CHAPTER 23
AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER
17—23.1(231) Authority. The department has been given authority to administer aging and disability resource centers (ADRCs) by Iowa Code section 231.64.
[ARC 0624C, IAB 3/6/13, effective 4/10/13; ARC 4881C, IAB 1/15/20, effective 2/19/20]
17—23.2(231) Aging and disability resource centers. The department shall administer aging and disability resource centers and shall do all of the following:
	1.	Perform all duties mandated by federal and state law.
	2.	Designate ADRCs.
	3.	Provide technical assistance to ADRCs.
	4.	Provide oversight of ADRCs to ensure compliance with federal and state law and applicable rules and regulations.
[ARC 0624C, IAB 3/6/13, effective 4/10/13; ARC 4881C, IAB 1/15/20, effective 2/19/20]
17—23.3(231) ADRC. An ADRC designated by the department shall perform all duties mandated by federal and state law and applicable rules and regulations. Services provided under this chapter shall be included in the Area Agencies on Aging Area Plan in accordance with 17—Chapter 6 and as described in the Area Agencies on Aging Reporting Manual.
[ARC 0624C, IAB 3/6/13, effective 4/10/13; ARC 4881C, IAB 1/15/20, effective 2/19/20]
17—23.4(231) Population served.  An aging and disability resource center shall assist individuals in accordance with Iowa Code section 231.64(2).
[ARC 0624C, IAB 3/6/13, effective 4/10/13; ARC 4881C, IAB 1/15/20, effective 2/19/20]
17—23.5(231) Options counselors. An ADRC shall ensure that options counselors meet the requirements of this chapter and applicable federal and state law.
	23.5(1) Background checks. All ADRCs shall establish and maintain background check policies and procedures that include, but are not limited to, the following:
	a. 	A requirement that, prior to beginning employment, all options counselors, whether full-time, part-time, or unpaid, shall undergo criminal and abuse background checks.
	b. 	A background check includes, at a minimum, a request that the department of public safety perform a criminal history check and the department of human services perform child and dependent adult abuse record checks of the applicant in this state.
	c. 	Protocol for how to proceed in the event that an options counselor applicant is found to have a criminal history or history of child or dependent adult abuse.
	23.5(2) Mandatory reporters. All options counselors shall be considered mandatory reporters pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 235B and shall adhere to federal and state law and applicable rules and regulations for mandatory reporters.
	23.5(3) Options counselor duties. An options counselor shall provide options counseling that is person-directed and interactive and that allows the consumer to make informed choices about long-term living services and community supports based upon the consumer’s preferences, strengths and values.
	23.5(4) Options counselor minimum qualifications. An options counselor shall possess the following minimum qualifications:
	a. 	Bachelor’s degree in a human services field; or
	b. 	License to practice as a registered nurse; or
	c. 	Bachelor’s degree and two years of experience working in the areas of aging, disabilities, community health, or hospital discharge planning; or
	d. 	Associate’s degree and four years of experience working in the areas of aging, disabilities, community health, or hospital discharge planning; or
	e. 	License to practice as a licensed practical nurse and four years of experience working in the areas of aging, disabilities, community health, or hospital discharge planning.
	23.5(5) Position-specific training. The options counselor shall provide to the ADRC documentation of successful completion of the person-centered counseling core curriculum provided by Elsevier, or an equivalent that is approved by the department, within 30 days of employment as an options counselor. Documentation shall be included in the individual’s personnel record.
	23.5(6) Continuing education requirements for an options counselor. An options counselor shall:
	a. 	Obtain during the term of employment eight hours of relevant training annually as required by the department.
	b. 	Document training related to the provision of options counseling if eight hours of training are not obtained in accordance with paragraph 23.7(6)“a.” Documentation shall be included in the individual’s personnel record.
[ARC 1537C, IAB 7/9/14, effective 8/13/14; ARC 3485C, IAB 12/6/17, effective 1/10/18; ARC 4881C, IAB 1/15/20, effective 2/19/20]
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 231.64.
[Filed ARC 0624C (Notice ARC 0507C, IAB 12/12/12), IAB 3/6/13, effective 4/10/13]
[Filed ARC 1537C (Notice ARC 1423C, IAB 4/16/14), IAB 7/9/14, effective 8/13/14]
[Filed ARC 3485C (Notice ARC 3376C, IAB 10/11/17), IAB 12/6/17, effective 1/10/18]
[Filed ARC 4881C (Notice ARC 4548C, IAB 7/17/19), IAB 1/15/20, effective 2/19/20]