Mark A. Greenstein, M.D.
ICC Chair/Pediatrician
Sharri Lungarini
Vice Chair/Parent
Carol Peltier
American School for the Deaf
Jennifer Miner
Dept. of Insurance
Kim Nilson
Dept. for Children and Families
Elisabeth Teller
SARAH-Kidsteps.
Corinne Griffin
Parent
Gerri Hanna, alternate
University Center for Excellence DD
Shanda Easley
Parent
Elaine Balsley
Reachout
Lynn Johnson
Office of Early Childhood
Vacant
State Senator
Dr. Carol Weitzman, M.D.
American Academy of Pediatrics
Ginny Mahoney
Dept. of Social Services
Anne Giordano
Education Connection
Lorna Quiros-Dilan
Office of Protection and Advocacy
John Reilly
DORS-Bureau of Education and Services
For the Blind
Maria Synodi
State Dept. of Education
Louis Tallarita
SDE-Homeless Children
Alice Torres
Early Head Start
Ann Gionet
Dept. of Public Health
Myra Watnick
Rehabilitation Associates, Inc.
Vacant
House of Representatives
Robin Wood
Dept. of Developmental Services
Old Buisness:
Family Support Council (FSC): Ann Gionet was not present to report
Home Visiting Consortium – HRSA is releasing two innovation grants and encouraging states to apply so a conference call of consortium members met to plan for the opportunities. CT has decided to focus on two areas: workforce development/creating sustainable career pathways as well as expanding Infant & child mental health credentialing. Mark suggested developing a database of certified infant/child mental health personnel to perhaps enable providers to seek exposure to trained individuals.
NEW Business/Announcements:
John Reilly shared that a new Children’s Supervisor of the DORS (Department of Rehabilitation Services) -Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind, was hired.
Kim Nilson noted that The Department of Children and Families has just released an Early Childhood Practice Guide for children ages zero to five. Here is a link:
Carol Peltier shared that Christine Wade; a teacher of the deaf in the Birth to Three program at the American School for the Deaf recently passed; Link:
Anne Giordano shared that the board of directors at Education Connection (Birth to Three program) elected Dr. Jeffrey Kitching to a three year term as Executive Director for the agency.
Family’s Experiences in Birth to Three System
Four mothers shared their experiences with Birth to Three support and services for their children and families.Parent ICC members read written Birth to Three family stories. The parent members of the ICC also shared their own stories. While almost all of the stories were positive, one parent anonymously shared disappointments. Mark noted that we want to respect this parent’s privacy and have asked that we reach out to the contact from the Family Support Network to see if we can help deal with any issues.
Family Survey
Anna Hollister gave an overview of the Birth to Three annual family survey, return rates and comments shared.
Parent Support Grant Update
Kristen Williams, CPAC Consultant, gave a presentation on family stories and contract activities with the Birth to Three System. She noted her own experiences as well as the ongoing development of relationships with parents on the SICC as well as outreach and support of families in Connecticut. She asked for suggestions for things that CPAC might do.
Lead Agency Update/Fiscal UpdateLynn Johnson, Division Director of Family Support Services-Office of Early Childhood (OEC)-Birth to Three System gave the lead agency update.She noted that Dr. Myra Jones-Taylor had been invited and wanted to hear family input but had a recent conflict. She noted her regret and Lynn represented the lead agency and appreciated the parent input.
The Office of Early Childhood mission and guiding principles was shared along with a breakdown of the programs that make up the family support services division.
Lynn noted that several of the programs had undergone additional recessions with the current budget issue but that Part C/CT Birth to Three is an entitlement program and there are no issues with payments to providers.
Lynn noted that the variations in Net Insurance Revenue are due, in part, to issues with the new ICD-10 coding and that this is being addressed.
FY16 Expenditures (incurred) for contracted programs
Net invoices (insurance subtracted) / Includes Supplemental payments of: / Total Net Insurance Revenue / Total Net Revenue from Parent Cost Participation
July, 2015 (FY16) / $ 4,017,030 / $ 844,764 / $ 398,012 / $ 96,766
August / $ 4,052,515 / $ 853,038 / $ 318,191 / $ 104,592
September / $ 3,880,591 / $ 791,643 / $ 326,783 / $ 96,293
October / $ 4,166,207 / $ 881,979 / $ 205,391 / $ 107,395
November / $ 3,960,193 / $ 866,448 / $ 440,896 / $ 93,413
December / $ 3,885,365 / $ 746,911 / $ 332,811 / $ 107,010
January / $ 4,189,041 / $ 816,498 / $ 101,782 / $ 95,508
February / $ 4,267,020 / $ 812,523 / $ 44,011 / $ 104,196
March / $ 4,085,770 / $ 823,784 / $ 230,974 / $ 93,665
April / $ / $ / $ / $
May / $ / $ / $ / $
June / $ / $ / $ / $
TOTAL / $ 36,503,732 / $ 7,437,588 / $ 2,398,851 / $ 898,838
Annual Federal Grant Application for Part C under IDEA
Connecticut’s Federal Application for Part C funds under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for Federal Fiscal Year 2016 was submitted on April 15, 2016
State Systematic Improvement Plan
The plan was submitted on April 1, thanks to all the stakeholders who assisted with this plan. You will be notified when a response is received from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
IDEA Dispute Resolution-FY14
Written complaints. There was one written complaint which did not result in any findings.
Requests for mediation or hearings. There were no requests for mediation or hearing since the last report.
Update on Proposed Plan Amendment for Medicaid Billing and Payment Procedure Workgroup
No additional questions have been received by the Dept. of Social Services (DSS) from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), awaiting next steps from DSS. The workgroup will meet again on 4/26.
Conference Presentation
On April 7th a presentation entitled “Birth to Three Supports for Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders” was presented as part of the “Early Autism: Advances in Research and Clinical Practice” Conference at Yale. Thanks go to Laura Nolda from SouthBay, Tina Gilbertie from ABC Intervention for their assistance.
Determinations
Alice Ridgway, Assistant Part C Coordinator presented on the 2016 IDEA local determinations on Connecticut Birth to Three programs. She has suggestions for next steps going forward.
OMB has guidance for states on using a risk assessment on grantees or sub-grantees and asked the ICC to consider developing a risk assessment rubric with stakeholders for programs to complete with their determinations. Risk assessments are situations, such as a new program director from outside that program) that puts a program at higher risks for issues with compliance.
The meeting ended at 11:45am
Respectfully Submitted,
Anna Hollister
NEXT State ICC MEETING: Monday,June 13, 2016 at Value Options, 500 Enterprise Drive-Suite 3D (Hartford Room), Rocky Hill, CT. Please RSVP to Anna Hollister at 860-418-8716 or via e-mail at:
Next ICC Executive Committee telephone call: Wednesday,May 11, 2016 1-2 PM
FUTURE MEETING DATES:August 8, 2016
October 17, 2016
December 5, 2016