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The Maine Child Welfare Action Network (MCWAN) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced the launch of Be There for ME, a new campaign for parents and caregivers in Maine and the people who support them. The campaign aims to reduce the stigma of asking for help and provides a judgement-free place for parents and caregivers to start to find support. Please see below for additional details and an invitation to a webinar to learn more about the campaign.
MCWAN and DHHS developed Be There for ME over the past year in partnership with a diverse group of parents and caregivers, as well as many community organizations. The campaign reflects the types of support parents and caregivers of children of all ages said they need and how they spoke about their experiences. Part of this campaign is the new BeThereforME.org website: https://bethereforme.org. The website connects parents and caregivers to resources to start to find support for family needs—including housing, getting everyday items, child care, and dealing with stress. Available in 12 languages, the website is designed to welcome parents, caregivers, and all those who are there for them by encouraging them to take the first step toward support even if they’re not sure where to go. Everyone—from state and community organizations to neighbors, friends, and professionals—has a role to play in supporting families. The “How to Be There for ME” page features tips on how to support parents and caregivers in Maine and materials that can be shared with your networks. We encourage you to:
Learn more about Be There for ME at the second of a 2024 webinar series hosted by the Office of Child and Family Services and the Maine Children’s Trust about how we can all keep children safe by keeping families strong.
In order to participate or receive the webinar recording and resources, please register here by August 2, 2024, at 5 p.m. A meeting invitation and link to the webinar will be sent to you the day prior to the scheduled webinar. Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Provider Meeting – Waiver Sections 18, 20, 21, 29**The meeting scheduled for Wednesday July 24th, 2024 is cancelled**
Summer updates:
When questions about the system and how it works arise, before submitting a ticket:
Evergreen Issue Submission Form Evergreen users may submit any question/issue, under the corresponding category, and a ticket will be created and routed to the correct team within the Office of Aging and Disability Services for a response. Maine/DHHS/Office of Aging and Disability Services Evergreen Ticket System Recurring Meeting to provide answers to common questions/issues, as well as an update on the fixes deployed to Evergreen. Via Zoom, every other week Tuesdays from 8am to 9am (open to all): Use the following link to register for this weekly meeting: https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwodu-przgpH9C1uNo8DsC5T_mbBGjkDC5I Unable to access Evergreen; locked out, please email: [email protected] New user accounts; terminating accounts, please email: [email protected] Self-paced training videos or guidance documents: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/eis/evergreen/data-system-training SPARK for Autism Webinar: Aging in Autism-Risk and Resilience
In this webinar, which will take place July 24, 2024 at 12:00 PM Eastern time, Gregory L. Wallace, Ph.D., will focus on some areas of risk (for example, parkinsonism) and resilience (compensatory skills) that are being identified for autistic people as they age. He will highlight how these areas of risk and resilience might impact mental and physical health as well as quality of life for autistic people. https://sparkforautism.org/discover_article/webinar-aging-in-autism/ ThriveTogether Maine, a collaboration between Disability Rights Maine, The Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Speaking Up For Us, & The Maine Association For Community Service Providers is conducting focus groups this August. We are connecting with people across our state to discuss how to improve services for survivors of sexual violence and how to make those services more accessible to all. We are hosting two opportunities for parents, guardians, and family members of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to join us in focus groups to discuss services and potential improvements. The first opportunity is being held on August 13th, 2024 online by Zoom from 3pm to 5pm. We are also offering an in person group on August 20th, 2024 at the Curtis Memorial Library Merrill Meeting Room in Brunswick from 4:30-6:30pm. If you are interested in participating or getting more information, please reach out to project director Sammy-Ellie MacKinnon at 207-626-2774 extension 260, or by email at [email protected]. You can also register online here. 
 This summer ThriveTogether is holding focus groups to hear what YOU think about providing services that people need! Join ThriveTogether to discuss how to improve services for survivors of sexual violence and how to make those services more accessible to all. Things we talk about in the focus group will be confidential and private. There will not be any negative consequences for you at your work and you can tell us exactly what you think. If you are interested in participating, please contact: Sammy-Ellie MacKinnon 207-626-2774 Extension 260 or at [email protected]
Attention Providers of Section 21 Agency Home Support: Information About Staffing ThresholdsAppendix K to Maine’s Home and Community-Based Services 1915(c) waivers provided flexibilities in waiver program operations during an emergency. Most recently, under those emergency provisions, Section 21 group homes have been allowed to operate at 85% of authorized staffing levels. As of July 1, 2024, minimum staffing levels revert to the pre-pandemic standard of 92.5% of authorized levels.
