Family Voices Indiana

You are invited to complete a brief survey about the new 9-8-8 hotline number and crisis response services in Indiana   at this link:   9-8-8 Lived Experience Survey.   Your participation in this survey will help the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) understand how they can build a crisis response system that Hoosiers can trust and depend on.  Feedback is especially needed from Indiana residents who have, will be using, or need  behavioral health crisis services. Information gathered in the survey will help determine how Indiana develops the approach to serving Hoosiers facing a mental health, substance use, and/or suicide-related emergency. It is important for the voice of people with developmental disabilities, their families and providers to be included in the survey.   Background - The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act was signed into law on October 17, 2020. This was done to “transition the cumbersome, existing 10-digit National Suicide Hotline to a universal,

Ecf Flyereng by Family Voices Indiana on Scribd The new school year is just around the corner, will students in your community have the broadband access and devices they need to succeed?   The Federal Communications Commission has a new program to help with unmet needs. The Emergency Connectivity Fund Program covers 100% of the reasonable costs of laptops, tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connectivity purchases for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons.   Eligible schools and libraries  must apply by August 13 .   During the current application filing window, eligible schools and libraries, in addition to consortia of schools and libraries, can submit requests for funding to purchase eligible equipment and services between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022.   Interested schools and libraries can find more information and apply for support at  emergencyconnectivityfund.org .   The FCC will hold a  webinar on August 3 at 2 p.m. ET  to hig

The Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services and the Bureau of Quality Improvement Services are committed to working collaboratively with individuals, families, case managers and providers to support the individuals using our home-and community-based services waivers to live their vision of a good life. As announced on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, BDDS issued a  public notice  on the intent to submit proposed 1915(b)(4) selective contracting waiver application and proposed amendments to the Community Integration and Habilitation waiver and Family Supports Waiver to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for consideration. These proposed changes are part of BDDS Case Management Innovation and Waiver Redesign work. The 30-day public comment period will run through August 27, 2021. BDDS will be hosting two webinars to assist individuals, families and other interested stakeholders understand the process of amending and introducing a waiver, how to make public comment and provide

From  Expecting Health   The  Newborn Screening Family Education Program , a core program of Expecting Health, is excited to share with you the recordings of our recent webinar series,  From Emergency to Everyday: Reflections on a Year of COVID-19 in Newborn Screening . During these three sessions, we heard from key stakeholders in the newborn screening community including healthcare providers, laboratory programs, and families. In this series, the newborn screening community came together to discuss what we can "start, stop, and continue" doing to support families through future health emergencies. Together, we brainstormed solutions to challenges individuals and families faced with regard to newborn screening during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Check out what we discussed by watching the webinar recordings on YouTube.

As school year approaches, more than 40,000 scholarships are available to help working families pay for early care and before- and after-school programs INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana’s  Build, Learn, Grow  scholarship program is extending assistance to pay for a portion of before- or after-school care or early childhood education for qualified families through March of 2022. Scholarships cover up to 80% of a child’s early care and education, summer learning or before- and after-school care, ensuring families can connect to the care and education children need. More than 40,000 scholarships are still available for children – from birth through age 12 – who have a family member who works in an essential industry. Families with at least one adult working in an essential business are encouraged to apply, regardless of their income. The amount of assistance provided will be based on the family’s income. Learn more at  Families.BuildLearnGrow.org . “As children return to school, before- and after-s

From DDRS Updates The Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services has made available the following two items for public comment on the   DDRS public comment webpage. Public notice regarding amendments to the community integration and habilitation and family supports waivers Public notice regarding a proposed selective contracting waiver Additional information and how to submit public comment is  available here.