2024 ADvancing States Next Gen HCBS Leaders Program Application

ADvancing States is pleased to announce we are now accepting applications for the 2024 cohort of the Next Gen HCBS Leaders program (Next Gen). The Next Gen program offers a unique combination of networking and learning opportunities with a curriculum tailored to those wishing to deepen their knowledge and refine their skills in management, leadership, and content development in the Medicaid, Aging, and Disability arenas. 

The 2024 Next Gen program will include five components: 

• An introduction, including an overview of the program, an introduction to ADvancing States, and a high-level overview of how aging and disability services are provided throughout the nation.

• Full scholarships to attend the ADvancing States Spring Meeting in Nashville, TN in April 2024 and the HCBS Conference in Baltimore, MD in August 2024.

• The opportunity to be paired with a mentor to receive personalized support in developing leadership skills.

• Regular webinars on a range of topics, tailored to the needs and interests of the cohort.

• An evaluation of the program to allow ADvancing States to continue to design and refine the Next Gen program.

The Next Gen program is available for staff members of state Aging and Disability agencies or state Medicaid agencies who are interested in growing professionally as leaders. Previous cohorts were highly competitive, and those who were not selected previously are encouraged to resubmit an application this year. 

All applications must be submitted by Wednesday, January 31 at 5:00 p.m. ET. for consideration. Click here to complete the application.

The 2024 Next Gen program is possible thanks to the generosity of the Next Gen HCBS Leaders sponsors: United HealthCare, Molina Healthcare, and Pulselight. 

More information is available on the Next Gen page of the ADvancing States website, including a link to the application, a 2024 calendar of events, and information about sponsorship opportunities.  

ADvancing States Alumni Leadership Network Update

The ADvancing States Alumni Leadership Network (ALN) is thrilled to announce our new executive committee team members. Each brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and passion to guide alumni and we look forward to working with them in the new year. Congratulations! 

• Brian Duke, Former Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Aging (ALN President) 
• Karen Kimsey, Former Director, Virginia Department of Medical Services (ALN Vice-President)
• Jay Bulot, Former Director, Georgia Division of Aging Services (ALN Secretary)

About the ADvancing States Alumni Leadership Network (ALN): 

Are you a former state ADvancing States member or former CMS, ACL, or AoA staff? Do you want to stay involved in policy, keep in contact with former colleagues, and grow your professional network? Join the Alumni Leadership Network! ALN benefits include special quarterly policy briefings, webinars, mentorship and networking opportunities, and early HCBS Conference registration.

To learn more about ALN benefits, goals of the network, and fees for membership, click here.

Interested in joining? Apply here!

Already a member? Join us on LinkedIn!  

Become a Sponsor for the 2024 Home and Community-Based Services Conference Today!

Join policy-makers, experts, and thought leaders from around the country and across the HCBS field for our landmark 40th annual HCBS conference. The HCBS conference brings together attendees and sponsors to learn, share experiences, and foster new relationships. As a sponsor, you'll have the chance to meet and network with over 1,500 attendees, making it a perfect opportunity to promote your brand with a targeted audience!

To learn more, visit hcbsconference.org or contact our Director of Executive Relations, Gabe Passos at gpassos@advancingstates.org. 

Click here to access an infographic showing the kinds of attendees you can expect at the 2024 HCBS Conference!

Click here for additional information on sponsoring the 2024 HCBS conference.

Information on National Vaccine Initiatives and Resources Available on Our Website 

ADvancing States’ website features information on the National Vaccine Initiatives—USAging’s and NCOA’s grant activities, funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), supporting vaccine education and promotion across the aging and disability networks. Grantees include Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living, a State Unit on Aging, community organizations, and others. USAging’s ADVC You've Got This campaign and NCOA’s Yes, I’ll Be There campaign promote the importance of vaccinations and overall wellbeing, and help to connect older adults and people with disabilities to local organizations that assist them with vaccinations. Additionally, the Vaccination Program Resources page on ADvancing States’ website includes outreach and community engagement strategies for vaccination programs, information on planning vaccination clinics, examples of partner organizations for vaccine programs, and ADvancing States’ report, “State COVID-19 & Influenza Vaccination Initiatives—Promising Practices”. ADvancing States also has a COVID-19 section on our website with federal guidance and state information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This section highlights a publication or resource that has been added to the HCBS Clearinghouse within the past week. Visit HCBS.org for more information.

