August 10, 2026
Minutes
Minutes
Attendees via Zoom: Bonnie Brooks, Catherine Cote, Margaret Cardoza, Mindy Ward, Jennifer Frey, Denise Hart, David Cowing, Paula Bush, Jena Jones, Nicole Hartzog, Brenda Smith, Karen McClure-Richard, Karen Bate, Sandy Flacke, Jamie Whitehouse, Megan Salvin, Christina Blake, T. Thaller, Kim Humphrey, Laura Cordes, Ann-Marie Mayberry, Sara Fleurant, Thomas Leet, Stacy Lamontagne, K. Berry, Bridget McCabe, Cullen Ryan, and possibly others who joined after the meeting began or left before it concluded.
Cullen Ryan opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and introducing participants.
Remembrance of Staci Converse
Cullen reflected on the profound loss of Staci Converse, a strong advocate who helped people find and use their voices and worked tirelessly to improve systems. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to know her and witness her work, acknowledged the lasting difference she made, and extended special condolences to her family and colleagues at Disability Rights Maine. The group observed a moment of silence in her memory.
Minutes from the June meeting were approved. Margaret Cardoza moved to accept the minutes, and Bridget McCabe seconded the motion. No corrections or discussion were offered. Cullen noted that the approved minutes would be posted on the Coalition website and invited members to report any later-discovered errors.
Featured Speaker: Sandy Flacke, Deputy Director, Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education, Maine Department of Education
Topic: Update on Maine’s Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) transition and the work of the Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education.
Cullen welcomed Sandy and noted the importance of special education as a foundation for children’s future services and opportunities. He thanked Sandy and her colleagues for their work and invited her to discuss recent changes.
Begin Presentation: Sandy explained that Maine is transitioning responsibility for providing a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to preschool-aged children from Child Development Services (CDS) to public school systems. She provided a high-level review of current progress, next steps, and the Department’s coordinated work across program, fiscal, data, and technical-assistance teams.
Sandy emphasized that CDS remains a key partner and, under the new model, will increasingly serve as a regional support hub for school districts. The transition is organized into four annual cohorts. Maine is now moving toward Cohort 3, with districts joining voluntarily and children transferring from CDS to their local public schools as each cohort begins.
The Department is helping districts, families, and professionals prepare through technical assistance, updated guidance, new-administrator training, data reporting, and cross-agency collaboration. Federal reporting obligations include child outcomes, early intervention, transition timelines, and required notifications. Sandy noted that system development will continue over the next two years and directed participants to the Early Childhood Special Education website and links in her presentation.
Discussion/Questions/Comments:
A guardian praised the presentation and asked how the transition might address families’ difficulty finding affordable childcare and how families whose young children are not enrolled in traditional programs will learn about available services. Sandy explained that school districts have Child Find responsibilities and must conduct outreach through schools, medical providers, WIC, DHHS programs, websites, and other community partners. Referrals made through the CDS line can be directed to the appropriate town or district. She clarified that formal home instruction, “home schooling”, is a specific legal category in Maine and differs from a child simply being cared for at home or in childcare. She encouraged families with individual questions to contact CDS.
Sandy responded to the question about families’ experiences with the transition, Sandy described quarterly parent advisory meetings, surveys, and multiple outreach methods. Overall feedback indicates that the transition is going well and most children are receiving services through public schools within required timelines. Some families perceive less direct interaction than they had with CDS, and unmet needs and delays remain where providers are unavailable. The goal continues to be timely delivery of every service identified in each child’s individualized education program (IEP).
A provider asked about the future of CDS preschool programs.
Sandy explained that these programs remain part of the support-hub model and were expanded in response to waitlists. The preferred direction is inclusive programming alongside typically developing peers, either in school buildings or community childcare settings. CDS helps districts assess community capacity, establish programs, and develop options for children with significant needs so services can begin without placing children on waitlists. In some communities, districts have chosen to assume responsibility for programs after CDS helped establish them.
A self-advocate and former CDS special education teacher reflected on the segregation experienced by children with significant medical and physical support needs and welcomed the move toward inclusion.
Sandy acknowledged that the change requires careful transition planning and participation from everyone, including administrators, teachers, transportation staff, families, and community partners. She said change is more successful when educators and staff can contribute their experience and work through challenges together. The Department views this as a continuing journey, learns from areas of conflict or difficulty, and adjusts its support accordingly.
Participants described the transition as an opportunity to build more inclusive and connected communities.
