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The Veterans Health Administration plans to partner with the Aging Network in order to be serving over 109,000 veterans using HCBS by 2011. February 25 and 26, 2009, these organizations met in Boston to develop the partnership, work out next steps, and identify challenges. Presentations provide details on existing infrastructure, Nursing Home Diversion, financial management services, and existing research on HCBS and self-direction.

Since 1963, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act has steered federal funds to support research, advocacy, best practices, and demonstration projects. It set the ground for other groundbreaking legislation. Here you will find the text of the 2000 renewal of the Act and a free online repository housing a legislative history and older analyses and relevant technical assistance documents.

This eighth edition of this reference report presents comparable state- and national-level data for more than 140 indicators on long-term services and supports from a wide variety of sources. Published approximately every two years, the series was developed to help inform policy discussions among public and private sector leaders. This publication presents the most up-to-date data available at the time of production, and is displayed in easy-to-use maps, graphics, tables, and state profiles.

The experience of the Cobb and Douglas Counties Community Services Boards in Georgia in shifting from a segregated traditional service system to an innovative system focusing on economic development for persons with disabilities illustrates some common aspects of system change. The 7-year organizational evolution is analyzed here. The main points that emerged are: staff development; partnerships and funding; sustainability; management and HR practices; and expanding coverage to new populations.

Family responsibilities discrimination (FRD) occurs when workers are unfairly penalized based on family responsibilities, such as caring for a family member that is older or disabled. Despite the growing number of workers with such responsibilities and the dramatic increase in FRD lawsuits, policies in most states do not yet address it. Find here more information on FRD, a summary of proposed and existing state laws, and resources for further research.

This cross-disability synthesis white paper presents an overview of direct service workforce (DSW) challenges and practices across sectors and provides a call to action regarding these issues. Little has been written about how DSW jobs vary by population served. Beyond demographics and challenges, the authors also examine the development of different service models, promising practices and areas for planning and action. The appendix catalogs core competencies for each group.

Models, innovations, and best practices in case management and support coordination for persons with disabilities are described here. Policy issues, the CMS Quality Framework, and types of case management and differences in service by waiver group are given. The brief also links to innovative programs in 7 states and England.

Revisit the material presented at the 2008 HCBS Conference. The DSW Intensive provided an overview of the direct service workforce challenges and the initiatives being researched and developed to address them. Intensive materials posted include a planning document, trends in policy and recommendations for data collection.

Find answers to your questions about FMS. The Cash & Counseling National Program Office originally presented this overview during a technical assistance call. It defines self-direction and reviews the duties of FMS agencies and issues in the field. Among these are definitions of services and employee categories, types of FMS, tax and labor laws, costs, and funding models.

Several culture change models are well-established in skilled nursing, but how can they be adapted to home and community-based services? Here is a look at how providers are putting culture change to work for their clients, with a special emphasis on building engagement and fighting isolation for clients still living in their own homes.