CCSI News and Updates
Anne L. Wilder
President
Coordinated Care Services, Inc.
Here’s a quick recap of this month’s news:

  • We hope you'll check out our 2018 Annual Report to learn more about how we’re partnering with organizations across NYS and beyond on a growing number of initiatives aimed at meeting the needs of individuals and strengthening systems and communities.
  • Prevention, Access, Self-Empowerment and Support (PASS) is an innovative, statewide prevention program for teens who experience challenges in their daily lives, or whose parents are seriously and persistently mentally ill. We’re still accepting applications for this year’s cohort, which starts later this summer, so please help us spread the word to youth and families in Monroe County!
  • Several CCSI staff members participated in the 2019 New York State Office of Mental Health Symposium in Albany, NY last week, which focused on concrete ways to ensure behavioral health equity for all New Yorkers. We've highlighted some key themes and takeaways from this terrific two-day conference.
  • Kesha Carter, CCSI’s Chief Diversity Officer, shares how to create equity and inclusion through employee development.
Check Out Our 2018 Annual Report!
We are happy to share our 2018 Annual Report: Strengthening Services, Systems, and Communities. With our mission of “inspiring innovation in practice by providing essential business services in partnership with organizations that improve lives and strengthen communities,” our work is shaped by the needs of individuals and families struggling to overcome exceedingly difficult circumstances. While the challenges are many, we are fortunate to have an incredible array of organizations hard at work in communities across our state – and are frequently inspired by what happens when the collective power of a community’s resources are mobilized effectively.  
We hope you’ll take a few moments to read some of the stories highlighted in this year’s report, which organized by four key areas of focus – Improving Practice and Strengthening Systems, Addressing Social Determinants of Health, Driving Innovation and Efficiency in Local Government and Strategic Staffing . Within each area, you’ll find brief summaries of an increasing number of innovative projects and programs – and hear directly about the impact of our work from the perspective of our customers. You’ll also get a preview of how we’re continuing to evolve as we look to the future. We hope you’ll check it out!
Celebrating Diversity in June and July
Bright colors, culture, food and music can be seen and heard throughout the country during the months of June and July, not just because June is home to the day of the summer solstice, but because various celebrations abound this month. This month is the beginning of LGBTQ+ PRIDE as well as the month for Caribbean American Heritage and Juneteenth. Each one being unique while at the same time holding very similar traits in the plight of the past and uplifting and celebrating for a brighter future. 

Program Management Services
Based at customer locations, guided by the customer’s priorities and vision, and managed in partnership with CCSI, we provide the talent and infrastructure needed to plan, implement and operate programs successfully.
The PASS Program is Still Accepting Applications
Prevention, Access, Self-Empowerment and Support (PASS) is an innovative, curriculum-based, statewide prevention program that works with teens who experience challenges in their daily lives, or whose parents are seriously and persistently mentally ill. This multicultural initiative has been in existence since 1996 and has documented positive changes for participants. PASS utilizes a strength-based approach to help individuals, families and communities develop the resources needed to maintain healthy lifestyles. It focuses on the development of a culturally competent, inclusive system of support that fosters self-help, empowerment, advocacy, support, and education.

PASS is still accepting applications from youth and families in Monroe County. Check out the website for more details and click here to download the registration form . If you have questions, or need more information, please contact Neville Morris at NMorris@ccsi.org or 585-690-6260.
Business Management Services
We offer the essential business supports that health and human services providers need to run their organizations successfully, scaled to their size, complexity, and budget. 
Financial Services Update
LGU Reminder – 2018 Claims
LGUs should be well on their way to completing the 2018 CFR claims process which includes reviewing the 2018 CFR claims, maximizing county use of state aid, updating county funding allocations (OMH-CAT) and finalizing provider CCRs in OMH-ALFS (including ALFS approvals). 

For smaller counties, it’s recommended that any needed changes to the 2018 CAT and/or provider claims be made now. This may reduce any potential disallowances and follow-ups during the closeout reconciliation. Please inform your NYS OMH field office of any proposed changes and request that the CAT be unlocked. 

James Monfort
Manager of Financial Services, Senior Consultant
Coordinated Care Services, Inc.
Quarterly LGU Cost Reports (FMAC)
First quarter 2019 Cost Reports for LGU Medicaid administrative claiming are due no later than Monday July 1 st , 2019.

