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Independent Living News & Policy from the National Council on Independent Living

Aging and Disability

Business Development Learning Collaborative: Applications Due April 10!

The HCBS Business Acumen Center is accepting applications for its second learning collaborative, the Business Development Learning Collaborative. The purpose of the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Business Acumen Business Development Learning Collaborative is to bring together three to five (3-5) state teams comprised of community-based organizations (CBO) serving persons with disabilities, state agencies and other related partner organizations to evaluate their business environment and develop business strategies to strengthen and sustain community-based organizations that serve people with disabilities.

HCBS Business Acumen Center LogoEach team will work together to evaluate the environment that CBOs currently work within, conduct a strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis of their operations, analyze and utilize the combined external and internal data to develop a strategic plan that describes how each disability-focused CBO will maximize reimbursement, diversify payer sources and expand their business portfolio with the goal of long-term sustainability for their operations and meaningful outcomes for the individuals they serve. The partners within the state team will help each CBO identify, understand and develop strategies to minimize or alleviate any obstacles to their success and support implementation of the strategic plan.

Applications are due by Tuesday, April 10, 2018.

Access the application and further information.

Stories from the Field: Lessons of Sharing from the Disability Network Business Acumen Learning Collaborative

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ― Benjamin Franklin

Maneuvering change, developing strategies and implementing solutions can quickly become overwhelming if your organization feels like it is alone in its quest for success. Fortunately most Community Based Organizations (CBOs)* have found that connecting and sharing with other CBOs provides critical information and insight as they seek ways to diversify their organization, develop new payment streams, customize services to a new clientele base, meet contractual obligations or otherwise advance their business.

HCBS Business Acumen Center LogoThe Disability Network Business Acumen Learning Collaborative works together to develop and implement business-related strategies to state-specific challenges to integrating long term services and supports and healthcare services. Each state team includes at least one state agency and CBO serving persons with disabilities (physical, intellectual and/or developmental). Most also include an integrated healthcare entity or other organization dedicated to the sustainability of CBOs serving people with disabilities. Working together, they serve as an example for how states, health plans and CBOs can enhance business relationships and develop sustainable business paths.

Join this webinar on February 28, 2018 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Eastern as representatives from Missouri, New Hampshire, New York and Texas describe how they have shared experiences to help each other advance solutions to resolve common issues.  [Read more…]

Free Business Acumen Webinar: Information to Action – Strategic Planning and Change Management

The results of your Community Based Organizations (CBO)* environmental scan, SWOT analysis and feedback from stakeholders and champions may highlight opportunities for growth and development or a need to respond to a changing environment. The results of your research may indicate that some parts of your operation may need to change. Whether the change is related to improving efficiencies, providing a better or different service, working with different partners or something else, the development of a strategic plan will guide the work that needs to be done. With a well-informed strategic plan in hand, you will work with your team and others to implement the needed changes. This process requires specific attention to ensure that you meet the targets that you have outlined and that the people impacted are informed and engaged in the process.

Business Acumen Center Logo - Providing Resources to Sustain Disability OrganizationsJoin on November 15, 2017 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Eastern as Mark Davis, Executive Director at the Ohio Provider Resource Association and the Center for Epidemiological Research for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities describes how to use the information collected during your environmental scan and SWOT analysis along with the feedback and insight you received from stakeholders and champions to develop and implement your strategic plan.  [Read more…]

Free Business Acumen Webinar: Planning to Plan? Tools to Use to Help You Better Understand Your Current Business Environment

Source: NASUAD: National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities

Business Acumen Center Logo - Providing Resources to Sustain Disability OrganizationsBusiness Acumen describes an organization’s ability to quickly and keenly understand and address a business situation in a manner that will likely lead to a good outcome. The first step in doing so is in understanding the world around you. As a Community Based Organizations (CBO*) serving people with disabilities, you may be seeking to diversify your payer portfolio or develop your business as a response to a new method of delivery such as a state transition to Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS). To ensure that you are fully informed when you begin, you will need to conduct some background research on the current or anticipated political environment, economic conditions, demographics and changes or opportunities within related organizations. Each of which will help you understand the environment you are in or will be entering.  [Read more…]

Five State Teams Selected for Disability Network Business Acumen Learning Collaborative

The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) is pleased to announce the five state teams selected for participation in the Disability Network Business Acumen Learning Collaborative. This effort is led by NASUAD in partnership with nine national organizations*.

Business Acumen Center Logo - Providing Resources to Sustain Disability OrganizationsEach of the five state teams includes at least one state agency and community-based organizations (CBO**) serving persons with disabilities (physical, intellectual and/or developmental). Most also include an integrated healthcare entity or other organization dedicated to the sustainability of CBOs serving people with disabilities. The five State teams represent Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York and Texas. 

