ARPA Project Pulse Newsletter
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Welcome to the March American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Project Pulse newsletter! In this edition, we will be highlighting projects that fall under the category of Support Post-COVID-19 Recovery and Innovation. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges and disruptions to our communities. ARPA has allocated significant funding to support the recovery and revitalization efforts across the country, including in Colorado. In particular, the Colorado HCBS ARPA funding aims to enhance and expand HCBS services, with a focus on addressing the impact of COVID-19 and promoting innovation in service delivery.
In this month’s newsletter, the projects we will be highlighting aim to support the recovery of individuals and communities affected by COVID-19 and to promote innovative approaches to delivering HCBS services. We hope that this month’s content will provide you with insights into the innovative work being done and inspire you to join us in supporting the post-COVID-19 recovery and innovation efforts in Colorado.
~ The HCPF ARPA Team
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Do You Have A Question About ARPA Projects?
Please reach out if there is anything on your mind and a member of the ARPA team will work to get an answer back to you as quickly as we can!
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Member Spotlight
Nancy's Story
Nancy went to Silver Key Senior Services in February 2023 seeking assistance due to hardships she was experiencing with housing. A widow of an Army Veteran, Nancy has rented in El Paso County for over 23 years. She has no local family and relies heavily on her neighbors and community for support. Recently, her residence was bought by new owners who rendered a notice of eviction. Her neighbors and friends were exhausting all their resources trying to help her with a solution. Nancy is an older adult with limited mobility, who has suffered several falls resulting in injuries over the last several months. These injuries further limited her ability to address the stressful issues of eviction she was facing.
Thanks to funding through the Respite Grant, Silver Key was able to connect Nancy to a volunteer through their Companionship program. Over the last month, her companion has visited Nancy one to two times per week, providing compassionate care and emotional support during a time of great need. These interactions and support have helped provide relief to Nancy’s friends who have struggled to find the time and resources to help link her to the services she needs to keep her housed, as well as transportation to necessary appointments and grocery shopping.
Thanks to the Respite Grant, Nancy’s neighbors and friends can now focus their support to her in different ways, while freeing up space in their own lives to practice self-care.
The Respite Grants were made available in December 2022 utilizing ARPA HCBS funds. In total, $1,146,000 was awarded to 12 grants recipients throughout Colorado.
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ARPA 4.07 New Systems of Care Grant Applications to open on Monday, April 3
The New Systems of Care Grant Program is a $15,000,000 program in which HCPF will award funds to qualified applicants to pilot innovative systems of care that recognize and leverage the needs and capabilities of various populations.
Applicants can solicit grant funds to either build or supplement existing programs in one or more of the following areas of focus:
- Home sharing facilitation where at least one individual in the home sharing match is at least aged 55 or older
- Provision of college credit for prior learning (CPL) and work experience for Colorado Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Direct Care Workers (DCWs)
- Tuition reimbursement distribution for Colorado Medicaid HCBS DCWs
- Child care reimbursement distribution for Colorado Medicaid HCBS DCWs
Grant requests may not exceed $1,000,000 or be less than $25,000. The deadline to apply will be May 12, 2023. For more information on this grant when it launches on April 3, visit the ARPA Grant Opportunities webpage.
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Other Grant Opportunity Updates
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Last chance to apply! Peer Support Grants for Housing Stability
The purpose of this grant project is to expand access to Peer Support Services for Medicaid members with complex needs and a history of homelessness. Funding will be awarded to cover costs associated with outreach, engagement, hiring, training, retention, and supervision of Peer Support Professionals that can provide billable services in the context of housing stability. Funding will also be awarded to support costs associated with building administrative capacity to become a Medicaid provider and successfully provide and bill for Peer Support Services.
Applicants must be enrolled as a Medicaid provider [Note: Individual providers, working in collaboration with existing homeless services, are eligible to apply.]
OR
Must demonstrate a viable pathway to enrolling as a Medicaid provider within the grant period. [Note: Entities working towards their RSSO license are eligible and encouraged to apply.]
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Integrated Behavioral Health Care Grant Application Now Open
The Integrated Care Grant Program’s Request for Applications (RFA) is now open. House Bill 22-1302 passed last May with the goal of supporting, improving, and expanding integrated behavioral health services in Colorado. The legislation appropriated $31 million toward this task with most of these funds going directly to providers to expand access to integrated behavioral health services. Through this grant program, HCPF is offering funding for physical and behavioral health care providers. With these funds, providers will expand access to care and treatment for mental health and substance use disorders using an evidence-based integrated care model.
