Senate Passes Older Americans Act Reauthorization Bill
On Thursday, April 7, the Senate passed S.192, the Older Americans Act (OAA)Reauthorization Bill. The legislation includes many important provisions which seek to modernize the OAA to reflect the current and future realities of the Aging Network. NASUAD and our membership are very grateful to all of the Members of Congress and their staff who have worked tirelessly to develop compromise language and successfully steward the reauthorization through the House and Senate. We particularly want to thank the staff of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee and the House Education and Workforce committee for their efforts to secure passage.
NASUAD is very supportive of the language that amends the Act to promote state flexibility, person-centeredness, and cultural and linguistic competence in the administration and delivery of OAA services. We are also supportive of the increased funding for crucial OAA services contained within the bill's authorizations. NASUAD Executive Director, Martha Roherty, released a statement regarding the passage.
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Register Today for the Iowa Conference on Aging & Disabilities!
NASUAD is proud to be sponsoring a National Aging and Disabilities Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, May 23-May 26.
This conference will draw speakers from over 30 states. Participants will join us from federal, state government, and local organizations. This conference aims at connecting Iowa and national providers of long-term services and supports with innovative ideas and new programs from their neighboring states.
Due to the popularity of our March discount, we are going to continue to offer weekly discounts throughout April. Use the code APRIL to save $45 this week. Next week the discount decreases, so register today!
Click here to learn more and register. Use code APRIL for a savings of $45!
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I&R Center Webinar: Paralysis Resource Center
The National I&R Support Center will host a webinar on the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center. This webinar will take place on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
The Reeve Foundation's Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) promotes the health and well-being of people living with a spinal cord injury, mobility impairment, and paralysis by providing comprehensive information, resources and referral services. Join this webinar to learn more about the Paralysis Resource Center, including the Center's I&R services; resources on spinal cord injury, paralysis and mobility related disabilities; peer support program; and the needs of individuals and families served by the Center. Bernadette Mauro, Director of Information and Resource Services, will present.
Pre-registration is required for this webinar. Space is limited so make sure to register as soon as possible.
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Register for the 2016 AIRS I&R Conference
Registration is open for the 38th annual AIRS I&R Training and Education Conference to be held May 22-25, 2016, in St. Louis, Missouri. The National I&R Support Center welcomes aging and disability I&R/A professionals to join us in St. Louis for the National Aging and Disability Information and Referral Symposium held during the AIRS Conference. The Symposium offers a pre-conference National I&R/A Summit for aging and disability professionals, an Aging and Disability Luncheon, and a full complement of workshops throughout the conference. This year's pre-conference summit will have a special focus on person centered thinking and practices featuring an interactive presentation from Michael Smull, a national expert on person centered systems and a partner in Support Development Associates (SDA). Symposium workshop sessions will feature national, state, and local professionals presenting on key topics impacting aging and disability I&R/A programs such as quality assurance and customer satisfaction, aging caregivers, innovations in transportation services, transition for youth with disabilities, and resources for serving diverse consumers. For a full list of conference workshops, visit AIRS.
Click here to view details and register.
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HCBS Clearinghouse E-Clips
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nTIDE Jobs Report: March Report
The Bureau of Labor Statistics in collaboration with the Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability published this month's National Trends on Disability Employment report (nTIDE). Each month this report is published to mark the changes of employment for people with disabilities. "In March 2016, among workers ages 16-64, the 4,282,000 workers with disabilities represented 3.0 percent of the total 141,813,000 workers in the U.S." The month of March showed steady data for the two major economic indicators, the employment-to-population ratio and the labor force participation rate of people with disabilities.
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This section of Friday Update highlights reports that have been added to the HCBS Clearinghouse within the past week. Visit www.nasuad.org/hcbs for more information.
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Administration for Community Living
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State Grants to Enhance Adult Protective Services
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) released a grant opportunity for states to enhance Adult Protective Services. This demonstration is designed to provide states funding to strengthen their APS systems statewide, to include improvement in practice, services, and data collection and reporting, as well as their technical ability to interface with ACL's National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS). Eligible applicants are the state government offices that administer the state's adult protective services and/or elder protective services program. Recipients of an award under this program in FY 2015 are NOT eligible to apply for funding under this opportunity. Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement. All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2016.
