April 11, 2022
Minutes
Minutes
Attendees via Zoom: Betsy Hopkins, Teresa Barrows, Alli Vercoe, Carol Snyder, Kim Humphrey, Kristen McPherson, Linda Lee, Margaret Cardoza, Mark Kemmerle, Paul Saucier, Paula Bush, Robin Levesque, Shelley Zielinski, Titus O’Rourke, Mary Chris Semrow, Julia Endicott, Ryan Jackson, Sue Murphy, Shane Ashe, Sarah Robinson, Trena Jackson, Brenda Smith, Helen Hemminger, Melissa Camire, LyAnn Grogan, Staci Converse, Ed & Suellen Doggett, Lily Mazu, Dennis Strout, Robert Martin, David Cowing, Erin Vogel, J Richardson Collins, Jodi Benvie, Debbie Dionne, Jill Jolicoeur, Stacy Lamontagne, Darla Chafin, Susan Farwell, Betsy Mahoney, Vickey Rand, Cullen Ryan, and a few people who joined the meeting in progress and/or left prior to its conclusion.
Cullen Ryan introduced himself and welcomed the group. Minutes from the last meeting were accepted. For the sake of time, Cullen read the names of participants.
Featured Speakers: Teresa Barrows, Children’s Behavioral Health Services Manager, DHHS-OCFS, www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs, and Betsy Hopkins, Associate Director, Developmental Disability and Brain Injury Services, DHHS-OADS. www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads. Topic: An update on the transition work between Children’s Behavioral Health Services and the Office of Aging and Disability Services to optimize transitions.
Cullen: Today I’m pleased to welcome Teresa Barrows, Children’s Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) Manager with OCFS, and Betsy Hopkins, Associate Director, Developmental Disability and Brain Injury Services with OADS. Teresa and Betsy will provide an update on the transition work between CBHS and OADS to optimize transitions. Abut eight years ago, this Coalition created the Blueprint for Effective Transition, pulling together a large field of experts in the field on transition to do so. The Blueprint outlined much of what OCFS and OADS are undertaking and provided some of the basis from which they began their work. OADS and OCFS are now putting that into action. I had the opportunity to read through the presentation and I think you all will be quite pleased, and I’m glad for the opportunity to think through transition with OCFS and OADS. Thank you both for being here today!
Betsy Hopkins: Thank you Cullen and thank you for providing some of that background information. Teresa and I are here today to discuss transition – including the background and challenges faced, where we are now, where we want to go, the goals and key performance indicators to get there, and out proposed timeline. Of course, we are happy to take feedback and answer any questions the group may have. And, even though we’re presenting this today, there’s definitely room to make adjustments based on feedback and recommendations, such as we expect will happen with the LD 924 Task Force final recommendations.
Teresa Barrows: We’ve really taken a lot of time to hopefully get this right and to develop a plan of action that is sustainable for years to come.
Begin Presentation (Click here for the presentation)
Betsy: When we held listening sessions early on, we heard over and over again that there were real challenges for people coming out of school and into the adult system. During the course of our work, we talked about how we can help chart the transition between OCFS and OADS. We created a visual of the current state of our system, including barriers identified by stakeholders for people transitioning from children’s to adult services:
Betsy: Taking all of this into account we created goals for our transition project, specifically to address those barriers. We have proposed an initiative using 9817 ARP funds, including the provision of supports by hiring four transition liaisons, as well as OMS policy and waiver support for the development of a Life Span Waiver. Regarding the key performance measures, these are just ideas we had but we are open to feedback.
Teresa: We are also looking at additional system supports to improve the transition process, including a more coordinated process between OCFS, OADS, DOE (Department of Education), and DOL (Department of Labor). Additionally, the Resource Guide has grown into something wonderful and exciting. The goal is for this to be an inclusive, robust electronic hub for any and all information on transition. Now, with so many different initiatives wanting to accomplish the same thing we have the opportunity to create it together.
Betsy: We would be happy to have discussion on any and all of this.
Cullen: Thank you Betsy and Teresa, this was wonderful!
Discussion:
-A parent stated that this all sounds great and it’s great to see it happening. The visual of the current system is excellent and very powerful.
