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July 23, 2021
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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 IARF LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Exciting news on the 2021 IARF Leadership Conference front! Yesterday, IARF announced the keynote lineup for the event. Joining us for the opening of the event will be Leslie Crutchfield. Leslie is an author, educator, social impact strategist, and the Executive Director of Business for Impact at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. She teaches courses on nonprofit leadership and management, corporate responsibility, social movements and advises nonprofit, corporate, and philanthropic leaders on social impact strategy. See Leslie live at the 2021 IARF Leadership Conference on Thursday, September 16th at 1:00 pm!
 
Our second keynote speaker, Dr. Pascal Losambe, is the Co-founder and CCO of Synergy Consulting company. Dr. Losambe earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Purdue University with a focus on cultural competence. In addition, he is the curriculum director, keynote speaker and educator for a city-wide initiative to foster unity and reconciliation. Dr. Losambe will present live and in-person at the 2021 IARF Leadership Conference Friday, September 17th at 10:00 am and you won’t want to miss it! Click here to learn more about the 2021 IARF Leadership Conference and register today. (Contact: Maggie Henley)
 

JULY MEETING OF THE MEMBERSHIP FOCUSES ON RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STRATEGIES
On Wednesday, IARF hosted our first set of in-person membership meetings at the IARF headquarters in Springfield. Several members attended in-person along with others joining in virtually. Thank you again to our supporting members over at Foothold Technology for making the trip and brining in some sweet treats; a copy of their presentation at Wednesday’s meeting can be found here.

During the Meeting of the Membership, members in-person and virtual had the opportunity to break out into smaller groups for networking and more focused discussions. As we expected, workforce recruitment and retention strategies were top of mind for attendees.  We are thankful to members that shared strategies that seem to be working for their agencies, which include:
  • Implementing a live-in model in group homes with limited DSP rotations – reduced one member’s staff vacancy rate by over 60%;
  • Making good on mid-year rate adjustments by putting wage increases in place at the start of the fiscal year – one member mentioned implementing a full $1.00/hr wage increase effective July 1st;
  • Review of handbook and personnel benefits to ensure they are good for different generations of staff – ensuring 401k benefits are robust while looking at more time off for younger staff;
  • Establishing advances on pay to staff – one member has been using Daily Pay for over a year with nearly 30% of staff signed up;
  • Looking at pet insurance as a staff benefit based on discussions with a local hospital system – one member executive has changed the name of his children to Smokey and Bandit for coverage;
Association staff are going to explore one or more webinar opportunities on some of the strategies outlined above so we can maximize sharing effective strategies across the state.
 
Thanks again for the excellent meetings and we look forward to seeing more members in person in the coming months! (Contact: All Staff)
 

SECURE FULL SUPPORT OF CONGRESS ON $400B CAREGIVER AND HCBS INVESTEMENT
This is an important reminder that we are asking all members to remain vigilant in their Congressional outreach to ensure full support for President Biden’s proposed $400 billion caregiver and HCBS investment.  Conversations that have emerged from the hill the last several days indicate the strong support for this full investment has waned as priorities collide for limited funds.  Association staff have engaged with both Senators Duckworth and Durbin’s offices, both of which have reiterated their support for the Better Care Better Jobs Act.  Please, if you’ve not done so already, please make use of ANCOR’s advocacy alert tool to check in with your members of Congress. 
 
As Governor Pritzker’s Administration continues to plan for how to fully fund the Guidehouse rate study and address other system pressures, we need these federal investments. (Contact: Josh Evans)
 

NEON BUILDING MEANINGFUL LIVES 2.0 COMMUNTY OF PRACTICE CONCLUDES
As a part of the NEON Building Meaningful Lives 2.0 webinar series participants connect after each webinar for a Community of Practice session. Yesterday, the series wrapped up with the last Community of Practice. During these collaborative sessions participants shared their own experiences, brainstormed challenges and celebrated successes. In addition to individual experiences with implementing the Positive Personal Profile and Life Skills Assessment, attendees received resources that include “field-tested” methods for providing integrated, person-centered services. The 5th and final webinar in the series will be held on August 12th and will include an overview of Wisconsin’s Board for People with Developmental Disabilities Building Full Lives Project, a 5-year project to spark and support integrated, person-centered services throughout the state. To learn more about the webinar series or to register for the final webinar, click here. (Contact: Maggie Henley/Luis Andrade)
 

590 CRISIS GRANTS FUNDING INCREASED BY $41 MILLION!
This past week IARF, along with our partners in IABH and CBHA, were notified by DHS-DMH that the amount of funding for the most recent Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to fund Crisis Response Services was increased by $41 million! The Behavioral Health community was obviously very excited and appreciative to hear this news.
 
