Disability Services Reform Executive Steering Committee

During 2019, the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) participated in numerous stakeholder group meetings. OADS has taken the feedback from those meetings and developed a reform plan with the goal of addressing  high priority topics. The information on this page includes an overall project plan outlining this work which will take place between September 2020 and September 2021. To accomplish our goal we have established  four primary work groups: Communication, Community Membership,  Innovation, and Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement. These work groups are made up of a cross representation of individuals who are invested in improving developmental disability services in Maine including representatives from agency providers, family members, advocates and state agency staff from the Developmental Disability Services unit at OADS. Each month the monthly meeting notes and updated information about the work groups will be posted.

Topics/ Work Groups

Communication

This reform work group will address the need for better information and networking, use of plain language and accessibility, ongoing stakeholder feedback loops, and communication about reform.

Community Membership

This reform work group will address the need for greater inclusion of waiver members in their community through employment, access to community resources and places, self- advocacy, person-centered thinking, supported decision making and implementation of the federal HCBS settings rule.

Innovation

This reform work group will address the need for a fair and consistent needs assessment, flexible supports for families and individuals over the lifespan, prevention and de-escalation of crises, innovative living options and technology to enhance independence.

Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Improvement (QI)

This reform work group will address the health and safety of participants and the effectiveness of services. Components include on-boarding and monitoring of providers, training, quality measurement, value-based payment and streamlined business processes.

September 2020 – September 2021
  • Establish and support reform communication channels
  • Develop information and networking improvement plan
  • Community Support; change and opportunities
  • Employment First Implementation
  • Person Centered Planning, Self-Advocacy, Family support and engagement
  • HCBS Settings Rule 2023 Forward
  • Technology
  • Best Practices in Maine and other states regarding residential and support options
  • Flexibility in services
  • Develop 1 or more service innovations based on summit and research
  • Transition to a Single Lifespan Waiver
  • Improve provider on-boarding and monitoring
  • Implement value-based payment model for employment
  • Implement mortality review panel if the supplemental budget proposal is funded
  • Complete licensing of 1- and 2-bed homes

Out Years
  • Operate functioning feedback loops for continuous stakeholder input and quality improvement
  • Develop person-centered training platform
  • Secure HCBS settings compliance and plan to maintain compliance
  • Adopt and implement a standardized assessment
  • Adopt shared living changes based on pilot
  • Develop 1 or more service innovations based on summit and research
  • Transition to a Single Lifespan Waiver
  • Review, prioritize and implement QA/QI system changes

 Executive Steering Committee Members

  • Stephanie Barrett
  • Donna Benson
  • Brian Day
  • Derek Fales
  • Kristen Fortier
  • Betsy Hopkins
  • Emily Kalafarski
  • Jennifer Keaten
  • Alexis Lull
  • Mark Lutte
  • Craig Patterson
  • Paul Saucier
  • Lisa Sturtevant