How to Transfer from a Traditional Agency to an AWC Provider in Arizona
If you are currently with a traditional home care agency but find yourself frustrated by constant staff turnover, missed shifts, or long waitlists for caregivers, you are not stuck.
In Arizona, you have the fundamental right to choose your provider and direct your own care. Transitioning your authorized DDD hours from a traditional agency to an Agency with Choice (AWC) provider is a straightforward process when you know the steps.
Step 1: Identify Your Caregiver
Before you leave your current agency, you need a plan. The AWC model requires you to recruit your own caregiver. This could be you (if you are an eligible parent or spouse), an adult sibling, an extended family member, or a trusted community member. Talk to them and ensure they are willing to complete the state's mandatory training and background checks.
Step 2: Choose Your AWC Partner
You need an authorized DDD Qualified Vendor that specializes in the AWC co-employment model. You want an agency that is responsive, organized, and focused on making the compliance process easy.
When you select Nova Z Health Services, our clinical and administrative teams immediately step in to begin pre-onboarding your chosen caregiver so that there is no gap in care during the transition.
Step 3: Notify Your DDD Support Coordinator
You do not have to fight with your current agency to leave; your Support Coordinator handles the logistics. Simply call or email your Support Coordinator and state: "We want to transfer our authorized Attendant Care/Respite/Habilitation hours to Nova Z Health Services under the Agency with Choice model so we can hire our own caregiver."
Step 4: Complete the Onboarding Pipeline
While your Support Coordinator updates your state authorizations, Nova Z Health will guide your caregiver through the Fingerprint Clearance, CPR, and Article 9 training requirements.
Step 5: Start Directing Your Care
Once the state authorization clears and the caregiver's file is compliant, the transition is complete. You take over setting the schedule, your loved one gets consistent care from a familiar face, and we handle the payroll.
