The Arc of Nebraska

So thankful for all the amazing DSPs!

Give it up for this year’s nominees for DSP of the Year! 👏🎉

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THIS Monday, join us for IEP Training #4: Effective IEP Communication in Omaha or virtually on Zoom!

Zoom Meeting ID: 880 9890 1466
Passcode: 841644

Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎

Kelly Davis

Drop a comment to welcome them to our community,

Do you want to step up your involvement with The Arc of Nebraska? Here is your chance! We need new board and committee members! Click here to fill out the form to sign up!

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities? We invite you to join one of our dedicated Board or Committees, where your talents and expertise can help shape the future of The Arc of Nebraska. Our committees meet primarily via Zoom on the 3rd Wednesday of each month, making it easy to get involved no matter where you are. Here’s a glimpse of the vital work our committees do:

Resource Development Committee
Focus: Driving our fundraising efforts through grants, direct solicitations, and signature events like the Senatorial Dinner. This committee is essential in ensuring we have the resources needed to fulfill our mission.

Governmental Affairs and Public Relations Committee
Focus: Advocating for policies that protect and enhance the rights of individuals with disabilities. This committee also handles public relations, shaping our message, and expanding our reach.

Education Committee
Focus: Championing Special Education. This committee develops impactful training programs, provides expert guidance on current issues, conducts outreach, and supports families navigating the education system.

Membership Committee
Focus: Growing and strengthening our community. This committee focuses on member retention, new member recruitment, and Board Development, ensuring we have a vibrant, engaged, and diverse membership base.

General Board Member
Focus: If you're interested in making a broader impact and prefer to contribute across multiple areas of our organization, consider becoming a General Board Member. You’ll be involved in key decision-making processes and help guide the overall direction of The Arc of Nebraska. This is a selective process based upon a variety of factors.

Ready to make an impact? Fill out the form attached and take the first step towards joining a committee that’s making a real difference in the lives of Nebraskans with disabilities!

The Arc of Nebraska Board and Committee Recruitment Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities? We invite you to join one of our dedicated Board or Committees, where your talents and expertise can help shape the future of The Arc of Nebraska. Our committees meet primarily....

📣Join us in-person in Grand Island on Wednesday! Or connect with us virtually on Zoom!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83657822600?pwd=adXLHUqTp5lvW89i42cRGbcP77LtRU.1

Zoom Meeting ID: 836 5782 2600
Passcode: 250893

👍LIKE and SHARE! Together, we can support our fellow Nebraskans living with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

*This presentation is brought to you with funding from the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities which is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $20,000.00 with 100% funding by ACL/HHS. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

🚨 Last chance alert! Only one week left to join our photo contest with Lids and Lids Foundation !

We've seen amazing entries, but we're missing yours! Here's how to enter before time runs out:

1. Hurry to any Lids store
2. Snap a pic at the store to show your support of The Arc
3. Share on your public Instagram with or upload via our link: https://bit.ly/4cnkBqo

Awesome prizes up for grabs: iPad, headphones, Lids gear, and more!

Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) town hall is today! For Medicaid providers, this town hall is an opportunity to give feedback and ask questions about EVV system changes.

The state is updating the EVV system as a result of a recent State Auditor report showing a need for more stringent requirements to comply with federal regulations.

We appreciate your time and energy through this transition. EVV allows providers to track service appointments using an application on a smartphone or other electronic device. This will help verify visit information and ensure individuals receive the care they need.

https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Electronic-Visit-Verification.aspx

The best way to avoid incidents like this is quality staffing levels that only happen with quality pay. We are looking at legislation this upcoming session to ensure adequate resources are there for critical support staff like bus drivers, para professionals, occupational therapists, etc. What ideas do you have to improve our Special Education supports so incidents like this don't happen?

Child with autism left on bus by driver who 'failed to sweep,' Bennington district spokesperson says "This wasn't caught soon enough," the kindergartner's father told KETV NewsWatch 7. "This could've been way worse."

Super cool event from our Omaha Chapter https://www.eventbrite.com/e/owci-bruce-tomes-day-on-the-water-tickets-945193197297?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0tJIj5R9yvFZSvzvBQvKSH4rv3swdyswk0wXrfoCDCJhf0sR0S-ObkGvI_aem_bxgEt_P-gMjCLUQU0sx_jA

OWCI - Bruce Tomes' Day on the Water Join Ollie Webb Center, Inc. and the Missouri River Valley Paddlers for some fun at Platte River State Park!

