County renews three developmental-disability employment contracts under state DDCS funding

County staff told commissioners Sept. 15 they will place three contracts on the regular agenda to fund employment and community-inclusion services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The contracts are fee-for-service agreements with Pierce Jones and Associates, Concerned Citizens, and Morningside for the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 contract year. “These are fee-for-service contracts, and they’re funded through our state DSHS DDCS contract,” a county staff member said. County staff said the current state contract totals $2,765,995 for the 2025–26 period and that payment to each provider depends on client counts and assigned service hours and state-set rates.

Staff explained that two of the three providers also offer community-inclusion services while the third provides employment services only; clients and staff meet to choose the provider that best fits each individual’s needs. Commissioners asked whether the contract amounts are typically fully utilized; staff replied there can be small amounts left unspent in a year due to vacations, illness or service interruptions, and those funds can be redirected for allowable indirect services.

Next steps: staff will place the three contracts on the regular agenda for approval and continue to manage provider assignments and client matching.