Sandy agreed that Maine has an opportunity to build a stronger system while learning from other states.
Cullen thanked her for the presentation, praised the scale and progress of the work, and invited continued Department of Education participation in Coalition meetings.
End Presentation.
Helpful Links:
Maine Department of Education PowerPoint (link to PowerPoint slides)
Maine Department of Education – Early Childhood Special Education Transition: https://www.maine.gov/doe/cds/earlychildhoodspecialeducation (link to website)
Maine Department of Education – Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education: https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/specialed (link to website)
Child Development Services (CDS) Referral Line: 877-770-8883
Service Updates:
DHHS, Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) – www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads (link to website)
Sara Fleurant reported that OADS held a statewide series of Lifespan Waiver tours in July. Presentation materials, PDFs, and a recorded presentation are available on the OADS Lifespan Project website. She also reported that OADS had begun its initial review process with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and was beginning related rulemaking work. No specific housing updates were available this month.
Thomas Leet had no additional updates.
Cullen thanked OADS for conducting the tours, which Sara confirmed were well attended, and emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication.
Helpful link: OADS Lifespan Project https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads/about-us/initiatives/hcbs-lifespan-project (link to website)
DHHS, Children’s Behavioral Health Services, Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) – www.maine.gov/dhhs/obh/support-services/childrens-behavioral-health (link to website)
Cullen reported that he continues to contact Children’s Behavioral Health Services several times each month to encourage participation and regular updates. He invited members to share suggestions for potential contacts. No formal report was available.
A self-advocate reported participating in an interview related to children’s restraint practices. Feedback is being collected for a report anticipated to be presented to legislators in December. Cullen thanked her for contributing this information.
DOL, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) – www.maine.gov/rehab/dvr (link to website)
No update was available. Steve Ball will be the representative but was unable to attend today.
DOE, Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education (OSSIE) – www.maine.gov/doe/learning/specialed (link to website). The Department’s update was provided through Sandy Flacke’s featured presentation.
Disability Rights Maine (DRM) – DRM (link to website)
Megan Salvin thanked Cullen for his remembrance of Staci Converse and said DRM continues to process the loss and reflect on Staci’s impact. Megan shared updates on collaboration with Speaking Up For Us (SUFU), including work on employment accommodations, voting, and an interactive rights game show, as well as additional events being planned for the fall.
A guardian extended condolences to the DRM team and emphasized the importance of voting in November. Discussion highlighted DRM’s leadership in voter education and current efforts related to polling-place accessibility, voter-registration materials, and misinformation about voting rights and guardianship.
A self-advocate asked whether the Secretary of State had selected new accessible voting equipment and stressed the importance of training clerks and wardens to use it.
Megan had not heard a final decision on the 3 options for voting accessible equipment and agreed to share information when available as well as additional information regarding voting initiatives.
Federal and Housing Updates:
Federal policy and funding:
Maine has had visits from CMS which included some Waiver-funded providers. Several actions mentioned above have been taken. Maine has beefed up its compliance checks and its Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit. CMS Administrator of Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mehmet Oz, was in Maine recently and claimed without substantiation that 90% of Maine’s Medicaid claims are fraudulent.
There is a CMS nationwide 6-month moratorium on new enrollments for hospice, home health, and DME.
Housing legislation: Cullen reported that a complex federal housing bill, the Road to Housing, had become law. He noted that it was not quite the large-scale infrastructure investment advocates and leaders in Congress had sought and that its practical effects may take years to emerge, but its passage reflected strong bipartisan recognition of the housing crisis, and it does include a long list of positive changes.
Section 8, HUD Section 811: Sara has been keeping us updated on this and there are no updates for today.
Non-emergency transportation- no new updates were available.
Equal Access Rule: no new updates were available.
State Legislative Updates:
Jena Jones of the Maine Association for Community Service Providers noted that the November election will bring changes to the Legislature. She encouraged members to connect with both current legislators and candidates, share information, and educate them about disability services, housing, and community needs. More targeted outreach will occur once election results are known.
Other Business:
Cullen reminded participants to check the Coalition website regularly. Materials, updates, and announcements are posted there, and members may submit items for consideration because the Coalition serves as an information clearinghouse.
Cullen shared that the Coalition is working to have a presentation this fall about the anticipated effects of Medicaid reductions. Several other timely presentations are being planned for the fall.
Closing Remarks:
Cullen thanked participants for attending during the summer vacation season and encouraged everyone to make time for rest and family before a busy fall involving a new Legislature, a new waiver, and other major developments. He again thanked Sandy Flacke for presenting and invited members to suggest future topics.