Section of General Internal Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy at Yale Law School

Innovating Elder Justice: New Ways of Using Law, Medicine, and Technology to Address Abuse and Financial Exploitation in an Aging Society

The Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy at Yale Law School and the Section of General Internal Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine are sponsoring an upcoming symposium titled “Innovating Elder Justice: New Ways of Using Law, Medicine, and Technology to Address Abuse and Financial Exploitation in an Aging Society.” This symposium will bring together legal and medical experts and thought leaders from across the country to discuss the root of elder abuse, share some of the most promising and innovative responses to date (including interventions that can be employed by medical professionals in clinical settings), and think strategically about how law, technology, and medical expertise can be leveraged to address America’s elder abuse epidemic.

Kathy Greenlee, Senior Director of Elder Justice Initiatives at ADvancing States, will be a featured speaker on Panel I of the symposium, exploring novel approaches for addressing elder fraud and abuse in the United States. This session will take place on Friday, February 16 at 10:00 a.m. ET.

The symposium will take place on Friday, February 16 from 8:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. ET. The location of the event is at the Yale Law School, Sterling Law Building.

Click here to register and for additional information. 

Administration for Community Living (ACL) 

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Public Comment Request; ACL Generic Clearance for the Collection of Routine Customer Feedback

On November 15, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) announced an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed information collection requirements relating to the ACL Generic Clearance for the Collection of Routine Customer Feedback, a generic mechanism for Collecting Service Delivery Feedback under the Paperwork Reduction Act. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish a notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

With respect to the following collection of information, ACL invites comments on their burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including:

• Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of ACL's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility;

• The accuracy of ACL's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to determine burden estimates;

• Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

• Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including using automated collection techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Comments on the collection of information must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. ET or postmarked by January 16, 2024.

Click here to submit a comment.

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Public Comment Request; Independent Living Services (ILS) Program Performance Report (PPR)

On November 15, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) announced an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed information collection requirements relating to the Administration on Disabilities' Independent Living Services Program Performance Report. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish a notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. 

ACL invites comments on our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including:

• Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of ACL's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility;

• The accuracy of ACL's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to determine burden estimates;

• Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

• Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including using automated collection techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Comments on the collection of information must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. ET or postmarked by January 16, 2024.

Click here to submit a comment. 

People with Disabilities and Clinical Trials: Comment Now, View Video and Slides from Workshop

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) invites people with disabilities, advocates, and their disability networks to submit comments on the recent FDA Workshop to Enhance Clinical Study Diversity. This workshop included discussions focused on the inclusion of people with disabilities, with a focus on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The comment period is open until January 29, 2024, and the information gathered during the FDA workshop, in addition to comments submitted by the public, will form the basis for a report that the FDA will submit to Congress.

To access the workshop segment on inclusion of people with disabilities that features ACL’s Alison Barkoff, start at the 3:14:40 mark of the Day 1 video.

To access the workshop segment titled, “Approaches to Support the Inclusion and Clinical Study Participation of Individuals with Mental Illness,” start at the 0:03:45 mark of the Day 2 video.

For additional information, complete the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative contact form.

Click here to submit comments. These must be submitted by January 29, 2024. 

Requesting Public Comments for Falls Prevention Data Collection Tools

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has announced an opportunity for the public to comment on the data collection requirements for the ACL Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Program Information Collection. This notice solicits comments on the proposed extension of this data collection. Grantee agencies through this program represent a variety of organization types, including state agencies, area agencies on aging, universities, nonprofit organizations, and tribes. The respondents for this data collection are grantee staff, local staff, and program participants.

The proposed data collection tools include: 

• Program Information Cover Sheet
• Attendance Log
• Participant Information Form
• Post Session Survey

Comments on the collection of information must be submitted by Monday, February 12 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to submit comments on the data collection requirements.

