Forwarded Action Alert Maine Parent Federation:
Public Hearing L.D. 2166 An Act to Establish a Grant Program to Increase Postsecondary Educational Opportunities for Students with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder The public hearing for LD# 2166 An Act to Establish a Grant Program to Increase Postsecondary Educational Opportunities for Students with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder will be held on Wednesday, January 31st at 1:00 PM. If passed this bill will establish a grant program available to Institutions of Higher Education (accredited colleges and universities) in Maine to create post-secondary programming and offer scholarships to students with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A public hearing is an opportunity for your legislators on the Educational and Cultural Affairs Committee to hear from you before they vote whether or not to move the bill forward to the full Maine Congress. You are welcome to provide testimony in support of, against, or neither for nor against the bill. Talking points for this specific bill can include:
You can testify in-person in Room 208 in the Cross Building located at 111 Sewall St. in Augusta. Be sure to bring 20 copies of your testimony for members of the Committee. You do not need to register for this option, just show up. Click this link to either register to testify either virtually via ZOOM or submit your written testimony for Committee members to consider. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Carrie Woodcock, cwoodcock@mpf.org. Kind Regards, Carrie Woodcock - Maine Parent Federation Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Provider Meeting For Providers of Section(s) 18, 20, 21 and 29The Office of Aging and Disability Services welcomes providers of HCBS services to the Quarterly Meeting on Wednesday January 24, 2024 at 11 a.m.
Agenda
**New** Zoom Link: https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/84948570093?pwd=QnNiYk0rOWQrSnhsdUg2VUJ2YmQ5Zz09 Meeting ID: 849 4857 0093 Passcode: 94666993 Dial by your location +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) Find your local number: https://mainestate.zoom.us/u/klgRvhM1T Maine Parent Federation and Disability Rights Maine Children's Behavioral Health Listening Session1/19/2024
Join Maine Parent Federation & Disability Rights Maine for a listening session for parents/caregivers only with attorneys from the United States Department of Justice about Children’s Behavioral Health Services in Maine
Sunday January 28th from 4-5:30 Location: Zoom Have you had difficulty accessing community based behavioral health services for your child? Have you had difficulty accessing crisis services for your child during a behavioral health event? Has your child been placed or been at risk of being placed outside of home (hospitals, residential settings, etc.) as a result of a lack of access to adequate community-based services and/or timely crisis services? If so, please consider joining for all of part of this listening session. After a brief introduction from Disability Rights Maine, you will hear from members of the DOJ team whose work in Maine led to the issuance of the June 2022 Letter of Findings (available here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-finds-maine-violation-ada-over-institutionalization-children-disabilities) which found a number of barriers to accessing children’s behavioral health services in the community, including lengthy waitlists, an insufficient provider network, inadequate crisis services, and a lack of support for foster care parents who provide specialized care to children with behavioral health needs, resulting in the unnecessary institutionalization of Maine youth. Most importantly, the DOJ Team wants to hear from you as they continue to work with Maine to address the concerns outlined in the letter. There will be opportunities to share information within the larger group and through individual breakout rooms. Register Here If you are unable to make it but have information you want to share, please email to Carrie Woodcock with the information you want to share with DOJ and your contact information. Action Alert: Public Hearing scheduled for LD 2009, An Act to Prevent Abandonment of Children and Adults with Disabilities in Hospitals.
