SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROVIDER IN WASHINGTON

Fatumata Kaba
3 hours ago
3 min read

EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN MEANINGFUL, INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

Supported Employment Services in Washington help individuals with intellectual, developmental, or significant disabilities prepare for, secure, and retain competitive jobs in integrated community settings. These services focus on individualized job development, on-the-job support, and long-term employment sustainability, promoting independence and economic self-sufficiency.

Supported Employment is funded through the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) under Washington Medicaid waiver programs such as Basic Plus, Individual and Family Services (IFS), and Core Waiver, as well as through county employment programs and partnerships with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

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1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)

Role: Administers waiver-based Supported Employment for individuals with ID/DD; sets service definitions and provider qualifications.

Agency: Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA)

Role: Oversees Medicaid funding for DDA waiver services and ensures compliance.

Agency: Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

Role: Provides short-term vocational services and funding for job readiness and placement.

Agency: County Developmental Disabilities Programs

Role: Contracts with providers and administers local Supported Employment programs in coordination with DDA.

2. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES OVERVIEW

Supported Employment assists individuals in securing and maintaining integrated jobs at or above minimum wage.

Key components include:

Discovery & Person-Centered Planning
Job Development and Placement
Job Coaching and Training
Follow-Along Support
Employer Engagement and Education
Transportation coordination and travel training

All services must be tied to the individual’s Person-Centered Service Plan (PCSP) and documented in line with DDA requirements.

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register your business with the Washington Secretary of State
Obtain an EIN and Type 2 NPI
Contract with DDA as a Qualified Employment Provider
Meet DDA’s staff qualification and training standards
Obtain approval from the county developmental disabilities program
Complete Medicaid enrollment via ProviderOne
Create a Supported Employment Services Policy & Procedure Manual

4. WASHINGTON PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Register business and obtain EIN and NPI

Step 2: Apply to DDA to become a Qualified Employment Provider

Step 3: Meet county contracting and credentialing requirements

Step 4: Enroll in Medicaid via the ProviderOne portal

Step 5: Hire and train Employment Specialists

Step 6: Begin services upon PCSP authorization and DVR coordination

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Secretary of State registration, EIN, and NPI
DDA approval letter as a Qualified Employment Provider
Medicaid enrollment confirmation
County contract (varies by jurisdiction)
Supported Employment Policy & Procedure Manual including:
- Discovery and job development tracking
- Individual employment support logs
- Staff supervision and training protocols
- Documentation of community integration and employer outreach
- Participant progress reports and follow-up plans
- Transportation support documentation
- HIPAA, incident reporting, and rights policies

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Employment Specialist / Job Coach

Requirements:

High school diploma or equivalent (Bachelor’s preferred)
Completion of DDA-approved employment training
Background check and OIG screening
Proficiency in person-centered and vocational planning

Role: Employment Program Supervisor (Recommended)

Responsibilities:

Oversight of service delivery, staff performance, and employer relationships

All staff must complete:

Mandatory training in person-centered employment planning
Community inclusion and disability awareness
Job development and coaching strategies
Documentation, confidentiality, and safety training

7. MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAMS & FUNDING SOURCES

Supported Employment is funded through:

Basic Plus Waiver – Ongoing job support and coaching
Core Waiver – More intensive employment support for high-need individuals
Individual and Family Services (IFS) Waiver – Flexible employment supports for those living with family
County Programs – Local funding and coordination of Supported Employment services
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) – Time-limited pre-employment or placement funding

Each service must be listed in the individual’s PCSP and approved by the DDA case manager.

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Registration & Staffing

Timeline: 3–4 weeks

Phase: DDA Qualification & County Contracting

Timeline: 2–3 months

Phase: Medicaid Enrollment & ProviderOne Setup

Timeline: 4–6 weeks

Phase: Launch of Services

Timeline: Begins after participant referral and PCSP authorization

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)

Website: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/dda

Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA)

Website: https://www.hca.wa.gov

ProviderOne Medicaid Enrollment Portal

Website: https://www.waproviderone.org

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

Website: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/dvr

County Developmental Disabilities Contacts

Directory: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/dda/county-best-practices

SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROVIDER IN WASHINGTON

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP’S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — WASHINGTON SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROVIDER

WCG helps mission-driven organizations and employment programs establish robust supported employment services with DDA, county, and Medicaid compliance.

Scope of Work: