Available Provider Positions for YES Waiver

Animal Assisted Therapy
Animals are used in goal directed treatment sessions as a modality to facilitate optimal physical, cognitive, social and emotional outcomes of a participant, such as increasing self-esteem and motivation.

Qualifications:

Obtain certification specific to the type of program and animal(s) involved.​

YES Waiver-endorsed certification programs are:

Pet Partners;
Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA); and 
Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International.
​
Other certification programs are subject to approval by the Department of State Health Services, upon request by the local mental health authority or comprehensive waiver provider.

Art Therapy

Human service profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore feelings, self-awareness, mange behavior, etc.

Qualifications:

A licensed professional with documented training and experience relative to the specialized therapy being provided. This may include a: clinical social worker; professional counselor; marriage and family therapist; registered nurse; vocational nurse; physical therapist; occupational therapist; or dietitian; or
Certified by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATR-BC).

Community Living Supports (CLS)
Provide skills training to a participant or their caregiver to promote independence and
​integration into the community.

Qualifications:

  • Has a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum number of hours that is equivalent to a major in psychology, social work, medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, counseling, sociology, human growth and development, physician assistant, gerontology, special education, educational psychology, early childhood education, or early childhood intervention;
  • Is a registered nurse (RN); 
  • Has completed an alternative credentialing process identified by the Department of State Health Services; or 
    Has a master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum number of hours that is equivalent to a major in psychology, social work, medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, counseling, sociology, human growth and development, physician assistant, gerontology, special education, educational psychology, early childhood education, or early childhood intervention;  

  • Has had a criminal history and background check.
    • Employment Assistance
    To help the participant locate paid employment at or above minimum wage in an integrated employment setting in the community and meet the participant’s personal and career goals.

    Qualifications:

  • Be at least 18 years of age; 
  • Maintain a current driver’s license, and insurance if transporting the participant; 
  • Have a criminal history and background check. ;

    •  

  • Have one of the following:
    a.  A bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation, business, marketing, or a related human services field and six
    months of paid or unpaid experience providing services to people with disabilities
       b.  An associate’s degree in rehabilitation, business, marketing, or a related human services field and one
    year of paid or unpaid experience providing services to people with disabilities; or
    c. ​ A high school diploma or certificate of high school equivalency (GED credentials) and two years of paid or unpaid experience providing services to people with disabilities.
    • Family Supports
    Providers peer mentoring and support to the primary caregivers; engages the family in the treatment process; models self-advocacy skills; provides information, referral and non-clinical skills training; maintains engagement; and assists in the identification of natural/non-traditional and community support systems.

    Qualifications:

  • Have a high school diploma, or a high school equivalency certificate issued in accordance with the law of the issuing state;
  • Have a criminal history and background check. [See CRIMINAL HISTORY AND BACKGROUND CHECK, policy 2300.1 of this manual]; 
  • Have at least:
       a. One cumulative year of receiving mental health community services for a mental health disorder; or 
       b. One cumulative year of experience navigating the mental health system as the parent or primary
    ​        caregiver of a youth receiving mental health community services;

    •  

  • Be under the direct clinical supervision of a master’s level therapist.
    • Music Therapy
    Utilizes musical or rhythmic interventions specifically selected by a registered music therapist to accomplish the restoration, maintenance, or improvement of social or emotional functioning, etc.

    Qualifications:

    A licensed professional with documented training and experience relative to the specialized therapy being provided. This may include a: clinical social worker; professional counselor; marriage and family therapist; registered nurse; vocational nurse; physical therapist; occupational therapist; or dietitian; or 
    Certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (MT-BC).

    Non-Medical Transportation
    Enables participant to gain access to Waiver and other community services, activities, and resources.

    Qualifications:

    Be at least 18 years old, have a current driver’s license, and pass the criminal history and abuse registry checks.

    Nutritional Counseling
    Assists the participant in meeting basic and/or special therapeutic nutritional needs, including, but not limited to, counseling in nutrition principles, dietary plans, and food selection and economics.

    Qualifications:

  • Nutritional counseling must be provided by a person who is a registered, licensed, or provisionally licensed dietitian by the Texas Board of Examiners.
  • Licensed professionals, with documented training and experience relative to the specific service, may include a: clinical social worker; professional counselor; marriage and family therapist; registered nurse; vocational nurse; physical therapist; occupational therapist; or dietitian.
    • Recreational Therapy
    The prescribed use of recreational and other activities as a treatment intervention is designed to restore, remediate, or habilitate improvement in a participant’s functioning and independence, while reducing or eliminating the effects of the participant’s serious emotional disturbance.

