COMMUNITY-BASED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROVIDER IN ARKANSAS

Fatumata Kaba
Jul 4
3 min read

SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING COMPETITIVE JOBS THROUGH CUSTOMIZED WORKPLACE SUPPORTS

Community-Based Employment Services in Arkansas help individuals with developmental disabilities achieve meaningful, competitive employment in integrated settings. These services are authorized under the Community and Employment Supports (CES) Waiver and are tailored to the individual’s goals, interests, and strengths as outlined in their Individualized Service Plan (ISP).

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) – Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS)

Role: Certifies providers and monitors the delivery of employment supports under the CES Waiver

Agency: Arkansas Medicaid / Division of Medical Services (DMS)

Role: Manages Medicaid provider enrollment and reimbursement for employment services

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Ensures employment services comply with HCBS Final Rule and promote community inclusion and independence

2. EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OVERVIEW

Community-Based Employment Services include support in finding, securing, and maintaining jobs in integrated settings. Services are person-centered and can be delivered individually or in small groups, depending on the participant’s needs.

Approved providers may deliver:

Job exploration and vocational assessments
Job development and employer outreach
Interview preparation and resume support
On-the-job training and job coaching
Ongoing employment stabilization and follow-up services
Benefits counseling and work accommodations assistance
Documentation of employment progress and ISP outcomes

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register business with the Arkansas Secretary of State
Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)
Submit CES Waiver Provider Application to DDS
Complete Medicaid provider enrollment through the Arkansas Medicaid Portal
Hire employment specialists or job coaches with experience in disability support
Maintain general liability insurance and a system for tracking employment outcomes

4. PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Medicaid Provider Enrollment

Apply via the Arkansas Medicaid Provider Portal
Submit EFT, W-9, and business documentation
Choose Employment Services under CES Waiver provider types

Step 2: DDS CES Waiver Application

Provide a detailed service plan, including job development strategies and coaching procedures
Submit staff qualifications, training protocols, and data collection tools

Step 3: Approval and Service Coordination

Begin receiving referrals and authorizations from DDS support coordinators

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Articles of Incorporation or Business License
IRS EIN Letter
NPI confirmation
CES Waiver provider approval
Policy & procedure manual including:
- Job matching, outreach, and coaching protocols
- Participant intake and goal-setting templates
- Daily logs and employment progress tracking forms
- Benefits and wage reporting coordination
- Crisis management and workplace incident documentation
- Staff training and supervision logs
- Confidentiality, rights, and HIPAA compliance policies
- Quality assurance and employer feedback tools