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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Resources Now Available
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is commemorated on the 15th of June each year and is an opportunity to raise awareness, engage new partners, and renew our collective commitment to the cause of elder justice. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEEAD) website, developed in partnership with the National Center on Elder Abuse, that offers materials to organize WEEAD events in communities all over the United States. The materials include: A sample press release you can use to get the word out about your WEAAD event; a sample letter to the editor you can customize; a placemat with an elder abuse prevention message that your meals programs can use; a guide on engaging the faith community in elder abuse conversations; and "Protect yourself" and "Red Flags of Abuse" flyers (available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Korean) that you can distribute at a community event. Additionally, ACL is hosting an "Ingenuity and Ideas for #WEAAD2016" Twitter Chat at 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 21, 2016, to help people learn about ideas and resources for commemorating WEEAD.
Click here to view the WEEAD website and materials.
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Older Americans Month is Quickly Approaching
May marks Older Americans month and for 2016 the theme is"Blaze a Trail." The Administration for Community Living (ACL) uses the month as an opportunity to raise awareness about the many issues older adults face each day. This month is also a time to recognize the strides that many older Americans are making to advocate for themselves, their peers, and their communities. There are many ways to join the celebrations that are happening throughout the month of May. ACL has created materials to help organizations promote activities, inclusion, and wellness for Older Americans in communities across the United States. Additionally, they are seeking stories from older Americans that consider themselves trailblazers.
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| Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services |
Finalized Medicare Advantage Part D Prescription Drug Program Changes
On Monday, April 4, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published the final Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Program changes for 2017. These changes will provide more stable payments to plans and will improve the programs for plans that provide care for highly vulnerable enrollees. The finalized policies are similar to the proposed changes from February but they also include considerations taken from feedback received during the public comment period. Additionally, the new policies should improve the accuracy of payments to Medicare Advantage plans. " Specifically, a revised methodology used to risk adjust payments to plans will more accurately reflect the cost of care for dually eligible beneficiaries. CMS will also implement an interim adjustment to the Star Ratings to reflect the socioeconomic and disability status of a plan's enrollees."
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First Dementia Caring Community in Florida
On Thursday, April 7, Sam Verghese, Secretary of the Department of Elder Affairs in Florida announced Leon County and the City of Tallahassee as the first Dementia Caring Community in Florida through the Department's Dementia Care and Cure Initiative. According to Verghese, "Florida has the second highest incidence of Alzheimer's disease in the nation, and even more are affected by other forms of dementia. Across the state, we will be taking action at the community level to support those diagnosed with dementia, their families, and caregiver." The Department of Elder Affairs will work with Leon County, Tallahassee, and other stakeholders to develop a work plan and recommendations for the first steps that should be taken in the community.
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Webinar: True Help Claiming Power Over Pain
Allsup is hosting a webinar designed to help individuals living with chronic pain. The first in the 2016 series of Web events created to empower individuals living with chronic illness and disabilities, "True Help Claiming Power Over Pain" will help individuals strengthen their personal power resources to improve quality of life, increase function and reduce the sense of suffering. People living with chronic pain and experts from the American Chronic Pain Association, Arthritis Foundation, Invisible Disabilities ® Association, and Allsup will help participants recharge their personal power resources. Power resources often drained by chronic pain include physical strength, psychological stamina, hope, positive self-esteem, finances and social support. Pre-registration is required for this free webinar. The event will take place on Thursday, April 21, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET.
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| Health Management Associates |
Webinar: Trauma-Informed Care: Best Practices in Patient Screening
Health Management Associates is hosting a webinar that will provide an overview and best practices in patient screening for trauma-informed care. Trauma-informed care begins by first understanding the problem and then identifying patients who have endured or witnessed over the course of their lives any number of adverse or traumatic experiences. During this webinar, HMA experts Karen Hill, PhD, MSN, ANP-C; Laurie Lockert, MS, LPC; and Jeffrey Ring, PhD, will provide information about the biopsychosocial impact of adverse and traumatic experiences; identify screening tools; and explore how provider practices can support this at-risk population. Pre-registration is required for this free webinar. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
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| National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices |
Dementia and Intellectual Disability Workshops in Several Locations
The National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG) is offering a series of workshops on "Dementia Capable Care of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia" at several locations over the next coming few months. This workshop is offered as a two-day "basic" course or a three-day "Train-the-Trainer" course. It is based on the newly developed, evidence-informed NTG Education and Training Curriculum on Dementia and Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities and is designed to complement the requirements for workforce skill enhancement under the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease. These workshops are appropriate for clinicians, program administrators, family caregivers, and staff with direct or ancillary care responsibilities of older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in disability-, health care-, and aging-related agencies. The dates, locations, and registration information of the upcoming workshops in the San Diego, Topeka, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Worcester, and Chicago areas can be accessed via the NTG's website. For more information, contact Dr. K Bishop.
