AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Developing Your Own Alternative Curriculum
An alternate curriculum for DSHS required training may be submitted for basic training, modified basic training, manager mental health, dementia, and developmental disabilities specialty training, caregiver specialty training in boarding homes, any training integrating basic training with a manager or caregiver specialty training, or the residential care administrator training.
Learn more about:
- Required curriculum components
- Where to send completed materials
- Overview of DSHS review process
- DSHS learning outcomes
Required curriculum components
There are three required curriculum components that must be submitted with the curriculum.
- DSHS Attestation Form.
The Attestation Form is your signed statement that the training curriculum submitted addresses all of the DSHS learning outcomes and competencies. - Completed DSHS Curriculum Checklist.
The DSHS Curriculum Checklists allows you to communicate where in the alternate curriculum each DSHS learning outcome is covered. - All curriculum materials as outlined in W.A.C. 388-112-0325.
Where to send completed materials
Mail Curriculum for basic training, modified basic training, manager mental health, dementia specialty training to:
Training, Communications, and Development Unit
Aging and Disability Services Administration
PO Box 45600
Olympia, WA 98504-5600
Mail Curriculum for Manager and Caregiver Developmental Disabilities Specialty Training to:
Linda Gill
Division of Developmental Disabilities
PO Box 45600
Olympia, WA 98504-5600
Alternative Curriculum Approval
Overview of DSHS review process
Initial review:
If all three of the main components listed above are received by DSHS staff, the curriculum may be temporarily approved based on the signed DSHS Attestation form.
Once the materials have been received at DSHS, the person who submitted the curriculum will receive a letter from DSHS staff indicating the expected timeline for a full review of the materials. After receiving this letter, a facility can train using their submitted alternate curriculum until a full review is completed by DSHS staff (see below).
Full review:
After the initial review letter has been sent, review of the curriculum continues.
If there are problems, the DSHS reviewer will contact the person who submitted the materials to ask for additional materials or clarification. If ultimately the curriculum does not meet all requirements, DSHS staff will send a letter of disapproval identifying the concerns or problems. The alternate curriculum may not be used to train staff until issues are resolved.
The curriculum may be revised and re-submitted for review.
If the curriculum is approved
If the curriculum meets all requirements, DSHS staff will send a letter of approval. Included with the letter will be all current competency testing materials. The person who submitted the alternate curriculum will stay on the mailing list for future testing materials as they are updated bi-annually.
The alternate curriculum can then be used until such time as any substantial changes are made to it. Substantial changes must be resubmitted to DSHS for approval before using the revised curriculum.
Learning Outcomes for Curriculum Development
- Basic Training Learning Outcomes (Word Format)
- Modified Basic Training Learning Outcomes (Word Format)
- Manager and Caregiver Developmental Disabilities Learning Outcomes (Word Format)
- Manager Mental Health Learning Outcomes (Word Format)
- Manager Dementia Learning Outcomes (Word Format)
- Caregiver Mental Health Learning Outcomes (Word Format)
- Caregiver Dementia Learning Outcomes (Word format)
