2006 Mid-Year Meeting
Hotel Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico

May 3-5, 2006

 

Confronting the Challenges of Change

---

Meeting Presentations

To view a presentation file, click on the appropriate file name (e.g., Thaler-Plenary.ppt). The presentations are in the format submitted by the each panel and/or session presenter.

= Word Document
= PDF File
= PowerPoint Presentation
= Excel File

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

The Way in Leading the Way:
Thinking Strategically and Leading in the "New Freedom" Era

Presenter:
Nancy Thaler
Senior Advisor for Mental Retardation Services, Quality, and Development,
Northwestern Management Services, Inc.; and
Former Deputy Secretary for Mental Retardation,
Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (1992-2003)
President, NASDDDS Board of Directors (2001-2003)

Thaler-Plenary.ppt (1619 KB)

New Freedom has brought new opportunities, challenges, and risks. Thinking strategically and leading are the critical elements in managing public services through the New Freedom era and beyond.

---

REACTOR PANEL

Panelists:
Tanya Baker-McCue
Director, Family/Community Partnerships Division,
Center for Development and Disability,
University of New Mexico, and parent of a child with a disability

Gail Bottoms
Self-Advocate
and Member of the Experts on Disability Speakers Bureau, Institute on Human Development and Disability, University of Georgia

Ken Lovan
Vice President of Government Relations,
ResCare, Inc.,
Louisville, Kentucky

Robert Martinez
Supported-Employment Supervisor,
Las Cumbres Learning Services,
Espanola and Los Alamos,
New Mexico

---

BREAKOUT SESSIONS
STRAND I: Community Infrastructure Improvements

Effectively integrating individuals with developmental disabilities into the mainstream of community life necessitates fundamental changes in the way services are organized, financed, and delivered. It means that communities must offer: meaningful work opportunities, independence in financial management, and greater self-reliance through the use of new technology such as "smart homes." The following breakout sessions addressed innovations in these areas, including how DD service systems must change to accommodate the needs of those with developmental and other disabilities.

SESSION I-A
Improving the Organizational Culture of Community Support Organizations

Presenter:
Gail Bottoms
Self-Advocate
and Member of the Experts on Disability Speakers Bureau,
Institute on Human Development and Disability, University of Georgia

Supporting People with Disabilities to Share Their Gifts with the Community. Inclusion is really about feeling valuable and important. Truly being included in your community means that you are invited to share your talents and gifts with others. Everyone has something important to contribute. Too often, people with disabilities are expected to just receive community services; they are not invited to participate in planning and delivering services. If individuals don't think they can contribute, they don't feel very important. Gail Bottoms shared some of the ways that she contributes to her community and the support that really helps her to do that.

Presenter:
Marcie M. Brost
Workforce and Housing Policy Specialist,
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services,
Madison, Wisconsin

Building Organizations that Champion Competent, Caring, and Committed Direct Support Relationships. This presentation focused on what direct support staff have said keeps them committed to their job of supporting individuals with disabilities. Additionally, specific strategies to support organizations to improve their ability to retain highly qualified and satisfied support staff were discussed.

Presenter:
Lynda Kahn
Director, Center for Developmental Disabilities Emergency Preparedness (CDDEP),
University of Massachusetts Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center
(and former Executive Director of the Rhode Island Division of Developmental Disabilities
Services)

SessionI-A(Kahn).pdf (3393 KB)

Changing the Conversation. Changing the culture involves changing the conversation. How do we create person-centered organizations? How do we stay inspired and engaged with each other? Nothing is more important than leadership in making positive changes for people with disabilities and their families. Ms. Kahn shared strategies for strengthening and sustaining leadership among people with disabilities, family members, and service workers. This session used video clips to share the experiences of people who have taken charge of their lives. It also illustrated how to create "possibility conversations" about where to begin, create, and sustain full lives for people with disabilities, and what it means for person-centered organizations.

SESSION I-B The Implications of Cross-Disability Management Systems

Presenter:
Gerry Morrissey
Assistant Secretary, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health & Human Services,
and Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation

Organizational Change in Massachusetts' Service Agencies. This presentation examined organizational change across human services agencies in Massachusetts and its impact on developmental disability services.

Presenters:
Barry Waller
Assistant Commissioner Provider Services,
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services

Jon Weizenbaum
Director, Center for Policy & Innovation,
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services
Cross Disability Management

Systems and Issues with Texas. In September 2004, an integrated long-term care agency - the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) - was created in Texas to serve citizens who are aging, individuals with physical disabilities, and persons with cognitive disabilities. Mr. Waller and Mr. Weizenbaum discussed the legislative and stakeholder basis for the creation of the long-term care agency. Current status and issues with DADS was also discussed as it pertains to serving persons across several disability populations.

