Highlights
Thirty-Sixth Annual Conference
(2)007: License to Serve
The ICF/MR in a Changing System
APDDA returned to Phoenix for yet another worthwhile learning opportunity.
As both public and private ICFs/MR face the challenges of change, members use
this conference to learn about resources available to help their agencies
accomplish their goals.
The San Marcos Resort provided an outstanding venue in the heart of
Chandler-large enough to provide comfortable meeting rooms, small enough
to promote interaction among participants, presenters, and exhibitors.
In the first year in which private ICFs/MR became eligible for full
membership in the newly-renamed Association of Public and Private
Developmental Disabilities Administrators (but still APDDA), we heard
Bob Gettings' final presentation to the group. Bob put current trends
into the context of the many years he has presented at the conference.
He discussed trends in Medicaid and state financing. He projected the
likely scenarios of fiscal and service realities. He gave his
prescriptions for the future-reenergize and mobilize the DD disability
community, develop future leaders, harness technology, build partnerships
with individuals and families, and build inclusive communities in which
service and programs are part of the community, not merely located in the
community. Later in the day, we toasted Bob at our awards luncheon for
him contributions to services for people with disabilities.
Also, at the luncheon, we honored Iverson Riddle, M.D., for his many years
of creative service to people with disabilities and to APDDA.
We got to hear what is happening in Arizona from Barbara Brent,
in Wisconsin from Ted Bunck, and in Virginia from Lee Price.
Robert Fletcher of the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed
introduced the recently developed Diagnostic Manual-Intellectual Disability
(DM-ID), the new standard for diagnosis of mental disorders in persons
with intellectual disability. He also discussed state strategies for
supporting individuals with co-existing conditions, including specialized
staff training that crosses service systems, the importance of mobile crises
intervention services, and best practices in consultation and treatment.
With training still in mind, we heard from Dennis Reid about training
and supervisory strategies to promote application of Positive Behavior
Support (PBS). Dr. Reid discussed the controversy over the relationship
of PBS to applied behavior analysis, which he described as the underlying
set of scientific principles applied within a value system that emphasizes
relationships among staff and the people they serve.
Tuesday, the second day of the conference, was devoted to CMS and
the ICF/MR survey process. Dianne Smith, CMS Technical Director
and ICF/MR Team Leader, provided an ICF/MR update. She provided
ICF/MR By the Numbers--the demographics of ICF/MR providers, by size,
public or private operation, and total numbers of facilities and people
served. She described the leading survey citations, the number of
look-behind surveys state-by-state, and the costs of ICF/MR services.
She identified areas of emphasis, including giving clear guidance on
the requirements of adequate investigation of injuries and allegations
of abuse. Dianne pointed out the need to develop and improve supported
retirement services.
Julene Hollenbach of Arizona and Barbara
Abeln of South Dakota represented APDDA this year at basic surveyor
training. They described the emphases of training this year. The
presentation was filled with too much information for this brief highlight.
The final day began with a panel discussion about services for a
population that is growing in public and private facilities-individual
with problematic sexual histories and behavior. John Finn of New York
described both etiology and treatment for sexual offenders, including
those with violent histories. Jerry Rea described the research and risk
assessment protocols being developed at Parsons State Hospital and Training
Center, including use of relapse prevention probes and GPS-based technology
tied in with portable penile plethysmograph. Ted Williams of South Dakota
described a partnership between the South Dakota Developmental Center and a
private provider agency that teams staff of both facilities to develop
community treatment and living options. Janel Meier and Mike Davis from
Iowa described how the Woodward Resource Center provides both facility-based
and community supported services to this population.
Then Bob Prouty of the Institute on Community Integration at the
University of Minnesota reported on the findings of the biennial National
Survey of Public Residential Facilities. He provided information on
utilization trends, closure rates, and growth of HCBS Waiver along with
reduction in utilization of both public and private ICF/MR services
And, if those presentations weren't enough, there were opportunities to
tour a local service provider and to enjoy the networking available
through the annual golf scramble, and to learn from exhibitors about
services, equipment, and supplies that will help us meet the needs of
the people we serve.
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