Legal Guardians and Parents of School Age Children as Paid Caregivers
As of May 1, 2024, DDS has implemented a program that allows legal guardians and parents of school age children to provide and be compensated for certain waivered supports.
Supports that can be provided include:
- Individualized Home Support
- Respite
- Individualized Day Supports
- Personal Supports
- Senior Supports
Not all supports may be appropriate so DDS encourages families to work with their case management team to identify if this new program is right for you and your loved one.
Paid Family Caregiver Fact Sheet- Legal Guardian of an Adult (English) (Spanish)
Paid Family Caregiver Fact Sheet- Parent of School Age Child (English) (Spanish)
For more information on the program please click here:
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is DDS moving in this direction?
Answer: After the pandemic, numerous states explored the benefit of allowing parents and legal guardians to become paid caregivers. The program supports self-direction and choice, especially in an environment where there is a workforce shortage. After receiving approval from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the federal level, DDS launched the program on May 1, 2024.
Is there new funding associated with the program?
Answer: DDS is offers the ability for legal guardians and parents of school age children to be compensated for delivery of certain services, as a part of the larger service delivery array for anyone that has a DDS budget and meets the criteria of the program. As this option relates only to how the service is delivered and not the actual service, it’s important to note there is no new funding provided for this program.
What is the first step if I’m interested in this program?
Answer: Reach out to your case manager. It’s important that the case management team calls a meeting to discuss the option to determine if it’s right for everyone involved. If you are a parent of a school age child, an age dependency assessment is also required to demonstrate the need. This is ONLY a requirement for parents of school age children.
Are there any restrictions to the program?
Answer: Yes. We encourage you to work with your case management team to discuss and review. A few important restrictions include the following:
- An Employer of Record is prohibited from also being a paid caregiver.
- There are caps on how many hours can be provided (please talk to your case manager to find out more)
- The parent or legal guardian can only be responsible for the person they are being paid to support and cannot focus on unrelated household duties during the time they are being paid to provide the agreed upon support.
After the team determines this is the right fit what is next?
Answer: The legal guardian or parent will need to enroll with the fiscal intermediary as a Direct Support Professional. This includes completing a background check and completing the required trainings