Coalition Website - MAINE COALITION FOR HOUSING & QUALITY SERVICES
Next Meeting: September 14, 2026; 12:00 PM–2:00 PM
Featured Speaker and Topic: To Be Determined.
The Maine Coalition for Housing and Quality Services provides equal opportunity for meeting participation. If you wish to attend but require an interpreter or other accommodation, please forward your request two weeks prior to the monthly meeting to [email protected].
Cullen Ryan opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and introducing participants.
Remembrance of Staci Converse
Cullen reflected on the profound loss of Staci Converse, a strong advocate who helped people find and use their voices and worked tirelessly to improve systems. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to know her and witness her work, acknowledged the lasting difference she made, and extended special condolences to her family and colleagues at Disability Rights Maine. The group observed a moment of silence in her memory.
Minutes from the June meeting were approved. Margaret Cardoza moved to accept the minutes, and Bridget McCabe seconded the motion. No corrections or discussion were offered. Cullen noted that the approved minutes would be posted on the Coalition website and invited members to report any later-discovered errors.
Featured Speaker: Sandy Flacke, Deputy Director, Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education, Maine Department of Education
Topic: Update on Maine’s Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) transition and the work of the Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education.
Cullen welcomed Sandy and noted the importance of special education as a foundation for children’s future services and opportunities. He thanked Sandy and her colleagues for their work and invited her to discuss recent changes.
Begin Presentation: Sandy explained that Maine is transitioning responsibility for providing a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to preschool-aged children from Child Development Services (CDS) to public school systems. She provided a high-level review of current progress, next steps, and the Department’s coordinated work across program, fiscal, data, and technical-assistance teams.
Sandy emphasized that CDS remains a key partner and, under the new model, will increasingly serve as a regional support hub for school districts. The transition is organized into four annual cohorts. Maine is now moving toward Cohort 3, with districts joining voluntarily and children transferring from CDS to their local public schools as each cohort begins.
The Department is helping districts, families, and professionals prepare through technical assistance, updated guidance, new-administrator training, data reporting, and cross-agency collaboration. Federal reporting obligations include child outcomes, early intervention, transition timelines, and required notifications. Sandy noted that system development will continue over the next two years and directed participants to the Early Childhood Special Education website and links in her presentation.
Discussion/Questions/Comments:
A guardian praised the presentation and asked how the transition might address families’ difficulty finding affordable childcare and how families whose young children are not enrolled in traditional programs will learn about available services. Sandy explained that school districts have Child Find responsibilities and must conduct outreach through schools, medical providers, WIC, DHHS programs, websites, and other community partners. Referrals made through the CDS line can be directed to the appropriate town or district. She clarified that formal home instruction, “home schooling”, is a specific legal category in Maine and differs from a child simply being cared for at home or in childcare. She encouraged families with individual questions to contact CDS.
Sandy responded to the question about families’ experiences with the transition, Sandy described quarterly parent advisory meetings, surveys, and multiple outreach methods. Overall feedback indicates that the transition is going well and most children are receiving services through public schools within required timelines. Some families perceive less direct interaction than they had with CDS, and unmet needs and delays remain where providers are unavailable. The goal continues to be timely delivery of every service identified in each child’s individualized education program (IEP).
A provider asked about the future of CDS preschool programs.
Sandy explained that these programs remain part of the support-hub model and were expanded in response to waitlists. The preferred direction is inclusive programming alongside typically developing peers, either in school buildings or community childcare settings. CDS helps districts assess community capacity, establish programs, and develop options for children with significant needs so services can begin without placing children on waitlists. In some communities, districts have chosen to assume responsibility for programs after CDS helped establish them.
A self-advocate and former CDS special education teacher reflected on the segregation experienced by children with significant medical and physical support needs and welcomed the move toward inclusion.
Sandy acknowledged that the change requires careful transition planning and participation from everyone, including administrators, teachers, transportation staff, families, and community partners. She said change is more successful when educators and staff can contribute their experience and work through challenges together. The Department views this as a continuing journey, learns from areas of conflict or difficulty, and adjusts its support accordingly.
Participants described the transition as an opportunity to build more inclusive and connected communities.
Sandy agreed that Maine has an opportunity to build a stronger system while learning from other states.
Cullen thanked her for the presentation, praised the scale and progress of the work, and invited continued Department of Education participation in Coalition meetings.
End Presentation.
