Upcoming Board Meetings & Closures at DCBDD
BOARD MEETING
Thursday, February 12th at 6:30 p.m.
Byxbe Building, 1610 State Route 521
CLOSURES
Monday, February 16th
Health & Welfare Alerts
View DODD’s most recent Health & Welfare Alert, Human Trafficking #71-1-26.
Abuser Registry Updates
Amber Brewer, 01/09/1984
Terquasha Williams, 10/23/1995
Taylor Crowder, 03/31/1995
Louanda E. James, 08/22/1973
Brandon Shull, 09/28/1988
Senethia Williams, 08/08/1972
Paula Hudson 10/03/1962
Valerie L. Crawford, 05/28/1963
Timothy Reid Jr., 08/16/1995
Dairyn Seawright, 06/13/2004
Daniel Giffin, 01/28/1993
Kiana Brooks, 01/04/1986
Lamarquita Long, 06/08/1994
Aaron Moore, 05/22/1987
Vincent Brown 01/18/1984
If you believe these individuals are in your employ or seeking employment with your organization, you should follow published procedures for verifying the applicant/employee is not on the registry. If you have questions regarding this information, please contact the DODD registry unit at 1-866-313-673.
Sign up for abuser registry updates to be alerted when the abuser registry is updated
Training & Resources
Beat the Winter Blues Toolkit from Lighthouse Cove
Looking for ways to stay inspired and creative this winter? The BTWB Tool Kit has everything you need to have fun, try new activities, and connect with others even while staying cozy indoors.
Free Income Tax Preparation Services
Bridges Community Action Partnership offers free tax return preparation from January through April for individuals with income up to $64,000 (no self-employment income).
Key Details:
- Free service with direct deposit or mailed refunds
- Can also process the prior 3 years of returns
- By appointment only: call 937-617-4217 or visit https://www.bridgescap.org/taxprep
- Arrive 15 minutes early to complete the intake form
- One tax return per appointment
Learn more: https://www.bridgescap.org/taxprep
2026 Online Supervisory Development Series
All courses:
- 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET
- Live via Zoom
- Designed for both new and experienced supervisors
These highly practical, field-tested trainings are built specifically for supervisors in human services and disability services organizations. Meets mandatory training for Directors of Operations.
For More Information, Pricing, or Group Scheduling, or to arrange on-site training:
The Academy for Professional Development
513.237.2449
info@academyforpd.com
www.academyforpd.com
4050 Executive Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45241
This practical, supervisor-focused course equips leaders with the tools and techniques needed to manage teams effectively on a daily basis. Participants learn how to set clear expectations, communicate with purpose, align staff to goals, and actively monitor performance. The training emphasizes accountability, follow-through, and motivation—helping supervisors move from “putting out fires” to intentionally building a high-performing, results-driven team culture.
This course helps supervisors connect daily work to a larger mission and purpose, creating stronger engagement and buy-in from staff. Participants learn how to define and communicate a meaningful team purpose, align individual and team goals, and reinforce why the work matters. Supervisors leave with practical strategies for building ownership, commitment, and pride in the work—resulting in teams that are more motivated, resilient, and mission-driven.
This course teaches supervisors how to move beyond a deficit-focused approach and instead lead by identifying and leveraging employee strengths. Participants learn how to assess staff strengths, interests, and potential, and how to use that information to improve performance, quality, and engagement. The training emphasizes mentoring relationships, individualized development, and creating a positive culture that retains staff and helps them grow.
Register for the Strengths-Oriented Approach to Leadership Course
This course equips supervisors with practical, step-by-step strategies for addressing performance issues and difficult behaviors early and effectively. Participants learn how to give clear, timely, and professional feedback; set and enforce consistent expectations and consequences; and manage their own emotions and self-talk during challenging conversations. The focus is on early intervention, consistent mentoring, and preventing small problems from becoming major personnel issues.
This comprehensive course teaches supervisors how to implement a fair, consistent, and legally defensible approach to corrective action. Participants learn how to document properly, address issues promptly, apply progressive discipline appropriately, and conduct difficult conversations with confidence and professionalism. The training helps supervisors avoid both overreaction and avoidance—creating a culture of accountability, clarity, and fairness.
