2012 Mid-Year Conference
"Smart Solutions through Technology and Leadership Practices"
Sacramento, California
June 6-8, 2012

Conference Presentations
To view a presentation file, click on the appropriate file name

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FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2012

Keynote Address

Federal Policy Developments in Aging and Disability Services

James D. Toews
Senior Policy Advisor, Administration for Community Living
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

James described new federal policy developments with the issuance of recent regulations on home and community services as well as the growing movement toward managed care for long-term services and supports. He also talked about the role of the new Administration for Community Living in federal policy development for aging and disability services.

(NOTE: PowerPoint not used for this presentation)

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Plenary Session

Eyes on the Prize - Cost Effective Services that Increase Consumer Self-Direction

PANEL
Laura Doutre
Deputy Director, Policy and Innovation, Tennessee DIDD
and
Scott Modell
Deputy Director, Tennessee DIDD
DOUTRY&MODELL-6.8.2012.pptx (771 KB)

Mary Lee Fay
Administrator, Oregon Office of Developmental Disability Services
FAY-6.8.2012.ppt (1439 KB)

John Martin
Director, Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities
MARTIN-6.8.2012.pptx (216 KB)

Bernie Simons
Director, Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities
SIMONS-6.8.2012.pptx (456 KB)

In this time of economic uncertainty with multiple initiatives at both federal and state levels to increase efficiency and reform health care, leaders in systems for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities are finding new ways to build on current strengths, be cost effective and stay focused on increasing consumer control.

Conference attendees learned from a panel of state experts as they share their experiences with new waivers, practices and infrastructure to leverage budgets, better support choice and self-determination, and move service planning closer to the person in order to ensure their flexibility in plan development and implementation. Whether through support brokers, leveraging natural and community supports, increasing person centered systems to better serve people with significant behavioral challenges, or exploring waivers with several of these features, the panel will describe their state programs, how they got there and provide ideas for other states' endeavors.

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Plenary Session

Investments in Person-Centered Hiring and Training of Direct Support Professionals - from the Mountains to the Prairies

PANEL
Jodie Fenner
Director, Division of Developmental Disabilities, Nebraska DHHS
FENNER-6.8.2012.pptx (174 KB)

Jane Gallivan
Director, Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services

Leo Petrini
Co-Founder of talintel, California/Nevada

Jeff Sturm
Director, Montana Developmental Disabilities Program
STURM-6.8.2012.pptx (1990 KB)

Bill Tapp
Vice-President, DirectCourse, College of Direct Support
TAPP-6.8.2012.pptx (346 KB)

The number of direct support professionals needed in the future to support people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families in the community does not align with projected demographics of worker availability. Finding and keeping the right people has become even more important, a critical practice and a good investment in quality of life.

The panel illustrated how states have launched successful personnel practices through two innovations. The first is an approach to hiring the right staff through a researched-based approach. Partnering with a research based company; a state uses tools to identify applicants with the highest capacity for success and better match staff to the support needs of those served. Learn how this was accomplished in state government, offered to providers and future ideas in consumer directed services. The second innovation highlights how states across the country have enhanced the benefits of the College of Direct Supports (CDS) to improve training, credentialing, consistency, provide career ladders, and offer flexibility. Others have included increased accessibility to the larger community, such as families, volunteers, board members and people with disabilities.

Each state discussed their unique strengths and challenges, such as existing training resources, access to broadband in rural areas, implementing in large vs. small geographic regions, computer availability and creating an atmosphere that values this training as an important hallmark in the provision of quality community services. The panelists will share their knowledge on how the states have partnered with CDS, funded training, and how it was introduced, implemented and supported. The panel provided ideas and suggestions on bringing these approaches to other states.

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Keynote Address

Lead, Follow (not an option) or get out of the way!

Derrick Dufresne
Senior Partner, Community Resource Alliance, Missouri
and
Mike Mayer
Senior Partner, Community Resource Alliance, North Carolina
DUFRESNE&MAYER-6.8.2012.pptx (5762 KB)

Services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities are now at a crossroads. State directors are in a unique position to drive public policy, funding decisions and affect provider behavior. Others in the community can assist directors to move these initiatives forward. Unfortunately, there is sometimes the seduction of "being a good manager." Some may feel the need to lower expectations, play it safe, and increase regulations or rules to force compliance, given the reduced resources and heightened scrutiny of public spending and service delivery.

This presentation will challenge all of those notions. In reality, sheep are managed, but people must be led. There has never been a better time to be bold, and to drive change through incentives and technical support. Advocates, self-advocates, and other stakeholders are ready willing and able to assist if asked, if they not view themselves as tokens or afterthoughts in system transformation.

There has never been a more important time to provide decisive, clear leadership.

The presenters provided insight, examples, and lessons learned from travelling the country and seeing successful and unsuccessful attempts to invent rather than predict the future.

It is time to lead or get out of the way.