Maine's Expanding Inclusive Opportunities Initiative
for Children, Families and Communities

Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

October 14, 2009

Present: Rob Hatch, Ann O’Brien, Nancy Cronin, Kathy Whaley, Linda Labas, Jenn Wiles, Janna Gregory, Patti Woolley, Karen Farber, Cindy Brown, Loraine Spenciner

Debra Hannigan – Welcome
Facilitator – Kathy Whaley
Recorder – Linda Labas

Agenda Item: update and core team organization

Update/ Discussion: Debra Hannigan shared the history and purpose of the group. Discussed the new core team – comprised of leads of each of the work plan goals and Kathy Whaley. Other new TA national consultants will be available to join and support the group from Head Start and NCCIC (child care). Explained the structure, the reporting format and the work plan goals. Will use this format of reporting to go out to Steering Committee to keep folks informed and to get insights and input. Core team will meet 5 times and Steering another meeting in spring.

Agenda Item: Goal 2

Discussion: Deb shared the update. The OIT (Office of Information and Technology) at State level is and has been working with different state departments. Reviewed the information about the longitudinal data through DOE grant – currently in the middle of 3 year grant and will be writing for an extension to continue this work. DOE and DHHS reps are involved. Group is in the process of looking for a good example to pilot. They identified the Educare program being developed in Waterville as a pilot to figure out how to collect and share data across systems. Goal is for others to have access to specific info with certain permissions (aggregate data). Later input from the larger group and/ or others may be possible as system is developed.

Recommendations/Decisions:

• Continue to meet as this process develops.
• CDS Case system will be integrated as will other data systems.
• As data system is developed info will be shared with this group.

Agenda Item: Goal 4

Discussion: Janna reported. The first priority and main focus has been the training calendar. Met twice to move forward the information gathered during the June Steering Committee meeting. Jenn Wiles will be the lead for the training calendar at MRTQ. Jenn will continue to be part of this group and the Core Team along with Allyson Dean, MRTQ Director. Discussed broadening the audience and access to include allied health providers (OT, PT, ST) giving them greater access to and opportunities for learning to provide integrated therapy in inclusive settings. One way to do this was to invite partnering agencies and associations (OT, PT, ST) to be part of and to post offerings. The group reviewed other training calendars to look at particulars. Selected search options (dates, locations, credit, non-credit, sponsor agencies, format of delivery, cost, audience, scholarship info). The group will start with partner agencies that will be invited to submit offerings and anticipate broadening the invitation as this gets started. Future work will include linking the guide to higher Ed and the on-line training mods from the MEIO web page. The goal is to have this ready the first of the year. The next meeting the group hopes to have a mock up of the training calendar to review.

Recommendations/Decisions:

• Continue working on developing the components for an on-line calendar.
• Continue to define the criteria for training submissions.

Agenda Item: Goal 1

Discussion: Cindy shared information about the initial process. Goal to look at community toolkit for self-assessment of inclusive practices. Discussed what this means for birth – 2 years. Provider gets the approval for the service through a contract. If setting is where the child is getting the service – program needs an approval. If program setting is a child care setting – need to be licensed, go through the QRS. If provider for EI/ECSE need to go through CDS. Discussed licensing and ADA and other regulations and rules. CCIDS developed tipsheets with one discussing the laws. A toolkit with other resources was part of the tipsheet project and has info related to support in child care/ ADA etc. Linda is also collecting information CDS and Pre-K public school program approval application have been combined and Debra and Janine are using this and can provide feedback on how this has worked/ issues etc.

Recommendations/Decisions:

• Work group will continue.
• Suggestion by Ann – convene a meeting between licensing, DHHS and CDS to streamline the licensing, QRS, CDS program approval process.

Agenda Item: Goal 3

Discussion: Debra H. provided an overview and history of this goal and outcomes. Several meetings have taken place and initially wanted to share information, identify commonalities, challenges, and opportunities. Discussed what some of the issues are related to specific children and what services they are eligible for (CDS or medically necessary). Shared the update on the activities being discussed / currently in process. Debra and Ann feel this work has been very positive and worthwhile. It has resulted in shared understanding of each other’s services, obligations, rules, criteria and barriers, etc. Goal is to work efficiently with ever shrinking resources. Additionally all are working to streamline the process. CDS staff will have info about CBH services and can apply for more services through MaineCare for medically necessary services. Ann described the review and approval process. Rob discussed how we might look at braided funding making it more seamless to the families and the professionals. How can providers and professionals get the info to families instead of having them go through many layers to get what is needed. Cindy talked about what is happening in the field related to specially designed instruction or special instruction and when this might fit within the medically necessary services through MaineCare.

Recommendations/Decisions:

• Goal 3 work group will continue to meet.

Kathy summarized and informed the group that they will get an online eval to provide feedback about the meeting.

The initiative can continue for about 3 years to look at systemic impact. May want to continue to look at impact at the practice level.

Reminded people of the MEIO webpage and the list serve. Invite members to share their “best picks” related to inclusion with Linda and she can review with the Core Team and post to web page.

Next meeting MEIO March 18, 2010 - 1:00 – 3:00.

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