These teams will work together to develop and implement business-related strategies to state-specific challenges to integrating long term services and supports and healthcare services. Collectively, these teams will share what they learn from their efforts including promising practices that can be used to help other CBOs enhance their current business relationships and diversify their business portfolios. The learning collaborative will launch at the 2017 HCBS Conference being held in Baltimore, MD, August 27 – 31.
[Read more…]

Are They Buying What You’re Selling? An Inside Look at What Health Plans Need from Community Based Organizations

Health plans responsible for Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) not only care about the health and well-being of their members, but they also have a direct goal to help those individuals remain in their homes and communities whenever possible. Community Based Organizations (CBO)* are in a unique position to partner with health plans to successfully manage the services and supports that impact people with disabilities and their social determinants of health, which when properly addressed facilitates positive outcomes for the person served and avoid outcomes that limit their ability to remain in their home and community– things that health plans and CBOs alike want to avoid. Join us on July 26, 2017 from 12:30 – 1:30P Eastern as Kristin Murphy, Director of Market Development with Centene will provide an insider’s look into what health plans seek when partnering with Community Based Organizations.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand what health plans look for when working with CBOs
  • Understand how you may maximize your partnerships with health plans
  • Understand where CBO and health plan goals align

Business Acumen Center Logo - Providing Resources to Sustain Disability OrganizationsThis one hour webinar is available as part of the Disability Business Acumen Grant provided by the Administration for Community Living to the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities in collaboration with nine national partners*.

Notes:

* CBO is a broad term to describe local organizations that offer community living services and supports to advance the health, well-being, independence, and community participation of people with disabilities and older adults. CBOs include Centers for Independent Living, developmental disability organizations, University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research & Service, behavioral health organizations, Protection and Advocacy Agencies, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, Area Agencies on Aging, aging services organizations, faith-based organizations, Native American tribal organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native Hawaiian), nutrition program providers and other local service providers for persons with disabilities and/or older adults.

** Grant Partners include: American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD), American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD), National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), National Council on Aging (NCOA), National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), Mercer, University of Minnesota – Institute of Community Integration

An Update from the NCIL ADRC Subcommittee

At this year’s Annual Conference on Independent Living, some of NCIL’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) Subcommittee members were able to meet with Bob Williams about the lack of disability integration that was happening in ADRCs. Thankfully, we were listened to. Bob Williams has agreed to meet with us to become a liaison between the ADRC Subcommittee and the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to assist us in our uphill battle to bring the D back into ADRCs.

The online and in-person training has ended for the Part A (pilot) states of the ADRC. This training has many flaws when it comes to access for everyone and feedback reflects this, but many agree that for advocates that are just joining the movement, this is helpful training that was not available before. It allows advocates to devise tools that will help in the field when bringing in new members to the Independent Living community.

The ADRC Subcommittee is always looking for new members. We meet once a month via phone. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Mary Margaret Moore at [email protected] or Ericka Reil at [email protected].

NASUAD, in Partnership with NCIL, Releases I&R/A Survey Report

The National Information and Referral Support Center, administered by NASUAD, in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), shares findings from the aging and disability I&R/A field in the report The Changing Landscape of Aging and Disability Information and Referral/Assistance: 2015 Survey of Aging and Disability I&R/A Agencies. This report captures the current state of I&R/A service provision, including trends and developments, challenges and opportunities, and promising practices, through survey responses provided by representatives from state agencies on aging and disability, Area Agencies on Aging, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, Centers for Independent Living, non-profit human service organizations and national organizations. Key themes to emerge from the survey data are:

  • Theme 1: Funding and Sustainability are Significant Concerns among Aging and Disability I&R/A Agencies;
  • Theme 2: Partnerships and Networks Continue to Evolve to Serve Both Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities;
  • Theme 3: A Changing Environment and Expanding Roles Provide New Opportunities and Challenges for I&R/A Agencies;
  • Theme 4: Quality Matters to Effective I&R/A Service Delivery; and
  • Theme 5: The Use of Technology has Increased, but There Remains Room for Growth.

Survey findings underscore that aging and disability I&R/A agencies are operating in a time of change. In a policy, fiscal, and service delivery environment that presents both challenges and potential opportunities, aging and disability I&R/A agencies must continue to cultivate partnerships and leverage innovations that enhance and modernize the provision of I&R/A services. View the report.

An Update from the NCIL ADRC Subcommittee

The NCIL Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) Subcommittee has been meeting every month. We have seen a lot of challenges coming our way, particularly with funding for ADRCs dwindling and some states struggling with their state budgets.

The ADRC Subcommittee will be putting out a survey to all CILs to see how or if ADRCs are working in states and communities. We have also been submitting proposals to various conferences and have presented at several aging-related conferences to discuss the importance of Independent Living philosophy in the ADRC community and how to advocate within an ADRC to stay true to the roots of IL philosophy.

For the Part A states (these are eight states that are involved with much of the Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) options counseling work and are piloting the person-centered counseling training), the online training pilot has begun. This has proven to be difficult for some, because even though it is considered 508 compliant, it is hard to maneuver with Assistive Technology such as JAWS or other screen readers. It has also proven difficult for those with English as a second language and those who are Deaf. The ADRC Subcommittee is continuing to work with NCIL and ACL on the accessibility of this training, and will continue to provide the NCIL membership with updates.

Reminder: Understanding Disability – Call to Share Your Experience Aging with A Disability

Your help is needed! A PhD candidate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County is looking for people aged 60 and over who have lived all or the majority of their lives with a disability and who are willing to share their experiences about their lives with a disability and about getting older. This is a completely voluntary study! Anyone who identifies as an aging person living with a disability since their 22nd birthday may participate.

What’s in it for me, you may ask?

By participating in my study you may gain good feelings about your role in a study that is intended to help better understand the lives of those aging with a lifelong disability. You may possibly help improve the lives of others in the future.

To find out more about the study or to speak to the researcher about how you or a loved one can participate, please contact Jennifer Howard at [email protected] or (262) 910-1540.