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Training Fund Grants Open for Individual Direct Care Workers and HCBS Providers
HCPF is offering short-term grant funding to incentivize and expand training opportunities for the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) workforce. The grants will fund higher-level skills that will promote greater retention within the HCBS workforce. The maximum award amount per application for direct care workers is $500 and for HCBS providers is $100,000.
Eligible applicants include:
- Individual, age 18 or older, who is currently working in a direct care role within any of Colorado’s Home & Community Based Service (HCBS) Waivers; or
- Individual, age 18 or older, who desires training to enter direct care within Colorado’s HCBS Waiver workforce; or
- Also included within this workforce, are Certified Nurse Aides and Home Health Aides within Long Term Home Health; or
- Currently enrolled Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver providers; and
- Training vendor/provider that develops/delivers training/specialization for the HCBS workforce.
Interested in learning more about how this grant could support higher-level skills for the HCBS workforce?
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Upcoming ARPA Stakeholder Engagement Opportunities
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Creating Equitable Access within Colorado’s Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
HCPF is working with stakeholders to identify barriers and increase equity across home and community-based services programs. In February, we reached out to you all with a survey request, and nearly 350 providers and 140 members and caregivers responded. Your responses are helping us identify barriers and solutions for awareness, enrollment and use of HCBS services. Thank you!
Now, HCPF and the Office of Community Living want to share those results with you and create a space for you all to brainstorm more solutions based on the data. We also want to provide more background about where we are headed with equity work within HCBS programs and what you can expect in the coming months and years.
Please register by March 27, 2023, to receive an invitation to participate via the Zoom meeting platform. This work has been supported by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) 3.01 Equity Study.
The meeting will be held:
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
12 to 2 p.m. MT
You can also find more information about the project here.
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Creando acceso equitativo dentro de los servicios basados en el hogar y la comunidad de Medicaid (HCBS) de Colorado
HCPF está trabajando con las partes interesadas para identificar barreras y aumentar la equidad en los programas de servicios basados en el hogar y la comunidad. En febrero, nos comunicamos con todos ustedes solicitando ayuda en responder a una encuesta, y casi 350 proveedores y 140 miembros y cuidadores nos ayudaron a contestarla. Sus respuestas nos ayudan a identificar barreras y soluciones para la concientización, inscripción y uso de los servicios de HCBS. ¡Gracias!
Ahora, HCPF y la Oficina de Vida Comunitaria quieren compartir esos resultados con usted y crear un espacio para que todos ustedes hagan una lluvia de ideas sobre más soluciones basadas en los datos. También queremos brindar más información sobre hacia dónde nos dirigimos con el trabajo de equidad dentro de los programas de HCBS y qué puede esperar en los próximos meses y años.
Regístrese antes del 27 de marzo de 2023 para recibir una invitación para participar a través de la plataforma de reuniones Zoom. Este trabajo ha sido respaldado por el Estudio de Equidad 3.01 de la Ley del Plan de Rescate Estadounidense (ARPA).
Por favor regístrese a través de este enlace aqui. También puedes encontrar más información sobre el proyecto aqui.
La próxima reunión será:
Lunes,4 de Abril, 2023
12 a 14 hrs MT
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Trauma-Informed Care of Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Training Series
General Trauma-informed Care of Persons with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) for Direct Care Workers
This training will be a general overview of culturally competent trauma-informed approaches to care of persons with I/DD (and disability in general), as well as self-care. The session is presented by Dr. Karyn Harvey and is for all direct care workers, providers, families, caregivers, and interested learners. This training is geared toward people who work day-to-day directly with people with I/DD, though the principles can be applied broadly and may be of interest to other stakeholders. Two meeting times are available.
Meeting Option 1:
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
9:30 to 10:30 a.m. MT
Meeting Option 2:
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. MT
Trauma-Informed Care of Persons with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) for Providers
This training will be a deeper dive of culturally competent trauma-informed approaches to care of persons with I/DD, as well as self-care. The session is presented by Dr. Karyn Harvey and is for all I/DD providers, including direct care workers, case management agencies, program approved provider agencies, peer support providers, clinicians, caregivers, and families. This training is geared to anyone who works with people with I/DD, though it may also be of interest to case managers or provider agency management in agencies serving people with I/DD.