When: Tuesday, January 16, 2024, 1:01pm Where: Health and Human Services Committee, Cross Building, Room 209 On 1/16 at 1:01pm the Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee will hold a public hearing on LD 2009, An Act to Prevent Abandonment of Children and Adults with Disabilities in Hospitals. Summary: This bill would require a hospital to discharge a minor or an adult with a disability who is under guardianship to the care of a parent or guardian no later than 48 hours after the attending physician has determined the minor or the adult with disabilities is safe for discharge, and if a parent or guardian does not take custody of the discharged minor or the discharged adult with a disability within that period, the hospital is required to notify child protective services or adult protective services, as appropriate, which must then take custody of the minor or the adult with a disability. Potential concerns: Though the bill title sounds well-intended, it appears that there could be unintended consequences. If a child or an adult with disabilities is deemed medically able to be discharged from a hospital, there may not be immediate safe options for the individual to return to. More often than not hospital stays are prolonged due to the lack of sufficient services as well the lack of safe, adequate available housing options. Should this bill pass as written, it appears the individual would either have to return to their parents/guardians or be placed in the custody of Adult Protective Services, despite the fact that residential options such as group homes/shared living may not be immediately available, and parents/guardian may not be able to safely house their loved one. As such, this bill may be of interest to you. What to do: If you wish to provide comments and/or testify on LD 2009, you can submit testimony in person, in writing, and/or via zoom. To testify:
If you checked the ‘testify via zoom’ link then you’ll get a zoom link emailed to you. On hearing day you’ll be able to attend as a participant (who can’t talk or turn camera on) until shortly before it’s your turn to testify. When it’s your turn, they’ll “promote” you to a “participant”. Your zoom might look like you’ve lost the connection just momentarily, but then you’ll reappear as a regular participant who can unmute, turn on camera, etc. And you can tell the committee what you think about LD 2009. (Senator Baldacci, Representative Meyer, and Distinguished members of the HHS Committee). Thank you for raising you voice and for your advocacy! New Resources are now available to you from the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) Youth Transition TeamThe OADS Youth Transition Team is happy to announce the roll out of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Transition Planning webpage. The webpage highlights important information regarding transition and includes a printable timeline that can be used as a guide during youth transition planning.
The OADS Youth Transition Team was created as a pilot project supported by the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) and Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) to improve the transition process for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and other related conditions (ORC). The goal of this project is to provide training, quality oversight, and resources that offer more consistent approaches to supporting youth with IDD, ASD, and other related conditions as they transition from the OCFS children’s system to the OADS adult system. The OADS Youth Transition Team has been working to develop and provide information and resources for cross-training school personnel and community case managers to provide person-centered support to youth as they seamlessly transition to adulthood. Reporting will allow the team to identify the greatest needs for transition training and support. This work could not be done without the ongoing partnership of other transition leaders in Maine from the Department of Education (DOE), Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), along with several youth leaders and family stakeholders. Interagency collaboration is critical for successful transition of the individuals we serve, and the OADS Youth Transition Team has been busy building internal and external connections with DHHS. If you are working with transition-aged youth who may be eligible for OADS services, and have not already connected with us, we encourage you to reach out and introduce yourself to the OADS Transition Liaisons and let them know if you need transition information or resources. The more we connect in our communities and gain stakeholder input, the better we can find new resources and supports, which can improve the overall person-centered planning process. To connect with a Transition Liaison in your area, you can email: OADSYouthTransition@maine.gov This initiative is funded by the Federal American Rescue Plan Act under Section 9817. Center for Public Health and Policy Virtual Discussion on Intellectual Disabilities & Equity12/6/2023
Center for Public Health and Policy, American Public Health Association (APHA)
Virtual Discussion on Intellectual Disabilities and Equity APHA is proud to have received an inclusive health subgrant from the Special Olympics to highlight the unique experiences of people with intellectual disabilities and identify promising strategies for advancing health equity within this community. These findings will be presented in The Nation's Health and summarized in an issue brief in Summer 2024. As an initial step, we’d like to hear from you about the specific needs and priorities of the intellectual disability community, who the key players are and how APHA can best help in this work. To initiate the conversations, we’d love for you to join us at one of three listening sessions. We will also use this time to introduce the opportunity to serve on the advisory board for this project. Please use the links below to register for the listening session you would like to attend. Registration will be limited to 10 attendees per session. We hope you’ll join us and share your experience and knowledge. If you are unable to attend but would like to learn more, or if you have any other questions, please contact Lawrence Haynes. The winter 2023 edition of the Maine Parent Federation newsletter, Parent Connection, is now available on the Maine Parent Federation website: https://www.mpf.org/newsletters/
If you would like a printed copy of the newsletter or to be added to the MPF email list, E-mail abourque@mpf.org We hope you enjoy the holiday season! The MPF Staff Carrie, Allison, Anne, Dylan, Oleta, Robin, Linda & Kelly The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) is piloting an enhanced case management role for the newly proposed Lifespan waiver. We are seeking an experienced leader with case management and supervision experience to help OADS build a new team of Community Resource Coordinators to support individuals with IDD/ASD in their community.