Presenter:
Margaret Zillinger
Director, Community Supports and Services,
Kansas Department of Social & Rehabilitation Services (SRS)

SessionI-B(Zillinger).ppt (89 KB)

Working with Cross-Disability Issues in Kansas. Ms. Zillinger discussed how Kansas has been able to alter the way in which services are provided across disability categories by focusing on the individual and the community they live in, and not on the type of disability the individual has. She also explained how SRS has been able to work with local communities on capacity building and address individual community challenges.

SESSION I-C
Using Modern Technology to Improve Support to Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Presenter:
Rodney Bell
Technology Consultant,
Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities, University of Colorado

SessionI-C(Bell).ppt (5652 KB)
SessionI-C(Bell).doc (54 KB)

Smart Home Supports for Residents and Staff. "Smart Homes" can monitor resident activity and health signs, assist caregivers, monitor and document service delivery, control the environment, and, someday, predict health changes and prompt residents. A few service providers are using this emerging technology as operational systems or pilot projects. Rodney Bell explained what smart homes can do for you and how, when, and why to adopt this technology.

Presenters:
Tom Keating
Director, Eugene Research Institute-Oregon

Gerry Stolp
Housing Officer,
Mental Health and Developmental and Disability Services,
Oregon Department of Human Services

SessionI-C(Keating-Stolp).ppt (1.35 MB)

Integrating Assistive Technology into Affordable Housing for People with Developmental Disabilities: Systems to Support Consumers and Caregivers in Residential Services. Tom Keating and Gerry Stolp described model demonstration activities under a Real Choice Systems Change Grant funded by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. They discussed efforts to embed assistive technology needs assessment and procurement within the residential services system in Oregon and offered an overview of how assistive technology can play a role in residential support, with special emphasis on innovative tools for management and remote monitoring of activities of daily living for consumers and caregivers.

---

BREAKOUT SESSIONS
STRAND II: Serving Individuals with Multiple and Complex Support Needs

For many states, the ultimate frontier of community-based services lies in designing high quality service systems for individuals with unique and complex support needs. The following breakout sessions introduced new approaches to supporting individuals in behavioral crisis, those diagnosed with autism, and sexual offenders with developmental disabilities.

SESSION II-A Developing Improved Crisis Intervention Capabilities

Presenter:
Peter A. Bisbecos
Director, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services,
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration

From Crisis Response to Crisis Management. Indiana is in the midst of dramatically changing the way home and community-based waiver services are delivered. One critical reform is the conversion from crisis response to crisis management. This presentation established the context in which this reform is occurring, and then layed out the plan for changing from a response to a management mindset.

Presenter:
Dr. Robert Klaehn
Medical Director, Division of Developmental Disabilities,
Arizona Department of Economic Security

SessionII-A(Klaehn).ppt (54 KB)

Developing Crisis Services through Collaboration with Mental Health. Dr. Klaehn described the collaborative crisis programs developed by the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities and ValueOptions (the contracted Behavioral Health provider for Title XIX services in Maricopa County). He also identified the ongoing challenges in providing crisis services, both in urban and rural settings.

Presenter:
Chris Heimerl
Office of Behavioral Services,
Developmental Disabilities Support Division,
New Mexico Department of Health

SessionII-A(Heimerl).ppt (196 KB)

Never the Same Crisis Twice. New Mexico has created a crisis response/capacity-building resource for families and community provider agencies when their ability to provide support is compromised. Public and private providers collaborate through technical assistance, training, supplemental mentor staff, and short-term community-based residential options. Statewide competence is strengthened by each individual intervention. This participatory workshop drew from nine years of crisis response and capacity building corresponding with the closing of the last state-operated congregate care facility in July 1997.

SESSION II-B Serving Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Presenters:
Pat Osbourn, MA
Director, SouthWest Autism Network,
Center for Development and Disability,
University of New Mexico

Gay Finlayson, MA
Health Educator/Family Specialist,
SouthWest Autism Network, Center for Development & Disability,
University of New Mexico

Serving Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Ms. Osbourn and Ms. Finlayson (representing the parent's perspective) presented current issues related to children with autism spectrum disorders and their families including prevalence, diagnosis, and programming needs. The service needs of this population and how this impacts a state's ability to provide recommended levels of support intensity was also discussed.

SESSION II-C Supporting Sexual Offenders with Developmental Disabilities

Presenters:
Cheryl Borden
Corporate Vice President,
Aacres-Allvest, LLC, Tacoma, Washington, and
President of the Community Protection Providers Association

Ernie Packebush
Regional Director,
Aacres-Allvest, LLC in Eastern Washington

Supporting Sexual Offenders with Developmental Disabilities - The Washington State Model.
Cheryl Borden and Ernie Packebush sketched out the history and development of Community Protection Services in Washington State. A review of state policies and policies governing services to people with a history of sexual offenses and/or other dangerous behaviors was provided. Best practices and a description of Aacres-Allvest's specific service models and practices completed the presentation.

