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Children’s Long-Term Support: Waiver Basics Training for Support and Service Coordinators

Do you work at a county waiver agency (CWA)? Are you a new support and service coordinator (SSC)? If so, you must complete the Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) Waiver Basics Training.

We offer this training in accordance with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-approved §1915(c) home and community-based waiver (HCBW) application.

SSC training requirements

For SSC training, follow these steps:

  1. Complete the CLTS Waiver Basics training on this webpage.
  2. Pass the CLTS SSC Certification Exam, F-02008. You must get an 80% or higher. The final page of the exam lets you know if you passed and serves as your completion certificate. Passing the exam certifies you to offer support and service coordination for the CLTS Program. Keep proof of completion on file at your CWA. It shows that you are trained and qualified.
  3. Complete the Typical and Atypical Child Development Modules. These take four to six hours. Then complete the Think Possible! Employment Webinar Series. You must take both trainings in your first six months as an SSC.
  4. Print completion certificates for your trainings. Keep these in your file. If there isn’t a certificate, fill out an attestation. It says you completed the training. Use the SSC Waiver Basics Training Requirement Attestation form, F-02435 (Word) or your own form. Include the training name and date you completed it. Make sure the form has signatures from you and your supervisor.
  5. Optional: If you want to be a functional screener, you must take the CLTS Functional Screen Certification Course and pass the exam. If not, you don’t have to take this training.

CLTS Waiver Basics Training

To complete this training, select the links listed in each chapter. Review the information. Some links send you to a webpage. Others send you to a section within a document. All resources are up to date. They may include:

  • The CLTS waiver application.
  • Division of Medicaid Services (DMS) Information and Numbered Memos. We list these as “DMS Memo.”
  • Guidance updates.
  • Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Manual for the CLTS Program.
  • Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) website. Each chapter also has “More resources.” These are meant to help you as needed. You aren’t required to review them for the training or exam.

CLTS Program description
  • The purpose of the CLTS Program is to help kids with disabilities and their families. We aim to support kids with substantial developmental, mental health, and/or physical disabilities who are living at home or in the community. Our goal is to help them live their best life.
  • Review: Children’s Long-Term Support: Information for Counties webpage.
Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver (HCBW) Program history
State assurances to CMS
More resources

These are helpful resources, but they won’t be on the exam.

  • Application for 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services Waiver (PDF)—The Social Security Act authorizes the HCBS waiver program. This allows the state to give services that support people getting Medicaid. Services are meant to keep people in their community instead of in an institution.
  • 1915(b)(4) Waiver Application—This waiver allows DHS to limit the delivery of CLTS support and service coordination to qualified persons who are employed by a county waiver agency or their sub-contracted case management entities.

Eligibility requirements
  • All kids and young adults in the CLTS Program must meet certain requirements.
  • We use the Wisconsin Functional Screen system to determine eligibility. The Functional Screen is a web-based application. It collects details about a person’s functioning status, health, and disabilities.
  • To enroll a child in the CLTS Program, the SSC enters enrollment data into the online Eligibility and Enrollment Streamlining (EES) system.
  • Review: Who is Eligible? webpage.
Eligible living arrangements
Changing counties
Typical and atypical development training
  • The University of Wisconsin-Madison helped create training modules. They explore the stages of child development for typically and atypically developing children.
  • This training takes four to six hours. You must complete it in your first six months as an SSC. You need to register to use Cornerstone to access this training.
  • Keep a copy of the certificate when you complete the training.
  • Complete: Typical and Atypical Child Development Modules.
More resources

These are helpful resources, but they won’t be on the exam.

Medicaid enrollment requirements
Parental payment limit
More resources

These are helpful resources, but they won’t be on the exam.

  • Katie Beckett Medicaid—This program is a special eligibility process. It helps people get a Wisconsin ForwardHealth Medicaid card. The program is for kids with long-term disabilities, mental illness, or complex health needs. They must live at home with their family.
  • Medicaid Eligibility Handbook History, §28.14.2—CLTS uses the CARES (Client Assistance for Re-employment and Economic Support System) process to see if a child and family qualify for BadgerCare Plus and the Group A Waiver or Group B or B Plus Waiver. This is based on the child’s income.
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—SSI is a monthly cash benefit. The federal Social Security Administration and DHS pay this to people in financial need. It’s for either:
    • Wisconsin residents who are 65 or older.
    • Wisconsin residents of any age who are blind or have a disability.
  • Medicaid and Medicare for Those with Disabilities—Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits are for adults or kids who have a disability. They must meet income, resource, and living condition requirements. When someone qualifies, they also qualify for Medicaid.

Support and service coordination
Available services
Provider registration 

DHS and CWAs share joint responsibility for deeming providers willing and qualified to deliver CLTS Waiver Program services.
•    Read: Medicaid HCBS Waiver Manual for the CLTS Waiver Program, P-02256 (PDF) —Chapter 4, §4.1-4.2.
•    Review: CLTS Provider Registry webpage.

Remote services
Service codes
Service rate-setting
CCOP and CLTS funds
More resources

These are helpful resources, but they won’t be on the exam.

Allowed costs
More resources

These are helpful resources, but they won’t be on the exam.

Enrollment criteria
State-level budget and enrollment administration
Support and service timeline requirements
Deciding Together process
ISP forms and instructions
More resources

These are helpful resources, but they won’t be on the exam.

Requirements
Think Possible! Employment Webinar Series
  • Think Possible! is a four-part employment training series. It’s for SSCs who work with programs like Birth to 3, CLTS, and CCOP. The goal of this training is to help SSCs support kids and families, so they can grow and work in the community.
  • SSCs must complete this training within the first six months of employment.
  • Keep a copy of the completion certificate.
  • Complete: Think Possible! Employment Webinar Series.
Transitioning CLTS kids to adult services
  • When working with participants and families on transition issues, SSCs are expected to:
    • Maintain a working relationship with the child, the child’s family, adult long-term care programs, and other community supports to ensure a smooth transition from one program to another.
    • Take reasonable steps to help families know what to expect with regard to adult services.
    • Support the transition planning process with participants and the family throughout their enrollment in the program and documenting identified services and outcomes in the ISP.
  • Read: Medicaid HCBS Waiver Manual for the CLTS Waiver Program, P-02256 (PDF)—Chapter 10.
More resources

These are helpful resources, but they won’t be on the exam.

Rights and processes

Health and safety assurance
Incident reporting
Restrictive measures
Mandated Reporter Online Training
  • SSCs are mandated reporters for child abuse and neglect. As part of the county human, social, and community service infrastructure, SSCs must make referrals to county child protection and child welfare services when needed.
  • SSCs must take training from the Wisconsin Child Welfare Development System. Training takes 30–60 minutes.
  • Keep a copy of the completion certificate.
  • Complete: Mandated Reporter Online Training.
More resources

This is a helpful resource, but it won’t be on the exam.

These are helpful resources, but they won’t be on the exam.

Systems
Forms and memos libraries
DHS communication tools
  • CLTS teleconferences—Held on the third Thursday of every month. To receive regular information about the CLTS Teleconference, email dhsclts@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
  • Email updates—Register to get routine communication from DHS.
Waiver applications
External resources
  1. Introduction and Overview
  2. Is my Child Eligible for the CLTS Program?
  3. Completing a Functional Screen
  4. What to Expect After a Child is Determined Eligible
  5. Developing Your Child’s Individual Service Plan
  6. Your Child’s Service Plan: Creating Outcomes
  7. What Services Might Be Covered?
  8. Appealing a Denial

Take the CLTS SSC Certification Exam

Last revised August 2, 2023