The Department has reviewed group home staffing data and labor market conditions, including Maine’s continuing low unemployment rate, and has concluded that many providers may not meet the 92.5% standard by July 1, potentially putting services at risk for some Section 21 participants. Therefore, the Department will exercise its enforcement discretion on staffing levels for the next six months as it continues to monitor labor market conditions. Through December 31, 2024, the Department will not enforce the 92.5% standard, as long as the provider maintains at least 85% of authorized staffing and can ensure the health and safety of residents. Questions on this notice may be sent to [email protected]. The 25th Anniversary Of Olmstead
Saturday, June 22, 2024 will mark the 25th Anniversary of the Supreme Court's Decision in Olmstead v. L.C. The Department of Health and Human Services, The Administration for Community Living, and the Department of Justice are preparing an event to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Olmstead on June 20th, from 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time The event will stream online We urge our members to register for the event, in order to watch the proceedings and to see how they view the future of what they consider "Olmstead Enforcement" and how their interpretation of Olmstead affects our families. To register for the event, PLEASE CLICK HERE We often disagree with these agencies over their implementation of the Supreme Court's decision in Olmstead. Over the years, Olmstead has been misinterpreted, framed as an integration mandate, instead of being acknowledged as a mandate for Choice. VOR is proud to have submitted an Amicus Brief that was cited by the Court in that decision, declaring that for some individuals, an ICF remains the most integrated setting suitable to their needs. For more information on Olmstead, and to download a copy of the Olmstead Decision for yourself, Please Click Here The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS), in partnership with a survey management provider, Knowledge Services, plans to offer home and community-based service (HCBS) waiver members a second opportunity to participate in a survey about their experiences with our waiver services and supports. OADS will host online Zoom sessions with Knowledge Services to share information about the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) survey. These Zoom sessions will provide an overview of the HCBS CAHPS® survey, share information about the previous participation opportunity in Fall 2023 and review options for waiver member participation in Summer 2024.
We are hosting two Zoom sessions specific to target audiences: Waiver Members and their Families or HCBS service providers, Case Managers and Care Coordinators. If you would like to learn more or ask questions, please plan to register for a Zoom session that is most appropriate to your role (e.g., Waiver Member or Service Provider). Dates/Times: • Option 1 for Waiver Members and their Families, Guardians, or other Partners (e.g., Advocates) Session: Tues, June 25, 2024, from 11:30AM-12:30PM EST • Option 2 for HCBS Waiver Service Providers, Assessing Services Agencies, Case Managers and Care Coordinators Session: Wednesday, June 26, from 1:00 PM-2:00 PM EST Zoom Registration: There are Zoom registration links provided below. Please register for the session most appropriate to your role (e.g., Waiver Member or Service Provider). • Option 1 for Waiver Members and their Families, Guardians, or other Partners on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 from 11:30a-12:30p EST, register here: https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsdumqrzMpHtdgH1IFizks4LpPkQcAOAym • For Option 2 for Waiver Service Providers, Assessing Services Agencies, Case Managers and Care Coordinators on Wednesday, June 26, from 1:00 PM-2:00 PM EST, register here: https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtcu6trzIsHd3VL17AZDUOenJHP3X2LMU0 The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) at Maine's Department of Health and Human Services, along with project contractors from the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA), is creating new training on advanced person-centered practices and approaches tailored specifically for brain injury.
If you would like to get involved in a monthly task force or provide input through an interview, focus group, or listening session, please complete the survey (deadline is Friday, May 24th). SIS-A Updates and Question and Answer Session
Please join the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) and Maximus, our SIS-A assessment vendor for a SIS-A Question and Answer session. The session will focus on the Supports Intensity Scale for Adults 2nd Edition (SIS-A) needs assessments and will also offer updates. The SIS-A needs assessments will be for Sections 21 and 29 members and those on the waitlists. The SIS-A needs assessment will eventually be required for participation in the Lifespan Waiver. We invite you to attend this session to learn about the SIS-A in Maine. There will also be time for attendees to ask questions. All attendees are required to register for the session using the link below. A link to join the Zoom session will be sent to your email after you have registered. June 13, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Registration Link: https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkceqopj0pG9Bn5Z69xcU-hbJ9gij-D-Vc If you need an accommodation, such as real time transcription and captioning (CART), American Sign Language (ASL) or other language interpretation, please contact Miranda Whalen at [email protected]. |
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