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Benchmarks WILL be holding our Friday Membership Webinar this week!
Date: Friday, August 14, 2020
Time: 8:30 am
Update: Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar We have great news to share! Lisa Cauley will join us for our Child Welfare Webinar. We will be holding this webinar, once per month, on the second Thursday of each month. The next meeting will be held: Date: Thursday, September 10, 2020 Time: 8:00 am
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Innovations and other Medicaid Clinical Coverage Policies up for Public Comment
- 8P: North Carolina Innovations
- 8E: Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
- 8F: Research-based Behavioral Health Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder
- 8-J: Children's Developmental Service Agencies (CDSAs)
- 10C: Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
IRIS Unavailable on Wednesday, August 12th from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m.
We are asking LME-MCO staff to inform providers of this outage so they can prepare ahead of time and to answer any questions from providers.
Reports can be submitted to the LME-MCO (Host and Home) via their fax and to DMH/DD/SAS Customer Service and Community Rights Team via fax at 919-733-4962 within specified timeframes and procedures. Providers will still need to enter the report into IRIS once the system is available.
Reports to be filed with DHSR Healthcare Personnel Registry should be faxed to HCPR within specified timeframes at 919-733-3207. Reports regarding Deaths (suicide, homicide/violence, accident or restraint) in a licensed facility should be reported to DHSR Complaint Intake Unit via fax at 919-715-7724.
From DSS: DCDL Guidance to Local Department of Social Services on Return to School for Children and Youth
On July 14, 2020, Governor Cooper, in a joint statement with the NC State Board of Public Education and the NC Department of Public Instruction, announced that after months of careful work, the state was moving forward with implementing a plan to get students back into the classroom. Previously, school systems had been required to create three plans in preparation for the 2020-2021 academic year:
- Plan A: Minimal social distancing - will be implemented if state metrics stabilize or move in a positive direction.
- Plan B: Moderate social distancing
- Plan C: Remote learning only
The July 14 statement allowed schools to open with moderate social distancing under their Plan B with the expectation that schools also offer remote learning to students whose families request it. The announcement also allowed schools the option of opening under the more restrictive Plan C-remote learning only-and encouraged schools to consider what is best for students in their system.
Currently, many school districts are offering a choice between virtual or a hybrid model of instruction (including inperson and virtual). This communication provides guidance on factors county departments of social services should consider when making school attendance choices and planning how those choices should be made for children and youth in foster care.
Authority to Make Educational Choices
North Carolina statute 7B-903.1 states: Except as prohibited by federal law, the director of a county department of social services with custody of a juvenile shall be authorized to make decisions about matters not addressed herein that are generally made by a juvenile's custodian, including, but not limited to, educational decisions and consenting to the sharing of the juvenile's information. The court may delegate any part of this authority to the juvenile's parent, foster parent, or another individual.
It is strongly recommended that DSS gather input from others including parents whose rights have not been terminated, current caregivers, and the children and youth themselves. While the statute provides DSS the authority to make educational decisions, a county may choose to involve the district court if a consensus among the parties cannot be reached.
Please refer to the enclosed guidance document for additional information. Should you have questions, please contact your regional child welfare consultant or, for private agencies, your assigned Program Consultant. Help protect your family and neighbors from COVID-19. Know the 3 Ws. Wear. Wait. Wash. #StayStrongNC and get the latest at nc.gov/covid19.
Thank you for your anticipated participation and cooperation in this important process.
Office of Rural Health: BAND-NC
A grant program designed to help communities implement digital inclusion projects in their county.
COVID-19 is exposing the digital divide in North Carolina and its consequences for all of us. Students and adults who don't have access to the internet, don't have a computer or laptop or don't know how to use them - for education, work, health, or connection - are at an impossible disadvantage.
Digital Inclusion - creating opportunities for everyone to access and be able to use affordable internet and devices - is more important than ever.
What is BAND-NC?
