Central State Community Services Oklahoma

?? Join our mission at Central State! ?? Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of others? We're looking for dedicated Support Coordinators in Tulsa and Oklahoma City to join our team. If you are reliable, compassionate, and ready to lead, this is the perfect opportunity! ?? Your role: - Guide and inspire our direct support staff - Celebrate the achievements of those we support - Act as a crucial link between professionals, families, and our team - Provide essential emergency support Ready to start a fulfilling journey with us? Apply now at https://lnkd.in/g5WzU2Hk. Let's empower people together! ??? #okcwork #tulsawork #workforce #directcare #tulsa #okc #dsp

Providers across the state are dedicated to the 9,000 Oklahomans receiving Developmental Disabilities Services and the thousands more deserving their turn. Much work remains to guarantee that our loved ones with IDD are empowered in their own lives.

Congratulations to our friends at the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma ?? "The National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) is pleased to announce the recipients of the annual NDSC awards that will be presented at the?NDSC Convention?in Phoenix on July 27, 2024. Each of these individuals and organizations are outstanding in their service to and efforts on behalf of individuals with Down syndrome. We congratulate these awardees and thank them for their dedication and impact. The?Affiliate?Group?Award?is awarded to the?Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma?(DSACO),?located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This award recognizes an affiliate group that has performed outstanding service on behalf of people with Down syndrome and their families. Affiliate groups are judged for this award on advocacy services, relationship to the NDSC, support to families, fundraising activities, and local and regional programs and services and community activities. The individual who nominated the DSACO shared that, 'Since 2000, the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma (DSACO) has been raising awareness and providing resources, as well as promoting acceptance and inclusion for people with Down syndrome. They have provided education and advocacy to the State Superintendent, Mayor of Oklahoma City, students in family sciences at a local university, and more.'?Sarah Soell, the association’s Executive Director, will be accepting the award on the group’s behalf."

Our Direct Support Professionals empower our loved ones every day! To continue our advocacy for both populations, our teams spent Developmental Disabilities Advocacy Day at the Capitol, talking with and listening to legislators, state leaders, families, and self-advocates. There is a crucial and overdue movement for the IDD population in Oklahoma. Central State Community Services Oklahoma is fully committed to enriching the lives of our employees and the individuals they support. WE'RE ALL IN! #wereallin #directcare #oklahoma #inclusion #disabilityawareness #directsupportprofessional

We are following S. 1332 to require the Office of Management and Budget to consider revising the Standard Occupational Classification system to establish a separate code for direct support professionals and other purposes. Congress finds the following: (1) Direct support professionals play a critical role in the care provided to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing a wide range of supportive services on a day-to-day basis to promote independence, including— (A) enhancing independence and community inclusion of these individuals, including through travel and recreation, visiting friends and family, shopping, or socializing; (B) coaching and supporting individuals in communicating needs, achieving self-expression, pursuing personal goals, living independently, and participating actively in employment or voluntary roles in the community; (C) providing assistance with activities of independent daily living (such as feeding, bathing, toileting, and ambulation) and with tasks such as meal preparation, shopping, light housekeeping, laundry, and home management; or (D) supporting individuals at home, work, school, or any other community setting. (2) Through the support of direct support professionals, individuals are able to lead self-directed lives within their own communities. (3) Providers of home- and community-based services are experiencing difficulty hiring and retaining direct support professionals, with a national turnover rate of 43 percent, as identified in a 2021 study by the National Core Indicators, and full-time vacancy rates increasing by 94 percent between 2019 and 2021. (4) High turnover rates can lead to instability for individuals receiving services, and this may result in individuals not receiving enough personalized care to help them reach their goals for independent living.

There is help and hope for families in Oklahoma. This guidebook provides essential information and resources. Independence with Dignity is always the goal. #IHSW #HCBS #developmentaldisabilities #communityservices #oklahoma

This career is SO special! We spent three days with Junior Achievement of Oklahoma and 9,000 8th graders at the JA Inspire Career Fair. We are inspired by how many students expressed interest in working with folks with a developmental disability. Many students are unaware of career opportunities in the field of supporting family members in need of additional care. We hope to spread the word about becoming a #directsupportprofessional at Central State Community Services Oklahoma ?? And a huge thank-you to Edward Pope at JAOKC for seeing the importance and value of this career path!

Any time is a good time to advocate for the ability to provide high-quality support and services. Follow ANCOR to stay informed about important advances in this work! #oklahoma #directcare #disabilityinclusion #developmentaldisabilities

From ANCOR: On Wednesday, the?bipartisan Disability Community Act was introduced in Congress. With upcoming changes to the federal overtime exemption rule estimated to cost community-based providers more than $1 billion, the Disability Community Act is critical to stabilize the disability services workforce. ? In a?statement this week, ANCOR CEO Barbara Merrill said, “ANCOR is immensely grateful for Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) for their bipartisan leadership in bringing to fruition the Disability Community Act, a bill that would protect access to critical long-term supports and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) by increasing the federal Medicaid match for I/DD services over a three-year period to meet new federal requirements." #oklahoma #idd Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g28BSM-E

"There's such a huge need, I could literally hire another 100 DSPs tomorrow if we were able to," said Karla Ford, Executive Director of Central State Community Services Oklahoma. #directcare #oklahomajobs #inclusionmatters #directsupportprofessional