-A parent and former special educator stated that the framework that was outlined is a good one. He stated that in his experience in transitioning kids from the school system to post-school life, he found that transitioning kids to adult case managers prior to graduation was critical. It often took some convincing, but kids were better for it. Holding IEP and PCP meetings simultaneously was extremely important and facilitated the process much more effectively and efficiently. Holding the IEP meeting and then immediately going into the PCP meeting made for a seamless transition while ensuring all of the critical players were around the table. This essentially helped train the children’s case manager on the adult system, and the adult case manager on the children’s system. Additionally, the transition process is only as good as the weakest link – for it to be successful everyone has to be giving it their all.
-A parent and provider stated that she is part of a Facebook group of moms of people with disabilities. She stated that the two most common things people ask questions about are guardianship and shared living. The reason why people were so interested in shared living was because of the waitlists for services and lack of housing options. Additional parents and providers echoed the need for more information about shared living.
-Robin Levesque from Maine Parent Federation echoed these sentiments about parents wanting more information on shared living. She also stated that many parents have had questions about Targeted Case Management (TCM) and KEPRO and how transition work is not covered.
Teresa: Over the next year, we’re looking at Targeted Case Management and transition in MaineCare policy. If someone has prior authorization for services through KEPRO they would be included on the list. But I want to double check on that.
Staci Converse – Disability Rights Maine: We’ve been working for a while now to show different options for decision-making, beyond solely looking at guardianship. Perhaps rather than saying “guardianship” on the visual it would be advantageous to say “decision-making” to broaden that language.
Betsy: That’s a great suggestion about that language change – I’ll change that on the visual.
-It was stated that what was outlined today shows a truly integrated, shared development of something new for transition. It was asked if they could better explain what the IEP/PCP processes would look like under this new integrated system, specifically as they pertain to employment and DOE’s involvement. There are some places where improvement within the IEP would also contribute to improvements in the barriers identified.
Betsy: The suggestion of having the IEP meeting transition into the PCP meeting is excellent. Regarding transition on the DOE side, the LD 924 Task Force members might be able to better speak to it.
Linda Lee: The amazing thing about the LD 924 Task Force is that we’re working on our recommendations right in the middle of all this other work that all ties together. And we have such an incredible, broad group of experts, stakeholders, and decision-makers at the table.
Titus O’Rourke – Office of Special Services, DOE: One focus of Office of Special Services is leading an inter-agency workgroup to secure the development of a transition continuum, specifically collaborating to establish “The Sequence of the Transition Resources.” These resources and tools will contribute to the creation of the Maine DOE - Transition HUB, a sacred space for all scholars with IEPs. The hub will support their transition journey beginning with Pre ETS activities to the achievement of their post-secondary goals. By collaborating and creating this inter-agency collaborative we’re creating an opportunity where no one will be working in silos, and instead pooling resources and creating a structured continuum,
-It was stated that it sounds like there are collaborative conversations going on and a similar process occurring to re-define and re-create the path, maintaining the places where these processes are dovetailing already. It was suggested that having DOE here to speak to all of this would be beneficial, including what trainings exist for teachers to better use the transition plan within the IEP to better parallel what the system is trying to do.
Cullen: That’s a great idea.
-A self-advocate stated that years ago there was a transition conference that invited recent graduates and their families back to highlight what it’s like when someone graduates, and that was very successful. She added that providing more information about Social Security during transition would be very helpful. Perhaps disseminating this information at a workshop or conference would be advantageous.
-A parent asked if the replacement for EIS will “talk to” other systems.
Betsy: I believe you’re talking about Evergreen, which will be the new adult case management system. The Children’s system uses EIS. I’ll have to double check on that.
-It was stated that for the proposed indicators, they may want to not only just look at how many are served but also how long it took to get them served. For instance, x% of kids were served in x number days, and for the kids who weren’t served within that timeframe, dig deeper to find out why that is so you can work to remedy it.
-A parent stated that she is delighted to see all of these things coming together, agencies talking with each other, divisions within agencies talking to each other. She stated that it’s wonderful and she’s delighted to see everyone working together and expanding their collective knowledge and understanding – because that was very much lacking when her daughter (now 55 years old) went through transition many years ago. She added that this has given her hope for the first time in a very long time that the system is moving in the right direction.
Cullen: That is likely the best note on which to end this presentation. I want to thank you both for coming here and presenting, for thinking through how best to optimize transition, and for giving us hope. I look forward to additional opportunities for you both to come back and for us all to continue this important discussion and continue our work together. Thank you both again!