On August 20, we will be hosting a town hall for Medicaid providers to discuss Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) changes and provide you an opportunity to share your feedback and ask questions.

Medicaid providers, please ensure you or a representative can attend to learn important information on upcoming system changes.

How can I prepare for the meeting?

✅Visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Electronic-Visit-Verification.aspx to learn more about system changes, guidelines, updates, and more.

✅Review the EVV Single Audit Frequently Asked Questions.

This week, we received the news that DHHS would delay the implementation of EVV. They then said they did not plan to make any substantive changes to correct the flawed implementation. So NASP is continuing their legal action and needs affidavits from citizens like you about your story. Below is the message from NASP and a template for the affidavit. This is very important!

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Hi everyone! DHHS is not planning to change or make any adjustments to their proposed EVV requirements, they have only pushed the implementation date back to January 8th. During a call with Director Green and at the DD Advisory Committee meeting this morning, it was communicated that Nebraska will only be exempting Medical and Behavioral In-Home caregivers. They will be maintaining the 100% compliance goal for all other providers. Any tech or human error issues must be dealt with via the appeals process.
While we agree clocking in and out, using GPS, and signatures are necessary to curb fraud and abuse, CMS does not require 100% compliance without the ability to make manual corrections. We are simply fighting for realistic parameters similar to what other states require.
As part of the NASP injunction, we have been assigned an August 21st hearing at 11:30am. This is VERY QUICK! We need your help. The more Affidavits we can submit alongside our in-person testimony, the better. However, we don't have much time to get those Affidavits in. If you are willing and able, please email our lawyer ASAP. His name is James Hamilton: [email protected].
Please include your full name, phone number, and a brief summary of what you'd like your statement to be. James is also a notary, which speeds up the process a little bit. He would like to hear from everyone by FRIDAY - August 16th - if possible.
Please reach out if you have any questions. Thank you!!!

Excellent article on the changes to Enable Savings Plan! https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/14/nebraska-treasurer-launches-crowdfunding-website-as-savings-program-for-people-with-disabilities/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0BMQABHXJYItSmRLK0VM6evB8UxDkjFmhC6Of7x9oyJRmWRMlbZNSjNxxat5Bmfg_aem_QQ2q8reFjAYOVvDmkM2nbA

Nebraska treasurer launches crowdfunding website as savings program for people with disabilities • Nebraska Examiner A new state-led crowdfunding website is seeking to help Nebraskans with disabilities live a full, involved life in their community.

Great news! Thanks to everyone who helped to get signatures!

It's official--paid sick leave has qualified for the Nebraska ballot in November. Vote to ensure that hardworking Nebraskans can earn and use paid sick time when they need it most. 💙💛

Read all about this latest campaign news from the Nebraska Secretary of State:https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/news-releases/Paid%20Sick%20Leave%20Initiative%20Petition%20Certified.pdf

Exciting news! Pause on EVV implementation!!!

DHHS Pauses Implementation of EVV System Changes​
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is pausing planned changes to the federally required Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) System for Nebraska Medicaid Personal Assistance Services (PAS) and Home and Community-Based Service (HCBS) providers, previously planned for August 14, 2024.
DHHS appreciates the dedication of caregivers who support Nebraskan citizens most in need. While the changes to the EVV system are required to enforce compliance with federal regulations (21st Century Cures Act), the Department has listened to concerns and is providing more time for implementation, working with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition. The new implementation date will be January 8, 2025.

DHHS is planning additional future training and outreach and will update this page as those are scheduled. To stay up to date on these changes and future stakeholder engagement, please subscribe to this page for updates.

During this pause, providers are encouraged to comply with state and federal regulations including those that will be enforced by the upcoming changes.

Prior to this pause, Nebraska Medicaid and Netsmart hosted virtual townhalls and forums for providers. ​Additional townhalls will be scheduled for a later date. ​

Electronic Visit Verification The Electronic Visit Verification project is an important piece of Nebraska's Long-Term Care Redesign Plan

The Arc of Norfolk is delighted to announce that Barry Eckstrom has been selected as the recipient of the Cassie Lacost Memorial Award. The Self Advocate of The Year recognizes individuals who exemplify exceptional qualities of self-advocacy just as Cassie did.

