1. Program Definition and Services

Residential Support Services in Oklahoma provide short-term and continuous long-term residential settings to children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and significant functional limitations. The program aims to support individuals to successfully live and participate in the community, preventing institutionalization. Services include:

• In-Home Personal Care: Individual habilitative and direct support within the individual's private residence or an community setting (Daily Living Supports [DLS], Habilitation Training Specialist [HTS] Services, Household Budgeting Care, Meal Planning, and In-Home Behavioral Strategy Implementation)
• Residential Personal Care: Supervision, active treatment, and 24-hour care delivered across integrated, agency-managed settings (24-Hour Residential Habilitation, Group Home Operations, Agency Companion Home Supervision, Crisis De-escalation Support, and Service Coordination)

2. Regulations

The program is governed by the following regulatory framework:

• Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) Title 340, Chapter 100 (Developmental Disabilities Services Department Rules)
• Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) Title 317, Chapter 40 (Medicaid HCBS Waiver Rules administered by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority)
• Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 317:40-5-155 (Extensive Residential Supports Standards)
• Federal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Final Rule (42 CFR  441.301)

3. Licensing or Certification

Providers must be certified as an approved provider by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) and satisfy all applicable fire, environmental safety, and community inclusion benchmarks before accepting placements.

4. Responsible State Agency

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) division and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) are jointly responsible for evaluating applications, verifying credentials, and issuing provider certifications.

5. Application Process

The provider enrollment application is formally processed through the secure electronic Oklahoma SoonerCare Provider Portal (administered by OHCA) in alignment with initial program clearance from OKDHS DDS.

6. Required Documentation

While exact documentation parameters shift based on the specific housing or habilitation model, providers must supply:

• Legal organization documents and Articles of Incorporation
• Tailored agency Policy and Procedure manuals reflecting DDS mandates
• Verifiable staff certifications, training transcripts, and professional qualifications
• Evidence of adequate general, professional, and property liability insurance coverage

7. Timeline for Approval

The administrative verification and operational certification timeframe varies depending on regional capacity and physical site inspections. Organizations should maintain active communications with their local DDS Area Office for accurate enrollment tracking.

8. Pre-Application Process

Prospective agencies must complete mandatory logistical foundation tasks prior to portal enrollment. This includes establishing a formal business structure within the state and obtaining a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) alongside a National Provider Identifier (NPI).

9. Pre-Application Training

Administrators and foundational direct care workers must complete the required, DDS-approved pre-service instruction curriculum. This includes the state-sanctioned Effective Teaching and Learning (ETL) module sequence, which must be verified during application review.

10. Additional Notes

• All agency-managed properties must adhere completely to state fire safety, municipal zoning laws, and ADA accessibility design parameters
• Direct care staff must satisfy all state fingerprint-based criminal history screenings and vulnerable adult registry checks before performing services
• Provider organizations must employ supervisors possessing a minimum of four years of combined relevant higher education or direct disability field experience
• Daily service logs, Individual Plan (IP) goals tracking, and electronic billing records must strictly conform to OKDHS accountability guidelines

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