DADS Provider News, Alerts & Bulletins —
Texas Home Living (TxHmL)

Working with individuals with an intellectual disability (ID) can be both a rewarding and challenging job. When an individual with an ID engages in challenging behavior, it can create barriers to establishing meaningful relationships and skill acquisition. Discover "Why Problem Behavior Occurs (and Why it is Important to Know the Answer)" as Dr. Richard Smith, University of North Texas, and instructors from the Behavior Analysis Resource Center help participants learn evidence-based best practice prevention and management techniques to support positive behavior.

The workshop offers caregivers, who provide training and habilitation services and supports the opportunity to learn proactive approaches to establishing positive relationships with and supporting individuals who engage in challenging behavior. This session teaches participants to use reinforcement to "tip the scales" toward adaptive and positive behavior and how to safely and effectively potentially harmful behaviors. Attendees who would benefit from this workshop include direct contact staff, caregivers, family members, nurses, qualified ID professionals, case or home managers, and home supervisors.

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) is hosting three, 1.5 day workshops:

• San Antonio – April 2 and 3, 2013
• Abilene – July 8 and 9, 2013
• Denton – Aug. 1 and 2, 2013

Venue locations will be added to the registration site as they become available.

Social Work continuing education credits will be offered. BCBA continuing education credits will be offered by the University of North Texas Behavior Analysis Resource Center for $50, due at the time of receipt. Payment can be made by cash or check.  Checks should be made out to UNT Department of Behavior Analysis.

Please visit www.kessjones.com/PBM2013.htm to view a detailed agenda and to register for this workshop.

As part of an initiative to solicit stakeholder input on draft statewide policies, the State Supported Living Centers division is inviting comments on draft revised Policy #007, Psychiatry Services. The purpose of the policy is to establish and clarify operational criteria, procedures, and processes to ensure that the individuals served at state centers receive psychiatric care consistent with generally accepted practice standards and applicable law.

If you have any comments regarding the draft policy, please send your comments to Eric Moorad, Policy/Rules Coordinator, at eric.moorad@dads.state.tx.us or via fax at 512-438-4605 by close of business Friday, March 15, 2013.

In your comments, please reference the name of the policy, the name of the document, the page number, the section, and the line number (if applicable) so that we can respond to your comment.

• Draft of Policy #007 and other related documents

As part of an initiative to solicit stakeholder input on draft statewide policies, the State Supported Living Centers division is inviting comments on draft Policy #051, High Risk Determination and Classification of Alleged Offender Residents. The purpose of the policy is to establish operational criteria, procedures, and processes for determining whether individuals who are alleged offenders are at risk of inflicting substantial physical harm to another person, along with the hearing processes and the transfer issues related to the high-risk determination.

If you have any comments regarding the draft policy, please send your comments to Eric Moorad, Policy/Rules Coordinator, at eric.moorad@dads.state.tx.us or via fax at 512-438-4605 by close of business Friday, March 8, 2013.

In your comments, please reference the name of the policy, the name of the document, the page number, the section, and the line number (if applicable) so that we can respond to your comment.

Do you:

• Have a disability,
• Work, and earn too much to qualify for regular Medicaid,
• Live in Texas, and
• Not live all the time in a nursing facility, state hospital, or intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability or related condition?

If so, you may qualify for Medicaid Buy-In, and now the application is easier. Medicaid Buy-In offers all the same services regular Medicaid offers, and has made comprehensive health care available to workers unable to get affordable care through another source.

A link to the application is below. You can print out the application. If you mail the application, it is recommended that you mail it return receipt requested. If you take it to an HHS field office, please ask for a receipt verifying that you turned it in. Also, please attach a pay stub to the application.

How to get the H1200-MBI Application for Assistance:

• Go to http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/Help/1200-MBI-eng.pdf for the English version, or http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/Help/1200-MBI-span.pdf for the Spanish version;
• Call 2-1-1 and ask to have an H1200-MBI application form mailed to you; or
• Go to an HHSC benefits office. Call 2-1-1 to find one near you.

DADS will begin hosting educational quarterly webinars for interested HCS and TxHmL stakeholders. The first webinar will be:

Preventable Injury and Death of Individuals in the HCS and TxHmL Programs
Feb. 4, 2013
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Due to a recent increase in preventable injuries and deaths, this webinar will discuss drowning, aspiration, bowel impaction, and burns (including scalds). The webinar will address risk factors and preventative measures that providers can take to decrease the risk to the individuals they serve in their programs.

Please click here to register for this webinar https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/374091113.