End Presentation (round of applause would have occurred were it not for everyone being muted and on Zoom)
DHHS – Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) - www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads
Betsy Hopkins: I wanted to remind people that we’re holding a Behavioral health Support and Crisis Services Analysis kickoff meeting with the National Center for START Services (NCSS) on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. This meeting is a first step in improving service delivery for individuals in Maine who have an intellectual/developmental disability (ID/DD) and a mental health condition (ID/DD-MH). The Department contracted with The University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability to study mental health and crisis services for people who have ID/DD in the state of Maine and to make recommendations for enhancing and improving those services. The assessment will inform efforts to improve and streamline our crisis and behavioral health systems statewide with the goal of improving the mental and behavioral health of our citizens. To assist in this initiative, DHHS is asking system stakeholders, including service providers, people receiving these services, and family members, advocates and others to participate in a 90-minute on-line meeting to discuss the analysis process, review survey tools and goals of the systems analysis, and describe the role of the Task Force/Advisory Council.
Cullen: Thank you very much again, Betsy!
DHHS – Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) - www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs
Teresa Barrows: We’re seeing a lot of children and youth in emergency departments due to the current lack of resources – with the major issue being the workforce crisis. If anyone has any outside of the box ideas, please reach out. We’re getting inundated with the lack of resources and we’re open to any and all ideas.
Cullen: OCFS isn’t alone in experiencing the lack of resources and staffing for people in crises – the adult world is experiencing this as well. Thank you for naming this; talking about it openly is an important step toward creating solutions.
DOL – Division of Vocational Rehabilitation - www.maine.gov/rehab/dvr - No update
SMACT (Southern Maine Advisory Council on Transition):
The SMACT website and the Coalition website are cross-linked for convenience and information-sharing. As a reminder, if you want to be on the email list feel free to email Nancy ([email protected]). SMACT meetings occur the first Friday of each month throughout the school year. The next meeting will be on Friday, 5/6. The April meeting was on Friday, 4/1 and featured Gabe Smith, Community Services Department Street Outreach Coordinator, from New Beginnings.
Disability Rights Maine (DRM) Update:
Staci Converse: Julia Endicott will be conducting a training 4/25 from 10-11:30am about the Client Assistance Program and Voc Rehab (click here for more information and to register). I wanted to add that I’m part of the HCBS Advisory Committee and there will be an announcement within the next few weeks regarding the Statewide Transition to Compliance Plan for the federal HCBS Settings Rule. The announcement will include notice of a public comment period as well so please keep your eyes out for this.
LD 924 Task Force Update:
Linda Lee: I wanted to reinforce the idea of synergistic conversations across agencies and stakeholders, including self-advocates and family members.
Federal & Housing Updates:
Cullen:
The bill also includes an additional investment of $150 billion for Home and Community-Based Services. The extension of the refundable Child Tax Credit will also provide those eligible families experiencing homelessness with much needed income.
State Legislature Update:
Cullen: We’re in the last week and a half or so of the Legislature and things are moving very fast. The biggest news is likely the Governor’s Supplemental Budget and the subsequent Change Package, for which the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee has been holding Work Sessions almost daily.
Laura Cordes – MACSP (Maine Association for Community Service Providers) could not attend today’s meeting. Laura has updated the Google Doc amended for this Session that this group has been reviewing in each meeting. (Click here for the Google Doc for the 2nd Session of the 130th Legislature.).
Update on legislation pertaining to transitioning Child Development Services (CDS) services to the School Administrative Units (SAUs): Two bills that passed last year (LD 255 An Act To Ensure Student Success that directs the Department of Education to develop a plan for early intervention services through a quasi-independent government agency structure, with the Department of Education providing oversight; and LD 386 An Act To Improve Operations at the Department of Education that ended up in a 'Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Establish the Process for Transitioning the Provision of Early Childhood Special Education Services for Children with Disabilities from 4 Years of Age to under 6 Years of Age from the Regional Child Development Services System to School Administrative Units') directed DOE to form a stakeholder group report back to the Education Committee this year regarding recommendations for delivering early intervention and preschool special education services. The Education Committee subsequently worked on draft legislation to address this (LR 2686). However, multiple concerns have been raised by advocates regarding the plan to transition CDS services to the SAUs (the Committee's Majority Report) – specifically that it does not address all of the recommendations the stakeholder group made, that it appears to be incomplete, lacks sufficient detail, and doesn't include a funding mechanism to implement what was being proposed. The Education Committee was divided on the bill (which has not been printed yet). Though there is a Minority Report with an amendment authored by Rep. Millett which is promising. It appears that the bill may not move forward. Attempting to transition CDS services to the SAUs has been a very long, drawn out process; not having this bill move forward would extend that yet again, but perhaps allow room to get it right.
