Woodward Resource Center

The facility is operated by the Iowa HHS, under the directorship of Kelly Garcia and under the leadership of Cory Turner, Director, State-Operated Specialty Care Division. The facility's superintendent is Marsha Edgington.

Multidisciplinary teams are led by Qualified Intellectual Disability Professionals (QIDPs) in an integrated approach to service provision. Team members include the individual, the individual's family/guardian, case manager, local HHS staff when applicable, direct support professionals, psychologist, psychology assistant, social worker, occupational therapist, speech/language pathologist, physical therapist, vocational/day program specialist, leisure specialist, dietician, nurse, physician/physician assistant, pharmacist, psychiatrist, and dental assistant. Specialty medical services are offered by community providers through on-campus clinics such as dental, neurology, podiatry, endocrinology, gynecology, audiology/ENT, allergy and ophthalmology. A person-centered approach is used with the goal for each person who chooses to move to the community to have that opportunity.

Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability (ICF/ID) Residential Services

Admission to a resource center occurs only for individuals with a diagnosis of intellectual disability for whom all reasonable community-based resources have been considered and it has been determined that the resource center is the most integrated setting to meet the individual’s current needs. Additionally, an evaluation by a licensed psychologist showing a diagnosis of intellectual disability must be completed within three months prior to admission; the individual must be in need of active treatment according to ICF/ID standards; and the RC must have adequate facilities, resources, services, and supports to serve the individual. Generally, people come to WRC because they need the specialized expertise available due to complex behavioral conditions. Examples include extreme emotional or behavioral dysregulation and sexualized behavior. Some individuals have been determined incompetent to stand trial and are in need of attempted competency restoration.

The resource center’s goal is for the individual to return to community-based services.

Individuals, working as part of their interdisciplinary team, help to develop their own Individual Support Plans, which are designed to meet their goals, preferences and support needs. Professional and direct service staff supports the person in meeting these goals. All services offered on the campus meet rigorous federal standards for active treatment, safety, and health.

WRC is enrolled through the Home and Community-Based Intellectual Disability Waiver program to provide Supported Community Living services. 

The goal of community outreach services to persons with disabilities, their families, and providers is to help people to be successfully supported in their communities. For assistance, please call. Early intervention is often the most successful.

Consultations are provided by staff with expertise in the particular area of need. Most consultation are by I-TABS: Iowa’s Technical Assistance and Behavioral Supports. I-TABS provides behavioral consultation to community-based stakeholders and families regarding existing Behavior Support Plans or behavioral practices which are not providing the desired outcome. I-TABS is also available, upon request, for presentations or trainings on a variety of topics related to understanding behavior and strategies to support people with a variety of intellectual levels and mental health diagnoses. 

Behavioral Health Services:

Behavioral Health Services generate behavioral programming aiming to bring about positive change in the lives of individuals while preparing them to reintegrate into a community-based setting.

Behavior Support Plan development begins with a variety of assessments including values assessments, preference assessments, psychopathology screenings, trauma screening, and functional assessments.

Assessment results are used to create hypotheses that guide the development of goals and sub goals related to both the Behavior Support Plan and development of skill acquisition programs.

Data collection, and on-going data analysis, steer programming decisions.

Programming strategies are strongly rooted in Person-Centered Positive Behavior Supports, Applied Behavior Analysis and other evidence-based models such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Throughout the entire process, there is a focus on developing environmental supports and teaching skills that will be maintained over time and generalize across settings.

When individual’s move back to community-based settings, behavioral consultation from WRC staff is available to families and stakeholders.

In addition to Behavior Support Plans and new skill development programming, Behavioral Health Services also provides and/or coordinates individual and group counseling sessions for individuals living on campus and who are candidates.

This team of professionals provides a comprehensive approach to evaluate, treat and manage the well-being of individuals within the ICF/ID program as it relates to positioning and mobility, nutrition and hydration including dysphagia (feeding disorders) and oral motor dysfunction, oral cares, and mealtime management. The team considers positioning, nutrition, and all activities that involve swallowing.

The Autism Assessment and Approaches Team (AAA) supports campus residential and vocational sites. 

Individuals receiving SCL are funded through the HCBS ID Waiver program or Money Follows the Person program. 

Most individuals receiving ICF/ID services on campus are funded through Medicaid.

Consultation and training through I-TABs is free of charge to stakeholders. Other consultation and training is fee based.

The Woodward Resource Center campus is located in Woodward, Iowa. ICF/ID residential services are provided on the campus for approximately 110 people with intellectual disabilities.

Supported community living services through the HCBS/ID Waiver are provided to approximately 40 adults with intellectual disabilities living in the Madrid, Ames, Boone, Waukee, and Des Moines areas.

Consultation and training are available to families and others who provide services and supports for people with disabilities throughout the state.

Any individual on Medicaid can qualify for these services.

WRC CoE supports families, provider agencies and healthcare professionals across Iowa in areas of physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, behavioral health and/or training.

The WRC CoE Team has over 200 years of combined experience supporting individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and complex health and behavioral healthcare needs. Support may be provided by an individual clinician or a team of clinicians. 

The specialized team members include:

• Nurse Specialist
• Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP)
• Physical Therapist (PT)
• Occupational Therapist (OT)
• Two Training Specialists
• Psychology Administrator (BCBA –D)
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

The services include, but are not limited to:

• Daily living skills
• Sensory regulation
• Communication
• Behavior concerns
• Health conditions, concerns and preventative plans for illness
• Feeding and swallowing safety
• Mobility and positioning
• Fall and injury prevention
• Accessibility/modifications
• Individualized and group educational trainings

There are two types of referrals for the WRC CoE: training referrals and individual referrals. 

1. Training Referral: A training referral is a request to receive training to enhance knowledge, skill set and confidence in providing services to optimize health outcomes.
2. Individual Referral: An individual referral is a request to receive consultative support from clinical experts in the fields of nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and/or behavioral health for an individual receiving Medicaid services. 

Who can complete a referral?

An organization, provider or member of the public who identifies a need, can submit a referral.

How do I submit a referral?

Complete and submit the referral form.

If you want training and an individual referral, please fill out two separate referrals.

What happens after I submit a referral?

A member of the CoE team will follow up to confirm they received your referral.