Administration for Community Living (ACL), USAging - Aging and Disability Business Institute

What the Aging and Disability Networks Need to Know About the CMS GUIDE Model for Dementia Care

In an upcoming webinar, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and USAging’s Aging and Disability Business Institute will discuss opportunities for aging and disability networks to engage in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center's new dementia care initiative, known as the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model. GUIDE focuses on dementia care management with the intent to support people living with dementia and their caregivers in their homes and communities for as long as possible. This webinar will explore the roles of aging network organizations and the rationale for developing and delivering sustainable contracted services. Participants will also receive information on how to become meaningfully involved in this initiative.

Presenters: 

• Greg Link, Director - Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services, Administration for Community Living (ACL)
• Erin Long, Team Lead - Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative, Administration for Community Living (ACL)
• Marisa Scala-Foley, Director, USAging Aging and Disability Business Institute 

This webinar will take place on Wednesday, January 10 at 4:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register. 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

CMS Releases Latest Enrollment Figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

On December 28, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. As of September 2023, over 66.4 million people are enrolled in Medicare; nearly 34 million are enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare and close to 32.5 million have a Medicare Advantage plan. Over 88.4 million enrollees have Medicaid and CHIP. More than 81.4 million individuals have Medicaid and over 7 million have coverage through CHIP. Over 12 million individuals are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and are counted in the enrollment figures for both programs.

Click here for more information.  

Medicare Program: Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status

On December 21, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule to implement Medicare appeals processes for hospital patients whose status is changed from inpatient to observation. The proposed rule sets forth new appeals procedures to implement the court order in Alexander v. Azar which directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish both standard and expedited appeals for class members in the case. 

Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted through Monday, February 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to access the proposed rule. 

2024 Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Stakeholder Webinars

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a series of partner webinars to engage Champions for Coverage, Navigators, CACs, Agents/Brokers, partners, issuers, and other stakeholders during the Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period. Each meeting will focus on current and new Marketplace resources, theme weeks of action, data snapshots, and other Marketplace updates. These webinars aim to successfully help consumers navigate the Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period. 

Open enrollment runs from November 1, 2023, to January 15, 2024.

Remaining sessions:​

• Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET. 

• Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register.

AARP

A Closer Look at Sandwich Generation Caregivers of Medicare Beneficiaries

AARP recently released a report using qualitative and quantitative data to depict sandwich generation caregivers who are caring for Medicare beneficiaries. The combined dynamics of Americans delaying having children and younger generations taking on caregiving for older adults are leading to a new picture of what it means to be sandwiched between two generations who need daily care. Early research has shown the negative impact the compounded responsibility of caring for an older adult while still caring for young children can have on caregivers’ physical health, well-being, and financial welfare. This analysis offers a detailed picture of these caregivers’ characteristics, and a discussion of policy solutions that would support them in balancing their care responsibilities with work so they can provide the best care possible while also protecting their economic futures.

Click here to read the report. 

Adult Protective Services (APS) Technical Assistance Resource Center (TARC)

Three New Briefs Now Available on APS Practice

Using data from the National Process Evaluation of the Adult Protective Services System report, the Adult Protective Services (APS) Technical Assistance Resource Center (TARC) has released three briefs on APS practice. Supplemented with NAMRS data, the briefs provide background and context for each of the topics and explore them in more depth than in the overall evaluation report.

The following briefs are now available:

• Overview of Use of Specialized Staff in APS Practice: This brief identifies programs that report the use of each type of specialized staff or unit. In addition, it asked open-ended questions about challenges and innovations for each of the major domains of case flow (intake, investigation, post-investigation services).

• Overview of Use of Tools in APS Practice: This brief highlights data from the National APS Process Evaluation regarding the use of tools by APS programs. Drawing primarily from the practice survey, it provides data on how many programs use different types of tools across the different domains of APS investigations and summarizes information regarding the specific tools used. The data also highlights the relationship between the use of tools and various system outcomes. 

• Partnerships: The Lifeblood of APS: This brief further considers the role of partnerships in APS programs and summarizes data from their evaluation on partnerships, supplemented with National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS) data. The practice survey was conducted in the spring of 2021 and reflects practice at that point in time. 

Click here to access the briefs. 

