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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

Need help?  We're here 24/7

Call 802.229.0591

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

Providing Comprehensive Compassionate Care.

Providing comprehensive services to children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, autism, and/or other pervasive developmental disorders.

Serving the uniquely abled.

The Community Developmental Services Program (CDS) provides comprehensive services to children and adults with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism, and/or other pervasive developmental disorders. CDS is the designated agency for services for all of Washington County. All individuals receiving supports from CDS are assigned a Service Coordinator (Case Manager) who is responsible for the persons Individual Support Agreement and assists the individual in achieving success in their own community.

Call Us

  • Employment Services

    United Employment Services places individuals in employment and provides on-going support to assist the individual in achieving maximum independence in their vocational placement. Staff provides on-the-job training and follows along during individual vocational careers. Transition supports are available to individuals who are placed in employment, trained on the job, and then followed during their careers. Funding for this support comes from the Department of Aging and Independent Living (DAIL).

  • Nursing & Psychiatric Services

    Nursing Services

    Nursing staff work collaboratively in, a number of settings, embedded throughout the agency while also meeting the needs of those WCMHS serves in a variety of group homes, developmental homes, crisis and shared housing facilities. The 13 nurses on staff work alongside WCMHS psychiatry.


    Nursing provides the following:

    • Medical and psychiatric nursing assessments
    • Medication trainings/re-certifications
    • Medication oversight including delegation to staff
    • Triage of medication or medical related issues by psychiatric staff
    • Consultation
    • Health promotion
    • Staff and client health education
    • Smoking cessation support
    • Monitoring of health status of clients/coordination of health care
    • Treatments
    • Special care procedures oversight
    • Preparation of medications for med room pickups and for Assist Team deliveries

    Psychiatric Services

    Washington County Mental Health Services provides psychiatric services for its clients throughout the Agency as needed. The agency has three full time psychiatric practitioners and services can be accessed through most programs, including, but not limited to:

    • Adult Outpatient Program
    • Community Developmental Services
    • Community Support Program
    • Children, Youth and Family Services
    • Intensive Care Services

    Psychiatric services can also be provided on an urgent or emergent basis. The team of psychiatric providers cover the psychiatric needs of the hospital diversion program, Home Intervention, as well as various group homes and residential programs overseen by WCMHS.


  • Children's Services

    Community Developmental Services (CDS) provides comprehensive services to children and adults with developmental disabilities, autism and other pervasive developmental disorders.


    The Bridges Program provides care coordination to assist families of children under age 22, eligible for Vermont Medicaid, and who have developmental disabilities. The Bridges Program is a goal-driven approach and designed to help families:

    • Determine what supports or services are needed
    • Access needed medical, educational, social or other services to address their child’s needs
    • Coordinate multiple community-based services and develop a plan to address their child’s needs

  • Communication Services

    The mission of the Communication Services Program is to ensure that individuals with complex communication needs achieve the ability to communicate in their method of choice and have the support, training, and technology to:

    • Gain the respect of others
    • Demonstrate competence
    • Educate others about their communication competency
    • Develop independence
    • Have quality of life
    • Find purpose in life
    • Be fully included

    CDS has adopted the TASH Resolution on Augmentative and Alternative Communication methods and the Right to Communicate.


    We are proud to have one of our Communications Services’ Peer Mentor and Self-Advocates in the movie Wretches and Jabberers, which highlights the success and struggles of two adult men with autism, Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette, who embark on a global quest to change attitudes about disability and intelligence.

  • Community Services

    Community Services are provided by Agency staff in a one-on-one format. The goal is to promote an environment facilitating the learning of skills so that all individuals can continue to gain a greater level of independence within the community, their present residential living situation, and continue work towards greater responsibility within their lives. 


    Classes at The Learning Collaborative offer opportunities within a classroom type setting, in the local community and online. A variety of classes are offered throughout the week and participants must sign up in advance to ensure space is available. 

  • Residential Services

    There are many kinds of residential facilities offered through Community Developmental Services, all of which are designed to fit individual support needs.


    We have two Group Living Homes which provide 24-hour staffing. Hill Street focuses on persons with significant personal care requirements, as well as medical oversight and monitoring. Arioli assists with an individual’s personal care, community integration and emotional supports.


    Our Staffed Living supports occur in homes and/or apartments in the community that are occupied by one or two persons. This model is utilized to support people who may have public safety concerns, persons on Act 248, or individuals requiring support for specialized needs.


    A Shared Living Provider is an option for people who need 24-hour support but would like to live with a family or roommate. This model allows for greater flexibility in matching support needs with a “family.” This might include factors like active lifestyle, children or pets, smoking, location and size of family.


    Supervised Assisted Living supports individuals living in their own home/apartment in the community that have basic independent living skills. Staff assists with daily living activities including financial management, nutritional meal planning, social and emotional support, medical and dental appointments, and medication monitoring and assistance.


  • Skill Building Groups

    Community Developmental Services offers various social and emotional skill building groups. These groups typically occur at our 50 Granview Drive office, during the work week, and the focus on the unique needs of the individuals being supported.

  • How To Access Help

    Visit our Contact Us page. 

    If this is an emergency please call 802.229.0591.


    For Crisis Services:

    You can contact the Emergency Services Team by calling 802.229.0591 or by visiting the office during normal business hours:

    286 Hospital Loop

    Building C, Physician’s Building

    Berlin, VT 05602


    For Children, Youth, Family, and Adult Services:

    For access to WCMHS services, you can also call 802.229.0591 and ask to speak to one of our friendly Intake Clinicians. You will be asked what kind of services you are seeking and depending on your answer (children’s services, adult mental health services) you will be directed to the correct person. You may also be asked some routine questions and to schedule a brief interview to begin the process of accessing services. If you are not sure what services you are seeking, or what programs we offer, WCMHS will work with you to help you determine and access the services you may need.


    For Developmental Services (Child or Adult):

    Start by calling 802.479.2502 and speak to our friendly Intake Coordinator. You will be asked what kind of services you are seeking and depending on your answer (children’s services, developmental services) you will be directed to the correct person. You may also be asked some routine questions and to schedule a brief interview to begin the process of accessing services. In order to receive Developmental Services, you need to be Medicaid eligible. WCMHS can help you apply for Medicaid, if you do not have it in place, and will work with you to access the services you may need.


    If you are interested in becoming a Home Provider, please contact our Home Provider Recruiter @ 802.479.2502.

    How to reach us

    AND WHAT TO EXPECT

    Getting the help needed, whether for you, your child, a family member or friend, is just a phone call away. We're here to help, 24/7/365.

    1. Call 802.229.0591
    2. Be Heard
    3. Be Understood
    4. Get Referred
    5. Intake
    1. Your call will be answered. Always.

      We're always here, ready to answer your call with compassion and understanding. We're listening.

    2. We're listening.

      When you call us and if in crisis, you'll be connected to a screener who will listen and help put you at ease. If your call is less urgent, we'll schedule you for an assessment and begin the intake process.

    3. We'll need to get some information.

      Conducting an assessment will help us better understand your needs so we can ensure you're connected with the services to best meet you where you're at.

    4. Get the support that meets your needs.

      Once we have an understanding of your needs, we'll provide a referral to appropriate level of care.

    5. Our wait times may be a bit longer...

      There's a lot of need within our community and wait times are longer than usual. But we have options that will help put you at ease until there are openings. We got you. Always.

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