Hi All:

This is a reminder that the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is holding listening sessions for you to give direct feedback to the Bureau of Developmental Services (BDS). Please view the invitation below or see it online for more details on dates and locations.

I'm asking you to participate in one of these listening sessions if you can. To put it succinctly: DHHS and BDS need feedback from our community. Silence hurts us.

I also realize that the open-ended format of these listening sessions can be daunting. To help you focus, consider asking yourself the following:

• Do you know what the impact of proposed future changes will be for you and your family? For example, electronic visit verification (EVV) and pending rates changes. If you don't know the impact, what might help? For example, would several before-and-after examples help?

• Similarly, do you know what changes are being made to administrative rules -- such as any of the rules under Chapter He-M 500 -- and how they might impact you? Would having a description of these changes in plain language help? Also, it's OK if you don't know what an administrative rule is; you can read more about administrative rules here.

• Do you know of specific examples where families or participants have provided feedback that has resulted in positive change? If not, would having such examples help?

• If you believe feedback or questions have already been given in the past (perhaps multiple times), but do not see evidence that any action was taken, do you have specific examples that you can bring to the listening session?

• Do you know which individual in DHHS is ultimately accountable for the success or failure of the developmental disability delivery system?

• Are you at risk of losing your DSP or service coordinator due to insufficient wages? If so, what would be a good date to increase their wages, what would a reasonable rate be, and how did you determine these?

• Are you impacted by the workforce shortage or do you know of families that have a budget but are unable to hire anyone? If so, do you have suggestions for how BDS might help recruit more DSPs, vendors, service coordinators, etc.? Would you like to hear any plans that BDS might already have in place?

• If you are in Participant Directed and Managed Services (PDMS), how has the change gone for you? For example, were you able to make the transition to managing new timesheets with new codes? If it was a rough transition, what were the pain points and how might it be improved?

• Do you have examples of how inclusion in the community (or lack thereof) has impacted you, your family member, and the community? What might BDS do to help make it better?

• Do you see other topics, such as transportation and housing, that BDS might play a role in? If so, what are the main issues and how might BDS participate?

Please take some time to think about these. You will likely come up with even more areas for feedback; that would be fantastic and welcome.

Then, pare your feedback down to the top 2 or 3 issues and please bring them to one of the listening sessions. If you are having trouble organizing your thoughts, please let me know and I will help you find your voice.

Finally, please be civil and constructive in your comments to BDS. I firmly believe everyone in this space wants to do the right thing and we need to work together.

Thank you for your advocacy,

Will