Person Centered Thinking:
Charting the LifeCourse Framework Introduction (Sections 13, 18, 20, 21, and 29) Please join the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City Institute for Human Development for an introduction to Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC). We have heard self-advocates and families’ desire for self-determination and change and are introducing the CtLC framework to help individuals develop a vision for a “good life” and discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live. OADS’ vision is to promote individual dignity through respect, choice, and support for all adults. We are hosting 3 sessions with focused participant groups. In order to promote live interaction, providers and case managers/care coordinators will be asked to limit the number of attendees. Sessions will be recorded and posted after the event for those unable to attend. Session 1: Providers: Monday April 25, 2022 from 12:00pm - 1:30pm Registration Link: https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZItd-mhrTwrH9anIGrfsNHrWHMu1FF1cRnC Session 2: Case Managers/Care Coordinators: Tuesday April 26, 2022 from 9:30am - 11:00am Registration Link: https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvd-upqDssH9wmP1W7si_TGGevUEkqweKa Session 3: Individuals and Families/Guardians: Wednesday April 27, 2022 from 4:00pm -5:30pm Registration Link: https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMof-2tpz8pGdIjyqOV_eKEcFWPvXUdKXPZ Each session will cover:
Real time transcription and captioning (CART) and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided for these meetings. If you require accommodations to attend a session (for example: other language interpreters), please contact Miranda Whalen at [email protected] by April 11, 2022. More info about how to testify about CDS draft legislation (with the draft legislation at the end of this posting): From the Education Committee's "interested parties" listserv: Dear Interested Parties: Over the past few weeks, the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs engaged in extensive discussions regarding the future of the Child Development Services System and a proposal submitted by the Department of Education pursuant to LD 255, Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Develop a Plan for the Provision of Early Intervention Services and LD 386, 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. The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs is seeking your testimony and comment on draft legislation, attached, at a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, March 23rd at 9:30 a.m. This public hearing will be held electronically. Please submit written testimony to our committee clerk, Eli Murphy, at [email protected]. In the subject line please write “CDS Testimony – YOUR NAME”. In the body of the email be sure to include your name, your town or affiliation, and whether you are for the draft legislation, against it, or neither for nor against. If you would like to register to testify via Zoom at the public hearing, please register using the following link: REGISTER HERE. Registration will close 30 minutes prior to the start of the hearing. Please note that depending on how many people sign up to testify, the Chairs may limit testimony to 3 minutes each. In addition to the draft legislation attached to this email, additional information, including but not limited to the Department of Education reports pursuant to LD 255 and LD 386, may be found here. Please note that the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs has not taken a position on the substance of this draft legislation and by holding a public hearing is not suggesting and does not intend to suggest that it agrees or disagrees with any aspect of the draft legislation. The joint standing committee is holding the public hearing as it would for any other proposal that has been printed and referred to the committee. If a majority of the committee votes in favor of the draft legislation, or an amended version, the committee will report out a committee bill for the purpose of sending it to the floor with a final recommendation on the substance of the bill, and the bill will be taken up for action by the House and Senate. Sincerely, Elias Murphy Committee Clerk Education and cultural Affairs Maine Legislature (207) 287-3125 Attention Providers of Sections 18, 19, 20, 21 and 29: Appendix K Provisions to Maine’s Home and Community-Based Waiver Programs Extended
Service Caps and Related Provisions Extended Through June 30, 2022 Appendix K to Maine’s Home and Community-Based Services 1915(c) waiver programs provides flexibility to operate waiver programs during an emergency. Maine’s Appendix K and amendments may be found on the Medicaid.gov website. Service Caps and Other Provisions Extended and Modified Through June 30, 2022 Section K-2.b.ii. of Maine’s Appendix K was originally set to expire on May 31, 2020, but due to continuing need, the Department has extended this provision seven times, most recently through March 31, 2022. At this time, given continuing challenges related to COVID-19 throughout Maine, the Department will continue to provide flexibility under Section K-2.b.ii through June 30, 2022. Extended provisions include, but are not limited to the following flexibilities:
Provisions vary by waiver. Please read the additional information below for details. Appendix K, Section K-2.b.ii Provisions Extended Through June 30, 2022 Appendix C-4: The budget allocations enumerated in Appendix C-4 of the Home and Community-Based Services for Members with Brain Injury (ME.1082), the Elderly and for Adults with Disabilities (ME.0276), the Home and Community Based Services for Adults with Other Related Conditions (ME. 0995), the Home and Community Based Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ME 0159), and the Support Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ME.0467) waivers may be temporarily exceeded to provide needed services for emergency care. Service Limits in Sections C-1/C-3 ME.0276 (Section 19)
