May 25, 2010
Imagine! Community Forum
Topics discussed included:
State budget issues and their impact on services
The shape of service delivery in the future
State Conflict of Interest Task Force
Click here to see a slideshow from the forum.
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May 18, 2010
Help!
What family members, care providers and friends should know about suicide threats and how to handle them.
Presented by Eva Klemens, L.C.S.W. and Jeff Kupfer, Ph.D., Imagine! IBHS
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March 17, 2010
Living Arts Seminar Series: Using Social Media at Imagine!
Imagine!’s Public Relations Director, Fred Hobbs, presented on how Imagine! is using Social Media to support our mission and how you can have voice using these powerful and engaging tools.
To learn more, click here.
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February 17, 2010
Imagine! Living Arts Seminar: Zero Waste with Eco-Cycle
Imagine! is pleased to introduce “Living Arts”, a seminar series. Open to consumers, family members, employees and community members, Living Arts will offer short, informational classes on a variety of topics from wellness and personal safety to recycling and financial planning.
Usually scheduled on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, Living Arts will present litterless lunch or early evening sessions that we hope will answer your questions, teach you something new or just offer a tip for making life a little easier.
All classes will be held in the John Taylor Conference Center, 1665 Coal Creek Drive, unless otherwise noted.
For more information, contact Caroline Siegfried. caroline@imaginecolorado.org 303-926-6473
Wednesday, February 17: Zero Waste with EcoCycle litterless lunch. 12:00-1:00PM.
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October 8, 2009
Imagine! Presented: Get In The Know!
On October 8, Imagine! hosted an event and discussion on issues surrounding Supported Living Services (SLS) and Children’s Extensive Services (CES).
To see a chart of allowable SLS services, who can provide those services, who is qualified for services, service limits, and rates, click here.
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August 31, 2009
Division for Developmental Disabilities Forum
Dr. Sharon Jacksi, Director of the Colorado Division for Developmental Disabilities, and other key representatives from State agencies were on hand to answer questions and gather input about recent changes impacting funding and service delivery.
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March 31, 2009
Imagine! Community Forum
On March 31, Imagine! hosted a community forum where representatives from Imagine!'s staff and Board of Directors were on hand to answer questions and receive input from families and local community members.
Click here for an audio recording of Imagine! CEO Mark Emery’s presentation at the forum.
Click here to see a PowerPoint presentation from the forum (in PDF format).
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March 12, 2009
CES and SLS Changes You Need to Know:
Presented by The Association for Community Living and Imagine!
You may be aware that the Supported Living Services (SLS), Children’s Extensive Support (CES), and Comprehensive Medicaid waivers have been rewritten.
These changes have the potential to significantly impact consumer funding and the services they receive.
On March 12, Imagine! and the Association for Community Living hosted a special meeting for consumers, families, and providers to discuss these upcoming changes in state developmental disabilities waivers, especially the new uniform service rates and spending caps for Supported Living Services (SLS) and Children’s Extensive Support (CES) waivers.
Click here for a summary of all three of the waiver rewrites that compares each section of each waiver and provides a description of each section.
Click here for a side by side comparison of SLS allowable services from the existing waiver and the new waiver.
Click here for a side by side comparison of CES allowable services from the existing waiver and the new waiver.
Click here to read Waiver Renewal Comments received from families, consumers, and providers and sent by Imagine! to the Division for Developmental Disabilities.
Children's Extensive Support (CES) Waiver Frequently Asked Questions
Supported Living Services (SLS) Waiver Frequently Asked Questions
Read Imagine!'s analysis of the waiver changes.
Below you will find several documents that will provide you with the most recent updates regarding the new Medicaid waiver changes that will be effective July 1, 2009 regarding the Supported Living Services and Children's Extensive Support waivers.
Update on Waiver Changes April 27 2009 Cover Letter
Update on Waiver Changes April 27 2009 Attachment A
Below you will find the final statewide standardized service rates for the Supported Living Services (SLS) and Children’s Extensive Support (CES) Medicaid waivers.
Directive Memorandum SLS/CES Rates and Caps
Attachment A Tab 1 - SLS-CES Service Rates Effective July 1 2009 FINAL
Attachment A Tab 2- SLS-CES Service Rates Effective July 1 2009 FINAL
Attachment B - Proposed SLS Services
Attachment C - Proposed CES Services
Attachment D - Funding Definitions Effective July 1 2009
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February 24, 2009 - Provider Fair and Information Session
On Tuesday, February 24, 2009, Imagine! hosted a Provider Fair and Information Session, bringing service providers and families together for an opportunity to share information about service options available to families.
In addition to meeting with providers, several breakout information sessions were available to families to learn more about selected topics.
