Dear Aging and Disability I&R Professionals,

The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) is seeking workshop proposals for the AIRS virtual spring conference. The Request for Proposals for the upcoming AIRS E-Conference — “Envision I&R” (May 12th, 13th and 14th) — closes February 12, 2021. Be sure to submit your workshop ideas for consideration.

The primary audience for the spring conference is directors, managers, supervisors, and everyone and anyone involved in understanding and assembling the “big picture” in all types of I&Rs (Aging/Disabilities, 211, Health, Comprehensive, Blended Crisis/I&R, etc.). This will be a virtual conference via Zoom. AIRS will be holding a second e-conference in September that will be more geared to front-line service.

• February 5, 2020; 3:00–4:30 p.m. Eastern
• Register online

Many CILs are seeking to expand their services by contracting and partnering with health plans, managed care organizations, and other payers. But how do you build these relationships, and why are these contracts important to meeting the needs of the disability community? Join us for a panel discussion with CILs who are leading the way in working with health plans and payers to learn more about how they got to “the table”, what services are of interest to health plans and payers, and about the growth and financial support their CILs have experienced through contracting with health plans and payers.

Registration Fee: This event is free-of-charge.

Dear Aging and Disability I&R Professionals, 

The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) has released the call for proposals for the 2020 Annual Information and Referral (I&R) Training and Education Conference. The annual I&R conference is being held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 7-10, 2020. AIRS is seeking workshops addressing the breadth of I&R service delivery.  

The Aging and Disability conference track offers a unique opportunity to share developments and effective practices in serving older adults, persons with disabilities, and caregivers with I&R colleagues across the country. This track is coordinated by ADvancing States’ I&R Support Center, which strongly encourages aging and disability I&R agencies of all types to review the call for proposals and consider a submission.

• Wednesday, July 31, 2019; 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Eastern
• Register online

Many organizations want to expand their businesses and work with new partners or payers. To do so, an organization must first understand its current financial health, understand the true cost of services and use that information to prepare for contract discussions. Preparing for a contract with a managed care organization is a unique scenario that requires additional consideration and preparation. To be successful, you need to understand your potential payers and partners, develop a value proposition, get in the door, and negotiate a contract that meets both yours and the payers’ needs.

• Thursday, June 20, 2019; 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Eastern
• Register online

Business is inherently risky. To start a business, you have to identify a need, build a plan, invest time and resources and work diligently to make sure that it is successful. The same is true when you manage your business. Nothing stays exactly the same. To improve or adjust to an evolving environment, you may need to change who you work with or how you deliver services. Any modification to how you do business such as development or adjustment to a business strategy involves some level of risk. The trick is to decide what kind and how much risk you can accept in order to move your business forward.