Helpful Links:
Maine Department of Education PowerPoint (link to PowerPoint slides)
Maine Department of Education – Early Childhood Special Education Transition: https://www.maine.gov/doe/cds/earlychildhoodspecialeducation (link to website)
Maine Department of Education – Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education: https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/specialed (link to website)
Child Development Services (CDS) Referral Line: 877-770-8883
Service Updates:
DHHS, Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) – www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads (link to website)
Sara Fleurant reported that OADS held a statewide series of Lifespan Waiver tours in July. Presentation materials, PDFs, and a recorded presentation are available on the OADS Lifespan Project website. She also reported that OADS had begun its initial review process with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and was beginning related rulemaking work. No specific housing updates were available this month.
Thomas Leet had no additional updates.
Cullen thanked OADS for conducting the tours, which Sara confirmed were well attended, and emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication.
Helpful link: OADS Lifespan Project https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads/about-us/initiatives/hcbs-lifespan-project (link to website)
DHHS, Children’s Behavioral Health Services, Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) – www.maine.gov/dhhs/obh/support-services/childrens-behavioral-health (link to website)
Cullen reported that he continues to contact Children’s Behavioral Health Services several times each month to encourage participation and regular updates. He invited members to share suggestions for potential contacts. No formal report was available.
A self-advocate reported participating in an interview related to children’s restraint practices. Feedback is being collected for a report anticipated to be presented to legislators in December. Cullen thanked her for contributing this information.
DOL, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) – www.maine.gov/rehab/dvr (link to website)
No update was available. Steve Ball will be the representative but was unable to attend today.
DOE, Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education (OSSIE) – www.maine.gov/doe/learning/specialed (link to website). The Department’s update was provided through Sandy Flacke’s featured presentation.
Disability Rights Maine (DRM) – DRM (link to website)
Megan Salvin thanked Cullen for his remembrance of Staci Converse and said DRM continues to process the loss and reflect on Staci’s impact. Megan shared updates on collaboration with Speaking Up For Us (SUFU), including work on employment accommodations, voting, and an interactive rights game show, as well as additional events being planned for the fall.
A guardian extended condolences to the DRM team and emphasized the importance of voting in November. Discussion highlighted DRM’s leadership in voter education and current efforts related to polling-place accessibility, voter-registration materials, and misinformation about voting rights and guardianship.
A self-advocate asked whether the Secretary of State had selected new accessible voting equipment and stressed the importance of training clerks and wardens to use it.
Megan had not heard a final decision on the 3 options for voting accessible equipment and agreed to share information when available as well as additional information regarding voting initiatives.
Federal and Housing Updates:
Federal policy and funding:
- State Medicaid Program Integrity: Examining Fraud Risks and Oversight Deficiencies – The title of a 6/25 Hearing held by the House Energy and Commerce Oversight Committee indicated its continued focus on fraud, waste, and abuse. Several state Medicaid Directors testified and described their efforts to prevent improper payments, strengthen provider screening, improve data systems and coordinate with federal partners.
- Recission of affirmative outreach efforts – The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) includes several ways for people with disabilities to have equal access to the WIOA programs. On 7/24, the U.S. D.O.L. finalized a new rule that rescinds these rights.
- Work and Community Engagement Requirements – HR 1 cut $1 trillion to Medicaid. On 6/1, CMS issued requirements for Medicaid Program: Community Engagement Requirements for Certain Individuals. This is an attempt to save money in the Medicaid Program. This is a complicated rule that states are trying to interpret and implement. The rule clarifies that to meet the Work and Community Engagement Requirements, among other things, Medicaid recipients must work, be engaged in community service or educational program or a combination, all with specific hours. States can request exemption from the requirements until no later that 12/31/2028. D.C. and twenty-five (25) states, including Maine, have sued CMS and the U.S. Department of Human Services over this rule, claiming that the rule unlawfully narrows protections for many people. Some providers in Maine have reported that there have been people with disabilities who have been contacted and told they are required to work.
- Medicaid Provider Tax – CMS has proposed rulemaking to reduce and eventually eliminate this tax which it considers a gimmick. Maine leaned heavily on this tax starting in 2004 but repealed the health-related sections of the Provider Tax on 1/1/2025, adding thousands of dollars as a new budget burden in Maine.