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New Frontiers in Coordinating Housing & Medicaid Services
Mathematica is hosting a policy forum and live webinar, sponsored by the Center for Studying Disability Policy. Attendees will learn about what state and federal partners are doing to coordinate and integrate health and housing services for people with behavioral health needs. Speakers for the event are Jonathan Brown, Carol Irvin, and Matthew Kehn from Mathematica and Jennifer Ho from HUD. The speakers will discuss the following:
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Why housing is an important part of efforts to treat high-need, high-cost Medicaid beneficiaries
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Challenges and lessons from the Money Follows the Person Demonstration's efforts to improve the availability of supportive housing for Medicaid beneficiaries moving out of institutions
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Innovative state efforts to better coordinate health and housing services for people with behavioral health conditions
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Efforts led by HUD to partner with other federal agencies, such as CMS and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to coordinate health and housing services
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The policy forum and live webinar will take place on Thursday, April 21, 2016, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET.
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LEAD Coalition Seeks Communications & Advocacy Director
Leaders Engaged on Alzheimer's Disease (the LEAD Coalition) is seeking an accomplished Communications and Advocacy Director who will be responsible for mobilizing grassroots advocacy by stakeholder organizations through media and policy initiatives. The Director also will be responsible for the monthly e-newsletter, monthly meeting notes, website, and other LEAD Coalition publications. Working closely with the Executive Director, the Director will monitor and develop summaries of relevant news in federal policy, science, clinical care, social services, and related domains. The Director will attend, participate in, or facilitate some meetings with or in place of the Executive Director. The LEAD Coalition is co-convened by USAgainstAlzheimer's and Volunteers of America. The coalition works collaboratively to focus the nation's strategic attention on Alzheimer's disease and related dementia and to accelerate transformational progress in (1) care and support to enrich the quality of life of those with dementia and their caregivers, (2) detection and diagnosis, and (3) research leading to prevention, effective treatment and eventual cure. All applications must be submitted by Thursday, May 5, 2016.
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TMG Seeks Full-Time IRIS Consultant
TMG is the IRIS Consultant Agency (ICA) and Self-Directed Personal Care contractor for Wisconsin's IRIS program. IRIS is a long-term support program where eligible individuals self-direct their publicly funded, community based long-term care services. TMG is seeking a full-time IRIS Consultant who lives in Chippewa County or Dunn County. TMG's IRIS Consultants (ICs) are home-based employees who partner with individuals enrolled in the IRIS program to identify their long-term care goals and find creative ways to achieve them. Qualified applicants must have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a social work, psychology, human services, counseling, nursing, special education or a closely related field (or four years of commensurate experience if no degree) and one year of direct experience related to the delivery of social services to the target groups; knowledge of Long Term Care programs and familiarity with principles of self-determination; ability to use a variety of technology including but not limited to; Outlook, Skype, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, online portals and databases; and must possess a valid driver's license and maintain adequate auto insurance for job-related travel to home visits and attending meetings and conferences as requested. All applications must be submitted by Friday, April 15, 2016.
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Supportive Services Demonstration for Elderly Households in HUD-Assisted Multifamily Housing
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it is making approximately $15 million available to test a promising housing and services model for low-income seniors to age in their own homes and delay or avoid the need for nursing home care.
