AAMR F.Y.I.
July 2003, Vol.3, No.7
Visit www.aamr.org/FYI/ to access current and past issues of this monthly newsletter.
Dear AAMR Friends and Colleagues:
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Funding alert! The federal government (DHHS) seeks proposals by August 12 on innovative programs that improve recruitment and retention of direct service workers.
- Study shows imbalance in family support spending for persons with developmental disabilities despite dramatic increase in overall government spending on family support from 1990-2000.
- Access your state’s profile on disability spending, revenue, residential services, and family support for $10 on www.disabilitybooksonline.com
- How does the general public worldwide perceive people with intellectual disabilities? Not favorably, according to an international survey conducted by Special Olympics.
- Read sample chapters and frequently asked questions on the first and only validated Positive Behavior Support Training Curriculum for direct support professionals.
- Toxic chemical commonly used in daily products can impair brain development, learning, and motor skills in children, says new report.
- New, www.TheDesk.info is meant to be a user-friendly reference guide to Medicaid funding in 11 U.S. states
FUNDING ALERT! U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS) SEEKS PROPOSALS BY AUGUST 12, 2003 ON INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF DIRECT SERVICE WORKERS.
The U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) will fund seven to ten projects designed to develop and implement programs to recruit and retain direct service workers. States and community-based organizations that provide direct care services to people in local communities are being urged to submit proposals by August 12, 2003. DHHS is particularly interested in programs testing whether offering health care coverage to workers will increase and sustain interest in these occupations. For questions about the application contact Carey O’Connor Appold at 410) 786-2117 or Coconnor2@cms.hhs.gov.
To read an FAQ on the Demonstration to Improve the Direct Service Community Workforce initiative, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom/dswqanda.pdf
Read the HHS press release announcing the Demonstration at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2003pres/20030620a.html.
STUDY SHOWS IMBALANCE IN FAMILY SUPPORT SPENDING FOR PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES DESPITE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN OVERALL GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON FAMILY SUPPORT FROM 1990-2000.
While spending on family support services grew dramatically from $22 million in 1990 to $1.05 billion in 2000, it only represents a tiny portion of most states’ total allocation for people with developmental disabilities, according to a study published in the June 2003 issue of Mental Retardation. "Given the extent to which families are the most critical component of the caregiving service system, the existing financing is evidence of a great imbalance," says Susan Parish, lead author of the MR article titled "Family Support in the United States: Financing Trends and Emerging Initiatives." In 2000, states allocated just 4% of their total developmental disabilities resources to family support, even after such spending grew at the rate of 85% during 1996-2000. There is also considerable variation in the level of resources different states allocate to support families providing care to a member with a developmental disability.
To access "Family Support in the United States: Financing Trends and Emerging Initiatives" visit http://aamr.allenpress.com/aamronline/?request=get-toc&issn=0047-6765&volume=41&issue=3
Non-AAMR members can purchase this article for a $25 fee.
GET YOUR STATE’S PROFILE ON DISABILITY SPENDING, REVENUE, RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, AND FAMILY SUPPORT FOR $10 ON www.disabilitybooksonline.com
How does your state compare to others in disability spending? Now, you can get instant access to an electronic, 4-page profile on your state’s disability spending at Disability BooksOnline, a new e-books portal launched by AAMR. Part of the State of the States book published by AAMR, the 4-page profile on disability financing is available in PDF format and contains tabular information on your state’s:
Trends in spending including (a) dollars spent on community services, individual and family support, and institutional settings; (b) fiscal effort in community services and IFS, and institutional settings; and (c) total MR/DD spending and unmatched state and local funds.
Trends in Revenue including (a) community services revenue in 2000; (b) components of federal MR/DD Medicaid revenue; (c) HCSB Waiver participants and Waiver spending per participant.
Trends in Residential Services including (a) persons served by setting in 2000; and (b) persons served in public and private institutions and nursing facilities.
Individual and Family Support including (a) dollars spent on family support, supported employment, and supported living and personal assistance spending; (b) participants and Spending levels; and (c) participants in day/work and supported employment.
To access your state’s profile on disability spending:
- Visit www.disabilitybooksonline.com and register if you are a new user (If you are a returning customer, log in with your username and password).
- Then look under the "Featured Books" section for the listing Disability at the Dawn of the 21st Century and the State of the States (Individual State Profiles)
- Select the state of your choice from a drop down menu.
