Advisories

Other News & Announcements

• A workshop regarding Florida Administrative Code Chapter 65G-14, Qualified Organizations and Waiver Support Coordination Rules, is being held on July 30, 2020, at 1:30 PM EDT. This workshop is being held to provide members of the public with the opportunity to give commentary and input on Chapter 65G-14, which is a new rule chapter that does not have any existing language. The purpose of these rules is to implement a portion of the statutory changes adopted by Chapter 2020-71, Laws of Florida. These rules were published in a Notice of Rule Development on July 15, 2020 in volume 46, issue number 137 of the Florida Administrative Register. Click here if you wish to register for the Chapter 65G-14 Qualified Organizations & Waiver Support Coordination Rule Workshop. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

• Normally, ABLE United team members might have a chance to connect with you at an event or special presentation – and while we can’t be together during this time, there are still ways for us to meet virtually. That’s why ABLE United launched the ABLE at Home campaign as a way to stay in touch while we are apart. Schedule an exclusive webinar with an ABLE United representative specifically designed for your staff or those that you serve. Also, you can watch a 10-minute recorded presentation internally or externally in English and/or Spanish. Both options provide individuals interested in learning more about Florida’s qualified ABLE program with what they need to open an account from home or educate those they serve on the benefits of an account.

• APD is enhancing the Questionnaire for Situational Information (QSI); it will be called the Next Generation QSI (NG-QSI). During the next several months, APD will be conducting field tests on the new protocol. In addition, FSU will be conducting a reliability validity on the data obtained. Based upon the results of the study, refinement of the protocol may be made. APD will hold a series of stakeholder meetings to present the study results. In addition, a replication study will be conducted to further review and confirm that the NG-QSI serves its five purposes:

  • Identify support needs
  • Assess and promote social integration
  • Provide an alert component to help identify concerns to address
  • Help with allocating resources to meet support needs
  • Assist with statewide trend analysis and planning

  The agency’s goal is to begin using the NG-QSI for everyone in 2021.

• Be sure to visit the Bright Expectations website. The site is dedicated to provide resources and information on several developmental disabilities. Pregnant women, health care providers, and families can learn how to help individuals with developmental disabilities through evaluations and intervention services.

• The Disability and Health Program (DHP) is funded by a five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The goals of the program are to include Floridians of all ages with disabilities in all the Department of Health’s programs and activities for health promotion, disease prevention, wellness, and disaster preparedness. The DHP also works with individuals with disabilities, their families, their health care providers, other state agencies, and interested stakeholders to meet its goals. Learn More Here...

• The Agency for Persons with Disabilities is looking for top quality employees. If you are interested, be sure to check out jobs.myflorida.com/go/Agency-for-Persons-with-Disabilities.

• Home Care Rule Update - The federal Department of Labor adopted the Home Care Rule extending minimum wage and overtime protections to most home care workers. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) is responsible for having a process available for any person whose service hours would be reduced as a result of the rule and is at risk of institutionalization. Waiver Support Coordinators must notify APD immediately if they encounter a customer whose service needs are not being met. As part of this process, APD will determine if there are other waiver services which would help the individual remain in the community. APD will continue to monitor this process to ensure that our customers are receiving the care they need.
  

  The legislature will determine if rates will change for the types of services affected by the DOL rule. To learn more visit the DOL website at: //www.dol.gov/whd/homecare.

• If you are an active duty military service member and are interested to learn more about applying for services, please read this PDF for more information on how to apply.