Guest guest Posted December 22, 2011 Report Share Posted December 22, 2011 Ellen, Read through the Waiver & here are some comments/questions. L. ADULT HCBS WAIVER REVIEW & COMMENTS P. 57 -- Under Developmental Training section, provider specifications now include Special Recreation Associations in addition to Community Agencies. And apparently door-to-door transportation is included in the reimbursement rates. Interesting and very positive if this creates more options for participants. P.58 -- Under Supported Employment section, this was interesting. Supported employment may be provided in integrated and competitive work settings in a business or industry that primarily employs people without disabilities. Supported employment does not include sheltered work or other similar types of vocational services furnished in specialized facilities. My question is this -- if supported employment does not include 'sheltered work' or 'workshops' -- then how is it that Illinois still has so many community-based agencies operating 'workshops'? I can think of at least 3 locally with 100 or more individuals. I assumed they were paying for their workshop via Waiver services; but is there another source of funding for these? How are tax dollars/waiver dollars going toward payment to sheltered workshops if they are not covered under the Waiver? Perhaps I'm missing something? Is this a new exclusion? I support exclusion of sheltered workshops, by the way. P. 60 Under Personal Support section, again a mention of Special Recreation Associations being eligible to provide Personal Support workers? Not sure exactly what this means, but again, if it increases participant choices/options, then I’m all for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2011 Report Share Posted December 23, 2011 To Laurie's question (If supported employment does not include 'sheltered work' or 'workshops' -- then how is it that Illinois still has so many community-based agencies operating 'workshops'?)--perhaps this is a proposed change to what's been going on. Illinois can promote " Employment First " all it wants, but if there are economic advantages for companies to move out of state, how will Employment First initiatives work? Does the state think that the disability community and its relatives have the power to keep business in IL? -Gail ________________________________ From: Jerue Family <jeruefamily@...> IPADDUnite Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 9:24 PM Subject: Waiver comments/questions  Ellen, Read through the Waiver & here are some comments/questions. L. ADULT HCBS WAIVER REVIEW & COMMENTS P. 57 -- Under Developmental Training section, provider specifications now include Special Recreation Associations in addition to Community Agencies. And apparently door-to-door transportation is included in the reimbursement rates. Interesting and very positive if this creates more options for participants. P.58 -- Under Supported Employment section, this was interesting. Supported employment may be provided in integrated and competitive work settings in a business or industry that primarily employs people without disabilities. Supported employment does not include sheltered work or other similar types of vocational services furnished in specialized facilities. My question is this -- if supported employment does not include 'sheltered work' or 'workshops' -- then how is it that Illinois still has so many community-based agencies operating 'workshops'? I can think of at least 3 locally with 100 or more individuals. I assumed they were paying for their workshop via Waiver services; but is there another source of funding for these? How are tax dollars/waiver dollars going toward payment to sheltered workshops if they are not covered under the Waiver? Perhaps I'm missing something? Is this a new exclusion? I support exclusion of sheltered workshops, by the way. P. 60 Under Personal Support section, again a mention of Special Recreation Associations being eligible to provide Personal Support workers? Not sure exactly what this means, but again, if it increases participant choices/options, then I’m all for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2011 Report Share Posted December 23, 2011 Laurie: I believe this piece that you reference means that Supported Employment is the only other option for how CILA day program funds can be used...that is...the $11,000 or so can be used for Supported Employment OR Day Training, PERIOD. The problem with this is that the funding cannot be used for any other creative options... I am checking this out with Ed McManus to make sure I am interpreting this correctly. Ellen P.58 -- Under Supported Employment section, this was interesting. Supported employment may be provided in integrated and competitive work settings in a business or industry that primarily employs people without disabilities. Supported employment does not include sheltered work or other similar types of vocational services furnished in specialized facilities. Ellen Garber Bronfeld egskb@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2011 Report Share Posted December 23, 2011 What do the initials HCBS actually stand for? Diane > > Ellen, > Read through the Waiver & here are some comments/questions. > L. > > ADULT HCBS WAIVER REVIEW & COMMENTS > > P. 57 -- Under Developmental Training section, provider specifications now include Special Recreation Associations in addition to Community Agencies. And apparently door-to-door transportation is included in the reimbursement rates. Interesting and very positive if this creates more options for participants. > > P.58 -- Under