Presenters:
Kathryn duPree
Deputy Commissioner,
Connecticut Department of Mental Retardation

Michael Hanley, PhD
Coordinator of Psychological Services, South Region,
Connecticut Department of Mental Retardation

SessionII-C(duPree&Hanley).ppt (1.86 MB)

Connecticut's Approach to Serving Sexual Offenders: The Necessary Clinical and Programmatic Supports to Help People Live Successfully in Our Communities. Connecticut's Department of Mental Retardation has developed forensic services and clinical treatment schemes that have had a high success rate in preventing sex offenses. A combination of specialized management techniques and clinical treatments provide the foundation for dealing with people in this segment of our population. Developing and supporting private sector capability to extend this approach into community placements is an ongoing objective of the department.

Presenter:
Cheryl L. Frazine, MA
Acting Director, Office of Behavioral Services,
Developmental Disabilities Supports Division,
New Mexico Department of Health

SessionII-C(Frazine).ppt (809 KB)

Community Supports for Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Sexually Offensive Behavior. Cheryl Frazine described the system of supports available to persons with sexually offensive behaviors who are recipients of services under New Mexico's Medicaid waiver program for persons with developmental disabilities. She also discussed a structured risk-screening interview technique that is used in assessing the support needs of such individuals.

---

BREAKOUT SESSIONS
STRAND III: Quality Improvement

With the introduction of its "Quality Framework" and a new, far more detailed set of expectations regarding the performance parameters of state home and community-based waiver quality management systems, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has significantly raised the bar in the area of quality assurance and quality improvement. The following sessions illustrated how selected state developmental disabilities agencies have stepped up to the plate in designing and implementing comprehensive quality management systems.

SESSION III-A Building an Effective Quality Management System

Presenter:
Shelly Brantley
Director,
Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Innovations in Florida's Quality Management Systems. In Florida, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) is developing effective quality management systems built upon person-centered and self-determination principles. APD has partnered with Delmarva Foundation, a private quality improvement organization, in this effort and has established a new grant initiative to designate local APD staff as Area Quality Leaders and implement quality improvement initiatives by involving individuals who receive services, family members, and other stakeholders in local steering committees. The entire quality assurance/quality improvement (QA/QI) system is focused on quality management to achieve person-directed outcomes. The state's QA/QI initiative, funded through a CMS Real Choice Systems Change Grant, and is intended to meet new CMS waiver requirements.

Presenter:
Stan Butkus
Director,
South Carolina Department of Disabilities & Special Needs

South Carolina's Quality Management System. Dr. Butkus described the key elements of South Carolina's quality management structure and the ways in which it continues to evolve.

Presenters:
Steven Dossey
Director,
Developmental Disabilities Supports Division,
New Mexico Department of Health

Cathy Stevenson
Deputy Director,
Developmental Disabilities Supports Division,
New Mexico Department of Health

Enhancing Quality in New Mexico. New Mexico's recent efforts to enhance its quality assurance systems through collaboration efforts by the Division of Health Improvement and the Developmental Disabilities Supports Division (DDSD) was the focus of this presentation. Emphasis was placed on addressing CMS' quality framework and implementing National Core Indicators.

SESSION III-B Using Management Information Systems to Improve Services and Service Systems

Presenter:
Dana Olsen
Director of Quality Improvement Initiatives,
Office of Mental Retardation,
Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare

SessionIII-B(Olsen).ppt (102 KB)
SessionIII-B(Olsen).doc (88 KB)

Management for Lifesharing, Employment, and Independent Monitoring: A Tale of Three Systems. Pennsylvania's approach to managing three truly community based initiatives: lifesharing, employment, and independent monitoring was the focus of Mr. Olsen's presentation. Emphasis was placed on promoting outcomes through individual and system-wide strategic planning, developing a comprehensive change strategy, and building accountability at a community- and system-wide level.

Presenter:
Mikki Rogers
Chief,
Health Improvement/Incident Management Bureau,
New Mexico Department of Health

SessionIII-B(Rogers).ppt (5.77 MB)

Beyond Data. Mikki Rogers discussed how to look beyond data collection to improve the quality of services. Normally, data is provided from incident reports to identify service or health and safety issues. She explored the shortcomings of traditional data collection and interpretation. Ms. Rogers also discussed the role of stakeholders in the development of system data and its importance.

Presenter:
Wanda Seiler
Director,
Division of Developmental Disabilities,
South Dakota Department of Human Services

SessionIII-B(Seiler).ppt (214 KB)

Using Qualitative and Quantitative Data in Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement, and Strategic Planning. Have you ever wondered what states do with all of that information they collect? This presentation provided an overview of South Dakota's quality system and demonstrated how both qualitative and quantitative data can be used to provide system improvement and planning.

---

WRAP-UP SESSION: Lessons Learned

Presenters:
Mary Lee Fay
Administrator, Seniors & People with Disabilities,
Office of Home & Community Supports, Oregon DHS

Chas Moseley
Director of Special Projects,
NASDDDS

Mary Lee Fay and Chas Moseley wraped up the meeting by highlighting key issues and activities identified and discussed during the plenary and break-out sessions - particularly as it related to the Association's new strategic plan and implementation strategies.

---

This page is Bobby approved.