PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) -- A state government program that assists South Dakota people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities continue living in their local communities by linking them to services is switching to one central coordinator. The Family Support 360 program operates through the South Dakota Department of Human Services. The department agreed to a two-year contract with Missoula, Montana-based Consumer Direct Care Network South Dakota that took effect on July 1. Consumer Direct will serve as what's known as an "agency with choice model" that, according to the department's website, "allows individuals and families to hire the staff members they select to provide their Family Support 360 services." Consumer Direct has already started serving people who had been using LifeQuest, which stopped delivering services through the Family Support 360 program in August. Consumer Direct will also eventually replace four other agencies -- Dakota Milestone, Volunteers of America Dakotas, Lifescape and Center for Independence -- as they withdraw from participation later this year. The five had been under contracts with the department. State Human Services Secretary Shawnie Rechtenbaugh and an outside consultant to the department, Erin Leveton, explained the change on Tuesday to the Legislature's Government Operations and Audit Committee. The new arrangement comes after some families complained to legislators last year. Leveton is a managing director at Alvarez and Marsal Division of Public Sector Services. The state department in September expanded its contract with the New York City-based firm to provide additional assistance to the state Division of Developmental Disabilities at a cost of $5 million. The Family Support 360 program allows people who are enrolled or their families to arrange for services from providers. More than 1,200 employees were delivering services to more than 800 people and their families. SFSD purchasing lots needed for new middle school Leveton described Consumer Direct as a national provider that has received “excellent” reviews. She said the department looked at various options and Consumer Direct had the most experience, having operated in 13 other states. Leveton said there was a need to respond quickly so people didn’t lose services. Republican Senator Jean Hunhoff and Democratic Representative Linda Duba asked many questions. Hunhoff for example asked who will monitor the performance of Consumer Direct and wanted “some kind of assurance” that the department has a tracking process in place. “We are the ones who decide if they get paid or not,” Rechtenbaugh answered. “So it’s up to us to monitor that piece and work through that process with them.” Leveton noted that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also asks many oversight questions.