Supported Employment section, this was interesting. Supported employment may be provided in integrated and competitive work settings in a business or industry that primarily employs people without disabilities. Supported employment does not include sheltered work or other similar types of vocational services furnished in specialized facilities. > > My question is this -- if supported employment does not include 'sheltered work' or 'workshops' -- then how is it that Illinois still has so many community-based agencies operating 'workshops'? I can think of at least 3 locally with 100 or more individuals. I assumed they were paying for their workshop via Waiver services; but is there another source of funding for these? How are tax dollars/waiver dollars going toward payment to sheltered workshops if they are not covered under the Waiver? Perhaps I'm missing something? Is this a new exclusion? I support exclusion of sheltered workshops, by the way. > > P. 60 Under Personal Support section, again a mention of Special Recreation Associations being eligible to provide Personal Support workers? Not sure exactly what this means, but again, if it increases participant choices/options, then I’m all for it. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2011 Report Share Posted December 23, 2011 Home and Community Based Supports From: Diane S. Sent: Friday, December 23, 2011 7:23 PM IPADDUnite Subject: Re: Waiver comments/questions What do the initials HCBS actually stand for? Diane > > Ellen, > Read through the Waiver & here are some comments/questions. > L. > > ADULT HCBS WAIVER REVIEW & COMMENTS > > P. 57 -- Under Developmental Training section, provider specifications now include Special Recreation Associations in addition to Community Agencies. And apparently door-to-door transportation is included in the reimbursement rates. Interesting and very positive if this creates more options for participants. > > P.58 -- Under Supported Employment section, this was interesting. Supported employment may be provided in integrated and competitive work settings in a business or industry that primarily employs people without disabilities. Supported employment does not include sheltered work or other similar types of vocational services furnished in specialized facilities. > > My question is this -- if supported employment does not include 'sheltered work' or 'workshops' -- then how is it that Illinois still has so many community-based agencies operating 'workshops'? I can think of at least 3 locally with 100 or more individuals. I assumed they were paying for their workshop via Waiver services; but is there another source of funding for these? How are tax dollars/waiver dollars going toward payment to sheltered workshops if they are not covered under the Waiver? Perhaps I'm missing something? Is this a new exclusion? I support exclusion of sheltered workshops, by the way. > > P. 60 Under Personal Support section, again a mention of Special Recreation Associations being eligible to provide Personal Support workers? Not sure exactly what this means, but again, if it increases participant choices/options, then I’m all for it. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 24, 2011 Report Share Posted December 24, 2011 Our Special Rec does not accept the waiver. I spoke with the Director many times and he says that they cannot afford to put their employees and volunteers thru the training required. It is maddening to me because the funding that I do not use could be put to good use. needs the social support more than anything else, and it is the one thing I cannot do for her. She does get a weekly social outing through our agency but she would love to participate more in the SRA. Thus far this year we haven't been able to do anything because we are behind in payments and you can't sign up until the previous year is paid. It would sure be nice if they could change the rules somehow so that the smaller SRA's could participate. Or perhaps he is giving me a line of BS about the training. I don't know. Anyone out there know what the training requirements are to qualify. My workers and I didn't have to go thru any special training other than what I do personally. Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 25, 2011 Report Share Posted December 25, 2011 Gloria: I really don' t know the answer to this...I will see if I can find out. Elle Ellen Garber Bronfeld egskb@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 Special Recreation Associations have been included as a potential provider for some time now under DT and Personal Support; however, the problem has been the training requirements. They would need to adhere to the same requirements as a community agency which is DSP (Direct Support Personnel) training and pass competancy-based training assessments (40 hours of classroom and 80 hours of on-the-job training). The SRA's just don't have the staff or funding to be able to offer this to their staff. It is my understanding that these staff do participate in training; however, it is not nearly as much as what is required of a direct support personnel who typically works in a DT program. Training for personal support has been a hot topic for awhile now as there is great disparity between those workers in a community agency versus those is the self-directed model. I had thought that might be addressed during the waiver renewal process but did not see any mention of it. As for the transportation piece, the cost of this has always been included in the rate for programming. There are some agencies who have not been able to provide the actual tansportation and