Click on a link below to hear audio recordings of the information sessions.
Session 1: Transitioning from Early Childhood Services Into School
Session 2: Navigating the World of Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and Other Government Benefits
Session 3: Transitioning from Family Support Into Adulthood
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February 18, 2009
Colorado Autism Commission Public Hearing
On February 18, the Autism Society of Boulder County and Imagine! hosted a Colorado Autism Commission Public Hearing for the purpose of:
Informing the work of the Commission;
Ensuring widespread access to the Commission beyond those persons directly or indirectly represented by Commissioners;
Eliciting stories of how the Colorado service system has impacted the lives and wellbeing of persons with autism and their families, especially what works and what needs improvement; and
Promoting the work of the Autism Commission.
Click here to view a slide show from the hearing.
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Guide to Navigating Colorado's Early Intervention Services Insurance Seminar
On December 3, 2008, Imagine! hosted a seminar for Community Centered Boards and other service providers on how to navigate Colorado's Early Intervention services insurance. The purpose of Colorado's Early Intervention Services Mandate is to ensure that applicable insurance companies cover Early Intervention (EI) services as defined in the Individual Family Support Plan (IFSP).
Federal guidelines recommend that IFSP planning teams explore possible funding sources for early intervention services that have been agreed upon by the team in the following order of priority. The general rule is that family resources, private and public insurance programs are first. Second are specialized programs for specific purposes and populations. Last are the most flexible state and federal funds that are used to fill the gaps.
Not all CCBs across the state have been equally successful in accessing insurance monies for EI services, and the seminar was designed to provide those organizations with tools and tips to improve their ability to explore all funding options.
Click here for a to see a slideshow from the seminar.
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Supported Living Services (SLS) Provider Information Session
On November 5, 2008, Imagine!'s Support Coordinating Agency hosted a meeting for providers of Supported Living Services, Supported Living Coordinators, and Case Managers. The meeting was designed to keep all interested parties up to date on the latest in procedure and billing issues.
For more information on the topics listed above, click here.
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Teleconference Regarding the Rate Impact Study for the HCB-DD Waiver (Comprehensive Services)
On Thursday, Sept. 25, Imagine! hosted a Teleconference Regarding the Rate Impact Study for the HCB-DD Waiver (Comprehensive Services). The purpose of this initial teleconference, set up by the Colorado Division for Developmental Disabilities (DDD), was to provide background on this project for those who are unfamiliar, as well as to provide status updates, and an opportunity for questions and input.
Background:
The State was required by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to develop a new uniform rate setting process for HCB-DD waiver services. DDD hired a consulting firm to develop recommendations for a method to classify consumers into new support levels as well as a rate model. Plans were originally to implement these new rates and support levels starting July 1, 2008.
However, since the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had questions about the new waiver changes, there was an opportunity to delay implementation. The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and the department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) staff believed a delay was prudent given the intensity of comments from the community and the potential negative effect on individuals of a July change to the new rate structure. This delay would provide time to further evaluate the impact of the new rate structure and support levels on individuals enrolled in the developmental disabilities system and determine what improvements might be needed. However, CMS has only agreed to this delay until January 1, 2009, by which time new rates and support levels must be in place. Two workgroups were formed (Rate Impact and Support Level) to look at the underlying assumptions and factors of these new rates and support levels. This teleconference will give you more background to this project and progress of these two workgroups. It will also afford an opportunity for some questions and input both at the end of the teleconference and via email following the teleconference.
A second teleconference is planned for late October to early November, to present results of the Workgroup studies, as well as to respond to the common themes from emailed questions and input.
View a slideshow from the teleconference
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Planning for the Future of Your Special Needs Child
On August 20, a free lecture on planning for the future of your special needs child was co-sponsored by Imagine! and The Autism Society of Boulder County.
George Todd discussed how the parents of children with long-term special needs have many concerns, including, "How can I make sure my child is properly cared for when I am no longer able to do so." The answer, at least in part, is a thoughtfully drafted estate or "life plan" which makes specific and necessary provisions for that special child.
For more information on how to create a life plan for your child or loved one, click here.
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Communication and Assistive Technology Workshop
On Tuesday, Tuesday, July 15, 2008, Imagine!'s C.O.R.E. Innovations presented a Communication and Assistive Technology Workshop. Also presenting were Haley O'Hare, MS, CCC-SLP of Rocky Mountain AAC Specialists LLC, and Nancy Lamb, Regional Representative of Dynavox Technologies.
The communication in-service to explored aspects and strategies of communication implementation within the lives of people who have cognitive or developmental disabilities.
To learn more about Rocky Mountain AAC Specialists, click here.
To learn more about Dynavox Technologies, click here.
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Division for Developmental Disabilities FAQS