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STATE OF WASHINGTON <br />DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES <br />DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION <br />P.O. BOX 45310 <br />OLYMPIA, WA 98504-5310 <br />October 12, 2015 <br />Robin Read, Public Health Administrator <br />Kittitas County Public Health Department <br />507 N Nanum Street, Suite #102 <br />Ellensburg, Washington 98926 <br />Dear Ms. Read, <br />Last year the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) had granted the Trellis Center a one <br />year provisional contract with Kittitas County to support the four DDA clients known as TerraVine <br />Growers. The Trellis Center was charged with demonstrating the ability to be in full compliance with <br />the contract, including the Criteria for Evaluation at the end of one year. DDA also agreed to <br />substitute an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). certificate in place of the requirements for <br />employment as outline in the DDA Policy 6.13 item B, number 6. Additionally, the clients known as <br />TerraVine Growers are classified as self-employed which means it is important to assure these clients <br />meet the DDA Self -Employment policy guidelines_ <br />On September 11, 2015, Kittitas County Coordinator, Sigrid Welker and the DDA Employment <br />Specialist, Carrie Bayha, monitored the Trellis Center. Sigrid focused on contractual requirements <br />while Carrie focused on more detailed review of the client's self-employment and business <br />practices. Sigrid's monitoring resulted in only a couple minor corrective actions which centered on <br />better goals and documentation of progress made for each client. The agency did not have an outside <br />audit done; however, is not receiving more than $100,000 per year. Carrie was able to review some <br />financial transactions of the self-employed TerraVine Growers but since they have not yet been in <br />business for a year, taxes information has not yet been reported, so were unable to review. <br />DDA recommends that the Trellis Center remain in a provisional contract status until it can be <br />established that the TerraVine Growers are supporting a business versus a hobby. <br />Let this letter serve as an Exception to the DDA Policy 6.13 and if you have question, please contract <br />Branda Matson at 360 725-3405. <br />Sincerely, <br />Evelyn Perez, Assistant ecretary <br />Cc: Branda Matson, County Services Unit Manager <br />°`" 0% <br />