Our friends at BasicNeeds US have launched a new website, and HSRI is proud to have assisted in its development.

You can visit the site at: http://www.basicneedsus.org

BasicNeeds US is a non-profit organization serving the health, social, and economic needs of people with mental illnesses and neurological disorders in the world’s poorest communities.

HSRI is seeking motivated individuals for the position of Research Analyst.

For more information and to submit your resume, please visit our Careers page.

Check out the latest issue of the Riot!  This one features an exclusive interview with the new Commissioner of the US Administration on Developmental Disabilities  --  a REAL SCOOP.

HSRI is seeking motivated individuals for the following two positions: 

• Data Analysis Systems Development and Support Analyst
• Project Assistant

For more information and to submit your resume, please visit our Careers page.

HSRI’s Child and Family Services team is excited to post the ProtectOhio Comprehensive Final Evaluation Report, exploring the impact of the Title IV-E Waiver, in 18 participating Ohio counties. Since 1997, these child welfare agencies have used flexible federal funding sources to enhance services and provide family-driven supports, in an effort to reduce their use of foster care. This evaluation report provides an overview of the evaluation of these efforts, with a focus on implementation of programmatic strategies (i.e. family team meetings, supervised visitation, kinship, and mental health and substance abuse services), as well as the impact of Ohio’s Title IV-E Wavier on agency revenue and expenditures, participant outcomes, and case trajectories.

You can Download the report here: http://www.hsri.org/publication/protect-ohio

We are excited to announced the launch of the new Arkansas Youth United website.  It includes an updated look, new and exciting information about AYU and the work they do, and new features to make the site more accessible.  Check out the calendar for upcoming events including monthly peer support meetings for young people and parents.  Sign up to receive AYU's monthly email newsletter and visit often to see what's new.

The new website can be found here:  http://www.ayuonline.org

HSRI, along with our colleagues at the University of Minnesota, National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities and the University of Delaware have, for many years, sponsored the Reinventing Quality Conference.  This year’s conference will be held in Baltimore, MD from August 8-10, 2010.  It will feature a range of exciting presentations, and will provide information, new ideas and active discussions about person-centered planning, employment innovations, self-advocacy and more for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Please go to www.reinventingquality.org for more information about the program and to register for the conference.

The Riot! is hosting a three part national conversation on employment for self-advocates. The first call focused on what self-advocates want to be doing during the day. The second call, June 7th, will be a discussion with field experts about employment opportunities for self-advocates, and alternatives to employment. The last call, July 12, will focus on how self-advocates can get the jobs and experience they want. For more information, visit www.theriotrocks.org .

HSRI is excited to unveil our redesigned website.  Along with a fresh look and improved navigation, the new site features expanded information about HSRI, our work, and our commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities.  You can now browse our site by:

• Focus Area
• Topic
• Projects
• Publications
• News/Events

We encourage you to look around and see what has changed. If you have any questions, or would like to provide feedback about the new HSRI.org, please feel free to contact us.

HSRI is seeking motivated individuals for the following two positions:

• Data Analysis Systems Development and Support Analyst
• Project Manager

For more information and to submit your resume, please visit our Careers page.

Our friends at CMS have made two new resources available to connect the work of HCBS waiver case managers to provisions of federal assurances.

Online Training: An approximately 90-minute tutorial intended for case managers and their supervisors on HCBS waiver basics and federal assurances. The training includes a narrative curriculum, case studies with video vignettes, knowledge checks and reflective exercise to apply general knowledge to specific requirements of individual HCS waivers and states.

Resource Guide for Trainers: In addition to access by individuals to the online learning module, the Resource Guide supports states and/or case management provider agencies who wish to conduct in-person training programs. The Guide provides instructions, power point slides, tips and other resources to facilitate in-person training. Train-the-Trainer materials are available through the website listed above.

For more information, please visit: http://www.hcbsassurances.org

This project was conducted with funds made available through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under its Money Follow the Person Technical Assistance grant. The Muskie School of Public Service, under contract with the Ascellon Corporation, directs the project. CMS project contacts: Sarah Fogler, sarah.fogler@cms.hhs.gov or Nancy Kirchner, nancy.kirchner@cms.hhs.gov. Muskie project director: Maureen Booth, maureenb@usm.maine.edu.

I want to weigh in on behalf of all of Judi's friends at the Human Services Research Institute. She has served on our Board of Directors for many years and has enriched our conversations with her wisdom and always independent voice. Judi has been a friend and colleague of many of us for more than 30 years. We remember her spirited advocacy for people with mental illness as founder of the Mental Patients Liberation Front, her establishment of the Ruby Rogers Drop In Center (a consumer run center whose first home was in our building), her increasing work internationally with like minded advocates who benefited from Judi's enthusiasm and knowledge, and most of all her energy, indomitable spirit and the love she gave so freely to her family and wide circle of friends. It is hard to imagine our work without her but she touched so many people during her life who are - because of Judi - prepared to carry on what she started.

Thank you Judi

Val Bradley
President
Human Services Research Institute