Real Choice Systems Change

In October 2003, the Connecticut Department of Social Services, in collaboration with the Real Choice Steering Committee, which includes Consumers, State agencies and the University of Connecticut A.J. Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service, received a three-year grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement CHOICE (Connecticut Has Opportunities for Independence, Choice and Empowerment).

This report describes the FY ‘01 & FY ‘02 Grantees’ accomplishments & progress, using information from 10/1/02 to 9/30/03 (Year Two of grant period for FY ‘01 Grantees & Year One of grant period for FY ‘02 Grantees). The report describes grant activities in six major areas: Consumer Direction & Control, Access to LTC Services & Supports, State Budgeting & Reimbursement Rates & Methodologies, Service Creation/Modification, LTC Service & Support Workforce, Quality Management Mechanism.

On October 12, 2004 the Community Living Exchange Collaborative at Rutgers Center for State Health Policy hosted a Self-Direction audio conference for Independence Plus and CPASS grantees to discuss Person-Centered Planning and Individual Budgeting. Presentations inlcuded CMS, Minnesota, Wyoming, and New Hampshire.

On October 5, 2004, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announced $31 million in grants to 31 states to help people with disabilities or long-term illnesses live in their homes and participate fully in community life. The grants were awarded under the New freedom Initiative and are known as Real Choice Systems Change Grants. A total of 52 grants were awarded in nine categories. The press release, which describes the grant categories, and list of grantees are available.

On August 23, 2004, the Community Living Exchange Collaborative at Rutgers Center for State Health Policy hosted a conference call on Children's SED Waivers presented to Community-based Treatment Alternatives for Children (CTAC) grantees. The agenda will included presentations from NY, KS, VT, IN, WI. Please note: This was an informal presentation to a small group of grantees.

This conference was designed to assess state initiatives to improve quality, cost, and access and to help policy makers—from both the executive and legislative branches—identify the most promising and cost effective of these programs and policies. Sessions of interest for grantees include: Quality Challenges in LTC, Self-Direction Sweeping States, Information to Live by...Building Integrated Health Data Systems, Beyond HCBS Waivers, Money Follows the Person, Medicare Modernization Act

News release on the sale of Dammasch State Hospital. The Oregon Office of Mental Health & Addiction Services seeking entities to sponsor the development of a variety of housing projects for persons with mental illness to be developed at Villebois in Wilsonville, Oregon. The proceeds of the sale, less expenses related to the complex real estate transaction, will be deposited in the Community Mental Health Housing Fund.

Oregon administrative rule establishing the standards for the Oregon Community Mental Health Housing Fund that was created with certain proceeds from the sale of a state facility. The fund will be used to create community housing arrangements for persons with serious mental illness.

This site is designed to provide up to date information, resources and training materials for use by supports coordinators/service coordinators and their supervisors who are in the field of Mental Retardation/developmental disabilities in Pennsylvania.

More than 30 of the 101 Systems Change Grants that began in FY 2001 or FY 2002 have activities to improve the recruitment, retention, or quality of the direct service workforce. RTI International conducted phone interviews with the 20 FY 2001 grantees with workforce activities and conducted site visits with 7 of them to document their initiatives. This teleconference presentation will address a policy framework that identifies initiatives that appear promising to states.