"Barry is a friend to all, known for his unwavering willingness to lend a hand and his cheerful, upbeat demeanor. His caring nature and positive attitude have made a profound impact on everyone around him. Over the past few years, Barry has grown remarkably as both an advocate and a member of Arc and People First. His commitment to helping others is truly commendable, consistently going above and beyond to assist anyone in need." - Nomination Submission

“Barry embodies the spirit of this award through his exemplary self-advocacy and genuine compassion.' He has become a well-known "Face" of the Arc of Norfolk, those in the community recognize him for his hard work with the organization, he also joined our board of directors to further his advocacy. "His commitment as a positive role model has been inspiring, and we are thrilled to recognize his significant impact and contributions with this honor.” -Kayla Walnofer - Executive Director - The Arc of Norfolk

Congratulations to Barry Eckstrom

We know that you are tired and overloaded. That is a constant for people with disabilities and their families. Unfortunately, it seems that lately, the demands on your time and energy have only increased as systems fall apart. We are working on a variety of projects to try to help and wanted to give you a few updates.

1 We have 3 Trainings on Special Education coming up:

August 28th 5:30 pm Grand Island IEP Goals: What to Look for and How to Write Them

September 9th 5:30 pm Omaha Effective IEP Communication

September 23 5:30 pm Lincoln Applying Your Advocacy Skills



2 The Special Session is continuing on. It is very unclear what the result will be as it seems much like with the Plan to Eliminate the Wait List there isn't much of a plan. LB 1, LB 2, and LB 3 all have items of significant concerns for people with disabilities including cuts to DHHS, increases in taxes on items people with disabilities buy, cuts to Voter ID Information Funds, and more. Many of these cuts originate from the Epiphany Report we have previously indicated concerns about. LB 11 includes funds that could be used to Eliminate the Wait List in a way that won't hurt anyone else. We encourage you to click here to call your Senator. https://nebraskalegislature.gov/senators/senator_list.php

3 Our Board President Mary Phillips wrote this excellent piece regarding protecting Special Education Funding. https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/09/our-focus-should-be-on-using-educational-resources-for-the-benefit-of-all-students/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEjEdxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcxGxhUHahqJhqYecTIZZGqsArfDb20kuaOQ3owdFwULzNikFtezreQQPw_aem_3mZWqcbNUSTO2FkDHGkiKA

4 We have been working on the concerns over the new implementation of Electronic Visit Verification Requirements (EVV). These changes are designed to address the State Auditors Report of fraudulent charges in 10 cases. However, the impact will make it tremendously difficult for providers to receive This has included educating lawmakers, the press, the public, and outreach to DHHS. But the most exciting update is that our friends at the Nebraska Association of Service Providers have filed a new injunction to help slow things down from the August 14th

5 September 8th-14th is DSP Recognition Week. NASP hosts an annual 'Top 10 DSPs' contest. A fun new addition this year will be recognizing the winners at an in-person awards ceremony during the ACP Fall Conference. Winners will receive plaques and Visa gift cards.

Here is the link to nominate your outstanding team members: https://forms.gle/KkzfhWNX43KBy2WC9
There is no limit to the number you may nominate. Deadline is Friday, Sept. 6th.

Our focus should be on using educational resources for the benefit of all students • Nebraska Examiner It is disheartening to see the argument that opposing Opportunity Scholarships bill equates to not prioritizing Nebraska’s educational future.

Spread the word, the Buffalo County Arc is hiring!🙌 See the details below & tag someone you think would be a good fit.

‼️ HIRING ‼️

See the flyer for more details.

If you or someone you know is interested, please apply via the Google Form linked below.

https://forms.gle/hL5HqXXiHcfJkfHM9

Kearney area friends, there’s a mixer this coming Monday.❤️

Mixer (Guys and Gals)

08.12 at Skeeter Barnes
- Everyone welcome
- Bring your friends

‼️Please note: If you plan to eat, bring at least $20 to cover your meal‼️

Excellent read from our Board President Mary Phillips!

Our focus should be on using educational resources for the benefit of all students • Nebraska Examiner It is disheartening to see the argument that opposing Opportunity Scholarships bill equates to not prioritizing Nebraska’s educational future.

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Mosaic is Expanding their Mosaic at Home Program Mosaic is a whole-person healthcare organization reaching across 13 states in more than 700 communities and providing support to nearly...

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Husker Heroes Registration is Open! Sign up at https://onecoalition.weebly.com/husker-heroes.html

Thanks to Nebraska Association of Service Providers for their important work on EVV! We need the pause this injunction will create to ensure the Department, Providers, and families can figure things out!