Meeting on May 17 to Update Stakeholders on Section 9817 HCBS Improvement Plan
All interested stakeholders are invited to a meeting with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm. As the department proceeds with the Section 9817 Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Improvement Plan, this meeting is an opportunity to hear about updates to the plan and the Department’s short-term priorities. This meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm Please register in advance by clicking on the link below https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqd--srjMtH9LMK6lK6FePUwKsRiX3QEZM After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Real time transcription and captioning (CART) will be provided for this meeting. If you require accommodations to attend this meeting (for example sign language or other language interpreters), please contact us at [email protected] by May 10, 2022. For the 4th year, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is pleased to be partnering with the University of Maine to offer STEP UP – a college prep summer program for upper-level high school students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. We are very excited to be back on campus after two summers of offering the program virtually. STEP UP will run from July 11-August 12. This year we are focusing on a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) themed program. We have a great in-person 3- credit introduction to STEM course that the students will be taking (INT 188 see attached course flyer), an associated Project-Based Learning Paid Work Experience, and of course 5 weeks of living in the dorm and eating in the café. Janet May from the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies and Dr. Josh Taylor, UMaine Asst. Professor of Special Education will be offering College Prep Seminars. There will also be a day of PEERS® Bootcamp for social skill development with UMaine Autism expert Dr. Sarah Howorth and VR staff. Janet May and I will be starting very soon to schedule informational interviews with interested youth and families. We expect to enroll approximately 10 youth. If you have someone who could benefit from this opportunity – please share the flyer and/or pass along their contact information to me. We expect that slots will fill quickly! As a reminder – there is no cost to youth or families to participate. Attention Providers of Sections 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, and 96 Services: Part AAAA Long-Term Services and Supports and HCBS Rate Increases
May 02, 2022 Attention Providers of Sections 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, and 96 Services: Part AAAA Long-Term Services and Supports and HCBS Rate Increases This week, the Department will update the rates for MaineCare Benefits Manual Sections 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, and 96 associated with Part AAAA of P.L. 2021, ch. 398 retroactively to January 1, 2022. Please see our previous announcement for more detail on these rate increases, including a summary rate table with specific codes and rates affected by this change. The Department will have prior authorizations (PAs) updated for sections 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, and 96 services and claims will be available for provider adjustment on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, with one exception: PAs for Section 21 Home Support- Agency Per Diem (T2016 or T2016 SC), will be updated and claims will be available for adjustment on Friday, May 20, 2022. The later date for these Agency Home Support codes is due to additional system changes needed to enable retroactive billing of those rates. We will notify you when the PA updates and full list of rates are in the MIHMS Health PAS Online Portal, and you may adjust your claims for the higher rate at that time. The purpose of these rate adjustments is to ensure that the labor components of rates are equal to at least 125% of minimum wage, consistent with the intent of Part AAAA of the biennial budget, for numerous long-term care and home and community-based services. The rates are further calibrated to reflect actual changes in the cost of living over the past year, providing additional support for the wages of all staff providing these services and for other programmatic costs. Please see the e-message from January 31, 2022 for more information regarding these rate updates. The Department has received approvals from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for these rate increases. Please contact Provider Relations Specialist, Tammy Usher with questions. Cultural Competence and Inclusion Webinar: Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)
When: May 11, 2022 7:30-8:30 am Please register in advance for this Zoom webinar. Disability as a construct has been defined from multiple perspectives. How people with disabilities have been viewed and served throughout Maine and the United States has shifted and changed from living in institutions to living in the community. Many people with I/DD and their families have experienced trauma by the systems that care for them. One way to mitigate the potential for such trauma is to ensure that professionals understand the concepts of civil rights, self-advocacy, and self-determination in relation to disability inequality. Webinar participants will also gain skills to ensure published materials are in plain language and will be introduced to other commonly used communication strategies. Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will be educated regarding aspects of the stigma, bias, civil rights movement, self-advocacy, and self-determination related to disability and social inequality. 2. Participants will learn the basics of developing plain language materials. 3. Participants will be introduced to commonly used communication strategies such as social stories and Picture Exchange Communication Systems. Presenter: Nancy Cronin, Executive Director, Maine Developmental Disabilities Council Bio: Nancy Cronin is the Executive Director of the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) which she has led for the last 14 years. Nancy has focused on improving healthcare, education, early intervention, and other efforts by facilitating systems change to achieve a cost-effective and efficient comprehensive system of care for persons with DD. Nancy joined the staff of the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council in January 2008, having previously served for over four years as the Executive Director of the Autism Society of Maine. Please join us for our final meeting of the year which will feature a very informative presentation by the Office of Aging and Disability Services. The presenters will provide updated information about the referral process and services provided by OADS. This meeting will be by Zoom at 1:00. A flyer with more info is below. The link is below. Presenters will be: Pete Auger, Regional Supervisor York/Cumberland County Office of Aging and Disability Services Mariah Hadyniak, Intake Coordinator for York County Vanessa Clements, Intake Coordinator for Cumberland County https://zoom.us/j/93200923441?pwd=TUc0SWNxa0N1R0pVd2QvNU1yT09jUT09 The Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) supports Maine's older and disabled adults by providing Adult Protective, Brain Injury, Other Related Conditions, Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Long Term Care, and Aging and Community services to the people of Maine. OADS coordinates services to assure they operate consistent with the state and federal policies and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services' goals. The vision of OADS is to promote individual dignity through respect, choice and support for all adults. It promotes the highest level of independence, health, and safety for older adults and adults with disabilities throughout Maine. DHHS Office of Aging and Disability Services
