Attention readers involved in the care of aging adults and persons with disabilities: the latest weekly digest from Aging and Adult Services Division (AASD) and Disability Services Division (DSD) is out, aiming to streamline the flow of information regarding policy updates and initiatives. Amongst the key points this week, a particular focus is on a labor market survey for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) providers and a request for proposals to explore funding models for direct support worker retirement benefits. Interested parties can expect an email from the Department of Human Services (DHS) on Wednesday, August 14 with detailed instructions on the HCBS survey.
The DHS is on the lookout for proposals to study and develop potential models to fund retirement benefits for direct support workers, entwined with Medicaid services. The submission window for proposals remains open through August 28, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Meanwhile, there's a drive to understand and address the hurdles faced by those making the transition from emergency rooms and hospitals, with feedback requests targeting a broad audience from self-advocates to caregivers.
On the training front, DHS is mandating a new course, "Informed Choice: Disability Waiver Case Manager Training," for the disability waiver case managers, as stated by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. This requirement comes in light of recent legislative actions and aims to augment the case managers’ ability to guide those under their care more effectively. The curriculum supports informed decision-making and ensures that case managers are adequately equipped to navigate through the rigors of their roles.
Moreover, a slew of webinars and training sessions are slated for the near future. The virtual roundtable focusing on 245D licensing requirements will be hosted by the DHS once more on August 21, with another session scheduled for December 11. Matters of foster care policy take center stage on August 29 or September 10, as a webinar geared towards waiver case managers includes discussions on placing children with complex needs. A "Culture of Safety Orientation" is slated for September 5, a necessary preamble for the extensive two-day training come September 17 and 19, promising to delve into safety science principles around critical incident analysis and systemic factors related to adverse outcomes, as outlined in the DHS bulletin.