ATI Advisory, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Findings on Equity in Long-Term Services and Supports

ATI Advisory, in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, recently released three deliverables as part of their project to address equity in access to long-term services and supports (LTSS). This work has benefited greatly from the contributions of key stakeholders across 30+ unique engagements, including interviews, roundtables, and focus groups. The perspectives, insights, and experiences shared by these individuals were instrumental in the development of the project's findings and helped identify challenges experienced by individuals from historically marginalized communities in accessing LTSS. 

ATI has released the following resources:

• Disparities Among Medicare Beneficiaries Experiencing Difficulty with Activities of Daily Living: A databook with research that found that Medicare beneficiaries who are Black or Latino/a are more likely than white beneficiaries to report difficulty with activities of daily living (ADLs) and other conditions that can negatively impact their health. Understanding these beneficiary experiences can help policymakers develop strategies to address inequities.

• Opportunities to Improve Health Equity in Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Through Medicare: A policy brief elevating qualitative findings on the range of disparities and challenges experienced by Medicare beneficiaries from historically marginalized communities with LTSS needs. Although Medicare does not cover most LTSS, many Medicare beneficiaries experience LTSS needs and are negatively impacted by long-standing inequities and disparities. The brief outlines policy opportunities to build trust, better support caregivers, and enhance data on this important population.

• Disparities in LTSS Needs and Supportive Resources at Age 55, and Outcome Disparities During the Next Decade: ATI's report that analyzes data from the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine disparities in LTSS needs and related resources and outcomes in individuals under 65. The report identifies policy opportunities to promote equity in programs related to LTSS access, social supports, and financial resources for individuals younger than 65 experiencing LTSS needs.

Click here to access these resources. 

Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS)

Request for Applications: Medicaid Health-Related Social Needs Implementation Learning Series

The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), in collaboration with the Kaiser Permanente National Community Benefit Fund at The East Bay Community Foundation, has announced its upcoming "Medicaid Health-Related Social Needs Implementation Learning Series." This series aims to assist up to nine Medicaid agencies in developing, implementing, or refining high-impact initiatives to address health-related social needs (HRSN). Over the course of 12 months, participating states will engage in peer-to-peer learning sessions focused on enhancing and expanding HRSN programs within Medicaid-managed care organizations, health care systems, and community-based organizations (CBOs). The curriculum will prioritize fostering partnerships, establishing accountability mechanisms, translating emerging best practices, and creating Medicaid benefits based on existing and emerging evidence.

CHCS welcomes applications from Medicaid officials and teams to participate in this 12-month collaborative beginning in March 2024. States, commonwealths, and territories looking for timely support for HSRN initaitves should consider applying.

Upcoming dates:

• Tuesday, January 9 – Letter of intent to apply due by 5:00 p.m. ET.
• Tuesday, January 23 – Applications due by 5:00 p.m. ET.
• Thursday, February 29 – Selection notification.

Click here for additional information.

Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC), National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS)

The Role of Person-Centered Planning for Employment Support

The Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) and the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS) are kicking off 2024 with an upcoming webinar focused on strengthening the connection between person-centered planning and advancing competitive, integrated employment. NCAPPS will highlight five competency domains, also known as skill areas, as a guide for human service agency staff tasked with facilitating person-centered planning. The panel will also review these skill areas in the context of real-world examples to support discovery, exploration, and planning for employment support.

Presenters:

• Saska Rajcevic, Co-Director, NCAPPS
• Kate Brady, Project Manager, NCAPPS 

This webinar will take place on Tuesday, January 9 at 3:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register. 

Disability Statistics and Demographics Rehabilitation Research and Training Center



2024 Annual Disability Statistics Conference: Surveys, Statistics, and Identity

On Thursday, March 28, the Disability Statistics and Demographics Rehabilitation Research and Training Center will host the 2024 Annual Disability Statistics Conference. This one-day event will be available for both in-person attendees in Washington, DC, and remote participants joining via Zoom. During the conference, the Center for Research and Disability will release the Annual Disability Statistics Collection, which fills gaps in national, state, and historic data related to people with disabilities by synthesizing complex data from numerous U.S. federal agencies into accessible formats. The conference will also include two sessions addressing the latest in disability statistics, including survey methods and how disability is defined in national surveys.  

This conference will take place on Thursday, March 28 from 11:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET. 

The in-person event will take place at the Mary E. Switzer Building (330 C St SW, Washington, DC 20201).

Click here to register and for additional information.  

Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center

HUD Funding to Develop Housing for Grandfamilies

Join the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network National Technical Assistance Center for a webinar titled “HUD Funding to Develop Housing for Grandfamilies.” In early 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly. This program includes funding to support the development of intergenerational housing for caregivers aged 62 and older who are raising children. Representatives from HUD will discuss this funding opportunity, along with invited guests who received this funding previously and are now providing housing for grandparents and other kin caregivers raising children. This webinar is part of a series provided by the ACL-funded Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network, which is led by Generations United.

This webinar will take place on Tuesday, January 9 at 1:30 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register. 

Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC)

Expanding Access to Service Coordination: Two Models of Braiding Funding

The Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC) is hosting an upcoming webinar titled “Expanding Access to Service Coordination: Two Models of Braiding Funding.” This event will feature two models for braiding funding streams across sectors to maximize the use of existing resources and broaden access to service coordination in a sustainable way. Braiding funding involves connecting funds from multiple sources to fund different activities. Presenters will discuss program structures, funding and braiding processes, partnerships, and outcomes. Webinar participants from disability and aging networks and in health, homelessness, and housing organizations will gain ideas for adapting these models to extend access to service coordination throughout the communities they serve. 

This webinar will take place on Wednesday, January 31 at 2:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register. 

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) 

JAN Accommodation and Compliance Webcast Series

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) Accommodation and Compliance Webcast Series returns in 2024 with a series of eight webcasts featuring a range of disability employment topics. Participants will gain an understanding of workplace accommodation issues and discover practical insights into the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related laws during this virtual training series. These trainings will explore innovative and inclusive approaches for navigating the job accommodation process and complying with Title I of the ADA and related laws, including the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). 

Upcoming Events:

• “ADA and Beyond Compliance Considerations: Medical Documentation” - Thursday, January 11 at 2:00 p.m. ET. 

• “Ask JAN! Q&A: Sensory Team Edition” - Thursday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m. ET.

• “Accommodating Employees with Diverse Cognitive and Neurological Needs” - Thursday, April 11 at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Click here to register and for additional information.

Mathematica

Child and Adult Core Sets for the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Quality Measurement Program Webinars

Mathematica is hosting an upcoming webinar series exploring the annual review of the Child and Adult Core Sets for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Quality Measurement Program. The Core Sets are key indicators of the quality of health care that Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries receive. The Core Sets Annual Review Workgroup meetings are open to the public, and Mathematica invites those with an interest in Medicaid and CHIP health care quality measurement to attend.  

Upcoming Events:

• “Meeting to Prepare for the 2026 Review” - Wednesday, January 10 at 2:00 p.m. ET. 

• “Meeting to Review Measures for the 2026 Child and Adult Core Sets” - Tuesday, February 6, and Wednesday, February 7 from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register.

National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC), RTI International

Strengthening the Dementia Capable Workforce: Dementia Training for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Service Providers

The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC), with support from RTI International, is hosting an upcoming webinar titled “Strengthening the Dementia Capable Workforce: Dementia Training for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Service Providers.” This webinar will explore educational programs used to train providers of aging and intellectual and developmental disability services. NADRC will also discuss Ohio's efforts in building support systems for individuals, families, and providers in local communities during this session. 

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will explore methods to provide training on dementia to direct support staff working in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Participants will understand ways to build partnerships with the field of aging and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Participants will learn at least three areas of essential content to include in educational sessions focused on the topic of intellectual and developmental disabilities and dementia.

This webinar will take place on Tuesday, January 16 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Click here to register. 

National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS)

Everyone Can Self-Direct: Lessons Learned from the NCAPPS Self-Direction Learning Collaborative

The National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS) is hosting an upcoming webinar to share lessons learned from their Self-Direction Learning Collaborative. In 2022, NCAPPS determined that there was a need for a national effort to expand the quality and availability of self-direction as a person-centered option available to a wide variety of potential participants. To achieve this goal, NCAPPS created the Self-Direction Learning Collaborative, which brought together teams and experts from across the country to learn from each other as they worked to improve self-direction in their states during a period of 18 months. This upcoming webinar will highlight the successes of two Learning Collaborative teams: Colorado and Ohio. It will also introduce a new publicly available NCAPPS resource, A Guide for Developing Strategic Objectives to Expand Self-Direction, which offers a road map for public managers and advocacy organizations looking to make self-direction more available and accessible in their own states.

