• April 21, 2010 - Mental Health Association of Connecticut, Inc. sponsors a discussion forum for managerial and clinical leaders in the afternoon following The Donaghue Foundation 2010 Conference.  Click here to see the conference flyer.

• November 3, 2009 - Click here to view a cover letter to become a Child FIRST Replication Site, Click here to view the full application to be a Child FIRST Replication Site

• CCPA Comments on Draft White Paper - Behavioral Health Services for Children & Families:  A Framework for Planning , Management and Evaluation - Click here to view the document, 11/2/09

• DCF ISSUES DRAFT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES WHITE PAPER

   

  DCF has issued a draft white paper:  “Behavioral Health Services for Children & Families:  A Framework for Planning, Management and Evaluation.”  The CCPA Children’s Mental Health & Substance Abuse Division will discussing a process for commenting on the document at the upcoming Division meeting on October 13.  DCF is seeking feedback by October 30.

   

  Follow these links to read the cover memo and 125 page white paper: 

   

• Cover Memo for White Paper on Behavioral Health Services for Children and Families:  A Framework for Planning, Management and Evaluation, September 30, 2009

   

  www.ccpa-inc.org/documents/Cover%20memo%20on%20White%20Paper.pdf       

   

   

  White Paper on Behavioral Health Services for Children and Families:  A Framework for Planning, Management and Evaluation, September 30, 2009

   

  www.ccpa-inc.org/documents/BH%20Services%20for%20Children%20and%20Families%20White%20Paper%209-30-09.pdf

• 10/13/2009 - Children's Mental Health & Substance Abuse Meeting - The next meeting will be held October 13, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. at   Click here for agenda and other updates.

• 9/29/09 - Special Meetings on Medicaid Audits and Electronic Health Record/Health Information Technology - Plus - Other Updates ~ CCPA is holding a special meeting for members of the Children's Mental Health & Substance Abuse and Adult Behavioral Health Divisions on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. - Noon to develop comments on the proposed DSS Behavioral Health Clinic regulations.  Click here for further information and other updates .                               

• Communications with DCF about Center for Effective Practice Clinic Survey ~ Dr. Bert Plant will be joining us at the March 10, 2009 Division meeting to discuss the status of the clinic survey conducted by the Connecticut Center for Effective Practice.  A number of members of the Division had raised concerns at the February meeting about the length of time it was taking to complete the survey.

  According to Dr. Plant, since the survey results were due at the end of January, the survey is effectively completed.  CCEP’s contract has not been extended past February 28 but they will be analyzing those surveys that they have received.

  The following is an excerpt from my email communications with Dr. Plant:

  2/18/09:  From Bert:  I have confirmed that the completed surveys were due 1/31/09 at the latest and this was clearly communicated to all so I don’t think others should be working on this.  In addition, CCEP will be finishing out the project as planned and will have the opportunity to review and summarize the surveys as well as billing data, results of sight visits and focus groups.

• Joint Planning Committee Raises Multiple Issues with DCF/ Responses from DCF ~ DCF Chief of Staff Karl Kemper responded to discussion that occurred at the February 10, 2009 Joint Planning Committee meeting in an email to me dated 2/25/09:

  Reopening of Contracts in the face of budgetary constraints:

  Karl:  Regarding a process to follow in the event that providers face such budgetary constraints that they need to request re-opening their contracts, we discussed this in last weeks Executive Management Meeting.  Try as we might, we could not come up with a single uniform process that would incorporate all of the potential scenarios.  I think that unfortunately, we'll need to stay with the current process of providers individually contacting Judi Jordan in our Contracts Division to begin the discussion.  Judi or her designee will need to pull the various DCF leads together to consider service delivery implications of what the provider is proposing.  To the extent that a proposal pertains to programs with a uniform scope of service, then the discussion will become more complicated and would entail considering how many providers of the particular program were similarly situated due to fiscal considerations and whether the program as whole could be altered without compromising individual/family outcomes and/or access to service.  The work, at least in the early going will be more art than science, and while I appreciate the potential efficiencies of well-defined processes, it's likely that we need some experience before we try and promulgate process.

