social Services Directors
Section Chiefs / Licensing Chiefs
Tribal Chairpersons / Human Services Facilitators
LTS Coordinators
DD Coordinators
County Aging Units
Independent Living Centers
Wisconsin Coalition of Advocacy
Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups
From:
Sinikka Santala
Administrator
Re:
Division of Disability and Elder Services Reorganization
I am very pleased to let you know that the reorganization of the Office
of Business Management Systems and the Long-Term Support areas in the
Division of Disability and Elder Services (DDES) will become effective
July 1, 2005.
The following organizational changes will take effect:
1) Establishment of the Office of Business Management Systems. This
Office will: a) direct information technology systems planning and
development for the Division, promoting greater visibility and
recognition for business Information Technology (IT) management issues
and will report directly to the Division Administrator; b) promote
strategic planning for business processes and IT changes necessary to
operationalize program policy and program innovation, e.g., managed care
service delivery structures replacing traditional administration; and c)
implement program policy and development in business management systems
at the Division level as well as at the local level, such as exploring
the potential of a new MMIS system for county use.
2) Restructure of the Long-Term Support operations within the
Division. This reorganization will: a) create a more efficient and
effective administrative structure for home and community-based
long-term support programs and focus long-term care reform efforts by
consolidating similar programs in the same bureau; b) coordinate the
management of categorical programs for people who are elderly and/or
have a sensory or physical disability, focus on eliminating barriers to
employment and community participation, and maintain independence; c)
increase operational efficiencies and maintain quality care at the State
Centers for People with Developmental Disabilities and facilitate access
to Center expertise in support of the Community Integration Initiative;
and d) create a streamlined management structure by reducing the number
of bureaus within the Division.
The organizational structures of the other areas and lines of
business of DDES remain unchanged and include the Clients Rights Office,
the Mental Health and Substance Abuses Services and the Bureau of
Quality Assurance. The Office of Operations has been streamlined due to
the new Office of Business Management Systems.
Here is an organizational chart
of DDES and a brief description of the restructured Long-Term
Support area within the Division.
CENTRAL OFFICE CONTACTS:
Greg Robbins, Director
Office of Business Management Systems
Division of Disability and Elder Services
(608) 266-5725, robbigp@dhfs.state.wi.us
Judith Frye, Associate Administrator
Long-Term Support
Division of Disability and Elder Services
(608) 266-5156, fryeje@dhfs.state.wi.us
MEMO WEB SITE:
http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/partners/local.htm
_____________________________________________________________
Long-Term Support within
the Division of Disability and Elder Services
Associate Administrator's Office:
Contact: Judith Frye, (608) 266-5156, fryeje@dhfs.state.wi.us
The Office of the Associate Administrator provides overall
direction and oversight for Long-Term Support Services. It is
responsible for overseeing and coordinating services among the
disability and long-term programs, including the Division's centers
for people with developmental disabilities and assuring the provision
of quality and timely support services. Long-Term Support Services
consists of three Bureaus. Also included in the Associate
Administrator's Office are the following functions.
Supplemental Security Income:
Contact: Kathleen Luedtke, (608) 266-6890, TTY (608) 266-7376, luedtka@dhfs.state.wi.us
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Coordinator is located in
the Associate Administrator's Office. The SSI program provides cash
assistance and Medicaid to low-income elderly and/or people with
disabilities and their dependent children who reside in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities (WCDD):
Contact: Jennifer Ondrejka, (608) 266-1166, ondrejm@dhfs.state.wi.us
Staff for the Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities are
also located in the Long-Term Support Associate Administrator's
office. The staff in this council works closely with the Division's
programs.
Bureau of Center Operations:
Contact: Theodore Bunck, (608) 301-9200, buncktj@dhfs.state.wi.us
The Bureau will oversee and coordinate policy and operations across
the three State Centers for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
(DD Centers). The Centers are responsible for providing residential,
medical, clinical, educational, training and rehabilitative services
with an emphasis on active treatment and preparing individuals to move
or return to the community. People living at the DD Centers typically
have severe medical treatment needs or severe challenging behaviors.
Consultation, short-term treatment and outpatient services for
medication evaluation, stabilization, dental treatment, nutritional
assessment, behavioral interventions, communication technology, etc.,
support community placements. A multi-disciplinary team approach
consisting of physicians, psychologists, nurses, social workers,
occupational/physical and speech therapists, resident care
technicians, and qualified mental retardation professionals is used to
deliver services.
Bureau on Aging and Disability Resources:
Contact: Donna McDowell, (608) 266-3840, TTY (608) 267-9880, mcdowdb@dhfs.state.wi.us
The Bureau of Aging and Disability Resources (BADR) is responsible
for the development of policy and the management of programs that
serve persons who are elderly, persons with physical disabilities,
persons who are blind or visually impaired, persons who are deaf or
hard-of-hearing, persons in need of adult protective services and
persons who need or receive information about or access to
community-based long-term support through an Aging and Disability
Resource Center. BADR carries out its responsibilities under contracts
with multiple federal agencies in a way that actively promotes
individual choice, dignity, relationships, overall health, community
participation, self-sufficiency and respect. BADR works closely with
other units of the Department to implement the long-term care reform
proposals that utilize the Aging and Disability Resource Centers as
single points of entry.