Here are some updates on bills that this group has been following, including where they currently stand (more information is available on the Google Doc).
Cullen: I’ll add that LD 2003 is a very important bill as it would dramatically open the door to increasing the areas where affordable and supportive housing can be created.
Other Business: None.
The next meeting will be on Monday, May 9, 2022, 12-2pm, via Zoom*.
Featured Speakers and Topic TBD.
Unless changed, Coalition meetings are on the 2nd Monday of the month from 12-2pm.
(In 2022 the October meeting will be the 3rd Monday due to the holiday)
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 introduced himself and welcomed the group. Minutes from the last meeting were accepted. For the sake of time, Cullen read the names of participants.
Featured Speakers: Teresa Barrows, Children’s Behavioral Health Services Manager, DHHS-OCFS, www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs, and Betsy Hopkins, Associate Director, Developmental Disability and Brain Injury Services, DHHS-OADS. www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads. Topic: An update on the transition work between Children’s Behavioral Health Services and the Office of Aging and Disability Services to optimize transitions.
Cullen: Today I’m pleased to welcome Teresa Barrows, Children’s Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) Manager with OCFS, and Betsy Hopkins, Associate Director, Developmental Disability and Brain Injury Services with OADS. Teresa and Betsy will provide an update on the transition work between CBHS and OADS to optimize transitions. Abut eight years ago, this Coalition created the Blueprint for Effective Transition, pulling together a large field of experts in the field on transition to do so. The Blueprint outlined much of what OCFS and OADS are undertaking and provided some of the basis from which they began their work. OADS and OCFS are now putting that into action. I had the opportunity to read through the presentation and I think you all will be quite pleased, and I’m glad for the opportunity to think through transition with OCFS and OADS. Thank you both for being here today!
Betsy Hopkins: Thank you Cullen and thank you for providing some of that background information. Teresa and I are here today to discuss transition – including the background and challenges faced, where we are now, where we want to go, the goals and key performance indicators to get there, and out proposed timeline. Of course, we are happy to take feedback and answer any questions the group may have. And, even though we’re presenting this today, there’s definitely room to make adjustments based on feedback and recommendations, such as we expect will happen with the LD 924 Task Force final recommendations.
Teresa Barrows: We’ve really taken a lot of time to hopefully get this right and to develop a plan of action that is sustainable for years to come.
Begin Presentation (Click here for the presentation)
Betsy: When we held listening sessions early on, we heard over and over again that there were real challenges for people coming out of school and into the adult system. During the course of our work, we talked about how we can help chart the transition between OCFS and OADS. We created a visual of the current state of our system, including barriers identified by stakeholders for people transitioning from children’s to adult services:
- Case Management: Children’s case managers having a general lack of knowledge about the adult system has proven to be a large barrier.
- Evaluation: In the children’s system there are school-based evaluations. For the adult system it’s different, and often times there are barriers to getting these evaluations completed due to lack of capacity in the system.
- Info Sharing: The children’s and adult systems don’t “talk” to one another.
- Services: Applying for adult services (which includes applying for MaineCare and waiver services) is complicated and we’ve heard how confusing it is for families.
- Guardianship: Many parents are given the guidance to apply for guardianship for their loved one, without a lot of conversation around other possible options.
- Residence: There are limited housing options in the adult system, including alternatives to group homes.
- Employment: Employment as a viable goal may or may not occur during the school years.
Betsy: Taking all of this into account we created goals for our transition project, specifically to address those barriers. We have proposed an initiative using 9817 ARP funds, including the provision of supports by hiring four transition liaisons, as well as OMS policy and waiver support for the development of a Life Span Waiver. Regarding the key performance measures, these are just ideas we had but we are open to feedback.
Teresa: We are also looking at additional system supports to improve the transition process, including a more coordinated process between OCFS, OADS, DOE (Department of Education), and DOL (Department of Labor). Additionally, the Resource Guide has grown into something wonderful and exciting. The goal is for this to be an inclusive, robust electronic hub for any and all information on transition. Now, with so many different initiatives wanting to accomplish the same thing we have the opportunity to create it together.