In response to this immediate need, the Institute for Emerging Issues at NC State (IEI) in partnership with the Broadband Infrastructure Office at the NC Department of Information Technology, and with principal support from the John M. Belk Endowment¹, is addressing the digital divide across NC through a new program called "Building a New Digital Economy" (BAND-NC). BAND-NC will provide rapid-response community innovation mini-grants to communities across the state.
This fall, grantees will be invited to join technical assistance workshops to build county-wide digital inclusion plans. A second round of funding to support the implementation of these plans will be available in Spring 2021.
The ultimate goal of the program is to make North Carolina the first state in the nation where every county has a digital inclusion plan in place.
¹ Additional support comes from the Roanoke Electric Cooperative and North Carolina Electric Cooperatives.
What can the BAND-NC grants be used for?
These $5,000 mini-grants are available to fund local digital inclusion projects to meet unmet community needs. This includes access to the Internet, a device that meets their needs, and the knowhow to use it.
We plan to distribute rapid response community innovation grants to 30 counties this summer. We will only fund one project per county. If an organization from your county has already applied or already received a grant, we will put you in touch to encourage collaboration.
Who Can Apply?
Nonprofits, government institutions, schools/colleges and universities, and churches are eligible to apply for a BAND-NC grant. All applicants should apply on behalf of a county (or a group of counties). Regional entities, such as Councils of Government, can apply on behalf of multiple counties, though the funds cannot exceed $5,000 for any one county, and they must include individual counties in their planning efforts. Applicants should include a list of community partners who are either involved in the project and/or actively supportive of the project and digital inclusion more broadly.
Application submission and review:
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through Sunday, August 31, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EST. To apply, visit BAND-NC Grant Instructions or if you have technical difficulties, please reach out to Maggie Woods, IEI's Policy and Program Manager, at mjwoods2@ncsu.edu.
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Farris Foundation Notice of Funding Availability
Background: Healthcare providers are rapidly expanding telehealth services because of the Coronavirus pandemic. This shift is transforming how the field is responding to client needs and reshaping how it delivers behavioral health care.
The Farris Foundation is eager to help organizations respond to immediate community needs and leverage technology to improve healthcare access and services for the future. Goals The goal of the initiative is to support practical, "building block" projects that help behavioral healthcare organizations expand their capacity to serve clients during the Covid-19 crisis and better integrate telehealth into their behavioral health services. It also recognizes the opportunity to support the professional development of behavioral health staff in a period of crisis and recovery. Grants will range from $20,000 to $50,000 per year for project support.
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COVID-19 Communication Plan for Select Non-healthcare Critical Infrastructure Employers
Due to the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases among select non-healthcare critical infrastructure employees across the country, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with employers to ensure employees have available accurate, actionable, and timely disease prevention and control information.
This communication plan: - Outlines actions all employers in select non-healthcare critical infrastructure industries (including agriculture, manufacturing, meat and poultry, and seafood processing) can take to share key COVID-19 prevention messages with their employees (Section 1).
- Suggests key messages that employers and community leaders can use in their communication efforts to help employees protect themselves, their families, and the surrounding community to help slow the spread of COVID-19 (Section 2).
- Provides links to existing CDC communication materials which have been translated into multiple languages (Section 3).
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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued two technical assistance documents on August 5, 2020, addressing accommodation issues under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for employees who use opioid medications or may be addicted to opioids. They provide employers insight into how the EEOC envisions information exchange and accommodation efforts.
Use of Codeine, Oxycodone, and Other Opioids: Information for Employees
If you are using opioids, are addicted to opioids, or were addicted to opioids in the past, but are not currently using drugs illegally, you should know that under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) you may have the right to get reasonable accommodations and other protections that can help you keep your job. [1]"Opioids" include prescription drugs such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percodan®, Percocet®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®, Lortab®, Lorcet®), and meperidine (Demerol®), as well as illegal drugs like heroin. They also include buprenorphine (Suboxone® or Subutex®) and methadone, which can be prescribed to treat opioid addiction in a Medication Assisted Treatment ("MAT") program.
