Services & Programs

The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) serves as the Single Point of Entry into the developmental disabilities services system.

To apply for any of these services, contact a local governing entity, click contact a local governing entity.

The following are brief descriptions of OCDD services and programs. 

EarlySteps

EarlySteps provides services to families with infants and toddlers (birth to 36 months old) who have a medical condition likely to result in a developmental delay, or who have developmental delays. To learn more about EarlySteps, click here.

Flexible Family Funds

OCDD provides monthly stipends to families of eligible children with severe or profound developmental disabilities from birth to age 18 to help their families meet extraordinary costs. These subsidies are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. To submit an application, contact a local governing entity.

Freedom of Choice Providers

This is the process whereby OCDD ensures that each person and/or their family has the right to choose the service provider most qualified to meet their needs. It is important to learn as much as possible about a prospective provider in order to make an informed decision regarding which agency will be best suited to meet you or your family member's needs. To begin the process of locating a provider, click here. 

Home and Community-Based Services

Medicaid home and community-based waiver programs allow people greater flexibility to choose where they want to live and to use services and supports that best suit their needs. Services provided must represent a least-restrictive treatment alternative. Each home and community-based waiver has specific service packages and eligibility requirements. Waiver opportunities are dependent upon funding, and are also offered based on the individual's need and priority level from their Screening for Urgency of Need (SUN) through the Request for Services Registry.

OCDD ensures that individuals are afforded the opportunity to live in a safe environment while directing their lives based on their desired personal outcomes. Supports and services are provided as a supplement to natural supports while supporting dignity, quality of life, and security in the everyday lives of people.

Click here to get detailed information about OCDD's home and community-based waiver services or click the links below to learn more about each waiver offered by OCDD.

• Children's Choice Waiver (CC)
• Supports Waiver (SW)
• Residential Options Waiver (ROW)
• New Opportunities Waiver (NOW)

 Self Direction: Click here for more information. 

Tiered Waiver System

Home and community-based waiver opportunities will be provided based on the individual’s prioritized need for support, which is identified in their RFSR Screening for Urgency of Need. OCDD’s four developmental disability home and community-based waivers - New Opportunities Waiver (NOW), Residential Options Waiver (ROW), Supports Waiver, and Children’s Choice Waiver - have been operationalized into a tiered waiver system of service delivery, which allows individuals to be supported in the most appropriate waiver. To learn more, click here.

• Common Questions about Tiered Waiver

Individual and Family Support

Individual and family support services provide assistance not available from any other resource that will allow people with developmental disabilities to live in their own homes or with their families in their own community. These services include respite care, personal assistance services, specialized clothing, dental and medical services, equipment and supplies, communication services, crisis intervention, specialized utility costs, specialized nutrition, and family education. Services are provided through contractual agreements by private provider agencies or through individualized agreements with individuals and families who obtain their own service providers.

My Place Louisiana

My Place Louisiana is the state's program for the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Money Follows the Person (MFP) Rebalancing Demonstration, designed to help states try new ways of delivering Medicaid services. The demonstration program is designed to help people to move or "transition" from an institution into home- and community-based living settings, such as a home or apartment. To learn more about My Place Louisiana, click here.

OCDD Resource Center

The OCDD Resource Center offers technical assistance and consultation to help providers support individuals with developmental disabilities in community living and employment. It also provides specialized treatment for those in critical situations. Though collaboration with both families and providers, Resource Center services are designed to assist individuals to remain in a community living environment and migrate placement in more restrictive and potentially more costly institutional placement. To learn more about the Resource Centers, click here.

Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID)

ICF/IIDs provide active treatment services and supports in a 24-hour residential setting, including ongoing evaluation, planning, and coordination/integration of health and habilitative services and supports. ICF/IID services are provided in a range of residential settings, including privately-operated community homes (up to six people), group homes (nine to 15 people), small facilites (16 to 32 people), and private or publically-operated large institutions (33 or more people).

To access the current licensed ICF/IID provider directory, click here.

Support Coordination

Support coordination (formerly case management) is defined as services provided to Medicaid Eligible recipients to assist them in gaining access to the full range of needed services including medical, social, educational and other support services within OCDD. To learn more about support coordination, click here.