Meeting on May 17 to Update Stakeholders on Section 9817 HCBS Improvement Plan All interested stakeholders are invited to a meeting with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm. As the department proceeds with the Section 9817 Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Improvement Plan, this meeting is an opportunity to hear about updates to the plan and the Department’s short-term priorities. This meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm Please register in advance by clicking on the link below https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqd--srjMtH9LMK6lK6FePUwKsRiX3QEZM After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Real time transcription and captioning (CART) will be provided for this meeting. If you require accommodations to attend this meeting (for example sign language or other language interpreters), please contact us at [email protected] by May 10, 2022. DHHS Office of Aging and Disability Services
Introduction to Self-Direction In Section 29 Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Support Waiver Please join the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) and Applied Self Direction for an introduction to Self-Direction. We have heard self-advocates and families’ desire for self-determination and change and are introducing the upcoming implementation of Self Direction in Section 29. This service will allow members to manage their own services, decide who to hire and control their schedule for the following services:
We are hosting 2 sessions that will introduce Case Managers, Members and their families to Financial Management Services, Support Brokerage and the services members will be able to self-direct. Sessions will be recorded and posted after the event for those unable to attend. Session 1: Friday, May 6, 2022 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Join Zoom Meeting https://appliedselfdirection.zoom.us/j/82878385150 Meeting ID: 828 7838 5150 One tap mobile +16465588656,,82878385150# US (New York) +13017158592,,82878385150# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 828 7838 5150 Find your local number: https://appliedselfdirection.zoom.us/u/kABP1Mp9P Session 2: Friday, May 13, 2022 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Join Zoom Meeting https://appliedselfdirection.zoom.us/j/82878385150 Meeting ID: 828 7838 5150 One tap mobile +16465588656,,82878385150# US (New York) +13017158592,,82878385150# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 828 7838 5150 Find your local number: https://appliedselfdirection.zoom.us/u/kABP1Mp9P All Community Case Managers, Members and Family members are welcome to attend. If you require accommodations such as real time transcription and captioning (CART) or American Sign Language (ASL) or other language interpretation to attend a session, please contact Miranda Whalen at [email protected] by May 2, 2022. In-Person Family Support Navigator Training
May 14, 2022 in the Augusta Area 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Are you the parent or caregiver to a child with a disability or special health care need? Would you like to share your knowledge to help other Maine families? If so, this opportunity may interest you! Maine Parent Federation (MPF) is seeking parents, grandparents, and caregivers to children with disabilities and special health care needs who would like to become a Family Support Navigator (FSN) to provide peer support to other families in your area. The FSN program matches experienced parents with other parents who need support while learning to navigate systems such as Special Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, MaineCare, Adult Services, etc., and assists in locating local and statewide resources while helping parents learn to advocate for themselves. During the COVID-19 Pandemic all support is provided through phone, text, email, and social media platforms such as zoom. In-person support can be provided if both parent and navigator agree. As a parent who has been involved with MPF in the past, we are contacting you to see if you would like to use your skills and knowledge to support other Maine families. A Family Support Navigator is a part-time independent consultant position. MPF contracts with you to provide up to 10 hours of support to each family you help. We pay $15.00 per hour of direct support to a family, a $40 monthly stipend for phone/internet, and .44 cents per mile travel reimbursement. This is a flexible opportunity as you set your own hours/schedule. MPF provides on-going supervision and technical assistance. The first part of the training will be in-person on Saturday, May 14, 2022 in the Augusta area (location to be determined) from 10AM to 4PM. Lunch will be provided. Childcare is not available. We offer a $150 stipend after completion of the training and mileage reimbursement. Please feel free to pass this along to other families you know who may be interested in providing peer-to-peer support to others. Please contact Deborah Newcombe at (800) 870-7746 or E-mail: [email protected] to receive an application and job description and to answer any questions. Onward Together: Reflect, Reimagine and Rebuild
2022 Annual Conference Dates: Tuesday & Wednesday, May 10 & 11, 2022 Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Portland, Maine Onward Together: Reflect, Reimagine and Rebuild, the MACSP 2022 Annual Conference will bring over 150 professionals together to reconnect and reinvigorate the work of Maine’s network of providers supporting children and adults with Intellectual Disabilities, Autism, and Brain Injury. The conference will feature a wide variety of sessions and topics, with expertise joining us from across the nation! Our exhibitor hall will be buzzing with twenty-exhibitors. Register Here Southern Maine Advisory Council on Transition (SMACT) Join Us for SMACT’s April Meeting Presentation by Zoom on Friday 4/1 at 1:00. See the flyer below for more information. Here is the link: https://zoom.us/j/95225624720?pwd=aGJLTWE5bnp5dWo5YWZCNDBxVzVLZz09 “Serving the Homeless Youth Population” Gabe Smith, Community Services Department Street Outreach Coordinator, from New Beginnings will be our presenter. Each year New Beginnings provides hundreds of children, teens, and young adults with opportunities for the safety, connection, and growth that all people need to thrive. New Beginnings has served runaway and homeless youth and Maine families in crisis since 1980. Their complete continuum of services provides an essential “safety net” for young people in Maine who don’t have stable family support and are at risk of homelessness. Come hear about their mission and vision for this population of youth. |
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