1. Program Definition and Services

Pre-Vocational Services in South Dakota are designed to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) prepare for employment. The program focuses on building work readiness through structured training and general skill development rather than job-specific tasks. Services include:

• In-Home Support: [Not Applicable / Vocational Settings Only] All employment readiness, workplace socialization, and pre-vocational training structures occur strictly outside of the participant's home
• Residential & Facility Support: Foundational task training, time management exercises, career exploration, workplace behavioral coaching, and simulated work tasks delivered within provider-operated centers or community-integrated environments

2. Regulations

The program is governed by the following regulations:

• Administrative Rules of South Dakota (ARSD) Chapter 46:11:08 (CHOICES Waiver Services Criteria)
• Administrative Rules of South Dakota (ARSD) Chapter 46:11:05 (Community Support Providers Rights and Safeguards)
• Federal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Final Rule (Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 441.301)
• South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) Title 27B (Developmental Disabilities Support Foundations)

3. Licensing or Certification

Providers must be formally certified as a Community Support Provider (CSP) or an approved waiver service vendor by the South Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS). Organizations must demonstrate adherence to federal integrated workforce expectations to secure authorization.

4. Responsible State Agency

The South Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and the South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS) are responsible for reviewing applications, monitoring employment transition outcomes, and certifying pre-vocational providers.

5. Application Process

The application process is conducted through the electronic South Dakota Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal. Applicants must submit detailed organizational structures, vocational curriculum plans, and agency verification items to initiate formal state evaluation.

6. Required Documentation

While specific documentation requirements vary based on the target waiver, providers typically need to submit:

• Proof of corporate compliance with state developmental disability agency standards
• Agency-specific Pre-Vocational Services Policy & Procedure Manual
• Work readiness curriculum drafts and skills tracking templates
• Proof of minimum general liability, commercial property, and business operations insurance

7. Timeline for Approval

The exact timeline for approval fluctuates based on agency capacity. Providers should contact the DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities for detailed information on current organizational processing timeframes.

8. Pre-Application Process

Prospective providers must complete specific foundation tasks before applying. They must establish their business entity with the South Dakota Secretary of State, secure a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), and obtain an agency Type 2 National Provider Identifier (NPI).

9. Pre-Application Training

The state hosts mandatory administrative, electronic documentation via Therapy, and billing compliance onboarding sessions online. Access details are sent to qualified applicants once preliminary enrollment profiles have been verified.

10. Additional Notes

• Pre-vocational services must be explicitly time-limited and structured to show measurable progress toward independent, integrated community employment
• Any simulated work or packaging activities must comply fully with federal and state Department of Labor fair compensation regulations
• All vocational instructors, job coaches, and program supervisors must clear mandatory state criminal history clearances and background checks
• Providers must document daily progress logs tracking exact attendance and incremental workforce skill acquisition relative to the Individual Support Plan (ISP)

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