The following questions and answers from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) briefly explain these rights. This information is not new policy; rather, this document applies principles already established in the ADA's statutory and regulatory provisions as well as previously-issued guidance. The contents of this guidance do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This guidance is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law. You may also have additional rights under other laws not discussed here, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and state or local laws. [2]
How Health Care Providers Can Help Current and Former Patients Who Have Used Opioids Stay Employed
Your patients with a history of opioid use or misuse may have the right, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), to get reasonable accommodations that will help them to stay employed and in treatment. [1]
You may sometimes be asked to provide limited medical documentation to help your patient get a reasonable accommodation. Even if a patient who uses prescription opioids or who has been addicted to opioids in the past does not need an accommodation to continue working, his or her employer may still ask you for medical documentation under the ADA to decide if the person can safely and effectively work in a particular job.
This fact sheet provides a brief explanation of the health provider's role under the ADA when a patient who uses opioids needs a reasonable accommodation and when questions arise about a patient's ability to perform a job safely. This information is not new policy; rather, this document applies principles already established in the ADA's statutory and regulatory provisions as well as previously-issued guidance.
The contents of this publication do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This publication is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law.
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USDA to Host Farmers to Families Food Box Program Webinar on August 12 with Details about Solicitation Amendment
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host a webinar to discuss amendment one to the USDA's Farmers to Families Food Box BOA Solicitation (Round 3), 12-3J14-20-R-0588. The webinar will be held August 12, 2020, at 1 p.m. ET.
The Farmers to Families Food Box BOA Solicitation (Round 3), 12-3J14-20-R-0588, is hereby amended. Offerors that have already submitted proposal will be contacted by USDA to make arrangements regarding the submission of the SF-30.
The USDA team is working diligently to review proposals submitted in response to the subject solicitation. The Government will not make the award of any agreements prior to August 15th.
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Millions Awarded In Rental Assistance For People With Disabilities
Federal officials are sending millions of dollars in rental assistance to help people with disabilities in a dozen states.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said this month that it will distribute $74 million to state housing finance agencies to support about 2,400 housing units for up to five years. The rental assistance is pegged for extremely low-income individuals with disabilities and is being provided through the agency's Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program, officials said.
Federal officials are sending millions of dollars in rental assistance to help people with disabilities in a dozen states.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said this month that it will distribute $74 million to state housing finance agencies to support about 2,400 housing units for up to five years.
The rental assistance is pegged for extremely low-income individuals with disabilities and is being provided through the agency's Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program, officials said.
"We are committed to ensuring that extremely low-income persons with disabilities have access to safe, sanitary, accessible and affordable rental homes with the supportive services they need to live independently," said Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson.
Housing agencies selected for the grants are working with Medicaid and other human services agencies in their states to identify people with disabilities who need long-term services in order to live independently, federal officials said.
Awards ranging from $1.3 million to $7 million are headed to state agencies in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina and Texas. The Department of Housing and Urban Development indicated that it provides rental assistance for over 35,000 households through the Section 811 program.
