An Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) Certified Independent Provider is a self-employed direct support professional who provides services/supports for people with developmental disabilities.

There are more than 100 independent providers who provide direct services to Licking County residents who have developmental disabilities.

LCBDD uses local levy dollars to provide a portion of the funding to the providers in our community. LCBDD also has a Provider Support team that is dedicated to supporting providers in our county.

Independent providers contract with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) to provide services/supports for Licking County residents. They must provide the services themselves and cannot employ, either directly or through contract, anyone else to provide the services.

How do I become an independent provider?

An independent provider must have:

• • Access to a computer and printer for necessary forms.
  • Their own email which they access regularly.
  • The ability to keep good records and notes on the support that they provide.
  • They must enter billing as well as track/understand reports for the supports that they provide.
  • Annual training, which is required and provided free online from DODD.

If you are interested in becoming an independent provider, please visit our Becoming a DODD Certified Independent Provider page by clicking here.

DODD will notify you by email when your application has been approved. You should then contact the service coordinator to set up funding for support. After support begins, we will train you on billing and documentation.

To set up a time to complete the first billing, review the provider notebook and to be added to LCBDD's independent provider network, please contact Teresa Whipkey, Provider Support Coordinator via email at Teresa.Whipkey@lcountydd.org.

Who is part of the LCBDD Provider Support Team and how can I contact them?

You can contact our Provider Support Team by calling 740-349-6588 or by clicking on a name below to access email.

Angie Finck, Director of Provider and Transition Supports- Oversees goods/services contracting for the Licking County Board of DD, Community Capital Assistance Housing and housing initiatives, facilitates projects related to provider support and community collaboration, and fields questions about the Provider Support team. 

David McManus, Provider Support Coordinator- Provides technical assistance for agency providers, supports transportation efforts, assists with the Imagine Information System utilization, support for self-advocacy groups, and is the liaison for the Kiwanis Aktion Club of Licking County.

Teresa Whipkey, Provider Support Coordinator-Provides technical assistance to independent providers, assists with rental housing availability and assistance programs, facilitates the approval and completion of home modifications, provides initial and annual certification training, and provides DSPaths certification training.

Brandi Body, Provider Support Coordinator/DSP Eligibility Specialist– Coordinates the marketing for open Direct Support Professional (DSP) positions for participating agencies, completes the initial employment screening and high school diploma/GED verification of DSP applicants, facilitates the drug screening and background checks for DSP applicants and coordinates resources/supports to DSPs.

Additional resources:

• One Page Profiles are for the people that you support. This profile can contain information that will help you stay on track when supporting each person. It can also be used to provide vital information in case of an emergency when there is not enough time to fully train someone. To see a sample of a One Page Profile, please click here.
• Documentation of the support you provide is required. Use the following forms and instructions to log your daily care, mileage and learning log information.
  • • Rule HPC Service Documentation
    • HPC Documentation Daily Care Notes form from DODD
    • Daily Care Note for Shared Living
    • Rule HPC Transportation Rules and Documentation
    • Learning Log Overview
    • Learning Log Form
    • Instructions for entering Learning Logs into Imagine
    • Outcomes Progress sheet

• Unusual Incident Reports (UIRs) are events that happen which are not typically part of the person’s life and not documented in the ISP. Below are some instructions and forms for documenting these events.
  • • UIR Summary
    • UIR Form-General
    • UIR Log
    • UIR Log Sample
    • MUI Analysis Form
    • MUI Analysis-No MUI Sample
    • Health Welfare Alert Log

• Eight hours of provider training is required each year. There are specific topics that DODD requires you complete. The documents below provide additional information on training.
  • • General Training Information
    • A Template for Provider Certification Renewal

• Within 60 days after certification is granted, all new providers must take an additional class on billing for services. This class is available on DODD’s training web site. Providers can make an appointment with Teresa Whipkey to complete the first billing cycle (or more) to meet this training need. Instructions are also listed below.
  • • Billing Instructions
    • Overtime Rule Notifying Procedure
    • Billing Codes and Rates

• In payment for services, DoDD will mail the first check to the provider. The provider should use the form below to sign up for automatic deposit.
  • • DoDD Direct Deposit Form for Shared Services

• Providers who engage in a shared living arrangement with the person they support may find it helpful to have a document explaining the details of their arrangement. This document would help answer questions such as "If that person decided to hire a different provider, what would be the arrangement for room and board?" The below link contains a DODD recommended example agreement which can help ensure needed information is clearly stated.
  • • Residency Agreement for a Residence Controlled by a Provider