DAY HABILITATION SERVICES PROVIDER IN DELAWARE

ENGAGING INDIVIDUALS WITH MEANINGFUL DAYTIME ACTIVITIES TO BUILD SKILLS, PROMOTE SOCIALIZATION, AND SUPPORT INDEPENDENT LIVING

Day Habilitation Services in Delaware provides structured, goal-oriented support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) during daytime hours. These services are funded through the Delaware Lifespan Waiver, administered by the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS), and are designed to promote community inclusion, life skill development, and personal growth.

​1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS)

Role: Approves Day Habilitation providers, monitors service quality, and ensures services align with person-centered goals

Agency: Delaware Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA)

Role: Administers waiver reimbursement for eligible Day Habilitation services

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Ensures services meet federal HCBS standards for non-institutional, community-based support

2. DAY HABILITATION SERVICE OVERVIEW

Day Habilitation Services are designed to support individuals who are not employed during the day by offering meaningful activities in a group or individual setting. Services focus on developing and maintaining life skills, social engagement, and access to the community.

Approved providers may deliver:

• Skills training (e.g., communication, safety, cooking, hygiene, money management)

• Social and recreational activities

• Volunteer experiences and community integration outings

• Self-advocacy and personal goal-setting support

• Supervision and assistance in a safe, structured environment

• Documentation of attendance, progress, and outcomes tied to the ISP

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

• Register your business with the Delaware Division of Corporations

• Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)

• Apply to become a Day Habilitation Provider under the DDDS Lifespan Waiver

• Secure a safe, accessible facility that meets ADA standards

• Carry general liability and workers’ compensation insurance

• Hire and train staff in accordance with DDDS requirements

• Maintain HIPAA-compliant documentation systems and staff supervision protocols

4. PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Register your business and obtain your NPI

Step 2: Apply to DDDS as a Day Habilitation Services provider

• Submit facility address, staff roster, daily schedules, and sample documentation templates

Step 3: Participate in provider orientation and meet DDDS waiver criteria

Step 4: Establish referral pathways with Support Coordinators and ISP teams

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

• Articles of Incorporation or business registration

• IRS EIN Letter

• NPI confirmation

• Facility lease or ownership documents

• DDDS provider approval letter

• Policy & procedure manual including:

  • Intake procedures and activity planning

  • Participant rights, grievance policy, and HIPAA compliance

  • Community outing procedures and risk management

  • Daily attendance logs and progress note templates

  • Incident reporting and supervision ratios

  • Staff onboarding and training logs

  • Fire drills, emergency preparedness, and health safety protocols

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Day Habilitation Specialist / Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent

• Background check and CPR/First Aid certification

• Training in ADL/IADL support, person-centered service delivery, and behavior management

Role: Program Supervisor / Day Services Manager

Requirements:

• Human services or program management experience

• Oversight of day program planning, staffing, and documentation compliance

Training Requirements for All Staff:

• Abuse prevention and mandated reporting

• Emergency protocols and community safety

• Documentation and ISP goal tracking

• HIPAA and confidentiality

• Ongoing annual training and CEU tracking

7. MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES

Day Habilitation Services are reimbursed under:

• Delaware Lifespan Waiver (administered by DDDS)

Approved providers may deliver:

• Daily or part-time services aligned with the ISP

• On-site and off-site activities that promote community inclusion

• Life skill development and individualized support

• Progress documentation for Medicaid compliance and DDDS reporting

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation

Timeline: 1–2 weeks

Phase: Facility Setup and Licensing Readiness

Timeline: 2–4 weeks

Phase: DDDS Provider Enrollment

Timeline: 30–60 days

Phase: Staff Hiring and Participant Onboarding

Timeline: Ongoing

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS)

Phone: (302) 744-9600

Website: https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/ddds

Delaware Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA)

Phone: (302) 255-9500

Website: https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dmma

Delaware Medicaid Provider Enrollment (DMAP)

Website: https://www.demap.dhss.delaware.gov

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP'S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — DELAWARE DAY HABILITATION SERVICES PROVIDER

We help day program founders and human service agencies launch fully compliant Day Habilitation Services under Delaware’s Lifespan Waiver.

Scope of Work:

• Business registration (LLC, EIN, NPI)

• DDDS provider enrollment and compliance guidance

• Policy & procedure manual for daily operations, community outings, and ISP tracking

• Templates for activity logs, progress notes, and incident reports

• Website, domain, and email setup

• Staff credentialing trackers and training records

• Client intake packet, consent forms, and community participation guidelines

• Incident reporting systems and audit readiness tools

• Referral networking with DDDS, families, and local organizations

Continue To Our Client Portal To Get Started

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