New Resource: NC Medicaid 1915(i) Services Toolkit

We’re excited to share that NC Medicaid has released a new 1915(i) Toolkit, created to help families and professionals better understand important services available in our communities. This toolkit offers clear, easy-to-use information about home and community-based supports designed for people with specific health needs.

1915(i) services provide support for Medicaid-eligible individuals who have:

• Intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD)
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Serious mental health conditions
• Severe substance use disorders



These services are delivered through NC Medicaid Direct, Tailored Plans, or the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Option. They’re built to support people in ways that allow them to live successfully in their own homes and communities, rather than in institutional settings.

If you’re a family member supporting a loved one with one of these conditions—or a professional working with individuals who may qualify—this toolkit can help you understand the services available and how to access them. It’s also important to know that some individuals currently on the waitlist for the NC Innovations Waiver may be eligible for 1915(i) services.

The 1915(i) Toolkit is available in English and Spanish.  

The 1915(i) Toolkit includes: 

• NEW! PowerPoint with essential details about 1915(i) 
• NEW! 1915(i) Flyer 
• NEW! 1915(i) Community Living and Supports Flyer 
• NEW! Social media copy and graphics  
• NEW! Email templates and newsletter graphic  
• Webinar: “Accessing Home and Community-Based Services through 1915(i)” 
•  and related Questions and Answers 

Click here to see the entire toolkit. 

View the new 1915i web page at medicaid.nc.gov/1915i.  

Turning 18? Here’s What Families Need to Know About

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

When a child who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) turns 18, the Social Security Administration takes another look at their medical eligibility. This is called the age-18 redetermination. Sometimes, after this review, benefits stop because the young adult no longer meets the medical criteria for SSI as an adult.

But here’s the good news:

If your teen is still in school or in certain programs that help them prepare for work and independent living, SSI benefits may continue, even if they’re found to no longer meet the disability requirements.

What kind of programs count?

If your young adult is participating in one of the programs below, SSI benefits might continue while they stay in the program:

• A high school special education program with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), for youth aged 18 to 21
• A program through Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), such as North Carolina’s Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD), with an Individualized Plan for Employment
• Job support services that include an Individualized Written Employment Plan
• A Section 504 plan with a school (these plans help students with disabilities get accommodations)
• A Social Security-approved Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS)

Click here for more detailed information



A Guide to Speaking with Your Child about Prognosis

This guide was created by the Courageous Parents Network for parents faced with the daunting task of communicating with their child about their condition, treatment and prognosis. (In English, coming soon in Spanish) 

The new guide helps to validate caregivers' worries and to also empower them to have these conversations.

Click here to view and print the Guide

Hot off the Press: Work Together NC's Employment Toolkit

New resource alert! Work Together NC's Employment Toolkit helps individuals with IDD and their support teams explore job options, get ready for work, and find inclusive employment opportunities in North Carolina. Join Project Coordinator, Jacklyn Boheler, during one of ECAC's May Tool Time Tuesday segments on Tuesday, May 27th from 12:00 - 12:30 to learn how to use the Toolkit to assist individuals in achieving their goals. Register HERE (Registration for May events available on May 1st)

Congrats to Work Together NC's Growing Alliance

of IDD Inclusive Employers!

Work Together NC IDD Inclusive Employment Alliance continues to grow!

Check out the 41 employers who have received recognition, and help spread the word among your employer networks! (Scroll down to see employers)

The IDD Inclusive Employment Alliance:

(1) provides no-cost training in IDD inclusive practices

(2) connects employers with local or statewide Community Rehabilitation providers for job candidate referrals

(3) recognizes and celebrates IDD Inclusive employers through a storefront sticker program, the option to be listed on Work Together NC's website, and more...

About Work Together NC's website:

Work Together NC has exciting news for people with IDD, their families and service providers in North Carolina. A statewide, federally funded initiative, their website serves as a "one stop" hub for the transition to adulthood. Users can search for services based on their needs, access checklists in the key domains of transition (i.e., guardianship, employment, postsecondary education), and develop personalized action plans for goal achievement. Transitioning to adulthood is hard– no matter what– but now it is a bit less complicated!

Check out worktogethernc.com today.

Have questions or feedback? Email worktogethernc@med.unc.edu

Special Needs Trustee Handbook

For more on the toolkits, visit https://movingtoadulthealthcare.org/toolkits/

Click here to tune in and listen!

Amplify Together NC

Disability Rights NC recently announced the relaunch of their podcast, now called Amplify Together NC! Each episode will bring you conversations with disability advocates, experts, and everyday people making a difference to dive deep into disability rights, current issues, and the power of community, one conversation at a time.

NCDHHS Partners with Hazel Health to Provide Virtual Mental Health Services for K-12 Students in North Carolina

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recently announced students across North Carolina will soon have access to high-quality, virtual mental health care through Hazel Health. This initiative, supported through an investment by UnitedHealthcare, is part of a broader effort announced last year to provide virtual school-centered mental health care for up to one million students across select states nationwide.

Click here to read the entire press release

From the Autism Society of North Carolina:

Did you know 1 in 36 children may be diagnosed with autism nationally, and that more than 5.4 million adults in the United States have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). During this month of awareness and appreciation for those on the spectrum, The Autism Society of North Carolina invites you to visit their Autism Statistics and Signs webpage to learn more about autism, who it affects and how. Please share the link with family and friends so they, too, can increase their awareness and understanding of autism.

From the Duke Autism Center: 



The Duke Center for Autism Seminar Series features autism researchers, clinicians, and self-advocates from around the world sharing their latest research, intervention practices, and perspectives. Join us on select Wednesdays to hear from these experts. All presentations are virtual.

Military OneSource

Military OneSource is your connection to information, answers and support when MilLife happens. We can help you overcome challenges, reach your goals and thrive.

As a member of our military family, you have access to a wealth of tools, information and resources from the Defense Department anytime, anywhere. Eligible service members and families can also access personalized support for a range of issues. Expert help is available 24/7.

Click here to learn more.

Give us a call at

1-800-962-6817

ECAC is providing this newsletter as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the ECAC. ECAC is not a legal services agency. We cannot and do not provide legal representation or advice, and information contained in this newsletter should not be used or considered as such. This newsletter is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $89,140 with 0 percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.