We really want to thank DHS Secretary Grace Hou and Dr. Albert at the Division of Mental Health for their transparent and open process and continued engagement with stakeholders. We want to thank our partner associations in IABH and CBHA for their continued and relentless advocacy on this issue. A true team effort and we are hopeful for a much better outcome for grant awardees. Thanks to everyone of you as well for your continued advocacy and information sharing. I think we were able to do some good! (Contact: Luis Andrade)
 

ADULTS WITH DD WAIVER AMENDMENT FILED – DD COMMITTEE TO COMPILE COMMENTS
We are excited to note that HFS has published the proposed waiver amendment to the Adults with Developmental Disabilities 1915(c) waiver, beginning the 30-day public comment period, which ends on August 18th.  In what is likely the most comprehensive proposed changes to the waiver before its next renewal, the Administration has indicated the amendment makes the following changes:
  •  Revised definitions and rate methodologies for:
    • Residential habilitation;
    • Community day services;
    • Supported employment;
  • Addition of virtual day services to the waiver;
  • Increasing the service limit for day programs to 1,200 annually; and
  • Establishing a service limit for supported employment;
Publishing this amendment in such close proximity to the start of the fiscal year is a tremendous undertaking by DHS-DDD and HFS and we are thankful for the outreach and engagement to-date.  The I/DD Committee will soon initiate our processes for member feedback so we can provide constructive comments to DHS-DDD and HFS on the underlying waiver and the amendment.  We thank all members in advance for their participation! (Contact: Josh Evans – Beth Owens)
 

Products │ Services │ Solutions
ANCOR & NADSP: PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR DSPS TAKE THIS SURVEY. DEADLINE TODAY!!
Over the past 16 months, Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) have experienced high risks of infection, financial hardship, and exhaustion. Many have become ill and lost loved ones. The voices of DSPs matter, now more than ever. It is incredibly important for many states to get the word out on this survey. This survey will help provide data that will be helpful for advocacy efforts.
 
Please forward this SURVEY to the direct support professionals that you employ, including paid family members. Their answers will be anonymous. National and state-specific results from the survey will be shared widely in September 2021. (Contact: Luis Andrade)
 

GOV. PRITZKER SIGNS LEGISLATION EXPANDING TELEHEALTH ACCESS
Yesterday, Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 3308 into law, increasing access to telehealth services in communities across Illinois. The legislation prevents insurance plans from requiring a patient to attend an in-person visit before a telehealth service. It also expands the Early Intervention services that can be provided through telehealth. (Contact: Luis Andrade)
 

NOMINATE A DSP DOING AMAZING WORK
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) play a special and essential role in supporting individuals receiving I/DD services, empowering them to lead independent and meaningful lives. This year for DSP Recognition Week, Foothold Technology invites you to participate with us as we extend our gratitude to DSPs everywhere. We are building a digital recognition board and we’re collecting stories. Nominate a DSP you believe is doing amazing work, and we’ll feature them on our recognition board during DSP Recognition Week - September 12-18. We’ll also send them a $5 Starbucks gift card to say thanks for the great work they do. Click here to nominate a DSP today! (Contact: Maggie Henley)
 


The Illinois Key Stakeholder Coalition serves as an advisory group for the IDHS 988 Planning Grant Team. The expectation for this stakeholder coalition is the development of a clear roadmap for Illinois to address key coordination, capacity, funding, and communication strategies for the launching of 988. The team is also expected to plan for the long-term improvement of in-state answer rates for 988 calls originating in Illinois.
 
The next meeting of the coalition is scheduled for Tuesday 7/27/21 @ 1:30 PM. More information along with the Web EX LINKS and meeting schedule can be found HERE. (Contact: Luis Andrade)
 

INCOMPASS MICHIGAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE BRINGS TOGETHER STATE PERSPECTIVES
Today Incompass Michigan, a statewide I/DD provider organization, wraps up its virtual leadership conference.  We are thankful to leadership at Incompass Michigan for bringing association leaders in the Great Lakes region (Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois) together with colleagues and providers to discuss overarching issues across our states.  This morning, IARF President & CEO Josh Evans facilitated a discussion on organizational recovery in provider organizations – giving providers the opportunity to reflect on the pandemic experience and ways they hope their agencies can become stronger in the post pandemic environment.  Thanks to Incompass Michigan for the great event and including members of our team! (Contact: Josh Evans)
 

NDEAM 2021 POSTER NOW AVAILABLE
This week, ODEP unveiled the official poster for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 2021. Available for download in English and Spanish, the poster illustrates this year's NDEAM theme, "America's Recovery: Powered by Inclusion." The poster conveys the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement during the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic through bold text and imagery. NDEAM is held each October to commemorate the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities to America's workplaces and economy. To learn more and discover ideas for celebrating NDEAM, click here. (Contact: All Staff)
 

NATIONAL COUNCIL WEBINAR: THE ROAD TO 988 – THE IMPORTANCE OF CCBHCS AND THEIR ROLE IN CRISIS CARE
Join the National Council in exploring how CCBHCs can expand their critical role in crisis care and suicide prevention through 988. In the Webinar, you will hear from subject matter experts from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and SAMHSA, discuss the importance of CCBHCs as service providers, the potential for CCBHC’s in broadening and improving the continuum of care through CCBHC-Lifeline collaboration and learn from the experiences of a current Lifeline member. The webinar will be held on July 27th at 2:30 pm - REGISTER HERE.  (Contact: Luis Andrade)
 
DDD Information Bulletins
DDD Communications
HFS Provider Notices
Thank you to our 2020 IARF Virtual Conference Sponsors! 
Josh Evans - President & CEO  - jevans@iarf.org
Beth Owens - Vice President for Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Policy - bowens@iarf.org
Luis Andrade - Vice President of Health & Long-Term Care Policy - landrade@iarf.org
Maggie Henley - Director of Member Services - mhenley@iarf.org

(217) 801-9303 │ www.iarf.org
 
 






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