Presenters:

• Valerie J. Bradley, Founder and President Emerita, Human Services Research Institute
• Jessica Corral, Contract Specialist for Participant Directed Programs, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing
• Emily Harvey, In-Home Supports Services Policy Advisor, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing
• Oliver Giminaro, Co-Chair, Direct Care Workforce Collaborative in Colorado
• Dana Charlton, Director, Ohio Self Determination Association
• Lisa Comes, Service and Support Advisor, Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities

This webinar will take place on Wednesday, January 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Click here to register. 

National Center on Law and Elder Rights (NCLER)

Legal Basics: Social Security Overpayments 

Join the National Center on Law and Elder Rights (NCLER) for an upcoming webinar discussing the legal basics of Social Security overpayments. An overpayment of Social Security (Title II) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI, or Title XVI) benefits occurs whenever an individual receives more money for a month than the amount that should have been paid by the Social Security Administration (SSA). NCLER will review the options individuals have when they receive a notice of an overpayment from SSA during this training. Additionally, presenters will cover the steps advocates can take to ensure the accuracy of an overpayment claimed by SSA, to reduce or eliminate the amount taken by SSA, and to enforce clients’ due process rights. Participants will also learn about recent changes SSA has made to address some of the problems with the overpayment appeal and waiver processes, and how advocates can be part of the efforts to tackle these problems. 

Presenters: 

• Kate Lang, Director - Federal Income Security, Justice in Aging
• John S. Whitelaw, Advocacy Director, Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (Delaware)

This webinar will take place on Tuesday, January 16 at 2:00 p.m. ET. 

Click here to register.

National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)

2024 Annual Conference Call for Workshop Proposals

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) has released a call for workshop proposals for its 2024 Annual Conference on Independent Living, themed "Back to the Future 2024." This year’s conference will take place onsite in Washington, D.C., and will feature 25 in-person workshops.

NCIL seeks workshops in the following tracks:

• Youth, Young Adults, and the Movement: Workshops addressing youth with disabilities, youth leadership, employment, and transitions.
• Intergenerational Leadership: Workshops looking into how we can work together as leaders of different generations and experiences to lead the IL Movement into the future.
• Back to Our Future: Workshops addressing the history of systems advocacy and the “it factor” of our past and present leaders. This track will offer insight into the roots of Independent Living and discuss how we can use history to move forward together.
• Technology & Innovation: Workshops that explore recent technological innovations and ideas and how they have promoted independent living philosophy.
• Independent Living Across the Globe: Workshops that look into how disability and independent living work abroad and what we can learn from each other. 

Priority will be given to workshops that address these topics through the lenses of anti-racism; Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI); and disability justice.

Interested presenters should submit their proposals by Monday, January 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here for additional information. 

Deputy Administrator for Policy and Evaluation - Administration for Community Living (ACL)

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is seeking a Deputy Administrator for Policy and Evaluation who will be responsible for providing advice on program, policy, and management issues, implementing, overseeing, and managing ACL's performance and evaluation activities. The Deputy Administrator will oversee the development and implementation of programmatic and policy initiatives that reflect targeted goals of the ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging and the Administration, offer leadership acumen on key strategic policy priorities and initiatives, and demonstrate the ability to work with staff at all levels on serious and usually sensitive matters. They will also serve as a lead advisor on policies, procedures, and critical issues that have a major impact on programs for people with disabilities and older adults and those who serve and support them. Additionally, the Deputy Administrator will provide guidance on the implications of proposed, new, or revised policies, regulations, and legislative proposals.

The deadline to apply for this position is on Tuesday, January 23 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to view the job posting. 

Senior Program Officer - Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS)

The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) is seeking a Senior Program Officer who will have responsibility for the day-to-day operation of projects that focus on children receiving publicly financed health and behavioral health services, with a particular focus on multi-system involved youth, specifically youth involved with child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The ideal candidate will have experience with child behavioral health and child welfare policy and practice, as well as an understanding of Medicaid policy and financing. They will also be a thought leader who is creative, innovative, able to discern and articulate the motivating factors and steps required to implement change, and comfortable taking risks by both communicating and receiving challenging ideas. This full-time, exempt, senior-level position will report to the Director of Behavioral Health and Child Welfare and is based in the CHCS office, near Princeton, NJ. This position offers a hybrid schedule, with one day in the office and four days remote.

