Seniors and People with Disabilities Division
Seniors and People with Disabilities is headed by Assistant DHS Director James Toews and Deputy Assistant DHS Director Cathy Cooper.
This group's main program areas are:
Licensing and quality of care
- Community based care licensing and quality assurance
Operates abuse-prevention programs, provides training to identify fraud and abuse, and conducts investigations of abuse against seniors and people with disabilities
- Community based care nursing and health
Offers training for providers and conducts wellness and prevention programs, and operates the Community Nursing Program, to improve the quality of life for seniors and people with disabilities
- Nursing facilities licensing and corrective action
Licenses and monitors long-term care facilities for seniors and people with disabilities. It conducts inspections and develops corrective action plans for facilities that are out of compliance
Planning and program development
- Advisory group support and community relations
Works with the Governor's Commission on Senior Services, the Oregon Disabilities Commission and other advocacy groups
- Developmental disabilities county relations
Oversees the services for the developmentally disabled that are provided by counties under contracts with DHS
- Resource development and waiver review
Serves as the liaison with the federal government on state plans and waivers. It also collects and analyzes data for system improvement
Home and community supports
- Community and family supports
Administers programs that provide in-home care for children with developmental disabilities. It leads implementation of the state's response to the Staley court decision, which will improve services to people with developmental disabilities
- In-Home supports
Operates programs that help seniors and people with disabilities arrange and pay for in-home and other needed services. It also administers Oregon Project Independence and the Lifespan Respite Program
- State operated group homes
Oversees operation of state-run group homes for people with developmental disabilities
Employment and financial benefits
- Employment services
Oversees Employment-Initiative projects that provide employment assistance for people with disabilities, and operates the Senior Employment Program to help low-income seniors find work
- Financial supports
Handles the eligibility-determination function for Social Security Disability benefits
How this group was formed
This group combines portions of the former Senior and Disabled Services Division, Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services Division and Vocational Rehabilitation Division. The field services staff from these divisions have been moved to the Community Human Services group.
Also see the Seniors and People with Disabilities organization chart
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