External Program Review Committee (EPRC) agenda
Date: 2-4 p.m. April 7, 2022
DSD liaisons: Stacie Enders, Linda Wolford and Ari Dionisopoulos
Type: Whole committee
Location: Remote-only because of the COVID-19 pandemic
Meeting link: https://minnesota.webex.com/minnesota/j.php?MTID=m4979e1ff1145edb3178fc70a84446e64
Access code: 2480 111 4554
Accommodations: If you need an accommodation for this meeting, you must notify a DSD liaison three days before the meeting. Email PositiveSupports@state.mn.us or call (651) 431-4300.
Common acronyms used by the committee
We ask committee members to avoid the use of acronyms. Here are common acronyms:
· BIRF: DHS form 5148: Behavioral Intervention Report Form· CABC: Context, antecedent, behavior, consequence· DEED: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development· DHS: Minnesota Department of Human Services · DLI: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry· DSD: Disability Services Division· DSP: Direct support professional· EUMR: Emergency use of manual restraint· FBA: Functional behavior assessment· HCBS: Home and community-based services· IRP: Interim Review Panel (Predecessor to the EPRC)· MDH: Minnesota Department of Health· PCA: Personal care assistant · PSR: Positive Supports Rule: Minnesota Rule 9544· PSTP: DHS form 6810: Positive Support Transition PlanGeneral reminders for committee members
Before speaking, please state your name. Committee members are expected to:
· Be on time· Read the minutes, agenda and supporting documents before each meeting· Participate in ideas and conversations, as well as pause to allow others to share input· Commit to spending the whole meeting time present and not engage in other activities during the meeting.Technology
The first few minutes of every meeting will be dedicated to addressing any connectivity issues, to ensure everyone can hear other meeting participants.
Agenda items
Public comments
The committee encourages public participants to share their thoughts and ask questions about committee activities at the beginning of each meeting. The committee will continue on to the next agenda item when either 1) 30 minutes have passed or 2) when there are no additional comments or questions, whichever comes first.
Vote
The committee will discuss the minutes from March and vote.
Updates to share
Direct care workforce shortage
· Lead agencies are receiving monthly updates with information for improving access to assistive technology. See March’s announcement here.· There are many legislative proposals currently under consideration to address the workforce shortage. Bills can be viewed and tracked from the Minnesota State Legislature Bill Search and Status webpage. · Several DHS teams are working to translate materials into several other languages, such as staff training materials. · DHS will use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to reach diverse communities and share workforce grant opportunities.· The guide to the different types of direct support professionals continues to be developed. Currently the project team is collecting detailed information about the many different professionals (such as training requirements, applicable statutes, funding mechanisms for their services, etc.), which will be used for cross comparisons. The long-term goal is to use this information to build consistency and stabilization within the workforce. · DHS is hosting several virtual career fair opportunities in April. · DHS is reviewing innovation grant proposals, which include five proposals related to the workforce shortage. · DHS is working to improve workforce communication with people who use services, families and direct support professionals. DHS is developing materials and will post them on webpages or other communication resources specifically directed to those audiences. · New information for providers has been posted on the workforce resources page:o Organizations can request assistance from Direct Support Workforce Solutions which is run by the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration.
o DHS, in coordination with MNSure staff, recently published Guidance for employers on offering health, dental and vision benefits.
o Home and community-based services (HCBS) residential providers are invited to coordinate with DHS during critical workforce shortages.
o Employers can view the DEED Developments Blog for current tips and strategies for recruiting and retaining effective workers. DEED also invites employers to join Workforce Wednesday discussions with strategy consultants.
o Providers may use the following videos developed by DHS for recruitment efforts:
· Human Services Careers in Minnesota – Intro and How to Apply
· Behavioral Health Careers in Minnesota – Intro and How to Apply
o An emergency staffing pool was recently approved by the Legislature and governor. We will post information about this initiative on the resources webpage soon.
Subcommittee updates
Requests for approval subcommittee
· This subcommittee is working with a team to help them understand how to integrate positive support specialist services into the residential provider’s existing service model while contracting out positive support professional services to another provider. Emergency use of manual restraint subcommittee
· This subcommittee continues to provide individual case consultation to dozens of teams. Discussion
· The committee will continue reviewing Fredda Brown’s letter about the committee (they left off on page 6 last month), the committee’s role and how things have changed with COVID-19 and workforce shortage. · The committee will review their 2021 Olmstead report recommendations:o The committee would like to see Technology for Home or similar services available to more people, particularly all people who need additional support with communication. While technology devices alone can be very helpful to some people, for others, use of technology requires ongoing training, follow up and a hands-on approach to determine the right type. Creativity, flexibility and trying different things has been helpful to teams. o The committee would like to see increased access to telehealth and remote supports, as well as training and assistance when needed to address barriers or knowledge gaps of using these types of supports. It may be helpful to providers to explore creative ways of using telehealth, particularly in relation to staffing shortages. Use of remote supports might lessen the need for in-person staff, and might help retain staff that would like the option to occasionally work from home. People should be given opportunities to try out these supports before making a decision, and teams should collect data during that time to see what works and doesn’t work. Some people prefer more independence and engage in fewer interfering behaviors when given opportunities to be independent. o EPRC members will increase their in-person or remote technical assistance with service providers who are using restraint. When determining which approach to take, members will use the least intrusive and most valuable approach to the entire team. o The committee recommends DHS doing what is feasible to build capacity and ensure that qualified professionals are competent to development and implement Positive Support Transition Plans and other relevant support documents. o The committee recommends that DHS look at existing studies, or conduct a study if needed, on barriers that are preventing the development and successful implementation of effective positive behavior supports as they relate to positive support plans. Closing
· Committee members are welcome to share additional information and discuss.· Members are invited to recommend topics for upcoming committee meetings. Upcoming topics include:o Developing guidelines for when committee members should do in-person visits or virtual visitso Annual reviews of the committee’s two manuals and guidelines on safe work practiceso Information on Charting the Life Course, if the committee is interested.
Report this page