  DCF Procurement Schedule:

  Karl:  Regarding our procurement schedule, my understanding is that OPM as provided some greater clarity of the definition of "indefinite moratorium".  We will review it today in Executive Management and Greg or Judi will get in touch with you about our near term (through SFY 10 procurement plan) and the steps we will subsequently take to accommodate the updated guidance from OPM in our full re-procurement plan.

  DMV Student Transportation Issues (relating to EDT, group home, RTF):

  Karl:  Last is the DMV issue.  Stuart Greenbaum sent an e-mail reinforcing the additional consideration pertaining to EDT providers that he mentioned during our meeting.  As noted previously the Director of our Legal Division, Barbara Claire, has been in touch with Comm. Ward's designee from DMV.  She will make sure that he is also aware of the EDT concern.  As of earlier this week I received information that DMV has isolated the exact statutory language that is a problem and they plan to meet with their legislative co chairs to discuss whether it's best to offer a new bill or as an amendment to something else.  I don't know DMV's legislative liaison, but I bet you do.  I think it would be useful to have us work directly with DMV and for you and perhaps Ron Cretaro to connect with DMV's legislative lead.

  Status of DCF Reorganization:

  Terry’s Comment:  Joint Planning Committee members also discussed DCF plans for reorganization.  Those plans have been put on hold pending early retirement and other state agency budget matters.

• Public Hearing on Certificate of Need Bill Set for February 27 ~ The Public Health Committee will be hearing testimony on S.B. 980  An Act Concerning Certificates of Need on Friday, February 27.  This bill is OHCA’s proposed legislation.

   

  CCPA, CLOC and CT Nonprofits had proposed legislation that would have exempted DCF funded or licensed agencies from CON, however the Public Health Committee chairs decided to “run” the OHCA bill and bring all parties together after the public hearing to try to reach consensus on a way that OHCA can meet its statutory obligations while addressing the heavy mandate that OHCA jurisdiction places on private providers.

• Appropriations Human Services Subcommittee Reviews DCF Budget ~ Following the large public hearings on the DCF, DSS and other state agency budgets, the legislative subcommittees of the Appropriations Committee have been focusing in detail on the DCF and other budgets.

On February 18, 2009 DCF made a presentation to the Subcommittee focusing on Results Based Accountability (RBA).  This budget approach is in high favor with legislative leadership. 

On February 24, 2009 the Human Services Subcommittee reviewed an extensive array of materials.  Please email swoolley@ccpa-inc.org if you would like copies of these items:

Description of intensive in-home models

Summary of Assessment Tools Utilized in Case Decision Making

Riverview budget – detailed cost centers

Riverview employees – staff by name and annual pay

DCF organization chart with direct reports and breakout of staff positions in offices

There were several lines of questioning at the February 24, 2009 Human Services Subcommittee meeting that have arisen in similar forums:

• If DCF has a reduction in supportive housing for families, what will happen to the growing waiting list for services (1,000 families)?
• If DCF closes High Meadows, how will the children be better served in other community locations?
• DCF operates many levels of care – explain the distinctions between and among them
• Why are children served in RTFs being arrested?  What triggers the arrests?  Is this DCF policy?  Private provider policy?  What are the needs of these children?

• Response to CCPA/ DCF Joint Planning Committee Discussion on DMV Issues ~ At the November 12, 2008 Joint Planning Committee meeting, attendees asked Karl Kemper, Chief of Program Operations to provide an update on DCF/DMV communications regarding licensing and vehicle requirements for “transporting students” as they affect RTFs, EDT, group homes, other LOC.

  Mr. Kemper responded in a January 20 email:

  As for DMV, the Commissioners have spoken and the Director of our Legal Division has been in touch with DMV's attorney to look at the statute and regulation.  There appear to be some incongruent statutory language that DMV is in the process of considering for potential resolution.  In the interim, if any providers receive citations regarding incorrect license amendments, please have them brought to my attention with the specific details immediately, and we will contact DMV on a case by case basis.

