ARTICLE
At both the federal and state levels, there are anticipated changes in the delivery of day and employment services over the next several years that may impact Hoosiers with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as those providers that support them. As the premier association for providers of services to individuals with disabilities, INARF is dedicated to ensuring that its members remain informed as state and national policy evolves, and to working with state agencies, families, and self-advocates in developing a mutual understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. In light of these important issues, INARF is committed to the following position, as resolved by the INARF Board of Directors. “Nationally, there are significant changes moving forward in terms of how day and employment services for individuals with disabilities are planned, designed, and delivered. These changes are intended to further greater home and community based options and to address eliminating barriers, promoting consumer freedom and choice, creating individualized supports and community integration. INARF believes the purposes behind these efforts are important. Further, INARF Board of Directors is committed to maximizing options, access, and choice for those our members serve. To the extent that consumer choice, options, and access are promoted, INARF is supportive of efforts oriented at improving system and provider capacity to provide integrated community-based day and employment services. However, this support is conditioned on the understanding that transitioning day and employment services model from center-based to community-based must be done in a way to support true informed choice and preserves rather than removes service options. While the ends may ultimately justify the means, re-engineering a thirty-year old system of supports serving thousands of individuals to achieve these purposes is not an easy one and is lined with the potential for incredible good, as well as potential for regrettable unintended consequence. As a result, the INARF Board of Directors resolves the following as a means to prepare its members to respond these changes and to be a collaborative partner in advocating for appropriate systems changes focused on ensuring a sustainable and responsive service provider network that maximizes options, access, and choice for those served: Historically, Indiana’s provider community has had success with efforts to move to community-based services and supported employment. This history has taught that consistent leadership and funding within the state agencies is critical to sustaining momentum. From a pragmatic perspective, moving to greater community-based services necessarily requires greater financial and human resources to provide the additional support required to ensure services are effective and meaningful. In addition, for those individuals residing with families assurances are needed to ensure the availability of resources to provide adequate coverage, support, and personal safety. In order to begin proactively addressing these issues, INARF has tasked its Innovation and Systems Change and Industry Infrastructure Committees (or their successors) with researching the experience of other states and provider organizations who have worked to appreciably address these issues with a focus on : The role of public policy in these efforts and identify potential strategies that could be implemented or adapted for use in Indiana, Identification of promising models of practice support organizations in moving the dial toward more community based services and Develop training, tools, and other resources to support members in building and enhancing their competencies in this area. Examples of such programs might include the “make a difference” approach, Stellar Community Designations, business incubator models, etc… Once this research is complete, the INARF Board of Directors will amend this resolution to add additional action steps oriented at building system and provider capacity, including understanding the long-term system implications of transition on persons served and the service delivery system, assurances that individuals receive comparable level of support and understanding of the system-wide fiscal impact and investments needed for success. In addition, the INARF Board resolves that its work be done in partnership with self-advocates, families, and state agencies to develop a mutual understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and solutions for successful outcomes for all. “ For more information, please contact Christiaan Campbell or Keith Digman.
At both the federal and state levels, there are anticipated changes in the delivery of day and employment services over the next several years that may impact Hoosiers with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as those providers that support them. As the premier association for providers of services to individuals with disabilities, INARF is dedicated to ensuring that its members remain informed as state and national policy evolves, and to working with state agencies, families, and self-advocates in developing a mutual understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. In light of these important issues, INARF is committed to the following position, as resolved by the INARF Board of Directors. “Nationally, there are significant changes moving forward in terms of how day and employment services for individuals with disabilities are planned, designed, and delivered. These changes are intended to further greater home and community based options and to address eliminating barriers, promoting consumer freedom and choice, creating individualized supports and community integration. INARF believes the purposes behind these efforts are important. Further, INARF Board of Directors is committed to maximizing options, access, and choice for those our members serve. To the extent that consumer choice, options, and access are promoted, INARF is supportive of efforts oriented at improving system and provider capacity to provide integrated community-based day and employment services. However, this support is conditioned on the understanding that transitioning day and employment services model from center-based to community-based must be done in a way to support true informed choice and preserves rather than removes service options. While the ends may ultimately justify the means, re-engineering a thirty-year old system of supports serving thousands of individuals to achieve these purposes is not an easy one and is lined with the potential for incredible good, as well as potential for regrettable unintended consequence. As a result, the INARF Board of Directors resolves the following as a means to prepare its members to respond these changes and to be a collaborative partner in advocating for appropriate systems changes focused on ensuring a sustainable and responsive service provider network that maximizes options, access, and choice for those served:
For more information, please contact Christiaan Campbell or Keith Digman.