Under the Compliance, Oversight, Monitoring, and Investigations Team (COMIT) program, Disability Rights Arizona (DRAZ), has submitted a 2nd year report about the program and its goals and objectives under the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Group Home Monitoring Pilot Program.
The COMIT program requires the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to contract with DRAZ for the implementation of the COMIT program, responsible for the monitoring of group homes that serve members with complex needs (diagnosed with both developmental disabilities and psychiatric disorders) and investigating quality of care complaints for members residing in group homes.
In its 2nd year, COMIT and DDD have established a constructive working relationship.
COMIT has also enhanced and developed a monitoring tool and process that has identified areas with significant compliance concerns and systemic gaps. Also, COMIT provides DDD with monthly practical case-specific and systemic recommendations for issue resolution. And COMIT produces a monthly report with findings and recommendations and participates in monthly meetings with DDD to review concerns and identify steps for resolution and has provided feedback for DDD policy revisions.
The COMIT monitoring program monitors group homes that provide services to members with complex needs to determine, at a minimum, whether:
- The members with complex needs receive the services identified in the member’s person-centered service plan, including medication monitoring and habilitation treatment, as applicable.
- The provision of services identified in the person-centered service plan of the member with complex needs has been effective in addressing the member’s complex needs.
- The services have resulted in a reduction in behaviors that interfered with the ability of the member with complex needs to live safely in the community.
- All physical interventions used by the group home staff have complied with the behavioral treatment plan of the member with complex needs and applicable state laws.
COMIT is responsible for compiling a comprehensive report of all observations and outcomes during the preceding year. This past year, COMIT staff completed in-person monitoring reviews for 172 members residing in 151 group homes. The majority of monitoring reviews were located in both Maricopa County and Pima County, but reviews were also completed in Apache, Coconino, Cochise, Gila, Graham, La Paz, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, and Yuma counties. COMIT will continue to collaborate with DDD with the aim of improving the quality and effectiveness of services for individuals with developmental disabilities residing in group homes.
During the 2nd year, group home monitoring included a review of records and interviews with members, group home staff, and guardians/family members. The COMIT monitoring team reviewed the member’s Person-Centered Service Plan (PCSP), Behavior Treatment Plan (BTPs), Incident Reports, Medication Administration Records and Habilitation and Behavior Plan goals and progress. Outcomes of group home monitoring included recommendations for additional monitoring for vendors with compliance concerns, assessment of vendor training practices, tracking and accountability for behavior plans, and ensure that new vendors are capable of meeting the care needs of the DDD population.
COMIT also reviewed quality of care complaints and identified twelve complaints for investigation. COMIT initiated contacts with hospitals, Adult Protective Services, and police departments to educate about the program and request access to records. Staff continue to educate group homes, community organizations and protective service organizations about COMIT.
J.J. Rico, DRAZ CEO, emphasized DRAZ’s effort to COMIT, “The goal of the COMIT project is to ensure persons with complex needs can live independently and be free from abuse and neglect. I am proud of the work done and am hopeful that the State will use the information we provide them to advance our goal and improve their monitoring tools and investigations.”
Kim Dorshaw, Program Manager DRAZ, states, “The COMIT program is dedicated to improving the quality of DDD group home residential services through comprehensive monitoring reviews for clients with complex needs and Quality of Care Concern investigations, providing practical recommendations for areas of improvement to ensure client health and safety. We are grateful for the cooperation of Group Home Vendors and the State and the continued support from the community in working towards assuring the provision of safe and effective services for clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
In 2019, the Governor of Arizona created a task force charged with finding ways to improve services and protection for some of Arizona’s most vulnerable residents. As a result of this task force, House Bill 2865 (HB2865) was signed into law by the Governor on June 28, 2022, amending the Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) to include ARS Title 36-595.03.
COMIT Group Home Monitoring Annual Report
COMIT QOC Complaint Investigations Annual Report
Disability Rights Arizona (DRAZ) is Arizona’s Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System and is part of a national network of public interest firms dedicated to advancing the civil and human rights of all people with disabilities in the community and in institutional settings.