- SNAP (Food Stamps) and Food Assistance Programs – SNAP is part of the Agriculture Department and are included in the proposed $1 billion cut in the Farm Bill. There were cuts made in 2022 in the food assistance programs that affected food pantries, school nutrition programs, WIC, TFAP and other programs that many people with disabilities depend on. In a recent GAO study, data showed that 10.6 million adults are receiving SNAP benefits. Eligibility requirements will soon be released which will result in elimination or reduction of SNAP benefits to thousands of Americans.
- Federally Required MaineCare Off-Cycle Revalidation – Revalidation is a CMS-required mandatory process where active health care providers must update and certify their enrollment data, licenses, and practice credentials with the state Medicaid program. With few exceptions, Maine has required revalidation every 5 years. Recently, it changed to requiring off-cycle revalidation for certain cohorts, every 2 years. On 4/23, CMS sent the states a letter requiring them to develop and submit a comprehensive 2-year provider revalidation strategy with priority given to high-risk providers first. Maine submitted its plan on 6/5. This process is lengthy, complicated, and time-consuming. For those providers with multiple sites that must be reported on individually, it is a particularly lengthy process.
- The annual ANCOR Policy Summit will be held in D.C. on September 16th and 17th with scheduled visits to Capitol Hill to meet with Maine’s 4 congressional delegates. Depending upon travel schedules, some MDSOAB members may have a conflict with the MDSOAB September 15th meeting.
- SOC Bill - On August 6th, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee unanimously voted to approve the SOC Bill – S3211 – The Role of the Direct Support Professional Act. It now goes to the full Senate for approval. This is a bill that ANCOR has gotten introduced every year for over 10 years. Senator Collins is lead republican sponsor and Senator King is a co-sponsor.
- Department of Justice Integration Mandate – On 6/18, DOJ issued a Memorandum arguing that neither the ADA or Section 504 imposes a statutory “integration mandate” or requires states to proactively fund broad community-based services. This flies in the face of both the ADA and the Supreme Court’s 1999 landmark Olmstead case which established that the unjustified institutional isolation of people with disabilities is unlawful discrimination. Advocates fear that states will use this as an opening to downsize or even eliminate HCBS services.
- On March 18th, the President signed an Executive Order creating the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. It is a government-wide strategy targeting waste, fraud, and abuse in state Medicaid programs. Across the country, 100’s of providers has been defunded, de-certified, indicted and payments have been suspended. Primary targets have been hospice, PCS services, home health, medical durable equipment, and autism services but no Medicaid programs have been exempted from investigation.
Maine has had visits from CMS which included some Waiver-funded providers. Several actions mentioned above have been taken. Maine has beefed up its compliance checks and its Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit. CMS Administrator of Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mehmet Oz, was in Maine recently and claimed without substantiation that 90% of Maine’s Medicaid claims are fraudulent.
There is a CMS nationwide 6-month moratorium on new enrollments for hospice, home health, and DME.
Housing legislation: Cullen reported that a complex federal housing bill, the Road to Housing, had become law. He noted that it was not quite the large-scale infrastructure investment advocates and leaders in Congress had sought and that its practical effects may take years to emerge, but its passage reflected strong bipartisan recognition of the housing crisis, and it does include a long list of positive changes.
Section 8, HUD Section 811: Sara has been keeping us updated on this and there are no updates for today.
Non-emergency transportation- no new updates were available.
Equal Access Rule: no new updates were available.
State Legislative Updates:
Jena Jones of the Maine Association for Community Service Providers noted that the November election will bring changes to the Legislature. She encouraged members to connect with both current legislators and candidates, share information, and educate them about disability services, housing, and community needs. More targeted outreach will occur once election results are known.
Other Business:
Cullen reminded participants to check the Coalition website regularly. Materials, updates, and announcements are posted there, and members may submit items for consideration because the Coalition serves as an information clearinghouse.
Cullen shared that the Coalition is working to have a presentation this fall about the anticipated effects of Medicaid reductions. Several other timely presentations are being planned for the fall.
Closing Remarks:
Cullen thanked participants for attending during the summer vacation season and encouraged everyone to make time for rest and family before a busy fall involving a new Legislature, a new waiver, and other major developments. He again thanked Sandy Flacke for presenting and invited members to suggest future topics.
Coalition Website - MAINE COALITION FOR HOUSING & QUALITY SERVICES
Next Meeting: September 14, 2026; 12:00 PM–2:00 PM
Featured Speaker and Topic: To Be Determined.
The Maine Coalition for Housing and Quality Services provides equal opportunity for meeting participation. If you wish to attend but require an interpreter or other accommodation, please forward your request two weeks prior to the monthly meeting to [email protected].