Sustainability

Is Indiana's Work Incentive Planning & Assistance program creating sustainable work incentive supports? The attached presentation outlines how policies and resources implemented by the program have helped create long term sustainability by providing training, technical assistance & quality assurance. A sample of this presentation is attached and could be useful to other MIG states with similar program goals.

TAC is a national non-profit organization that advances proven solutions to the housing and community support needs of vulnerable low-income people with significant long-term disabilities. Their goal is to achieve sustainable public sector systems change through evidenced-based, promising approaches in mental health, substance abuse, human services and affordable and permanent supportive housing. Visit this website to find news, training, publications, and policy and program info.

RTI is preparing a series of reports to document outcomes from the Systems Change grants. Divided into six parts, the first four provide an overview of the enduring improvements, continuing challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations of the 48 Research & Demonstration Grantees, organized by the four types of grants: CPASS, MFP, IP, & QA/QI. Part 5 provides summaries of the FTF Grants. Part 6 reviews the Respite for Adults and Children and Community-Based Treatment Alternatives for Children.

The brief explains how Medicaid works in today’s health care system and answers some of the key questions of how Medicaid fits into broader health reform efforts. Information is given in question and answers. The authors offer their opinion on how eligibility, benefits, finance, and other characteristics of the program should be changed.

Three researchers use data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation to estimate the expense of a mandatory personal assistance services (PAS) benefit under Medicaid for persons with low incomes, low assets, and significant disability. They conclude that the cost would be much lower than estimated by the Congressional Budget Office. They also argue that this step would help eliminate the institutional bias of Medicaid.

The largest and fastest growing group of Social Security disability program beneficiaries is people with psychiatric disabilities. The paper finds that combining evidence-based supported employment with mental health services could reduce the rate of disability and enable those already disabled to gain employment, potentially saving personal and government money. Four policy recommendations are given to achieve this goal.

How can state developmental disabilities agencies minimize service interruptions while absorbing budget cuts? At a 2008 forum, directors of these agencies shared their strategies, experiences and thoughts on the topic. Those ideas are synthesized here.

While progress is being made in finding meaningful jobs for individuals with developmental disabilities, an economic downturn makes it difficult to hold the focus on employment goals and maintain momentum within state agencies, services providers, and community employers. State officials offer talking points to guide and assist decision-making to maintain critical components of the service delivery system.

This website offers information on the range of funding sources available to State Medicaid and other agencies and stakeholders to support the development of a high quality direct service labor force. It breaks the information down into 5 categories including current, federal, state, foundation and other types of funding and includes examples of sources and strategies for funding future DSW initiatives.

Here is the strategic plan guiding a statewide public-private partnership meant to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The document reviews the current state of employment, the planning process, mission, priorities, and implementation and evaluation plans.