have found other ways to support the individual's need to get to/from the day program. > > Ellen, > Read through the Waiver & here are some comments/questions. > L. > > ADULT HCBS WAIVER REVIEW & COMMENTS > > P. 57 -- Under Developmental Training section, provider specifications now include Special Recreation Associations in addition to Community Agencies. And apparently door-to-door transportation is included in the reimbursement rates. Interesting and very positive if this creates more options for participants. > > P.58 -- Under Supported Employment section, this was interesting. Supported employment may be provided in integrated and competitive work settings in a business or industry that primarily employs people without disabilities. Supported employment does not include sheltered work or other similar types of vocational services furnished in specialized facilities. > > My question is this -- if supported employment does not include 'sheltered work' or 'workshops' -- then how is it that Illinois still has so many community-based agencies operating 'workshops'? I can think of at least 3 locally with 100 or more individuals. I assumed they were paying for their workshop via Waiver services; but is there another source of funding for these? How are tax dollars/waiver dollars going toward payment to sheltered workshops if they are not covered under the Waiver? Perhaps I'm missing something? Is this a new exclusion? I support exclusion of sheltered workshops, by the way. > > P. 60 Under Personal Support section, again a mention of Special Recreation Associations being eligible to provide Personal Support workers? Not sure exactly what this means, but again, if it increases participant choices/options, then I’m all for it. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Again, , thanks so much for the thoughtful analysis. I’m sure the training piece is somewhat controversial, although the value of on-the-job, individualized training that goes on between a consumer/consumer’s family and the DSP hired privately, I don’t believe can be undervalued. The people my daughter has hired through self-directed model are infinitely more aware of her specific needs, strengths and challenges than the DSPs in the day program model. And that’s not a swipe against the hard-working people in the community agencies!! It’s more the luxury of only having to learn about ONE person, in depth, versus the needs of many on a more diverse and less intimate level. Thanks again . From: lisalewclearbrook18 Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 9:18 PM IPADDUnite Subject: Re: Waiver comments/questions Special Recreation Associations have been included as a potential provider for some time now under DT and Personal Support; however, the problem has been the training requirements. They would need to adhere to the same requirements as a community agency which is DSP (Direct Support Personnel) training and pass competancy-based training assessments (40 hours of classroom and 80 hours of on-the-job training). The SRA's just don't have the staff or funding to be able to offer this to their staff. It is my understanding that these staff do participate in training; however, it is not nearly as much as what is required of a direct support personnel who typically works in a DT program. Training for personal support has been a hot topic for awhile now as there is great disparity between those workers in a community agency versus those is the self-directed model. I had thought that might be addressed during the waiver renewal process but did not see any mention of it. As for the transportation piece, the cost of this has always been included in the rate for programming. There are some agencies who have not been able to provide the actual tansportation and have found other ways to support the individual's need to get to/from the day program. > > Ellen, > Read through the Waiver & here are some comments/questions. > L. > > ADULT HCBS WAIVER REVIEW & COMMENTS > > P. 57 -- Under Developmental Training section, provider specifications now include Special Recreation Associations in addition to Community Agencies. And apparently door-to-door transportation is included in the reimbursement rates. Interesting and very positive if this creates more options for participants. > > P.58 -- Under Supported Employment section, this was interesting. Supported employment may be provided in integrated and competitive work settings in a business or industry that primarily employs people without disabilities. Supported employment does not include sheltered work or other similar types of vocational services furnished in specialized facilities. > > My question is this -- if supported employment does not include 'sheltered work' or 'workshops' -- then how is it that Illinois still has so many community-based agencies operating 'workshops'? I can think of at least 3 locally with 100 or more individuals. I assumed they were paying for their workshop via Waiver services; but is there another source of funding for these? How are tax dollars/waiver dollars going toward payment to sheltered workshops if they are not covered under the Waiver? Perhaps I'm missing something? Is this a new exclusion? I support exclusion of sheltered workshops, by the way. > > P. 60 Under Personal Support section, again a mention of Special Recreation Associations being eligible to provide Personal Support workers? Not sure exactly what this means, but again, if it increases participant choices/options, then I’m all for it. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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