Gov. Heineman & Dir. Fenner Announce BSDC's Second Federal Certification

Certification Starts Flow of Federal Funds
July 1, 2011
(Lincoln, Neb.) Today, Gov. Dave Heineman and Jodi Fenner, Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, announced that the second of five parts of the Beatrice State Developmental Center (BSDC) has been federally certified. As a result, the certified unit will now receive federal funding.
BSDC is transitioning from one large institution into five smaller, independently-licensed Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF). Each unit must pass a state licensing survey and two federal surveys to become certified.
“This is good news,” Gov. Dave Heineman said. “I applaud the work of Jodi Fenner and her team at BSDC. They are making significant progress in providing quality services to individuals with developmental disabilities.”
BSDC’s State Cottages Intermediate Care Facility now meets all eight conditions of participation in the ICF program. This makes it eligible to receive federal funding, effective on the last day of the final survey visit, which occurred on June 30, 2011. Thirty-two individuals reside in the three cottages that comprise State Cottages.
Fenner said, “We’re on track to have all five ICFs at BSDC certified in the near future, and I want to thank employees for their commitment to the people we serve as we move forward. The work done over the past several years continues to reap positive results, and the remaining three ICFs at BSDC are on track to be fully certified.”
Examples of improvements at BSDC that made certification possible include a comprehensive overhaul of services, having a full range of medical services, more community involvement for individuals, having consistent staffing and assigning staff to one of the five areas, and improved training and support in the homes, and more employment opportunities for individuals.
All five areas on campus are now licensed by the state and two are federally certified. BSDC has asked that federal certification surveys be scheduled for two of the remaining three areas, with the final ICF being ready within the next few weeks.
Fenner said, “BSDC has several celebratory activities planned on campus for residents and community members to commemorate Independence Day. Now they have even more to celebrate.”