The meeting will be held:
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
1 to 3 p.m. MT
Trauma-Informed Care of Persons with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), and Self-Care, for Complex Case Professionals
This training will be a deeper dive of culturally competent trauma-informed approaches to care of persons with I/DD in complex situations, as well as self-care. The session is presented by Dr. Karyn Harvey and is for all complex case professionals, including providers, regional accountable entities, case management agencies, hospitals, families, State staff, and advocates.
The meeting will be held:
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
1:30 to 3:30 p.m. MT
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Community First Choice (CFC) Council
The Community First Choice (CFC) Council collaborates with and advises HCPF on the design and implementation of a CFC option in Colorado. The CFC Council consists primarily of individuals with disabilities, those 65 years or older, and their representatives to help ensure CFC is implemented in a way that best meets the needs of Coloradans with disabilities.
The meeting will be held:
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
10 to 11:30 a.m. MT
Meeting Focus: How Case Management Redesign, Wellness Education
Benefit, and Waiver Merger relate to CFC
Join by Phone:
1-260-230-1249, PIN: 719 313 221#
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ARPA 4.01 Residential Innovation – Models of Care Stakeholder Engagement Opportunity
Please join the HCPF team to share your feedback on model options for individuals transitioning out of nursing facilities and other institutional settings.
As part of the ARPA 4.01 Residential Innovations Initiative - Models of Care, HCPF and partners at the Mission Analytics Group, have explored innovative home and community-based models from around the country that support individuals’ transition from institutional settings, such as nursing facilities, to community-based settings.
HCPF invites you to learn about the results of this analysis and to share your feedback.
You will be able to indicate during registration if you require accommodations to fully participate in this event. Please contact austin.leffel@state.co.us with any questions.
The meetings will be held:
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. MT
Thursday, April 13, 2023
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. MT
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. MT
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ARPA 2.02 Statewide Mobile Crisis Response: General Technical Assistance
This is an opportunity for Administrative Service Organizations (ASO) / Regional Accountable Entities (RAE), community and members, providers, and any interested stakeholder to ask questions and receive technical assistance related to implementing the Mobile Crisis Medicaid Benefit. These meetings will occur bi-weekly starting March 16, 2023 through at least July 2023. Email Emily Holcomb for more information contact Emily Holcomb.
The meetings this month will be held:
Thursday, April 13, 2023
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. MT
Thursday, April 27, 2023
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. MT
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Older Adults Stakeholder Meeting
The purpose of the Older Adult Stakeholder meeting is to inform older adult stakeholders about HCPF's work, to gather feedback, and to identify opportunities for collaboration. All interested stakeholders are welcome.
The Older Adults Stakeholder will be focusing its meetings on receiving input from older adult stakeholders on the following American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)initiatives. If you have interest in any of these initiatives, please join us.
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ARPA Initiative 4.01: Residential Innovation - (Includes Innovative Models of Care Grant) HCPF is contracting with a vendor to conduct a models of care analysis, including stakeholder engagement, to develop recommendations about innovative services that could be considered to enhance community residential services for adults as they age.
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ARPA Initiative 4.02: Promote Single Occupancy - HCPF is developing a one-time grant program to incentivize residential providers to promote individualized rooms in residential environments where people do not have to share bedrooms. HCPF is also contracting with a vendor to conduct an analysis of new and emerging best practices in promoting single occupancy rooms.
The meeting will be held:
Thursday, April 20, 2023
10 to 11 a.m. MT
Join by Phone
1-443-606-2203, PIN: 505 443 051#
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Have you visited the ARPA web lately?
There are many new things to explore, including:
In addition to the new content above, all quarterly reports to the Colorado Joint Budget Committee and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are on the site.
And soon we will be posting our first project completion summary, so keep your eyes peeled for that and more future project completions!
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Need to Make an Accommodation Request for one of our ARPA-Related Stakeholder Meetings?
Reasonable accommodations for all ARPA-related stakeholder meetings will be provided upon request for persons with disabilities. Auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities and language services for individuals whose first language is not English may be provided upon request. Please notify John Barry at 303-866-3173 or John.R.Barry@state.co.us or the 504/ADA Coordinator at hcpf504ada@state.co.us at least one week prior to the meeting to make arrangements.
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