Register for the Delivering Timely and Fair Progressive Discipline Course
This course transforms performance reviews from stressful annual events into an ongoing process of coaching and development. Participants learn how to implement continuous feedback, conduct meaningful check-ins, guide employee self-evaluation, and set clear, mission-aligned goals. Supervisors leave with tools for writing accurate evaluations, leading productive review meetings, and strengthening supervisor–employee relationships year-round.
This course teaches supervisors how to prevent unnecessary conflict, recognize early warning signs, and intervene before issues escalate. Participants learn practical communication tools, expectation-setting strategies, and structured approaches to resolving disagreements. The training helps supervisors turn conflict into growth opportunities while reducing drama, tension, and team disruption.
Register for the Preventing and Resolving Workplace Conflict Course
This course addresses the habits and patterns that most often undermine supervisors, including micromanagement, people-pleasing, procrastination, unclear expectations, and neglecting staff development. Participants learn how to replace these patterns with strong leadership behaviors such as clear communication, appropriate delegation, proactive problem-solving, and intentional coaching—resulting in more confident, effective leadership.
This course builds supervisors’ confidence in decision-making and problem-solving in complex, high-pressure environments. Participants learn how to gather facts objectively, ask better questions, analyze situations clearly, and choose solutions that align with policy, values, and outcomes. The training emphasizes calm, structured thinking and effective communication when guiding teams through challenges.
This comprehensive foundation course helps supervisors analyze their leadership style, identify strengths and growth areas, and strengthen their overall effectiveness. Participants gain practical tools for building strong relationships, creating positive culture, communicating expectations, managing performance, and leading teams with confidence. Ideal both for new supervisors and for experienced leaders who want a strong skills refresher.
This course focuses on improving hiring decisions in the disability services and human services field. Participants learn how to identify the most important qualities in DSP candidates, design behavior-based interview questions, and conduct more effective interviews. The course also teaches how to deliver realistic job previews that reduce early turnover and improve long-term retention.
This course helps supervisors take control of their workload while still effectively leading others. Participants learn how to prioritize, plan, organize, delegate, and manage competing demands. The training focuses on practical, real-world systems that reduce overwhelm, improve follow-through, and create more consistent, intentional leadership.
This course guides supervisors through the principles and practice of ethical leadership in disability and human services settings. Participants apply a Supervisor Code of Ethics to real-world scenarios, examine gray areas, and strengthen their ability to make sound, values-based decisions. The training emphasizes accountability, professionalism, trust, and protecting the integrity of the individuals served and the organization.
Delaware County Special Olympics Spring Sports Informational Meeting
Thursday, February 5th 6 – 7 p.m.
Via Zoom – Join the Special Olympics Info Meeting Zoom
This meeting is open to all athletes, families, and providers who are interested in participating in Delaware County Special Olympics’ upcoming spring sports season.
During this meeting, they will review important information about the season, including schedules, registration, expectations, volunteer needs, and how to get involved.
Spring Sports Offered:
- Athletics (Track & Field)
- Bocce
- Bowling
- Volleyball
- Powerlifting
Whether you are returning to our program or joining for the first time, this meeting is a great opportunity to get connected, ask questions, and set yourself up for a successful season.
OPRA 2026 Great Provider Summit - Call for Speaker Proposals
Theme: Get Ready for Greatness – Building the Hall of Fame Providers of Tomorrow
When: May 7-8, 2026 | Cleveland, OH
Proposal Deadline: Monday, February 16, 2026
OPRA is seeking practical, forward-thinking session proposals for their 2026 Great Provider Summit. Sessions should align with one of five tracks:
- Come Together: Executive Leadership – Leadership development and partnerships
- One Way or Another: Program Design & Innovation – Creative service models and outcomes
- Taking Care of Business: Business, Finance & Operations – Operational excellence
- We Are the Champions: Supervision & Workforce – Workforce strategies
- I Won’t Back Down: Advocacy & Innovation – Driving meaningful change
Selected speakers will be notified by February 27, 2026.
