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The Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP) at DBHDS provides a monthly news digest to highlight resources, events, and trainings that may be of interest to self-advocates with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families.
In our August 2024 Digest, we shared a little about our Annual Notification Message to all Virginians on the Waiting List for Home and Community-Based Services Developmental Disability Waivers. This message went out in the postal mail and electronically on Wednesday, September 11th and again on Monday, September 16th; you can read it here.
Part of this message includes a link to the IFSP's Annual Satisfaction Survey. Each year, we ask individuals on the Waitlist and their families for input. Your answers will help us improve the quality of our programs (including IFSP-Funding) and the information we share in this newsletter, so tell us what's important to you! Please consider participating in this survey. It should take no more than ten minutes to complete, and will be open through Friday, October 11th: http://tiny.cc/ifsp-annualsurvey-fy24. If you have already taken the survey, thank you! We value and appreciate your feedback.
Last but certainly not least, we would like to highlight a few refreshes to our My Life, My Community website! Please update your links to our DD Waivers Information page (formerly "Waiver Information"), our Resources for Individuals and Families page (formerly "Resources for Families"), and of course, our IFSP-Funding page. We have also created new pages to house information about Accessing the Waiver Waitlist Forms, our IFSP Digest and Coordinated Regional Council Archives, and our IFSP: First Steps guide! Massive thanks to our partners at VirginiaNavigator for their commitment and shared vision in making information more accessible. So please explore the site and check out these pages!
Happy Fall!
ο»ΏThe IFSP Staff
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If your contact information changes (e.g., your email and/or mailing address), please remember you can contact your CSB and/or Support Coordinator to update it in WaMS! By doing this, you will be able to receive important information about the resources you or someone else are eligible to receive while on the Waitlist. | | |
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On Monday, September 23rd, the IFSP announced dates for the Fall 2024 funding cycle. You can read that announcement here. We also share this information in our monthly Funding Update. | |
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IMPORTANT: Were you approved for IFSP funds that were issued in April 2023 and/or December 2023? If you were awarded funds during these funding cycles, you must register your card and withdraw your funds as soon as possible. Please read this announcement for that information.
Reminder: All Funding updates will be sent via this mailing list and posted on our My Life, My Community IFSP-Funding Page.
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2025 IFSP State and Regional Council Recruitment: We are extending our search for new Councilmembers who have developmental disabilities and/or self-advocates! If you would like to be a community ambassador and be involved in helping shape IFSP Council events in 2025, we encourage you to apply for a seat on our State or Regional Councils. Visit My Life, My Community to learn more about the Councils' history, the IFSP State Plan, and Councilmember roles. The application is open until next Friday, Oct. 11th at 11:59 p.m. If you have questions about yourself or someone who could be a good fit for either the State or Regional Council, please email us at IFSPCommunity@dbhds.virginia.gov. We'd love to work with you!
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Enhancing Independence through Assistive Technology (AT) Expo: The IFSP staff and our 2024 Regional Councils closed out our Council year with a fantastic turnout in Weyers Cave last Thursday, Sept. 26th! We are grateful to our partners, panelists, exhibitors, Councilmembers, guests, attendees, and everyone who helped make the afternoon fun and informative. Many thanks to our hosts at Blue Ridge Community College for hosting us! And of course, special thanks to our presenters at the Assistive Technology Network of Virginia β perhaps you saw their Facebook post! We're gathering more photos, answers to your questions for our panelists, and the video recording to post on our My Life, My Community expo page. When everything is ready, we'll announce it on our IFSPCommunity Facebook page and in our next IFSP Digest.
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Meanwhile, our event survey will be open until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, October 10th. If you attended in person or on Zoom, please take a moment to let us know how we did! What did you like? What could we do better next time? Is there an assistive technology resource you'd like to share with us?
You can take the survey by using a mobile device to scan the QR code in this image, or by clicking on the image. Thank you!
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Peer Mentoring Program: Peer mentors at The Arc of Virginia are ready to meet you and help you achieve your goals! Learn more about the program and eligibility requirements at The Arc. For questions, email Natasha Cooper at ncooper@thearcofva.org.
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Family Mentoring Program: Getting support from someone who's been in your shoes can make a difference! Learn how the Family to Family Network at the Center for Family Involvement can help.
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Welcome to our IFSP Council Corner! This section in the IFSP Digest debuted in our Feb. 2024 issue, and will contain items submitted by our Regional Councils. This month, we are highlighting an item from our Southwestern Regional Council. | |
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Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services
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Ensuring Continuity of Coverage for Individuals Receiving Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS): In August, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new bulletin to highlight federal renewal requirements and available flexibilities to promote continuity of coverage for individuals eligible for home and community-based services through Medicaid. Visit this link to read the bulletin and view a slide deck.
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DBHDS Office of Integrated Health Supports Network (OIHSN) | |
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September 2024 Newsletter Highlight
- Sepsis Awareness Month: Did you know that September is Sepsis Awareness Month? Did you also know that sepsis has been identified as a common cause of death in the DD population? OIHSN shares signs, symptoms, and causes of sepsis. They also tell us how sepsis impacts individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Fall 2024 Caregiver Trainings
These free online trainings are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Email dbhdscovlchelpdesk@dbhds.virginia.gov to set up an account. Use this link to view the full Fall 2024 OIHSN Caregiver Training Schedule.
