2003 Research and Demonstration Grants — Independence Plus Initiative
MAINE
Grant Information
- Name of Grantee
- Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS)
- Title of Grant
- Supporting Choice and Control for Maine Adults with Mental Retardation or Autism
- Type of Grant
- Independence Plus Initiative
- Amount of Grant
- $500,000
- Year Original Funding Received
- 2003
Contact Information
Jane Gallivan, Principle Investigator
207–287–6642
jane.gallivan@maine.gov
David Goddu, Project Director
40 State House Station
Kennebec County
Augusta, ME 04333
207–287–6642
david.goddu@maine.gov
Subcontractor(s)
Paul Saucier, Acting Project Manager
Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service
207–780–5176
pauls@usm.maine.edu
The Center for Community Inclusion, University of Maine
The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services
STRIVE and Speaking Up For Us
Other consultants to be decided.
Target Population(s)
Adults with mental retardation or autism.
Goals
- Implement an Independence Plus Initiative waiver program for adults with mental retardation or autism.
- Assist consumers and families to understand their responsibilities and options within the Independence Plus Initiative waiver program.
- Provide consumers and families with tools and supports that help them make choices and participate actively in planning and managing their services.
- Assist support brokers to understand and perform their role consistent with the philosophy of self-determination.
- Adopt policies regarding the use of surrogates/representatives in self-direction, and people with surrogates/representatives participating in the Independence Plus Initiative waiver.
Activities
- Submit a 1915(c) Independence Plus Initiative waiver application and develop an implementation plan.
- Develop, test, and refine information and training material, that employ universal design principles for full access, for consumers and families that addresses options and responsibilities under the Independence Plus Initiative waiver program.
- Develop, test, and refine tools that consumers and families can use to self-direct their supports, including consumer-provider agreements and model job descriptions.
- Implement policy regarding the use of surrogates and representatives to ensure that self-direction can include persons who require regular assistance with their responsibilities.
- Develop, test, and refine training for support brokers, employing consumers as partners in a co-instruction model.
- Analyze national practices for establishing personal budgets and finalize an approach for Maine.
- Develop and implement a Fiscal Employer Agent position to support consumers with payroll and other administrative responsibilities.
- Assess consumer and family experiences in the new program and make changes as needed.
- Develop a sustainability plan that identifies resources and determines a sustainable growth rate in the waiver.
Abstract
Maine's Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS) is developing a new Independence Plus Initiative waiver program for adults with mental retardation or autism. The new program is intended to address the changing needs of people with mental retardation or autism in Maine by enhancing choice and control for consumers, and by offering different and more flexible supports within a philosophy of self-determination. The primary goal of the grant is to ensure that consumers and families have sufficient information, training, and support to manage their own services and supports as participants in the new program.
For consumers and family members to exercise greater choice and control, they must understand their options and responsibilities under the new Independence Plus Initiative waiver program, and must be given the tools and supports needed for successful self-direction. Likewise, people who have played traditional roles in the current system (i.e., case managers) must understand how roles change when consumers choose to direct their own supports.
This grant will support development and delivery of training and other supports to ensure that true system change occurs, initially in adult mental retardation services, and ultimately throughout the state's community-integrated services. Major partners include consumers, families, providers, and other state agencies.