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Oregon’s New I/DD In-Home Support Option

    What the New Employer Model Agency Means for You

    Big news for Oregon’s intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) community: on April 16, 2026, the Oregon Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) officially launched a new in-home support option called the Employer Model Agency (EMA) — also known as “Agency with Choice.” For the latest updates, visit the official ODDS In-Home Supports page at: oregon.gov/odhs/idd/pages/in-home-supports.aspx

    At Sunrise Home Care, we’re committed to keeping individuals with I/DD, their families, and caregivers informed about changes that affect the services and supports available to them. Here’s everything you need to know about this update.

    What Is the Employer Model Agency (EMA)?

    The Employer Model Agency is a new middle-ground option for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who want to be actively involved in managing their in-home supports — but don’t want to take on the full legal responsibilities of being an employer.

    Authorized under Oregon Senate Bill 1521 (passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2024), ODDS worked alongside self-advocates, family members, and community partners to design this new service model. The result of that collaboration is the EMA — a shared-responsibility approach to in-home care.

    Oregon’s Three In-Home Support Options (Now Updated)

    Oregon now offers three ways individuals with I/DD can manage their in-home support workers. Each option gives you control over your goals and your services — the difference is in how much hands-on management you take on.

    1. Personal Support Workers (PSW) — Most Self-Directed

    Best for: Individuals who want full control over their care.

    • You are the legal employer of your workers
    • You choose, hire, train, and supervise your workers
    • You manage schedules and daily tasks
    • Resources like the Oregon Homecare Commission are available to help you

    2. Employer Model Agency (EMA) — NEW

    Best for: Individuals who want to direct their care without handling all the employer paperwork.

    • You and an agency share responsibility for managing your workers
    • You help choose and train your workers
    • The agency handles hiring, payroll, paperwork, and background checks
    • The agency supports you in learning how to manage and direct your workers
    • Ideal for those who want involvement with support
    • Workers through the EMA can provide hourly attendant care, skills training, and relief care.

    3. Standard Model Agency (SMA) — Most Agency Support

    Best for: Individuals who prefer an agency to manage most of the details.

    • The agency recruits, hires, trains, and supervises workers
    • You approve workers and make decisions about your goals and needs
    • A supervisor is always on call
    • Workers can provide attendant care, skills training, relief care, and day support activities

    Who Can Access the Oregon I/DD In-Home Services?

    In-home supports through ODDS are available to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who live in their own home or with family. To be eligible, you must apply through your county’s I/DD program. Once eligible, a services coordinator or personal agent will help you:

    • Understand your support options
    • Build your Individual Support Plan (ISP)
    • Choose the provider type(s) that best match your goals
      You can even choose more than one provider type at the same time.

    What Types of Support Can I Get at Home?

    Oregon’s in-home supports can cover a wide range of daily needs, including:

    • Personal care: bathing, dressing, eating, mobility assistance
    • Household tasks: meal prep, cleaning, laundry, shopping, bill management
    • Skills training: learning to complete daily tasks more independently
    • Relief care: temporary support so regular caregivers can take a break
    • Community access: transportation and social engagement
    • Children’s programs: including CIIS and the Children’s Extraordinary Needs Program

    Why Was the Employer Model Agency Created?

    The EMA was created in direct response to community feedback and legislative direction. Oregon Senate Bill 1521 (2024) mandated the development of an “agency with choice” service model — and ODDS delivered by partnering with the very community it serves. Self-advocates and family members played a key role in shaping the rules, naming the program, and defining how it would work. This collaborative approach reflects Oregon’s broader commitment to person-centered, self-directed care.

    How to Get Started

    1. Talk to your services coordinator or personal agent. They can walk you through each option and help you decide what fits best.
    2. Visit the official ODDS In-Home Supports page at oregon.gov/odhs/idd/pages/in-home-supports.aspx
    3. Click the language below to download the informational flyer —– Arabic, English, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese.
    4. Contact Sunrise Home Care — we’re here to help connect families with the right resources and support.

    Resources