ME.1082 (Section 18), ME.0995 (Section 20), ME.0159 (Section 21), and ME.0467 (Section 29)
The Department is extending the staffing level provision due to persistent staffing shortages. Providers should plan to return staffing levels to at least 92.5% of authorized levels by June 30, 2022. Please note that all other provisions currently allowed in the Appendix K will continue until six months after the end of the federal Public Health Emergency. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. Forwarded Action Alert: Proposed Changes to Child Developmental Services (CDS) - Family Input Needed3/18/2022
Forwarded Action Alert from Maine Parent Federation:
Family Voice Needed Call to Action - Family Voice Needed Proposed Changes to Child Developmental Services (CDS) Will Greatly Impact Children with Special Needs Ages 0-5 Maine’s Department of Education (MDOE) has proposed legislation which will greatly impact services delivered by CDS. The proposal lacks sufficient detail, does not address significant concerns of stakeholders, and proposes a timeline that could be devastating for children, families, providers, schools, and taxpayers. What does the proposal do? The proposed legislation by MDOE would end CDS’s oversight of a Free & Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and the related services for children ages 3-5 and move both to the local School Administrative Unit (SAU) as of July, 1 2023. How will this impact your family? This aggressive timeline does not sufficiently address the impact on children and families. It could mean less parental choice in where and how your child receives services, a compromised Least Restrictive Environment (the ability for your child to receive their services within their community with their typically developing peers), and cause confusing transitions between CDS and local School Administrative Units. There are also no processes for contracting with childcare providers or Head Start centers. This could make obtaining childcare close to home or work challenging. Finally, there is no detailed plan for School Administrative Unit readiness which include funding, staffing or transportation. Ensuring that School Administrative Units are ready and able to provide quality services which are appropriate and available is important. What can you do? Your voice is critical and time is not on our side. The Education and Cultural Affairs Committee is meeting on Wednesday, 3/23 at 9:30am to review draft legislation regarding this. Please contact your Senators, Representatives and the Educational and Cultural Affairs Committee; when emailing the committee please include Committee Clerk, Elias Murphy. Your statement does not have to be detailed. Speak to how the changes will impact your family and ask them to slow the process down to explore other options to meet the needs of children without doing harm. Please direct questions to Carrie Woodcock. at [email protected] Maine Parent Federation| www.mpf.org Maine Parent Federation, Inc. | PO Box 2067, Augusta, ME 04338 207-588-1933 Behavioral Health Support and Crisis Services Analysis
Stakeholder Meeting You are invited to a kickoff meeting with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and 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 (IDD) and a mental health condition (IDD-MH). The Department contracted with The University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability to study mental health and crisis services for people who have IDD 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. This meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 from 2:30pm – 4:00pm. To attend this meeting, please register in advance by visiting: https://mainestate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpc-uurDgsHdA72W1zVh_HEn3lzA-R6eLd If you require accommodations to attend this meeting (for example sign language or other language interpreters), please contact Miranda Whalen at [email protected] by April 6, 2022. *The Center for START (Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, and Treatment) Services at the Institute on Disability/UCED at the University of New Hampshire is a national initiative that works to strengthen efficiencies and service outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs in the community. Children’s Behavioral Health Services Provider Meeting
Tuesday, March 22, 2022, 9:00AM - 11:00AM ZOOM ONLY PLEASE FIND THE AGENDA AS AN ATTACHMENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE Please join us for our Children’s Behavioral Health Services Provider meeting Tuesday, March 22, 2022 from 9:00am to 11:00am, via Zoom (Zoom information is included at the bottom of this page). Who should attend: Program Managers/Supervisors of: Behavioral Health Home Coordinators, Home and Community Based Providers, Outpatient Clinicians, Rehabilitative Community Support Services, and Targeted Case Managers actively serving youth with behavioral health challenges. The agenda for this meeting and all meeting materials can be found as attachments at the bottom of this page. If you will require accommodations, please contact Kellie Pelletier email: [email protected], tele. (207) 795-4644, TTY: 711 by Wednesday, March 17, 2022. MEETING CONTENT: This meeting will feature updates from OCFS, CDC, MaineCare and Kepro. Additionally, we'll have a discussion about future meetings and topics of interest. As always, attendees will have the opportunity to learn, network, and collaborate with peers. ATTACHMENTS: Attached to this communication are the following: 1) March 22, 2022 CBHS Provider Meeting Agenda: CBHS Provider Meeting Agenda 3.22.22.doc 2) List of helpful links: Helpful Links for 3-22-22 Provider Meeting.docx ZOOM INFORMATION: The Zoom information is included below, and on the attached agenda The Zoom Meeting link: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81694981192?pwd=WTR6RGNNbWxYQ1o2RzBFblI1V1dGUT09 Meeting ID: 816 9498 1192 Passcode: SdhgN1 We look forward to seeing you Tuesday, March 22, 2022! Cathy, Cheryl & Kellie At the conclusion of the meeting, please provide us with feedback by participating in this survey: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=q6g_QX0gYkubzeoajy-GTrwRlotxDgZBhzFFmGNMu5VUQjVDNTlKU0gxNTlLWDBNT1AwOVFNR09VWi4u Parent Connection Spring 2022
