ENROLLMENT
ENROLLMENT
ASSESSMENTS DURING ENROLLMENT
Throughout the Enrollment Process, OPWDD will be contacting you to complete assessments, which help OPWDD determine the level of supports and services that you will need. These assessments are a required step in the enrollment process, and include the Coordinated Assessment System (CAS), the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS), and the developmental disabilities profile-2 (DDP-2).
Click the + next to each of the assessments below to learn more.
CAS -COORDINATED ASSESSMENT SYSTEM
The Coordinated Assessment System (CAS) gathers important information about your strengths, needs and interests. This helps OPWDD and staff at the CCO understand the supports you need to live the life that you want to live. The CAS is required for all people applying for OPWDD services for the first time and people requesting additional services and is ongoing.
How it works:
- The CCO will provide your contact information to OPWDD.
- An assessor will reach out and work with you to schedule a convenient time to complete the assessment.
- You will be asked to answer questions about your skills, abilities, needs, and challenges. (These questions often are in reference to a snapshot in time, usually within the last three to seven days. Therefore, some of the questions within the assessment may be difficult to answer, so please feel free to invite family members, close friends, or advocates to attend the assessment and provide support.)
- The assessor may also talk to someone that knows you well.
- The assessment includes a chance for the assessor to look at past records to ensure they have all the accurate information needed.
- The finalized CAS is shared with your CCO. Your Care Manager will review the CAS with you and a support team of your choice within 30 days to develop a plan to address any needs or concerns that were found during the assessment.
CANS- CHILD AND ADOLESCENT NEEDS AND STRENGTHS
The CANS assessment is a three-part assessment process for individuals ages 17 and younger and their families, designed to tell the story of a child’s life. The CANS is required for all people applying for OPWDD services for the first time and people requesting additional services
The outcomes of interviews and observations help build a person-centered plan of care for the child. CANS utilizes a 30-day look-back period so that assessments are relevant to present circumstances. Then, the CANS gathers information about the child’s strengths, needs and interests, and the caregiver’s strengths and needs in relation to meeting the child’s needs
OPWDD-trained assessors conduct the CANS assessment and will need to:
- Review supporting documentation, including medical evaluations, clinical assessments, Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs), Life Plan and other care plans, etc.
- Interview the caregivers and the Care Manager/Care Coordinator.
- Interview or observe the child or adolescent.
DDP-2- Developmental Disabilities Profile-2
The Developmental Disabilities Profile-2 (DDP-2) is a comprehensive assessment required for anyone receiving supports and services from OPWDD. The DDP-2 helps identify the most appropriate supports and services for each person related to specific skills.
Currently, the scores from a DDP-2 are used to develop the Personal Resource Allowance (PRA) for a person who their services with budget authority, as well as to assess the amount of a service that will be authorized for a person based on their needs. On a larger scale, the data from completed DDP-2s may be used to understand the population receiving services and their needs.
Items on the DDP-2 cover a wide range of areas, including the person’s disability, medical, and behavioral health diagnoses, and areas of needs. This includes sensory, communication, self-care and daily living.