Betsy: We would be happy to have discussion on any and all of this.
Cullen: Thank you Betsy and Teresa, this was wonderful!
Discussion:
-A parent stated that this all sounds great and it’s great to see it happening. The visual of the current system is excellent and very powerful.
-A parent and former special educator stated that the framework that was outlined is a good one. He stated that in his experience in transitioning kids from the school system to post-school life, he found that transitioning kids to adult case managers prior to graduation was critical. It often took some convincing, but kids were better for it. Holding IEP and PCP meetings simultaneously was extremely important and facilitated the process much more effectively and efficiently. Holding the IEP meeting and then immediately going into the PCP meeting made for a seamless transition while ensuring all of the critical players were around the table. This essentially helped train the children’s case manager on the adult system, and the adult case manager on the children’s system. Additionally, the transition process is only as good as the weakest link – for it to be successful everyone has to be giving it their all.
-A parent and provider stated that she is part of a Facebook group of moms of people with disabilities. She stated that the two most common things people ask questions about are guardianship and shared living. The reason why people were so interested in shared living was because of the waitlists for services and lack of housing options. Additional parents and providers echoed the need for more information about shared living.
-Robin Levesque from Maine Parent Federation echoed these sentiments about parents wanting more information on shared living. She also stated that many parents have had questions about Targeted Case Management (TCM) and KEPRO and how transition work is not covered.
Teresa: Over the next year, we’re looking at Targeted Case Management and transition in MaineCare policy. If someone has prior authorization for services through KEPRO they would be included on the list. But I want to double check on that.
Staci Converse – Disability Rights Maine: We’ve been working for a while now to show different options for decision-making, beyond solely looking at guardianship. Perhaps rather than saying “guardianship” on the visual it would be advantageous to say “decision-making” to broaden that language.
Betsy: That’s a great suggestion about that language change – I’ll change that on the visual.
-It was stated that what was outlined today shows a truly integrated, shared development of something new for transition. It was asked if they could better explain what the IEP/PCP processes would look like under this new integrated system, specifically as they pertain to employment and DOE’s involvement. There are some places where improvement within the IEP would also contribute to improvements in the barriers identified.
Betsy: The suggestion of having the IEP meeting transition into the PCP meeting is excellent. Regarding transition on the DOE side, the LD 924 Task Force members might be able to better speak to it.
Linda Lee: The amazing thing about the LD 924 Task Force is that we’re working on our recommendations right in the middle of all this other work that all ties together. And we have such an incredible, broad group of experts, stakeholders, and decision-makers at the table.
Titus O’Rourke – Office of Special Services, DOE: One focus of Office of Special Services is leading an inter-agency workgroup to secure the development of a transition continuum, specifically collaborating to establish “The Sequence of the Transition Resources.” These resources and tools will contribute to the creation of the Maine DOE - Transition HUB, a sacred space for all scholars with IEPs. The hub will support their transition journey beginning with Pre ETS activities to the achievement of their post-secondary goals. By collaborating and creating this inter-agency collaborative we’re creating an opportunity where no one will be working in silos, and instead pooling resources and creating a structured continuum,
-It was stated that it sounds like there are collaborative conversations going on and a similar process occurring to re-define and re-create the path, maintaining the places where these processes are dovetailing already. It was suggested that having DOE here to speak to all of this would be beneficial, including what trainings exist for teachers to better use the transition plan within the IEP to better parallel what the system is trying to do.
Cullen: That’s a great idea.
-A self-advocate stated that years ago there was a transition conference that invited recent graduates and their families back to highlight what it’s like when someone graduates, and that was very successful. She added that providing more information about Social Security during transition would be very helpful. Perhaps disseminating this information at a workshop or conference would be advantageous.
-A parent asked if the replacement for EIS will “talk to” other systems.
Betsy: I believe you’re talking about Evergreen, which will be the new adult case management system. The Children’s system uses EIS. I’ll have to double check on that.
-It was stated that for the proposed indicators, they may want to not only just look at how many are served but also how long it took to get them served. For instance, x% of kids were served in x number days, and for the kids who weren’t served within that timeframe, dig deeper to find out why that is so you can work to remedy it.
-A parent stated that she is delighted to see all of these things coming together, agencies talking with each other, divisions within agencies talking to each other. She stated that it’s wonderful and she’s delighted to see everyone working together and expanding their collective knowledge and understanding – because that was very much lacking when her daughter (now 55 years old) went through transition many years ago. She added that this has given her hope for the first time in a very long time that the system is moving in the right direction.