Happy Spring! The spring edition of the Maine Parent Federation newsletter, Parent Connection, is now available on our new website at: https://www.mpf.org/newsletters/ We recently updated our website so take a look around and let us know what you think! Please feel free to distribute this newsletter to others who may be interested. If you would like a printed copy of the newsletter, E-mail [email protected]. We hope you are enjoying the warmer weather, The MPF Staff Upcoming Webinar
Thursday, March 24, 2022. 1:00 - 4:00 pm (EST) Understanding Bias and Prejudice: Bringing the Unconscious Conscious As a network of leaders and providers, who champion people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their right to live lives fully integrated in the community, free from institutionalization, MACSP recognizes the intersections of discrimination among all people who are marginalized, and the deep impact that acts of neglect, hatred, and violence have on the human spirit. The Professional Development Committee is pleased to offer this session for MACSP members and interested peers and allies. REGISTER TODAY! SESSION DESCRIPTION This webinar will support participants in increasing their awareness of their own personal biases - both explicit and implicit - and how these biases impact the ways in which we navigate the world. Mandy will use a combination of videos, polls, storytelling, and slides to define and explore some of the biases and prejudices that impact many of us, oftentimes outside of our conscious awareness. Participants will explore effective techniques of challenging some of the scripts that have been inherited and as well as practical strategies for being a better ally and interrupting others’ biased and prejudicial language. This session can serve as the catalyst for a lifelong journey of exploring and challenging our biases and prejudices and a vital step towards building more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces and communities. PRESENTER BIO Mandy Levine, owner of Mandy Levine Consulting Mandy Levine is the owner of Mandy Levine Consulting (mandylevineconsulting.com), facilitating interactive classes and consulting for organizations large and small on myriad diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related topics. Mandy is also licensed in the State of Maine as a Professional Investigator and discreetly and efficiently conducts workplace investigations into allegations of harassment and discrimination. Before starting her own consulting business in 2020, Mandy spent several years practicing employment law in Boston and Burlington, Vermont. She then transitioned to civil rights work, advocating on behalf of victims of hate crimes and hate incidents as the Assistant Director of Civil Rights at the New England regional office of the Anti-Defamation League in Boston. Upon returning home to Maine after nearly 20 years away, Mandy spent four years as an HR Business Partner at Maine Medical Center and more recently worked at the City of Portland, spearheading DEI initiatives for the city’s staff. Mandy received her Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College in Vermont and her J.D. from Boston College Law School. Register Here MACSP and ANCOR Member: $60 NON-ANCOR/ MACSP Member: $7 Maine Disability Alerts - Forwarded Action Alert:
Dear Friends of Mainers with Disabilities, The legislature's HHS committee is meeting this Tuesday and Wednesday to "work" the supplemental budget bill (to decide what they're going to recommend to the Appropriations Committee). Please contact members to ask them to address these critical issues:
Contact info: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Southern Maine Advisory Council on Transition WHEN: FRIDAY, March 4, 2022 TIME: 1:00 – 3:00 Due to the pandemic this meeting will be held via ZOOM. Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/97767883962?pwd=TGdUZzJsa2UvNzlQd2RsckZZMGxJdz09 Join Us for SMACT’s March Meeting Presentation “Maine ABLE Accounts” Presenters: Elizabeth Lincoln and her staff at Bangor Savings Bank Living with a disability is often associated with significant amounts of extra costs. That’s why individuals and families can now contribute to ABLE accounts — tax-advantaged accounts that can fund disability expenses without impacting means-tested benefits eligibility. The Maine ABLE program, ABLE ME, is established and maintained by the Maine State Treasurer and administered by Bangor Savings Bank under applicable law. ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged accounts for individuals with disabilities and their families. ABLE Programs were created as a result of the passage of the Stephen Beck Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014, better known as the ABLE Act. Come hear about the eligibility and details of the program and have a chance to ask questions. FMI: https://www.bangor.com/able-home ✔ Wish to attend but require an interpreter? Please forward your request for an interpreter two weeks prior to the monthly meeting to [email protected] and one will be provided for your party. ✔ Please, feel free to distribute this flyer to anyone interested in joining us and/or receiving these e-mails. You can also now follow us on our Website or Facebook Page! Website: Https://sites.google.com/portlandschools.org/smact Thank you all for doing such wonderful work on behalf of students! |
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