Community Resource Manager: Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited educational institution in Social Work, Psychology, Education, Human Development, Nursing, Rehabilitation, or directly related human services field and a minimum of four (4) years’ experience in providing support services and/or (paid or unpaid) direct care to clients/families with disabilities or providing support services in a directly related human service field. Previous experience supervising others in the field of human services. Demonstrated Competency in person-centered and family-focused service provision. Knowledge of the public education system in Maine and an understanding of flexible funding and natural supports. Ability to drive, access to vehicle for travel, and ability to work from home and maintain HIPAA-compliant home office is also required. Preference will be given for applicants who meet the minimum requirements and also have: lived experience as an individual with a disability or an immediate family member of an individual with a disability; experience providing support services and/or (paid or unpaid) direct care to individuals who have intellectual/developmental disabilities and/or autism; extensive knowledge of, and connections to, local community organizations, people and resources, including employers; linguistic and cultural competencies; a Master’s Degree in the above listed degrees; or licensure as an LSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LCPC. Technical Skills: Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and Zoom. Duties: The Community Resource Manager will work with OADS to develop and supervise a team of Eight (8) Community Resource Coordinators. The responsibilities of those Community Resource Coordinators include: 1. Conduct face-to-face assessment with sections 21/29 waiver members, legal decision makers, and others identified by members. 2. Develops a strength-based, person-centered, and outcome-based Person Centered Plan (PCP) that includes important details and actions to prevent, reduce or resolve barriers to outcomes that team members need to know for implementation and follow-up. 3. Identify and outline interventions to facilitate members’ desired outcomes and clinical and functional goals that will support member outcomes. 4. The Community Resource Coordinator monitors the effectiveness of the psycho-social related interventions through a dynamic and fluid process that requires modification of the PCP as needed, based on member response to the interventions and the effectiveness of outcomes supported. 5. The Community Resource Coordinators and their Manager will serve as part of the OADS Transition Team and will meet quarterly to review caseload trends. These outcomes will be reported to DHHS leadership and will help inform the development of the Lifespan Program, ensuring adequate resources are available to those we serve. The Community Resource Manager will provide leadership and supervision to this team, ensuring resources are deployed in the most efficient way possible. This role will be part of a team developing a best practice model in case management that will then be used in the proposed Lifespan waiver. This pilot project is scheduled to run through March 2025. This is a remote role with some in state travel required for meetings. Work schedule is M-F during normal business hours. Pay is $40/hr, with a 40 hour work week, annually $83,200. No on-call required. Here is a link to the posting of the Community Resource Manager role Case Manager - Pilot Project in Augusta, ME | Allied Health Professional at Maxim Staffing Here is also a link to the posting for the CRC role. https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/lsw-lcsw-pilot-project-coordinator-at-maxim-healthcare-staffing-3775363524?utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic Proposed HCBS Lifespan Waiver: Stakeholder Informational and Listening Session for Self-Advocates11/27/2023
Proposed HCBS Lifespan Waiver: Stakeholder Informational and Listening Session for Self-Advocates
