Real
Choice Systems Change
MAINE
Grant
Information
Name of Grantee
Maine
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of MaineCare
Services, Bureau of Medical Services
Title of Grant
Quality
Choices for Maine
Type of Grant
Real
Choice Systems Change
Amount of Grant
$2,300,000
Year Original Funding
Received
2001
Completed
Contact
Information
Christine Zukas-Lessard
Deputy Director
Office of MaineCare Services, Department of Health
and Human Services
11 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
207-287-3828
chris.zukas-lessard@maine.gov
Subcontractor(s)
Danny Westcott
Institute for Health Policy 800-800-4876
Muskie School of Public Service
University of Southern Maine
207-228-8083
westcott@usm.maine.edu
http://www.mainerealchoices.org
Target
Population(s)
Generally, no specific target population. Some demonstrations will target specific populations, as
yet undetermined. One project (evaluating wraparound services provided in
schools) targets children with serious emotional disabilities.
Goals
- Person-Centered
Services. Maximize options for choice and control of personal
assistance services (PAS) across programs. Provide more consumers with the
administrative support infrastructure necessary or desired to exercise
greater choice and control over personal assistance and other long-term
services. Develop, demonstrate, and evaluate a model of flexible funding
that enables consumers to access services from multiple state departments.
Increase the effectiveness of services targeted to children with
emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs in public schools.
- Quality. Identify
and implement quality indicators for measuring quality of life and quality
of care for children and adults with disabilities receiving long-term
services and supports. Demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of
interdepartmental collaboration in quality improvement by developing a
complaint/event reporting system for A/D waivers.
- Access. Increase
access to information about services and eligibility; housing; qualified
direct care workers; recreational, social, and cultural activities; and
transportation services.
- Data. Improve
planning and implementation of services by integrating data across
departments.
Activities
- Conduct a comparative
analysis of Maine's
PAS policies; develop recommendations for change.
- Develop a
Fiscal/Employer Agent (FEA).
- Conduct a flexible
funding demonstration for youth with developmental disabilities
transitioning from public schools into the adult service system.
- Evaluate the wraparound
services program, called "Student Multi-Agency Resource Team"
(SMART), underway in Portland Public Schools.
- Identify and implement
quality indicators measuring quality of care and quality of life.
- Identify and conduct an
intradepartmental collaborative quality improvement complaint and event
system.
- Develop a Web site
providing information about services, resources, and eligibility.
- Conduct two to three
demonstrations for improving access to housing services.
- Develop a direct care
workers' association.
- Develop a resource
inventory for recreation services; replicate a monthly calendar of
low-cost events; and develop a Universal Access Guidelines Tool Kit.
- Conduct two to three
demonstrations for improving access to transportation services.
- Develop a detailed
design for generic infrastructure to support integrating data across
multiple departments and programs.
Abstract
Maine has already developed a good community services system
with a wide array of community living supports. This grant project, Quality
Choices for Maine, seeks to take this system to the next level where consumers
have more choice and control; community-relevant quality management structures
are built into Maine's community-based living options and incorporate consumer
perspectives; identified gaps are addressed (access to information, direct care
workers, housing, transportation, and recreation); and integrated
interdepartmental data support interdepartmental collaboration.
The grant's focus is largely interdepartmental. It will be
used to develop consistency across programs and the infrastructure for
supporting a shared interdepartmental vision for serving persons with
disabilities, as well as to address access barriers common to multiple
population groups.
Quality Choices for Maine
directly responds to and continues the work performed under Maine's Olmstead initiative, which has been a collaborative process involving representatives
from four departments (Health and Human Services Behavioral and Developmental
Services, Education, Labor, and Corrections) and a broad cross-section of
consumer representatives.