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Falls & Individuals with Developmental Disabilities: This training will review the accepts of falls relating to the intellectual and developmentally disabled population (I/DD). It will cover information on what percentage of individuals with I/DD fall annually, what might cause an individual with I/DD to fall, what medications increase the chances of falls, what to do if a fall occurs and when to seek medical help after a fall.
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Sepsis: How to recognize the signs and symptoms of sepsis, and how vital signs can indicate there was a problem. What role the direct care staff play in reducing the seriousness of sepsis, and recognizing the need to get help immediately if sepsis is suspected in an individual with DD.
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Opportunities, Events, and Resources for Professionals, Self-Advocates, and Families | |
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Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)
- Information and Resources on Hurricane Helene: Please visit https://www.vaemergency.gov/recover/hurricane-helene for a list of press releases, frequently asked questions, important phone numbers and websites, accessible emergency shelter locations, and other information from the Commonwealth (please note, this does not include local recovery efforts through grass roots organizations). You may also want to review this disaster plan for individuals with disabilities. The IFSP extends our sympathies to everyone in localities that have been impacted by this storm.
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Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
Below are some free PEATC online workshops and trainings taking place during October/Fall 2024! Please visit PEATC's calendar for more details about these and other trainings.
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Understanding Special Education: Tuesday, Oct. 8th from 6 to 8 p.m. Learn more and register!
- Connecting the Dots: Early Supports and Services for Babies and Toddlers (ITC): A two-part series on Wednesday, Oct. 9th and Wednesday, Oct. 16th from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Learn more and register!
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Transition University: Thursday, Oct. 10th through Wednesday, Dec. 4th. Learn more and register!
- Youth Empowerment Transition (YET) Council: Tuesday, Oct. 15th from 6 to 7 p.m. Learn more and register!
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Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
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Workforce Wednesday Lunch 'n Learns: What better way to celebrate National Employment Awareness Month in October than by joining DARS for these special Lunch 'n Learn sessions? Each Wednesday from Oct. 9th through Oct. 30th, they will host free virtual sessions on requested topics such as: how businesses leverage DARS' services, success stories from job candidates who used DARS' services, expert insights on neurodiversity in the workplace, and demystifying ADA regulations. You can register for one session or all four at https://tinyurl.com/workwed2024.
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disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV)
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Determine Your Future: 2024 disAbility Rights and Resources Summit: There is still time to sign up for dLCV's free virtual summit on Thursday, October 10th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.! People with disabilities, their loved ones, and anyone interested in learning more about resources and strategies to improve self-advocacy are invited to attend. The summit will feature four main tracks that focus on the specific needs and challenged faced by individuals with disabilities, such as: institutional rights, community-based services, transition and education services, and voting rights. Register at dLCV's summit page: https://www.dlcv.org/event/2024summit.
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Advocating 4 Kids, Inc.
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Breaking Barriers Together: A Special Education Advocacy Conference for the Black Disability Community: This two-day virtual conference will offer tools and strategies for effective advocacy for Black families who are navigating the special education system. The conference begins on Friday, Oct. 11th and lasts through Sunday, Oct. 13th. Participants will hear from professionals and families of students with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and more. General admission tickets are $129. Sign up at this link!
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The Virginia Deafblind Project
- Sensory AccessAbilities: The Unconference 2024: If you work with students in the Deafblind community and have the day off on Monday, Oct. 14th, consider coming out to Charlottesville for the third annual UnConference! This professional development day will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. This year's theme is "Unpacking Opportunities: Navigating Possibilities". The registration fee is $45; no refunds will be issued after Friday, Oct. 4th. Please register by Friday, Oct. 11th at https://event.me/3KWVdP. For questions about this event, please email Hilary Hodes at hhodes@vcu.edu. For questions about registration, please email LaNeka Brown at tacdhh@vcu.edu.
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The Arc of Northern Virginia
- Safely Navigating Social Media: Strategies and Tools for Promoting Social Media Safety for Young Adults with IDD: Using social media can present many benefits and risks for young adults β especially young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Join The Arc of Northern Virginia for this free online presentation on Wednesday, Oct. 16th from 10 to 11 a.m.! Participants will learn how to mitigate dangers and gain strategies to promote independence in social media safety. Learn more and register.
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COVID-19 Information and Resources | |
While the IFSP has done our best to share information on COVID-19 resources, this information is not a substitute for medical advice. Stay up to date and visit virginia.gov/coronavirus. | |
We recognize that navigating the developmental disability system can be hard for families. Not sure where to start? Read our IFSP: First Steps guide to learn about the IFSP program at DBHDS and other important resources, supports, and services offered in the Commonwealth of Virginia! Visit https://mylifemycommunityvirginia.org/ifsp-first-steps, or use your mobile device to scan this QR code. | |
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Thank you for reading the IFSP Digest! | |
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The IFSP is always looking for more newsletter recommendations! What organizations would you like to see featured? What should we subscribe to? Please send your suggestions to IFSPCom@dbhds.virginia.gov.
ο»ΏIf you liked the information in this digest, give us a follow on Facebook by clicking the Facebook icon underneath these buttons! To receive updates about events in your community, also follow your regional IFSP Councilβs Facebook page. (Not sure which region you're in? Find out on My Life, My Community!)
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