Click here to view the job posting. 

The Link Center

Supporting Crisis Services to Ensure Optimal Coordination for Children and Adults with Co-Occurring Cognitive Disabilities and Behavioral Health Conditions Policy Academy

The Link Center has released a Request for Applications (RFA) for its Policy Academy program titled “Supporting Crisis Services to Ensure Optimal Coordination for Children and Adults with Co-Occurring Cognitive Disabilities and Behavioral Health Conditions.” The Link Center’s Policy Academy will assist as many as five state, territory, or tribal teams in creating resources and standard operating strategies that support an inclusive, accessible 988/Lifeline and crisis response system. The Academy will train teams to develop critical in-state, cross-systems strategies that support children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), brain injury (BI), and other cognitive and/or communication disabilities or differences who need 988 or other crisis response services. Successful teams will include representatives from across state/tribe/territory systems. This policy academy is funded through an agreement with the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The application deadline for this opportunity is on Friday, January 19 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Submissions should be emailed to TheLinkCenter@NASDDDS.org

Click here to access the Request for Application (RFA).

Administration for Community Living (ACL) - National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

Switzer Research Fellowships Program

On December 1, The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) announced a new funding opportunity for the Switzer Research Fellowships Program. The purpose of this program is to build research capacity by providing support to highly qualified individuals, including those who have disabilities, to conduct research on the rehabilitation of people with disabilities. Fellows must conduct original research in an area authorized by Section 204 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. This may include research, demonstration projects, training, and related activities to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of people with disabilities.

NIDILRR plans to make six fellowship awards under this opportunity. Fellowship awards will have one 12-month project period.

The application deadline for this opportunity is on Tuesday, January 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to apply and for additional information. 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) -Office of Multifamily Housing

HUD Announces $212 Million Funding Opportunity to Expand Affordable Housing Options for Persons with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of Multifamily Housing has announced the availability of $212 million in funding to expand affordable housing and supportive services for very-low and extremely-low-income people with disabilities through the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program. This program aims to create, subsidize, and provide supportive services for rental housing to meet the needs of this population. Through the Section 811 Capital Advance/Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) program, $106 million in capital advances can be used for the development of new or rehabilitation of existing supportive housing, along with project rental subsidies to keep homes affordable. The Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) will also provide $106 million to state housing and other agencies for project rental assistance to cover the difference between the tenants’ contributions toward rental payments and the HUD-approved rent for the property for eligible tenants with disabilities.

The application deadline for this opportunity is on Thursday, February 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to apply and for additional information. 

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Fiscal Year 2024 Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Notice of Funding Opportunity

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced an opportunity to apply for $4.7 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 funding under the Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) pilot program. This funding opportunity seeks to improve coordination to enhance access and mobility to vital community services for older adults, people with disabilities, and people with lower incomes. As required by federal public transportation law, funds will be awarded competitively as grants to finance innovative mobility management capital projects that will improve the coordination of transportation services and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) services. An additional $4.8 million is authorized for FY 2024, and FTA may award additional funding that is made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections. Eligible applicants are designated or direct recipients of FTA’s Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disability Formula Program, governmental entities that operate a public transportation service, or their eligible subrecipients that have the authority and technical capacity to implement a regional or statewide cost allocation pilot. 

The application deadline for this opportunity is on Tuesday, February 13 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to apply and for additional information. 

Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)

Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program

The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) recently announced an opportunity to apply for funding under the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). The purpose of the GWEP is to educate and train the health care and supportive care workforces to care for older adults by collaborating with community partners. Applicants must maximize patient and family engagement to address care gaps and improve health outcomes for older adults by integrating geriatrics with primary care and other appropriate specialties using the Age-Friendly Health Systems Framework. 

The following entities are eligible to apply:

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)
• Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)
• Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
• Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
• Others (Additional information on eligibility can be found at the link below)

The application deadline for this opportunity is on Monday, February 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Click here to apply and for additional information.