HUD's Supportive Services Demonstration for Elderly Households in HUD-Assisted Multifamily Housing will offer three-year grants to eligible owners of HUD-assisted senior housing developments to cover the cost of a full-time Enhanced Service Coordinator and a part-time Wellness Nurse. The purpose of the Demonstration is to test the effectiveness of this enhanced supportive services model for elderly households and to evaluate the value of enhanced service coordination paired with affordable housing for seniors. The demonstration will be independently evaluated to determine the impact of the enhanced supportive services model on: Aging in place in HUD-assisted senior developments; avoiding early transitions to institutional care, and; preventing unnecessary and often costly health care events-such as some emergency room visits and hospitalizations-for residents in HUD-assisted senior developments. Grant applications must be submitted electronically by Monday, April 18, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
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Senior Community Service Employment Program National Grants
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the availability of approximately $338,520,000 in grant funds authorized by Title V of the Older Americans Act (OAA) as amended in 2006, Pub. L. No. 109-365 for the Community Service Employment for Older Americans program commonly referred to as the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), for National Grants for Program Year (PY) 2016. SCSEP is the only Federally-sponsored employment and training program targeted specifically to low-income older individuals who are able to enter or reenter the workforce. Program participants receive paid work experience at local public or non-profit agencies and are paid the higher of the Federal, State, or local minimum wage, or the prevailing wage for similar employment, for approximately 20 hours per week while in community service and other job training (OAA Amendments § 502(b)(1)(J); 20 CFR 641.565(a)). The dual goals of the program are to promote useful opportunities in community service job training and to move SCSEP participants into unsubsidized employment. This is a four-year grant, renewable annually for each of those four years based on annual Departmental application requirements and subject to the availability of funds. The grant may be extended for a fifth year at the Department's discretion, contingent upon the grantee meeting or exceeding the minimum negotiated performance measures as required by section 514(a) of the OAA Amendments and 20 CFR 641.700. All applications are due by 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday, April 29, 2016.
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Disability & Rehabilitation Research Projects Program: Employment of People with Disabilities-Development
The Administration for Community Living released the development grant opportunity for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project Program (DRRP): Employment of Individuals with Disabilities. The purpose of NIDILRR's Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) which are funded through the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is to plan and conduct research, demonstration projects, training, and related activities, including international activities, to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe disabilities, and to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act). Under this particular DRRP priority, applicants must propose a development project that is aimed at improving the employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities. In carrying out a development project under this program, a grantee must use knowledge and understanding gained from research to create materials, devices, systems, or methods beneficial to the target population, including design and development of protypes and processes. Please note that this will be the Funding Opportunity for field-initiated DRRP development projects in the employment domain. NIDILRR plans to make two field-initated DRRP awards in the employment domain. NIDILRR's field-initiated DRRP awards in the employment domain may include research projects, development projects, or both, depending on the ranking of applications provided by the peer review panel. All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 24, 2016.
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Disability & Rehabilitation Research Projects Program: Employment of People with Disabilities- Research
The Administration for Community Living released the research grant opportunity for the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project Program (DRRP): Employment of Individuals with Disabilities. The purpose of NIDILRR's Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) is to plan and conduct research, demonstration projects, training, and related activities, including international activities, to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe disabilities, and to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act). Under this particular DRRP priority, applicants must propose a research project that is aimed at improving the employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities. In carrying out a research project under this program, a grantee must identify one or more hypotheses or research questions and, based on the hypotheses or research questions identified, perform an intensive, systematic study directed toward producing (1) new or full scientific knowledge, or (2) understanding of the subject or problem studied. Please note that this will be the Funding Opportunity for field-initiated DRRP research projects in the employment domain. NIDILRR plans to make two field-initated DRRP awards in the employment domain. NIDILRR's field-initiated DRRP awards in the employment domain may include research projects, development projects, or both, depending on the ranking of applications provided by the peer review panel. All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 24, 2016.
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Rides to Wellness Demonstration & Innovative Coordinated Access Grants
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the availability of approximately $5.3 million of funding from two programs to support the Rides to Wellness Demonstration and Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Grants (R2W Demonstration Grants). The goal of the competitive R2W Demonstration Grants is to find and test promising, replicable public transportation healthcare access solutions that support the following goals: increased access to care, improved health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. Eligible applicants include: States, Tribes, and designated or direct recipients for funds under 49 U.S.C. 5307, 5310 or 5311. Proposers must serve as the lead agency of a local consortium that includes stakeholders from the transportation, healthcare, human service or other sectors. Members of this consortium are eligible as subrecipients. Further, proposers must demonstrate that the proposed project was planned through an inclusive process with the involvement of the transportation, healthcare and human service industries. Eligible projects must have implementation ready capital and operating projects that enhance access, such as: mobility management; health and transportation provider partnerships; technology; and other actions that drive change. These R2W Demonstration Grants will develop best practice solutions that other communities can replicate. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 31, 2016.
Click here to view the full posting.
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