- Proceed to check out and get instant access to a PDF profile on your computer!
Disability BooksOnline (www.disabilitybooksonline.com) provides access to major AAMR books in electronic formats such as PDF, HTML, and more.
HOW DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC WORLDWIDE PERCEIVE PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES? OVERALL, NOT FAVORABLY, SAYS NEW STUDY CONDUCTED BY SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
A new study released by Special Olympics documents public attitudes and perceptions toward people with intellectual disabilities in 10 countries. Titled Multinational Study of Attitudes toward Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, the study finds that:
- The general public lacks an appreciation of the range of capabilities of persons with intellectual disabilities.
- Individuals with intellectual disabilities should work and learn in separate settings.
- The family is the most appropriate living environment for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
- Lack of resources and services in the community, employment, and school are major obstacles to inclusion.
- The world sees the negative attitude of others, including the media, as standing in the way of inclusion.
The study also recommends steps that self-advocates, families, educators, youth, health care professionals, employers, service providers, community organizations, and government leaders can take to overcome negative stereotypes and attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities.
Read the Multinational Study at http://www.specialolympics.org/Special+Olympics+Public+Website/English/Press_Room/Global_news/Multinational+Study+of+Attitudes.htm
SAMPLE CHAPTERS AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE FIRST AND ONLY VALIDATED POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE.
You can now read sample modules from the new Positive Behavior Support Training Curriculum, a Q&A, a Table of Contents, and a recent article on the Curriculum from the Journal on Positive Behavior Interventions online at www.aamr.org/Reading_Room/pdf/pbst_training_curriculum.pdf
The Curriculum is designed to train direct support staff on the principles of positive behavior support and is the first validated Curriculum of its kind in this area. A special supervisory edition of the PBST Curriculum also trains supervisors of direct support staff to be effective managers. The Curriculum will be published by AAMR in August 2003 and a special pre-publication rate applies till August 1.
To purchase the PBST Curriculum, call 301-604-1340 or email aamr@pmds.com You can purchase the Curriculum online at www.aamr.org/Bookstore/
To access sample modules and FAQs visit www.aamr.org/Reading_Room/pdf/pbst_training_curriculum.pdf
Questions on content of the Curriculum? Send an email to books@aamr.org
TOXIC CHEMICAL COMMONLY USED IN DAILY PRODUCTS CAN IMPAIR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING, AND MOTOR SKILLS IN CHILDREN, SAYS NEW REPORT.
A toxic chemical widely used in everyday products has been found in mothers and unborn children at levels rapidly approaching those expected to cause irreparable brain damage, according to a report released by the Environment California Research & Policy Center. Titled Growing Threats: Toxic Flame Retardants & Children’s Health, the report documents the emerging threat posed by a class of toxic flame retardants, those known as PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers). These chemicals are commonly added to computers, televisions, automotive interiors, and upholstered furniture to slow the spread of fire. The report finds that:
- Toxic flame retardants pose risks to human health and the environment.
- Levels of toxic flame retardants in people are rising dramatically.
- Levels of toxic flame retardants in people have already reached levels of concern.
- Experience with PCBs shows that failure to act on early warnings can lead to irreversible environmental contamination and damage to health.
- Phasing out chemicals leads to reduced contamination and exposure levels.
- Safer means of fire-proofing products are widely available.
Read Growing Threats at http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/reports/GrowingThreats03.pdf
NEW www.TheDesk.info IS MEANT TO BE A USER-FRIENDLY REFERENCE GUIDE TO MEDICAID FUNDING IN 11 U.S. STATES.
www.TheDesk.info is the nation’s first online Medicaid reference desk created by advocates and consumers. Medicaid is the largest source of funding for people with disabilities and those who provide their care. TheDesk.info is an accessible site, geared to people with cognitive disabilities, to help them understand their Medicaid benefits. The content for this Web site was tailored with the assistance of people who are in the Medicaid system.
Read a Q&A on TheDesk.info at http://www.thearclink.org/news/article.asp?ID=591
AAMR F.Y.I. is compiled by Anna Prabhala, Editor. Please submit comments, suggestions, tips, and news to annap@aamr.org
Access past issues of AAMR F.Y.I. at www.aamr.org/FYI/
© Copyright 2003 American Association on Mental Retardation
AAMR F.Y.I. may only be redistributed in its unedited form.