Melanie Bush

This multi-year workforce plan by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services addresses the critical statewide shortage of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) impacting services for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The plan details strategies for improved retention, strategic recruitment, and enhanced training, guided by the 'Educating, Employing, and Elevating' (3E's) framework. Key objectives include building a robust, high-quality DSP workforce, increasing Community Living Support utilization, and improving overall service delivery to the I/DD community.

The meeting commenced with encouragement for advocating for Medicaid expansion to fund services for persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, mental health diagnoses, and elders covered under the Olmstead Plan. Key discussion points involved defining the continuing role of the Advisory, which includes actively participating, reviewing progress on measures and benchmarks, and flagging new opportunities. The implementation approach outlined that involved divisions reporting progress, additional benchmarks, and strategy revisions, with Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) summarizing data. Updates on plan implementation focused on assessing progress, tracking work, and identifying challenges. Stakeholders raised specific concerns regarding data definitions for persons receiving assistive technology, the potential undercounting of persons with disabilities, the need for increased support for Spanish-speaking communities, and tracking the overall need for pre-employment transition services (pre-ETS). Public comment included updates on Medicaid 1915(i) and Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Final Transition Plan public comments, and advocacy regarding Medicaid expansion. Discussion also clarified that the 1915(i) option would be entitlement-based for qualifying individuals and how services would be initiated upon the Tailored Plan launch in December 2022. The meeting concluded with an overview of the Transition to Community Living (TCL) Quality Assurance and Performance (QA/QI) data measurement process, which may be extended to track Olmstead Plan progress.

Key discussion items included a presentation on Disability Benefits 101 (DB 101), an online resource launched in May 2025 to clarify Social Security benefits and healthcare for individuals with disabilities. The Olmstead Quarterly Report for the second quarter of 2025 noted progress on Money Follows the Person, Kinship care, expansion of funding for crisis facilities, the opening of a new behavioral health urgent care facility in Pitt County, increased funding for peer respite, and the start of a new forensic assertive community treatment (FACT) program. The meeting spotlighted the Advanced Direct Support Professional Certification, detailing its launch in partnership with community colleges in Stanley, Asheville Buncombe (AB Tech), and Forsyth Technical, currently offered free of charge. Public comment raised concerns regarding cuts to Medicaid.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' Olmstead Plan is a strategic document addressing the Americans with Disabilities Act's integration mandate to ensure individuals with disabilities receive services in integrated settings. It outlines 11 priorities, including increasing access to home and community-based services, addressing the direct support professional crisis, supporting transitions from segregated settings, promoting competitive integrated employment and housing, closing service gaps, exploring guardianship alternatives, reducing disparities, enhancing input from people with disabilities, and alleviating transportation burdens. The plan aims to strengthen community-based services and supports, guiding the system towards enabling people with disabilities to live fully included and self-determined lives within the community.

This document outlines the proposed 2019-2021 North Carolina Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) State Plan, detailing how the state will facilitate the CSBG program. The plan supports Community Action Agencies in addressing poverty and the needs of low-income individuals, including the homeless, migrants, and the elderly. Key service areas encompass employment, education, financial literacy, housing, nutrition, emergency services, and health. The plan is essential for North Carolina to receive federal CSBG block grant funds.