Cullen: That is likely the best note on which to end this presentation. I want to thank you both for coming here and presenting, for thinking through how best to optimize transition, and for giving us hope. I look forward to additional opportunities for you both to come back and for us all to continue this important discussion and continue our work together. Thank you both again!
End Presentation (round of applause would have occurred were it not for everyone being muted and on Zoom)
DHHS – Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) - www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads
Betsy Hopkins: I wanted to remind people that we’re holding a Behavioral health Support and Crisis Services Analysis kickoff meeting with the National Center for START Services (NCSS) on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. This meeting is a first step in improving service delivery for individuals in Maine who have an intellectual/developmental disability (ID/DD) and a mental health condition (ID/DD-MH). The Department contracted with The University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability to study mental health and crisis services for people who have ID/DD in the state of Maine and to make recommendations for enhancing and improving those services. The assessment will inform efforts to improve and streamline our crisis and behavioral health systems statewide with the goal of improving the mental and behavioral health of our citizens. To assist in this initiative, DHHS is asking system stakeholders, including service providers, people receiving these services, and family members, advocates and others to participate in a 90-minute on-line meeting to discuss the analysis process, review survey tools and goals of the systems analysis, and describe the role of the Task Force/Advisory Council.
Cullen: Thank you very much again, Betsy!
DHHS – Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) - www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs
Teresa Barrows: We’re seeing a lot of children and youth in emergency departments due to the current lack of resources – with the major issue being the workforce crisis. If anyone has any outside of the box ideas, please reach out. We’re getting inundated with the lack of resources and we’re open to any and all ideas.
Cullen: OCFS isn’t alone in experiencing the lack of resources and staffing for people in crises – the adult world is experiencing this as well. Thank you for naming this; talking about it openly is an important step toward creating solutions.
DOL – Division of Vocational Rehabilitation - www.maine.gov/rehab/dvr - No update
SMACT (Southern Maine Advisory Council on Transition):
The SMACT website and the Coalition website are cross-linked for convenience and information-sharing. As a reminder, if you want to be on the email list feel free to email Nancy ([email protected]). SMACT meetings occur the first Friday of each month throughout the school year. The next meeting will be on Friday, 5/6. The April meeting was on Friday, 4/1 and featured Gabe Smith, Community Services Department Street Outreach Coordinator, from New Beginnings.
Disability Rights Maine (DRM) Update:
Staci Converse: Julia Endicott will be conducting a training 4/25 from 10-11:30am about the Client Assistance Program and Voc Rehab (click here for more information and to register). I wanted to add that I’m part of the HCBS Advisory Committee and there will be an announcement within the next few weeks regarding the Statewide Transition to Compliance Plan for the federal HCBS Settings Rule. The announcement will include notice of a public comment period as well so please keep your eyes out for this.
LD 924 Task Force Update:
Linda Lee: I wanted to reinforce the idea of synergistic conversations across agencies and stakeholders, including self-advocates and family members.
Federal & Housing Updates:
Cullen:
- The President’s FY 23 Budget: On 3/24 President Biden released his FY 23 budget, which acts as a blueprint for the Administration’s priorities. His budget calls for a range of policies that would boost opportunity and reduce poverty, improve health and well-being, and advance widely shared prosperity, funded by proposals to make the nation’s tax system stronger and fairer. Rather than laying out specific proposals for that package in its budget, it calls on Congress to craft an economic package that reduces costs for families, tackles climate change, and raises revenues to pay for these investments and shrink the deficit.
- The President’s FY 23 T-HUD Budget: The President’s proposed budget funds HUD programs at $71.9 billion, $6.2 billion more than the final FY 22 level. Specifically, the President’s Budget would provide:
- $32.1 billion for tenant-based Section 8 vouchers, an increase of $6.4 billion (including emergency funding) over the 2021 enacted level, to maintain services for all currently assisted families and to expand assistance to an additional 200,000 households.
- $86 million in grants to support State and local fair housing enforcement organizations and to further education, outreach, and training on rights and responsibilities under Federal fair housing laws.
- $180 million to support 2,000 units of new permanently affordable housing specifically for the elderly and persons with disabilities. To complement these investments, the Budget contains a total of $50 billion in mandatory funding and additional Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to increase affordable housing development.
