Children and Families

The information included in this booklet is a starting point in educating and informing caregivers of children with disabilities about their rights and creating early expectations and models for self-determination. Also listed are a number of non-profit, cross-disability organizations offering emotional support and a wealth of information on how to get the services you need for your child in Arkansas. This user-friendly guide also includes a dictionary plus a glossary called Alphabet Soup.

The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) Medicaid Infrastructure Grant is working to develop health care supports that help people with disabilities become - and remain - employed. One of the key objectives focuses on students ages 18-22 in transition who have severe disabilities. The survey gathered information to inform and guide implementation and to identify areas for resource mapping in the demonstration sites.

The Georgia QA/QI Real Choice Systems Change grant employed a variety of person centered planning (PCP) techniques in order to change services to fit the needs of consumers. This document is a variety of flyers and notices that the grantee used in order to recruit consumers to participate in its PCP focus and planning groups.

The 7th CMS New Freedom Initiative Conference was held March 5-7 in Baltimore. Presentations are available in both PDF and text formats. “Choice and Independence” is a key pillar of CMS’ vision for a person-centered long term services and supports system for the future. The 2007 conference focused on the policies, programs, and tools -including opportunities authorized by the Deficit Reduction Act– available to shape and carry out the vision.

People Talking to People Building Quality and Making Change Happen accomplishes not just a system change, but also a paradigm shift. Their goal is to create a system of quality assurance and quality improvement that has consumers providing feedback. The feedback gathered during the three year period allows for system wide quality improvement by giving consumers and their family members a voice, thus able to control important choices and decisions in their own lives.

The Compendium contains basic information about each of the Real Choice Systems Change Grant awards in FY03–FY04 plus the Family to Family and Systems Transformation Grantees awarded in FY05 and FY06. The Compendium will help Grantees identify others with similar goals and activities. Learn more about how the grants will be used to allow more people of all ages with a disability or long term illness to live and participate in their communities. The sixth edition replaces all previous editions.

This group of presentations were offered around the state of Colorado in regional training sessions. The day focused on various aspects of consumer direction, including case managers, Medicaid options, and working with personal-care attendants. Other presentations include transitioning a child to consumer-directed health care and a presentation on the benefits, rights, and responsibilities of consumer direction.

As part of its quality management program, Wisconsin revised its Individual Service Plan (ISP) form that was required as part of the Medicaid waiver process. The new revised forms address individual outcomes. Attached forms include the ISP Instructions, Medicaid form, and Individual Outcomes.

This report provides a comprehensive framework for Wisconsin’s Functional Screen Quality Assurance. Wisconsin’s Functional Screen system (a web-based application that collects information about an individual’s functional status, health and need for assistance for various programs) is comprised of three separate screens: Adult Long Term Care Functional Screen (LTC FS), Children’s Long Term Support Functional Screen (CLTS FS), and Mental Health/AODA Functional Screen (MH/AODA FS).

The UCare website is a feature of the Utah Department of Human services and exists primarily to help caregivers and provide link to other resources. Resources are for the elderly, people with mental illness, for people with disabilities and their caregivers. Information is available on-line and through a statewide toll free number. Other features to note include provider report cards, guides, a glossary and the long-term care planning tool.