Home & Community-Based Services QA Advisory Committee

Advisory Committee Charter

Governing Language:

The Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council sponsors the quarterly Home and Community Based Services Quality Assurance Advisory Committee. This committee includes:

• Self-advocates
• Family members
• Providers
• Community advocates and
• Developmental Disabilities Administration staff who represent the viewpoints, needs and desires of people who use home and community-based services.

Washington State is required by federal rule to obtain and use feedback from people who:

• Use services provided by the Developmental Disabilities Administration
• Their representatives
• Providers of services
• Other members of the community.

The Home and Community Based Services Quality Assurance Advisory Committee is one way Washington State obtains valuable feedback from people who use services provided by the Developmental Disabilities Administration.

The Developmental Disabilities Administration has three programs that offer home and community-based services:

• Community First Choice (personal care, assistive technology and skills training)
• 5 Home and Community Based Services Waivers (35 services) and
• Roads to Community Living.

The Community First Choice program uses the Home and Community Based Services Quality Assurance Advisory Committee to:

• Work with stakeholders to find ways of improving the Community First Choice program by identifying problems and potential solutions
• Report on its quality assurance progress
• Follow CFR 42 §441.585 quality assurance system.

The 5 Home and Community Based Services Waivers use the Home and Community Based Services Quality Assurance Advisory Committee as described in an approved waiver application for:

• Open and ongoing discussion between stakeholders and the Developmental Disabilities Administration  
• Obtain ideas on how to offer services in the best way
• Monitor and talk about how the waiver program is working for those receiving services and
• Come up with ideas about how to make waiver services better meet the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  

Sponsorship:

Convened by the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council

Membership:

People with developmental disabilities, family members, advocates, advocacy organizations, providers, representatives of DDA and other state agencies

Meeting frequency and format:

The committee meets quarterly, with the provision for sub-committees and/or additional meetings as needed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee has met virtually by Zoom and may choose to reinstate in-person meetings at a later date.

Objectives:

• Share updates and discuss pertinent topics
• Track quality assurance outcomes and other key indicators
• Give feedback on program development and changes
• Make recommendations for implementing, monitoring, and improving HCBS programs