BADR consists of the following sections:
Office of Independence and Employment:
Contact: John Reiser, (608) 266-3063, reisejr@dhfs.state.wi.us
Physical Disabilities Coordinator: Dan Johnson, (608) 267-9582, johnsdc@dhfs.state.wi.us
The Office of Independence and Employment's responsibilities
include stimulating development of employment service provider
networks, developing and evaluating innovative strategies that
encourage employment and access to employer-sponsored health insurance
for people with Medicaid entitlement, administering the Health and
Employment Counseling program, developing and analyzing policy
alternatives for the Medicaid Purchase Plan and developing quality
assurance indicators for evaluating disability employment services and
programs. The Office is responsible for developing the Disability
Benefit Specialist program to facilitate access to public benefits for
persons with disabilities who are less than 60 years of age. This
office administers funds from CMS, the Social Security Administration
and the Department of Education.
Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:
Contact: Linda Huffer, (608) 266-5641, TTY (608) 266-5641, TTY Relay
1-800-947-6644, huffell@dhfs.state.wi.us
The Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is the single state
authority on quality of life and quality of care issues for people in
Wisconsin of all ages who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing. Its
mission is to ensure that the quality of life's choices and equal
opportunities are available to all deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing
people.
Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired:
Contact: Michael Nelipovich, (608) 266-3109, TTY (608) 266-3118, nelipmi@dhfs.state.wi.us
The Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired is the central point
for State blind services, representing the interests and needs of the
adult blind and visually impaired population in Wisconsin. Through the
provision of a wide range of independent living services, the Office
for the Blind and Visually Impaired is the single state authority on
quality of life and quality of care issues of older blind adults.
Office on Aging:
Contact: Gail Schwersenska, (608) 266-7803, schwega@dhfs.state.wi.us
The Office on Aging has responsibility for developing and promoting
public policy, and planning the delivery of services that enhance the
self-sufficiency of older persons of all incomes and conditions. This
section has responsibility to administer programs and activities
required, authorized, and/or funded by the federal Older Americans Act
and the Wisconsin Elders Act. These include information and
assistance, the elderly nutrition program, the Elderly Benefit
Specialist Program (for persons age 60 and older), caregiver support
and intergenerational programs and the variety of supportive and
preventive services provided through county and tribal aging offices
as well as six area agencies, four of which are regional
not-for-profit agencies. The office also administers senior employment
funds for the Department of Labor and volunteer programs under the
National Corporation for Community Service.
Bureau of Long-Term Support:
Contact: Chuck Wilhelm, (608) 266-8402, wilheca@dhfs.state.wi.us
The Bureau of Long-Term Support (BLTS) is responsible for
implementation and improvement of statewide policy and services for
people with developmental disabilities, persons with physical
disabilities and /or traumatic brain injury, children with
developmental and physical disabilities and developmental delays and
persons who are frail elders. BLTS works with and through Wisconsin
counties, managed care organizations, service providers, volunteer and
advocacy associations, and people with developmental or physical
disabilities, elderly persons and their families. BLTS strives to
provide autonomy and choice to persons, as well as children and their
families, in need of long-term home and community support. BLTS
consists of the following sections:
Community Options Section:
Contact: Janice Smith, (608) 266-7872, smithja@dhfs.state.wi.us
The Community Options Section is responsible for the Community
Options Program (COP), the COP Waiver and CIP II Waiver, nursing home
relocations and other issues affecting elders and adults with physical
disabilities.
Managed Care Section:
Contact: Monica Deignan, (608) 261-7807, deignma@dhfs.state.wi.us
The Managed Care Section is responsible for managing the state's
innovative projects that provide an integrated health and long-term
care benefit package, including Family Care, the WI Partnership
Program, and the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
Developmental Disabilities Services Section:
Contact Michael Linak, (608) 266-1140, linakmj@dhfs.state.wi.us
The Developmental Disabilities Services Section is responsible for
the Community Integration Programs (CIP 1A, CIP 1B and Brain Injury),
the ICF-MR Restructuring Initiative, the Community Integration
Initiative and other issues affecting adults with developmental
disabilities.
Children's Services Section:
Contact: Beth Wroblewski, (608) 266-7472, wroblbm@dhfs.state.wi.us
The Children's Services Section is responsible for programs related
to children with disabilities, developmental delays and some mental
health issues. These consist of the Birth to 3 Program, Family Support
Program, Katie Beckett Program, Lifespan Respite and three Children's
Waivers, which include the autism program.
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