OPWDD Re-Basing
The OPWDD re-basing of programs under the Rate Transformation Methodology will occur on 7/1/2019. This will result in rate changes for Supervised and Supportive Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRA), Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID), Group Day Habilitation and Prevocational Services (site-based).

Providers may receive notification from OPWDD concerning changes to previously authorized funding levels. Questions can be directed to OPWDD with “July 2019 Rebase” in the subject line; central.operations@opwdd.ny.gov .

VAP Reports
As a final reminder, final Year 4, Quarter 4 (Jan – Mar 2019) VAP reports were due in May. Please submit your final reports.
Consulting Services
We provide the expertise and support organizations need to understand, implement, and sustain practices aimed at improving the way healthcare is provided.
Strategies for Behavioral Health Equity: Leaving No One Behind!
Several of our CCSI staff participated in the 2019 New York State Office of Mental Health Symposium in Albany, NY last week, which focused on concrete action steps to ensure behavioral health equity for all New Yorkers. If you did not have the chance to attend, here are some key themes and take-aways we learned from the speakers over the two-day conference - along with links to some helpful tools and resources:
CCSI team from L to R: Lenora Reid-Rose, MBA, David Wawrzynek, MS, MBA, Gwendolyn Olton, RN, MA, Nancy Sung Shelton, MA, Neville B Morris, MBA
  • Everyone deserves an opportunity for mental health and wellness. Behavioral health is a right, not a privilege, and all individuals need access to high quality behavioral health treatment. Health inequities are avoidable, often caused by preventable issues like structural racism, and provider discrimination and stigma. Each of us needs to ensure we are doing everything we can to give the best possible care to all. Acknowledging and accepting cultural differences leads to transformation, which improves individuals’ engagement in treatment, resulting in more positive health outcomes.
  • Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) impact health disparities and inequities. Our health begins where we live, work, play and worship. Studies have shown that our zip code may be more important in our overall health than our genetic code. Unlike most physical health conditions, mental illnesses are not only created in part by social determinants, but also lead to social determinants that worsen course and outcomes. With the behavioral health service system moving to a value-based model where providers will be reimbursed based on outcomes, this gives us further motivation to better understand the effects of the SDOH on behavioral health, and what we can do to intervene. For example, food insecurity was one SDOH discussed more in-depth in one session, with the speaker encouraging us to administer a one- or two-item food insecurity screening at all initial assessments in order to better identify and link individuals with resources.

Other News and Events
Creating Equity and Inclusion Through Employee Development
For so many people, the end of a school year is a chance to think about goals they have achieved and plans they'd like to have for the next year. I remember always thinking about how I would like to improve and then secretly wishing I knew all the material, so I wouldn’t have to return to school anymore. I realize that it’s impossible to know everything, but improving is something we can all do. We don’t often think about employee development as a part of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work when in many respects, it really is. Making a safe space for authentic employee development in a way that speaks to the employee’s idea of success really shows the value on diversity and the efforts in creating an inclusive environment.
Kesha Carter
Chief Diversity Officer
Coordinated Care Services, Inc.
Employers should also think about how to continue having the most talented individuals, and the most engaged groups, as well as utilizing each aspect of diversity that every individual brings with them in order to help achieve personal and organizational success. Most employers do a good job of having internal professional development plans, activities and courses for their employees, but it never hurts to utilize community support that can also be helpful to round out what the employer is doing internally. The greater Rochester area is ripe with programs geared toward developing employees from various backgrounds. There are programs geared toward specific ethnicities, generations, and other aspects of individual identity.

Spotlight on Local Innovation: Tiny Homes in Onondaga County
As the result of a $235,000 grant from Onondaga County, a Syracuse nonprofit group, A Tiny Home for Good Inc., will build seven new tiny homes for individuals facing homelessness. Each 300-square-foot house costs about $32,000 to build. The group rents the homes to veterans who are at risk of homelessness, and also provides additional support for the residents, including connecting them with professional care managers. 
Housing plays a critical role in providing stability. Without the stress of homelessness, individuals are better able to take care of their physical and behavioral health, and are more likely to continue working and staying active in their communities. This is especially important for more vulnerable groups such as veterans. Tiny homes also provide an alternative to the often high cost of developing low-income housing. 

Click here for more detail in the Syracuse.com article.
Want to hear more? If you haven’t yet had the chance, we hope you’ll check out our Facebook page for more CCSI news and resources.