Submit your proposal: Visit www.opra.org or contact Sonya Summers at ssummers@opra.org | 614-224-6772
Note: Sessions promoting products/services require sponsorship. Contact mfannon@opra.org for details.
Spring Leadership Launchpad
April 8th through 10th
Secure your spot at the SPRING Leadership LAUNCHpad now and get ready to redefine your leadership journey!
Leadership LAUNCHpad is a unique retreat that immerses each participant in a leadership-themed environment with like-minded people. Every retreat is its own universe, separate from “the outside world,” and participants are empowered to concentrate on personal development, exercise networking skills, and re-enter the day-to-day with a clearer sense of their leadership identities.
Trauma Informed Support eLearn Course
A new Trauma-Informed Support eLearn Course from IntellectAbility Academy is designed for anyone who supports people with IDD—including DSPs, supervisors, clinicians, and organizational leaders.
Based on a recent conversation on the IDD Health Matters podcast, Understanding Trauma-Informed Care for IDD, Dr. Karyn Harvey spoke about how trauma influences behavior, identity, and a person’s ability to heal—and why supporters must look beyond “what’s wrong” to understand what someone has been through.
While more details will be shared soon, you can explore an overview of the course now by downloading the one-page course overview below. Subscribe to IntellectAbility’s newsletter to stay up-to-date.
Provider Resources from DCBDD: Available 24/7
Interested in becoming a provider?
Want to know about provider responsibilities?
View trainings and other resources
Need service delivery documentation or financial ledgers?
Need help setting up Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)?
Just hired a person and need to know what support you are authorized to provide?
View payment authorization for waiver services
Have a billing question?
Need help with something else?
Community Events
Bishop Backers Winter Community Day and Delaware Expo
This annual event features an OWU women’s and men’s basketball doubleheader vs. The College of Wooster and an expo of area nonprofit organizations and businesses. Admission is free with a canned food donation to benefit the Delaware County Hunger Alliance. The basketball games will tip off at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, and the expo will be held from noon to 3 p.m. All events will be held in Branch Rickey Arena and Gordon Field House, 105 S. Sandusky St., Delaware. The expo will include opportunities to:
- Enjoy children’s activities provided by the Delaware Community Center YMCA.
- Learn from Delaware EMTs how to perform CPR and use automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
- Meet Delaware Police Officers and Firefighters, and explore the inflatable fire safety house.
- Win a big-screen TV in a free raffle drawing courtesy of First Commonwealth Bank.
Parking is free and available in all OWU campus lots. Learn more or register for an expo exhibitor’s table before Jan. 31 at owu.edu/BishopBackers.
Beat the Winter Blues @ Kalahari Water Park
February 22nd through 24th
Cost: $349 per suite
Entering its 5th year, Lighthouse Cove’s Beat the Winter Blues series has featured some entertaining, informative, and show-stopping events and 2026 is no exception. The KALAHARI ESCAPADE is a 3-day, 2-night occasion that includes discounted rooms at the water park resort, exclusive gatherings, and a chance to enjoy some recreation and relaxation.
Your stay includes:
- A 2-bed suite (sleeps up to 4 guests)
- 4 waterpark passes for unlimited indoor fun
- An exclusive reception just for frontline professionals
Center for Diability Empowerment Virtual Support Community
Every Monday at 2:00 p.m. ET
Virtual via Zoom
First session: February 9, 2026
The Center for Disability Empowerment is launching a FREE virtual support community, a series of weekly online support groups designed to connect, empower, and support individuals with disabilities across Franklin, Delaware, Union, and Licking Counties.
Each week focuses on a different topic to support your journey:
- 1st Monday IL Skills & Adulting 101: Build practical skills for everyday success
- 2nd Monday Information & Referral: Community resources & employment support
- 3rd Monday Peer Support 101: A supportive, shared space of understanding
- 4th Monday Advocacy: Education, information & training for self-advocacy
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