    Qualifications:

  • A licensed professional with documented training and experience relative to the specialized therapy being provided. This may include a: clinical social worker; professional counselor; marriage and family therapist; registered nurse; vocational nurse; physical therapist; occupational therapist; or dietitian; or 
  • Certified by the National Council of Therapeutic Recreation Certification (CTRS); or 
  • Certified as a Texas Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (TRS/TXC).
    • Respite (In-Home)
    In-home respite service is provided on a short-term basis because of the absence of, or need for relief for, the legally authorized representative (LAR) or other primary caregiver of a Waiver participant.

    Qualifications:

    ​Be at least 18 years old, have a current driver’s license, and pass the criminal history and abuse registry checks.

    Respite (Out-of-Home: Camp)
    Out-of-home respite service at a camp is provided on a short-term basis because of the absence of, or need for relief for, the legally authorized representative or other primary caregiver of a YES Waiver participant.

    Qualifications:

    Be at least 18 years old, have a current driver’s license, and pass the criminal history and abuse registry checks, licensed by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or camps that are accredited by the American Camp Association.

    Respite (Out-Of-Home: Licensed Child Care Home)
    Out-of-home respite service at a licensed child care center (LCCC) is provided on a short-term basis because of the absence of, or need for relief for, the legally authorized representative or other primary caregiver of a YES Waiver participant.
    Respite provided by a LCCC is divided into preschool age and school age groups, in accordance with the following: Preschool age respite is provided for youth ages three to five years old. School age respite is provided for youth ages six to 18 years of age, up to a youth’s 19th birthday.

    Qualifications:

    Be at least 18 years old, have a current driver’s license, and pass the criminal history and abuse registry checks, licensed by the Department of Family and Protective Services, in accordance with 40 TAC, Chapter 746.

    Respite (Out-Of-Home: Registered Child Care Home)
    Out-of-home respite service at a registered child care home (RCCH) is provided on a short-term basis because of the absence of, or need for relief for, the legally authorized representative or other primary caregiver of a YES Waiver participant.
    Respite provided by a RCCH is divided into preschool age and school age groups, in accordance with the following: Preschool age respite is provided for youth ages three to five years old. School age respite is provided for youth ages six to 18 years of age, up to a youth’s 19th birthday.

    Qualifications:

    Be at least 18 years old, have a current driver’s license, and pass the criminal history and abuse registry checks, licensed by the Department of Family and Protective Services, in accordance with 40 TAC, Chapter 746.

    Respite (Out-Of-Home: Residential Child Care)
    Out-of-home respite service at a residential child care is provided on a short-term basis because of the absence of, or need for relief for, the legally authorized representative or other primary caregiver of a YES Waiver participant.
    Respite at a residential child care can be provided in the following Department of Family and Protective Services verified or licensed settings:
    1. Foster home;
    2. Child-placing agency; or
    3. General Residential Operation.

    Qualifications:

    Be at least 18 years old, have a current driver’s license, and pass the criminal history and abuse registry checks, licensed by the Department of Family and Protective Services, in accordance with 40 TAC, Chapter 746.

    Supported Employment
    Assistance provided in order to sustain competitive and integrated employment, to a participant who, because of a disability, requires intensive, ongoing support to be self-employed, work from home, or perform in a work setting in which individuals without disabilities are employed. A participant receiving supported employment earn at least minimum wage, if not self-employed.

    Qualifications:

    Must be licensed, at least 18 years of age, have a current driver’s license, and pass the criminal history and abuse registry checks. Must have bachelor’s degree, associative degree, or high school diploma.

    Supportive Family Based Alternatives
    To provide therapeutic support to a participant and to model appropriate behaviors for the participant’s family, the participant temporarily resides in a home other than the home of his or her legally authorized representative (LAR). The objective is to enable the participant to successfully return home to live in the community with his or her family.

    Qualifications:

    Includes a resident in the home who is over 18 years, has a current driver’s license and valid automobile insurance, is not the LAR or guardian of the YES participant, must be CPR trained & certified (this can also be provided by Texoma Community Center at no cost), criminal history and background checked, etc.