- Build Back Better Act: Unfortunately, this appears likely to be slimmed down and put through in pieces, jeopardizing content. Recent reports suggests that housing is not currently included in the priorities for the reconfigured/slimmed down bill. Advocates are urging Members of Congress to retain the historic investment in affordable housing.
The bill also includes an additional investment of $150 billion for Home and Community-Based Services. The extension of the refundable Child Tax Credit will also provide those eligible families experiencing homelessness with much needed income.
- National Housing Trust Fund: There are various efforts in Congress to increase the National Housing Trust Fund, including the Homes for All Act which would invest $200 billion over 10 years into the National Housing Trust Fund. And, the Housing for All Act of 2022, which would invest $45 billion into the National Housing Trust Fund. In Maine, resources from the HTF are the primary funding mechanism for supportive housing development.
State Legislature Update:
Cullen: We’re in the last week and a half or so of the Legislature and things are moving very fast. The biggest news is likely the Governor’s Supplemental Budget and the subsequent Change Package, for which the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee has been holding Work Sessions almost daily.
Laura Cordes – MACSP (Maine Association for Community Service Providers) could not attend today’s meeting. Laura has updated the Google Doc amended for this Session that this group has been reviewing in each meeting. (Click here for the Google Doc for the 2nd Session of the 130th Legislature.).
Update on legislation pertaining to transitioning Child Development Services (CDS) services to the School Administrative Units (SAUs): Two bills that passed last year (LD 255 An Act To Ensure Student Success that directs the Department of Education to develop a plan for early intervention services through a quasi-independent government agency structure, with the Department of Education providing oversight; and LD 386 An Act To Improve Operations at the Department of Education that ended up in a 'Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Establish the Process for Transitioning the Provision of Early Childhood Special Education Services for Children with Disabilities from 4 Years of Age to under 6 Years of Age from the Regional Child Development Services System to School Administrative Units') directed DOE to form a stakeholder group report back to the Education Committee this year regarding recommendations for delivering early intervention and preschool special education services. The Education Committee subsequently worked on draft legislation to address this (LR 2686). However, multiple concerns have been raised by advocates regarding the plan to transition CDS services to the SAUs (the Committee's Majority Report) – specifically that it does not address all of the recommendations the stakeholder group made, that it appears to be incomplete, lacks sufficient detail, and doesn't include a funding mechanism to implement what was being proposed. The Education Committee was divided on the bill (which has not been printed yet). Though there is a Minority Report with an amendment authored by Rep. Millett which is promising. It appears that the bill may not move forward. Attempting to transition CDS services to the SAUs has been a very long, drawn out process; not having this bill move forward would extend that yet again, but perhaps allow room to get it right.
Here are some updates on bills that this group has been following, including where they currently stand (more information is available on the Google Doc).
- LD 1773, An Act to Make MaineCare Rules Pertaining to Global Home And Community-Based Services
- Current Status: This bill is now dead.
- LD 1774, An Act Clarifying The Right To Legal Representation For Individuals Subject To Guardianship
- Current Status: Signed by the Governor on 3/16/22.
- Per this bill, the amended code applies to all adult guardianships, including adult guardianships established before September 1, 2019.
- LD 1867, An Act To Codify MaineCare Rate System Reform
- Current Status: Public Hearing held on 2/2; Work Sessions held on 3/2 and 3/4 in front of the HHS Committee: Voted OTP-AM.
- This bill formalizes the Department’s reimbursement rate system reform effort by establishing rate development principles and processes, including specifying rule-making requirements for rate adjustments among other things.
- LD 2003, An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions (this bill is not on the bill tracking Google Doc, but Cullen provided information on it during the meeting)
- Current Status: Divided Committee Report.
- This bill would make changes to zoning and land use laws based upon the recommendations in the report of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions. These changes include making it easier to develop affordable housing, specifically smaller 2- to 4-unit properties.
Cullen: I’ll add that LD 2003 is a very important bill as it would dramatically open the door to increasing the areas where affordable and supportive housing can be created.
Other Business: None.
The next meeting will be on Monday, May 9, 2022, 12-2pm, via Zoom*.
Featured Speakers and Topic TBD.
Unless changed, Coalition meetings are on the 2nd Monday of the month from 12-2pm.
(In 2022 the October meeting will be the 3rd Monday due to the holiday)
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].