DHHS-OCFS: Attention Residential Service Providers for Youth, Residential Providers for Individuals w/ IDDD & Stakeholders

CORRECTION: Attention Residential Service Providers for Youth, Residential Providers for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism, and Stakeholders: 
  
In the recent legislative session, Representative Graham sponsored and the Health and Human Services Committee unanimously passed LD 1003, ”An Act to Increase Access to Behavioral Health Services for Children and Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism”. The Governor signed this bill into law as Resolves 2023, Ch. 60, which directs the Department to establish a stakeholder group in order to develop a “so-called No Eject, No Reject” proposal for residential services for youth and individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism.   
  
In accordance with this Resolve, stakeholders have been identified to participate in the stakeholder group charged with informing the development of the No Eject, No Reject proposal. Following the development of the proposal, the Department will report the recommendations, including the proposal and any steps necessary to implement the proposal, to the Health and Human Services Committee in January 2024.   
  
Under the Resolves, the stakeholder group is working to help the Department achieve the goal of the Resolve, including developing a plan for a No Eject, No Reject proposal that requires residential providers of behavioral health services for youth and individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism to receive written approval from the Department for the following:   

• Termination of services to an individual;   
• Executing a discharge plan; or   
• Declining a referral of an individual when a bed is available.   

To accomplish this charge, the Department will be facilitating a series of stakeholder sessions, which will involve a commitment by all parties involved. The first session shall be held in person as follows:  
  
Where:  
OCFS Central Office,   
2 Anthony Ave, Augusta   
  
When:  
September 7th 3:00-4:30 pm  
 
To Support the intent of the Resolves, the following stakeholders have been invited to participate:  

Residential Providers:

• Justin Gifford – Child and Family Network 
• Shannon Gove – Alliance of Mental Health and Addiction Services 
• Misty Marston – Spurwink 
• Greg Bowers – Day One 
• Jennifer Putnam, Maine Association of Community Service Providers

Advocate Organizations: 

• Carrie Woodcock – Executive Director, Maine Parent Federation
• Nancy Cronin – Executive Director, Maine Developmental Disabilities Council 
• Cathy Dionne – Executive Director, Autism Society of Maine 
• Katrina Ringrose and Staci Converse – Disability Rights Maine

Hospital Organizations

• Katie Harris, Maine Health 
• Lisa Harvey McPherson, Northern Light 
• David Winslow, Maine Hospital Association 

In addition to the above, the Department is exploring how best to bring consumer voice into this process development.” 

Thank you,
-Dean
Dean Bugaj, MBA
Associate Director of Children’s Behavioral Health
Office of Child and Family Services