  Mr. Kemper had discussed 4E funding for training through “Fostering Connections.”  We had asked for additional information:

  As for the training component of Fostering Connections, we have an internal workgroup at work on the details including amending our IV-E State Plan, a necessary precursor to changing the revenue claiming process.   Our training academy is represented in our workgroup.  As details develop, I'll keep you informed.  However, even at this juncture the majority of the classes offered do not preclude attendance by providers.  If there are questions about attendance, please have them contact Jodi Hill-Lilly.

• Contract changes relating to EMPS, Care Coordination and Enhanced Care Coordination ~ The CCPA Children’s Mental Health & Substance Abuse Division met with Bert Plant and Judi Jordan on January 13.  Following that meeting Dr. Plant and Ms. Jordan provided the following response to our follow-up questions.

• CBHAC Sponsors Event at LOB 2/6/09 ~ Community Providers are invited to a presentation/ discussion at the Legislative Office Building, Hearing Room 1B, from 9-12 on Friday, February 6, 2009 sponsored by CBHAC.

  The goal of the meeting is for attendees to become better educated on the impact the proposed budget cuts will have on children and families with behavioral health needs.  CBHAC has invited the 25 Community Collaboratives, as well as many advocacy groups, to attend the meeting.

  Elaine Zimmerman from the Commission on Children will be presenting on the impact on children and families during a recession and, more specifically, how the Governor’s proposed budget will further impact them.  There may be additional parent and other panel discussions.

• DSS to Issue Behavioral Health Clinic Regulations ~ DSS will be issuing revisions to its Mental Health Clinic policies within the next six months, rewriting them as Behavioral Health Clinic regulations.  DSS has forwarded a draft of these proposed regulations to DCF for review prior to promulgation in the CT Law Journal.

  These proposed regulations will clarify therapeutic treatment requirements (such as duration of treatment).  The regulations will make demarcations between IOP and EDT services.

• HealthFirst Authority Issues Draft Proposal ~ The HealthFirst Connecticut Authority, charged with examining and evaluating different alternatives for providing Connecticut residents with quality, affordable, and sustainable health care, including a single payer health care system and employer-sponsored health plans, among other tasks, has issued its draft final report to the General Assembly.

Margaret Flinter, VP/ Clinical Director at Community Health Center, Inc. co-chairs the Authority.  Jody Rowell, Advocate at Clifford Beers Guidance Clinic recently joined the State-wide Primary Care Access Authority representing CCPA.

• OHCA Legislative Option Would Require CON for RTFS ~ The first priority legislative option submitted by the Office of Healthcare Access would require Residential Treatment Facilities to go through the CON process rather than receiving the waiver authority that other residential facilities and nonprofit providers receive for many services. 

  CCPA is working with the Children’s League on this issue.  CLOC is proposing language that would exempt:  “congregate care programs licensed and operational prior to January 1, 2009” if this meets the need of CCPA members.

  View the full proposal here.

• Legislative Hearing and Public Hearing about DCF ~ Terry Edelstein, President/CEO, CCPA submitted testimony on 12/18 on behalf of CCPA related to the DCF public hearings called by the Human Services Committee and Select Committee on Children.  She addressed issues including access to DCF, re-procurement, behavioral health service delivery and funding concerns.  Read the full testimony here.  You can watch the hearing recorded by CTN here.  Terry Edelstein's testimony is at 1 hour 3 minutes.

10/20/08--Select Committee on Children and the Human Services Committee held a Joint Investigative Hearing on the Department of Children and Families ~ Click here for the agenda, or visit our legislative page to view the testimony of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal; OPM Secretary Robert Genuario; Commissioner Susan Hamilton, DCF; and Child Advocate Jeanne Milstein.

Other documents from the hearing:

• DCF Legislative Briefing Booklet

• DCF Organization Chart
• DCF Progress Report

You can watch the hearing recorded by CTN here.

• Joint Planning and Operations Work Group 2009 ~ Volunteer forms to serve on Joint Planning Committee and Operations Work Group

Documents

Please click below to access important documents related to the Children's Mental Health & Substance Abuse Division: