AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

 

September 17, 2001

 

AASA: BH #2001-018
SUBJECT: TRAINING QUESTIONNAIRE

 

Dear Boarding Home Provider:

A law that passed in the 2000 legislative session (RCW 18.20.270) includes a number of changes in the training system and requirements for boarding homes.? These changes will begin by March 2002.? DSHS staff members are working with the Community Long Term Care Steering Committee to implement these changes.

The changes in the training delivery system are:

1. Boarding home staff will be able to apply to become approved trainers for basic training (Fundamentals of Caregiving/Modified Fundamentals) and for specialty training (developmental disabilities, dementia, and mental illness.)? This may be just for their own facility, or for their own facility and others.? There will be criteria that trainers must meet.
   
   
2. Boarding homes will be able to submit curricula for basic training, specialty training, or a combined basic and specialty training, for approval.? A curriculum that is approved may be taught instead of the department?s curriculum for that class.? Each curriculum must meet criteria that demonstrate it is substantially similar to, or better than, the department?s curriculum for that training.

 

New training requirements for boarding homes beginning 3/1/02 include:

1. For all boarding homes: an orientation, delivered by facility staff, that includes an introduction to four main topics listed in the law, for all employees that have routine interaction with residents.

2. New for boarding homes that do not contract with DSHS, for caregivers, and the administrator or their designee:
   1. Basic training (eg, Fundamentals of Caregiving or Modified Fundamentals or an approved alternate curriculum)
   2. Developmental disabilities, Dementia, and Mental Health Specialty training, if the boarding home serves residents with those needs
   3. Yearly continuing education.

Staff will have only 120 days to meet these requirements after March 1, 2002 or after their date of hire.?

Enclosed are training brochures listing the educators who currently teach these classes.? The specialty training for adult family homes will be accepted as meeting the boarding home specialty requirements.? Fundamentals of Caregiving and Modified Fundamentals training meet the basic training requirement.? Any person who has already taken these trainings will be ?grandfathered? and will meet the new requirement that begins March 1, 2002.? Training staff in advance of March 1, 2002 should be considered.

To continue planning for implementation, we need information from you.? Please complete the enclosed questionnaire and return it in the prepaid envelope provided as soon as possible.? Without this information, we will have great difficulty in making these beneficial changes.

If you have questions, please contact one of the following staff:

Avreayl Jacobson at jacobaa@dshs.wa.gov; or Dotti Wilke at wilkedc@dshs.wa.gov
Phone:? 1-800-422-3263
Fax:? (360) 725-2646

Thank you for your help in planning and implementing these training changes.

Sincerely,

Patricia K. Lashway, Director
Residential Care Services

Enclosures (4)

cc:?? Penny Black, Director, HCS