November Final Rule Stakeholder Call Reminder

This is a reminder to join KDADS on the third Wednesday of the month for the HCBS Settings Final Rule (Community Connections) Stakeholder Call. This is an opportunity to stay updated on the State’s planning for Community Connections and Final Rule implementation.

Call in line: 1 (253) 215-8782 Meeting ID: 961 0034 0589
Zoom Link: https://wichitastate.zoom.us/j/96100340589?pwd=MEN6OU9XLzJ5dWpGaE9aaEdCeG0vdz09

Here’s what you can expect on the Wednesday, November 16 calls at Noon and at 5:30 PM:

KDADS will share information and updates on the HCBS Settings Final Rule including remediation, heightened scrutiny, and training and resources.

General information about these calls:
• Calls are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 12:00 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.
• During each call, KDADS staff will share updates about what they’re working on for the Final Rule (Community Connections) and the feedback they’ve gotten from CMS
• There will be time for questions from stakeholders during the call.
• Calls will be facilitated by Wichita State University’s Community Engagement Institute.
• During each one-hour call:
o The WSU facilitator will introduce the topic of the day.
o Participants will be asked to keep their phones on mute (*6 on your keypad or use your mute key) until the Q&A Time. This will reduce background noise.)
o KDADS Staff will provide any updates they have.
o After KDADS updates, the line will be opened for questions related to the updates or the Final Settings Rule (Community Connections) in general.
• Questions and answers from each call are posted on the HCBS Settings Final Rule page of the KDADS website, found here and the Community Connections webpage found here: https://communityconnectionsks.org/

Or Write To:
Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services
Home and Community Based Services
503 S. Kansas Ave
Topeka, Kansas 66603
Phone: 785-368-6246
Fax: 785-296-0256
Visit Our Website

Recording Available: HOME-ARP Public Hearing and Comment Period

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) has spent the last several months hosting listening sessions and gathering data in support of the development of KHRC’s HOME-ARP Allocation Plan. HOME-ARP is designed to serve individuals and families who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or vulnerable to housing instability by providing housing, rental assistance, supportive services, and non-congregate shelter.

On October 27, KHRC made the draft HOME-ARP Allocation Plan available on the HOME-ARP page of KHRC’s website. KHRC held a Public Hearing on Tuesday, November 1 to discuss the draft Plan. The Allocation Plan is available for public comment through Wednesday, November 16 at 12:00pm. Written comments can be emailed to [email protected]. To be considered, all oral and written comments must be received by KHRC no later than Wednesday, November 16 at 12:00pm Central Time.

If you were unable to attend the Public Hearing, the recording is now available on KHRC’s website, along with the following resources:

• HOME-ARP Public Hearing
• HOME-ARP Draft Allocation Plan
• HOME-ARP Public Hearing slides
• HOME-ARP “Things to Consider” Chart – a resource for organizations who are considering applying for HOME-ARP funding.

Additional Resources:

• CPD Notice 21-10 – this is the HOME-ARP implementing notice that provides further information on HOME-ARP requirements, Qualifying Populations, and Eligible Activities.
• McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act – some of the requirements in this Act apply to HOME-ARP.

Questions? Email HOME-ARP Program Manager Abigail Phillips at [email protected]

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation
611 S Kansas Ave., Suite 300 | Topeka, KS 66603
[email protected]

Ask EARN

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In this Issue: Honoring America’s Veterans and More! November, 2022

EARN IN ACTION

Honoring America’s Veterans

EARN’s Disabled Veterans webpage offers information and resources to help employers recruit, hire, retain and advance veterans with disabilities.

Retaining Employees through Performance Coaching and Management

A recording of the EARN webinar “Retaining Valued Employees with Disabilities: The Importance of Performance Coaching and Management” is now available.

Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week

Learn about the value of Registered Apprenticeships and find resources to ensure apprenticeship programs are inclusive of people with disabilities.

Building a Disability-Inclusive Organization Webcast

Watch a recorded version of a recent Job Accommodation Network (JAN) webcast to find out more about EARN’s Inclusion@Work Framework.

DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT IN THE NEWS

Department of Labor NDEAM Event Recording

A recording of the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) event “Employer Chat on Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being” is now available online.

National Entrepreneurship Month

Read the Presidential Proclamation on National Entrepreneurship Month and find resources for entrepreneurs with disabilities.

Mental Health within Native Communities Virtual Series

The U.S. Department of Labor celebrated National Native American Heritage Month by kicking off a four-part webinar series focusing on mental health in native communities.

Report on Inclusive Employment

The National Organization on Disability released a new White Paper highlighting the results of their 2021 Employment Tracker.

ASK EARN

Q: As we head into the holiday season, my company is planning both in-person and virtual celebrations. Does EARN have resources to help ensure these events are accessible to and inclusive of people with disabilities, including employees and their family members?

A: Yes, we do! Making sure that office parties and other holiday celebrations, whether in-person or online, are accessible for everyone is an important part of workplace disability inclusion. EARN’s “Planning an Accessible Meeting or Event” checklist is an easy-to-use resource that can take the guess work out of what to do before, during and after workplace events so that they are accessible to and inclusive of all attendees.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

November 16, 2022, 2:00 p.m. ET
Webinar: Managing Risk and other Legal Requirements for Businesses Under ADA Title III

November 18, 2022, 12:00 p.m. ET
Webinar: COVID-19 Updates

November 29, 2022, 1:00 p.m. ET
Webinar: DEIA: What Does It Mean to Have Accessibility in the Federal Workplace?

December 2, 2022, 12:00 p.m. ET
Webinar: nTIDE Lunch and Learn

December 7, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
Webinar: Accessible Entertaining: Let’s Gather Together

View Calendar (On right side of the screen)

EMPLOYER SPOTLIGHT

Answering the Call for Inclusion at AT&T

AT&T supports employees with disabilities and promotes workplace inclusion through its Ability Employee Group, annual trainings and other programs and initiatives.

SUBSCRIBE TO EARN

Healthy Kansans 2030 Report Now Available

The Healthy Kansans 2030 (State Health Assessment and Improvement Plan) was officially released yesterday. You can find more information about these reports below.

Please feel free to share with your networks. We hope that you will participate (to join a Priority Work Group)/and share the below links!

If you or anyone you know is interested in participating in Priority Work Groups to support implementation of this plan, you can visit the KDHE website to sign-up and join.

Here is a link to the survey sign-up: State Health Improvement Plan Implementation: Priority Work Group Opportunity Survey (surveymonkey.com)

Updates to the KDHE State Health Assessment/State Health Improvement Plan (SHA/SHIP) website are found here.  (direct link to reports included below).

• Healthy-Kansans-2030-State-Health-Assessment-Report-PDF (ks.gov)
• Healthy-Kansans-2030-State-Health-Improvement-Plan-PDF

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Audé Negrete
Community Partnerships & Engagement Consultant | Office of the Secretary
Kansas Department of Health & Environment
Mobile: 785-600-1473

This message is from the US Access Board

Administration for Community Living’s National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Seeks Comments on Long-Range Plan

The Administration for Community Living’s National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) seeks comments from stakeholders on its 2024-2028 Long-Range Plan. The input will help inform NIDILRR’s future funding priorities and strategic direction.

During Fall 2022, NIDILRR hosted a series of six virtual stakeholder listening sessions to provide an overview of the planning process and gather feedback from stakeholders. While these sessions have concluded, NIDILRR invites stakeholders who have not yet provided feedback via a virtual listening session or the email inbox to submit written feedback for NIDILRR’s consideration to [email protected]. Comments are due by November 21, 2022.