ARTICLE
Audio (MP3) Listen in New Window Presentation (PDF) Open in new window Today's Agenda - Setting the Stage - Brief Review – Key Trends & Initiatives - IPAS Update and Survey Results - Small Group Dialogue - Access to Work and Employment Supports - Managing 14(c) Certificates / Determining Wage - Day to Day Experiences – Program Options & Considerations Setting the Stage - INARF Board Position: - Emphasis on Options, Access, and Choice - Focus on Building System Capacity for Community Employment - Dialogue with IPAS and VR - Share Information and Perspective - Identify Barriers, Solutions, and System Changes Key Trends & Initiatives - DOJ: Rhode Island Consent Decree - Over-Reliance on Facility Based Employment and Day Habilitation - 10 Year Rebalancing Plan; Impacting 3,250 Individuals - Target Populations: Transition Age Youth, Sheltered Workshop Participants, Day Habilitation Participants - Settlement Areas of Focus: Outreach, Education and Support; Provider Capacity; Interagency Collaboration; Funding; Quality Assurance; Data Collection & Monitoring - Targets: at least 20 hours/week Integrated Employment; balance up to 40 hours/week Integrated Day Services - Exception Process: Requires completion of vocational assessment, trial work experience, outreach & education, benefits counseling - CMS Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule - Rule was Effective March 17, 2014 - Though States Have 5-Year Transition Period - Indiana Transition Plan - Assessment Phase (Complete by 04/2017) - Remediation strategies (Complete by 06/2018) - Stakeholder input (on-going) - CMS HCBS Settings Rule Requirements - Setting is integrated in and supports access to community - Selected by individual from array of options - Ensures rights, dignity, respect, and freedom from coercion and restraint - Optimizes autonomy and independence in making life choices, and - Facilitates choice regarding services and who provides them - CMS HCBS Settings Rule Requirements: Non-Residential Settings Questions - Centers around options, access, and choice - What options are provided to the individual? - What choices are they afforded? - How is the individual supported in making choices? - Applies to all choices – big and small - Differences with Residential Questions - Variety of activities available - Employment opportunities - Decision-making support - Emphasis on Individualized, Community Options - Community, Competitive Employment is Presumed Outcome - Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act - Re-Alignment of Federal Programs - Clarify Key Definitions - Competitive Integrated Employment - Supported Employment - Extends Supported Employment Services - Emphasis on Transition-Aged Youth - Pre-Transition Services - Allocation of State VR Funds - Limitations on Use of Subminimum Wage - Transition Aged Youth - Initial and On-Going Requirements - Federal Advisory Committee Common Themes - Evolutionary Change for Those in Services - More Revolutionary for Transition-Aged Youth - Focus on Informed Choice - Informational - Experiential Maine Study – Lessons Learned - Data Driven Policy Making - Flexibility in Systems for Financing Services - Family and Individual Support - Support Systems for Providers / Staff Training - Support for Employers and Co-Workers - Recognition as a part of the community - Addressing health and safety needs - Fiscal Integrity