Family Voices Indiana

from Ntl FV: CONGRESS House Passes HHS Appropriations Bill with Increase for Title V On June 19, the House of Representatives passed a package of four FY 2020 appropriations bills to fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education (normally one bill); Defense; State; and Energy. The bill passed by a vote of 226 to 203, opposed by seven Democrats and all Republicans. It includes $99.4 billion for HHS, an increase of $8.9 billion above the 2019 level. See a bill  summary prepared by the House Appropriations Committee, and  House Backs $1T Spending Bill amid Fears of a Fall Shutdown  (Politico, 6/19/19). Included in the House bill is a significant increase for the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant. As reported out of committee, the bill included an increase of $27 million over the current (FY 2019) funding level for Title V. On the House Floor, Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) offered an amendment to increase Title V funding by an addition $7

from ILRC: 06/19/2019 Community Resources Advocates and community members can work together to fight messages of fear and panic by helping community members learn about their rights and how to protect themselves from ICE. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center has created a variety of materials to educate the community and prepare individuals for possible encounters with immigration authorities.   For in depth information on community rights and how to prepare in case of emergencies, visit:  A  know-your-rights handout  in eight languages to help families prepare for a possible interaction with ICE Printable  red cards  in eight languages to distribute to community members A  family preparedness plan  in English, Spanish, and Chinese A  train-the-trainer toolkit  on holding a Know-Your-Rights presentation in your community Communities can also prepare themselves with these additional resources: Know-Your-Rights tutorial videos  from the National Lawyers’ Guild in

Notice of Public Comment Period for Statewide Transition Plan for Compliance with Home and Community-Based Settings Rule Notice is hereby given that the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) will submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) a revision to Indiana’s Statewide Transition Plan for compliance with the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) regulations of 42 CFR 441.301(c)(4)-(5), and Section 441.710(a)(1)-(2). PURPOSE Effective March 17, 2014, CMS has issued regulations that define the settings in which it is permissible for states to pay for Medicaid HCBS. The purpose of these regulations is to ensure that individuals receive Medicaid HCBS in settings that are integrated and that support full access to the greater community. This includes opportunities to seek employment and work in competitive and integrated settings, engage in community life, control personal resources and receive services in the community to the same deg

Supported decision-making is a model used to help people understand and make their own decisions as they move through life…It isn’t about the ability to communicate, but rather the right to decide and be heard. —Missouri Family to Family Photo Credit: The Arc of Washington State By Tara Zahlner Reprinted from Partnering Together in Supported Decision-Making with permission by  Missouri Family to Family My husband and I welcomed our beautiful baby boy, AJ, into the world in June of 2014. I had already made big plans for him, including who would provide child care and where he would attend preschool and elementary school. We were choosing for AJ to have a “normal” childhood when he was only about an hour old. It turned out that AJ had multiple illnesses in his first six months, including Myoclonic Seizures and symptoms of a genetic deletion syndrome. After receiving the genetic test results, the doctors told us AJ probably wouldn’t be able to walk, talk or function like a “t

from AUCD: Assistive Technology On June 13, Senator Casey (D-PA) introduced the  Access to Free Speech for All Act (AFSFA)  ( S.1836 ) with Sen. Hassan (D-NH) and Sen. Leahy (D-VT) as original co-sponsors. This bill aims to make sure individuals get the communication devices and services they need. Teachers, services providers, allied health professionals, paraprofessionals and program managers and coordinators, as well as individuals themselves and family members all need to be aware of augmentative and alternative communication devices and services. The AFSFA would create three to five training, technical assistance and research centers in geographically diverse regions to increase the awareness of the needs for augmentative and alternative devices and services. The Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and AUCD have been the leading proponents of a National Resource Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication. What This Mean

To: School Superintendents, Administrators, and School Nurses From: Stephen Balko, Director of School Building Security Jolene Bracale, Student Health Services Specialist Date: June 14, 2019 Re: House Enrolled Act 1089 - Seizure Disorder Training Requirements Background: House Enrolled Act 1089 has two sections which contain requirements regarding the care of students with seizure disorders. The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is working with various partners to develop guidance materials and resources to assist schools with implementing these new requirements. Guidance: The requirements per HEA 1089, which both become effective July 1, 2020 , include the following: 1) Each school corporation and charter school shall require all employees who have direct, ongoing contact with children to attend training concerning recognition of the signs and symptoms of seizures and the appropriate steps to be taken to respond to these symptoms: ● This training will be required upon