Please join the Office of Aging and Disability Services as we host an informational listening session. This session is focused on individuals who are self-advocates for services related to Intellectual Disabilities or Autism. We would like to hear about the challenges this group faces with the current waivers and get input on how the proposed Lifespan Waiver could offer resources to improve this experience. We will include a brief high-level review of the Lifespan Waiver design and updates based on feedback from the Concept Paper comment period and the Fall 2023 presentations. Please use the link below to register for the Zoom session. Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 1:00 AM to 2:30 PM Zoom Registration: https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIod-uhqjkpG9Jzhtfp_LXY1wv3CfrRK2Sj If you need accommodation, such as real-time transcription and captioning (CART), American Sign Language (ASL), or other language interpretation, please get in touch with Miranda Whalen at miranda.whalen@maine.gov. A Path for ME Highlights - October 2024 In this new bi-monthly newsletter, we will be highlighting important information about the SIS-A assessment tool, the Lifespan Waiver, and other services relating to A Path for ME. We hope you find this newsletter helpful and welcome your feedback. Listening Session Announcement: SIS-A Updates and Question & Answer Session – November 16, 2023 The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) invites Section 21 and 29 members, their families and guardians, as well as waitlist members to attend the upcoming listening session: SIS-A Updates and Q & A. This event will take place from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 16, 2023. This session will give members and their support teams an opportunity to learn about important Supports Intensity Scale for Adults ® (SIS-A) updates. They can also answer questions about the Lifespan Waiver planning and SIS-A processes. The SIS-A is the assessment tool being used by OADS to gather data and develop new and better member services. Click here to register for the November 2023 SIS-A Updates and Q & A Session Learn More About the New $100 SIS-A Incentive Launched for Section 21 or 29 or Waitlist Members The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) uses the Supports Intensity Scale for Adults ® (SIS-A) to support the design of a variety of proposed services through the new Lifespan Waiver. The SIS-A is a high-quality data collection tool that informs the Person-Centered Planning process. We encourage all members to take the SIS-A. Read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below to learn more about this special offer. Q: Who is eligible for the new Member Incentive for the SIS-A assessment? A: There is a new Member Incentive to take the SIS-A right now. The previous Maximus SIS-A Training assessment incentive ended on March 15, 2023. A new incentive for people interested in taking the SIS-A assessment was announced in late July 2023. It is available for those who are:
Q: How do I request more information about the new SIS-A Member Incentive? A: Contact the Maximus Help Desk to schedule a SIS-A assessment. Tell them you are also interested in the $100 SIS-A Member Incentive: call 833-771-4639 or email Maine-SIS@maximus.com. Click the link to see these and other frequently asked questions. SIS-A Assessment FAQs – Updated August 8, 2023 Meet The Team: Siobhan Ahearn, Clinical Assessments Coordinator I For this edition of “Meet the Team”, we introduce you to Clinical Assessments Coordinator I, Siobhan Ahearn. In her role, Siobhan gets to interact with all the individuals involved in the SIS-A process – from Member and Assessor to Community Case Manager and other vital team members who will attend the interview. Tell us in a few sentences about your professional background or work history as it relates to your current role: At State Home Care, I developed and enhanced programs to support and maintain an individual’s independence while living in the community. As a Medical Social Worker with Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, I completed evaluations for care, emotional support, counseling, and continued case management. I was also the Director of Social Services for a Skilled Nursing Home Care and Assisted Living. What area(s) of the state do you service in your role? Bangor to the north. What is your favorite part of the work you do? I enjoy encouraging individuals to realize their potential and looking at the positives. Have you lived in other places besides Maine – other states, countries? I have previously lived in Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, as well as time spent in the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, and the Philippines. What are your dream vacation spots? Dream destinations on my wish list include the Galapagos Islands, a train ride across Canada, and finishing hiking all of the U.S. National Parks. SIS-A Support Resources The SIS-A Assessment Process Cycle Other SIS-A Guides & Supports
Contact the Maine SIS-A Assessments Help DeskIf a member would like to schedule a SIS-A assessment or has other SIS-A assessment related questions: Contact Maximus - Maine SIS Help Desk from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday – Friday by calling 833.771.4639 or email: Maine-SIS@maximus.com. |
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