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New Publication: Voluntary Guidelines on Respite Care
As more communities across the country begin to reopen in the midst of the ongoing pandemic, many respite care agencies and other respite providers are also planning to resume services. The guidelines provided in this new document are designed to assist providers as well as family caregivers with careful and thoughtful strategies to provide and receive respite care as safely as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Cancelled! Tuesday: August 11, 2020
Time: 11:00 am thru 12:00 pm
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Tuesday: August 11, 2020
A Whole Person Approach to Working with Individuals Who Are Living with Serious Mental Illness
Time: 2:30 pm thru 3:30 pm
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Thursday: August 13, 2020
Engaging Volunteers in the New Normal
Time: 4:00 pm thru 4:30 pm EST
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New: Friday: August 14, 2020
Benchmarks' Friday Membership Webinar
Time: 8:30 am thru 9:30 am
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Monday: August 17, 2020
Webinar: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Time: 3:00 pm thru 4:30 pm EST
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Tuesday: August 18, 2020
Trauma-informed, Resilience-oriented Crisis Navigation Webinar
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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Wednesday: August 19, 2020
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Wednesday: August 19, 2020
Exploring the Intersectionality of Peer Support and Person-Centered Planning Across Disability
Time: 2:30 pm thru 4:00 pm
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New: Thursday: August 20, 2020
Peer Support! A Webinar Produced for our North Carolina Peer Community by the National Association of Peer Supporters, Chicago Health Disparities Center and a Dissemination Team
Time: 11:00 am
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New: Thursday: August 20, 2020
Time: 1:00 pm thru 2:00 pm
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New: Wednesday: August 26, 2020
Time: 2:00 pm thru 3:00 pm
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Thursday: August 27, 2020
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Webinar Series
4 Part Series (Aug. 27, Sept. 3, Sept. 10, Sept. 17)
Includes CEOs & Contact Hours-Free of Charge
Time: 9:00 am thru 4:45 pm
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New: Thursday: September 10, 2020
Benchmarks' Child Welfare Webinar feat: Karen McLeod & Lisa Cauley
Time: 8:00 am thru 9:00 am
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New: Monday: September 14, 2020
Western NC: Regional Policy Institutes
Time: 9:00 am thru 11:30 am
Deputy Secretary Juvenile Justice, Billy Lassiter
Advocacy 101: Adam Sotak, NC Child Legislative Panelists:
Terry Van Duyn - Buncombe
Representative Sarah Stevens -Alleghany/Surrey/Wilkes Counties Include:
Cherokee, Graham, Clay, Macon, Jackson, Swain, Haywood, Transylvania, Madison, Buncombe, Henderson, Polk, Yancey, McDowell, Rutheford, Cleveland, Lincoln, Burke, Caldwell, Mitchell, Avery, Watagua, Ashe, Alleghany, Surry, Wilkes, Yancey, Catawba, Alexander, Iredell, Yadkin, Davie, Stokes, Forsyth
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New: Monday: September 28, 2020
Central NC: Regional Policy Institutes
Time: 9:00 am thru 11:30 am
Keynotes: Deputy Director, Child Welfare Services Lisa Cauley
NC Child Welfare Family Advisory Council - Gina Brown
Advocacy 101: Melea Rose-Waters, Prevent Child Abuse NC
Counties Include: Gaston, Mecklenburg, Union, Rowan, Rockingham, Caswell, Person, Guilford, Davidson, Randolph, Montgomery, Cabarrus, Stanly, Alamance, Lee, Moore, Anson, Richmond
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New: Tuesday: October 6, 2020
Eastern NC: Regional Policy Institutes
Time: 9:00 am thru 11:30 am
Keynotes: Deputy Secretary, Behavioral Health & Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - Kody Kinsley
Associate Director, NC Families United - Stacy Justiss
Advocacy 101: i2i Center for Integrative Health
Legislative Panelists:
Senator Don Davis - Greene/Pitt
Representative Donna White - Johnston
Counties Include: Vance, Warren, Halifax, Northampton, Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson, Harnett, Cumberland, Hoke, Scotland, Robeson, Bladen, Harnett, Sampson, Duplin, Wayne, Pender, New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, Onslow, Jones, Lenoir, Greene, Pitt, Carteret, Beaufort, Craven, Pamlico, Hyde, Dare, Washington, Martin, Bertie, Currituck, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Gates, Hertford, Camden, Chowan, Tyrell
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New: Monday: October 26, 2020
Triangle: Regional Policy Institutes
Time: 9:00 am thru 11:30 am
Keynotes: Youth Transition Program Director, NC Families United - Lacy Flintall
MomsRising - Sheila Arias
Advocacy 101: Beth Messersmith, MomsRising
Legislative Panelists:
Senator Valerie Foushee - Chatham/Orange
Senator Natalie Murdock - Durham
Representative Verla Insko - Orange
Counties Include: Wake, Johnston, Chatham, Orange, Durham, Franklin, Granville
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Please click on each of the following links to view details sent out from each LME/MCO.
Benchmarks' wants to be sure to make the following list handy for our members to visit and suggests a peek at least once per week to find information that may be pertinent to your agency and contracts.
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