The HCBS Business Acumen Center, administered by the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD), with support from its national partners and with funding provided by the Administration for Community Living, launched the Stories from the Field Contest in March 2018 to collect examples of business strategies used by disability community-based organizations (CBOs) to sustain or grow their community-based business.

This contest was designed to encourage community-based organizations serving people with disabilities to share their experiences building new business relationships, negotiating contracts, and expanding or establishing new lines of business.  [Read more…]

The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) is pleased to announce that state teams from Illinois, Minnesota, and Virginia have been selected to participate in the 2018 – 2019 Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Business Acumen Center Business Development Learning Collaborative. The learning collaborative launched in May at the NASUAD 2018 MLTSS Symposium and Spring Meeting in Philadelphia, PA.

Each state team participating in the learning collaborative is comprised of community-based organizations* (CBO) serving persons with disabilities, state agencies and other related partner organizations. Together, they will evaluate the CBOs business environment and develop and implement business strategies that are designed to strengthen and sustain the CBOs operations. The partners within the state team will support successful implementation of the strategic plan by helping to identify, understand and developing strategies to minimize or alleviate any obstacles.

This effort is led by NASUAD in partnership with seven national organizations and funded through a grant from the Administration for Community Living. To learn more about the resources and opportunities available through the Business Acumen Center, please visit the HCBS Business Acumen Center at hcbsbusinessacumen.org.  [Read more…]

HCBS Business Acumen Center Toolkit – Disability Network Business Strategies: A Roadmap to Financial and Programmatic Sustainability for Community-Based Organizations

Step 1: Prepare. Understand the Business Environment and Your Place within It

The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) is pleased to announce the release of the first module of the HCBS Business Center Toolkit, “Disability Network Business Strategies: A Roadmap to Financial and Programmatic Sustainability for Community-Based Organizations”. This resource is a “how-to’ guide designed to help Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) evaluate, plan, develop and implement strategies to help build and sustain their organizations in various business climates.

The first module, Step 1: Prepare. Understand the Business Environment and Your Place within It provides guidance to CBOs serving people with disabilities on the information, data and people needed to inform the development of their strategic plan. This module will help the CBO identify and/or refine their vision and mission, conduct an environmental scan and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis, and identify champions. This user-friendly resource includes a collection of templates that CBOs and their teams can use to document their findings and ideas.

You can access the first module of the toolkit in PDF or plain text.  [Read more…]

Dear Aging and Disability I&R Professionals,

Earlier this month, we invited aging and disability I&R/A programs to take the 2018 Aging and Disability I&R/A National Survey. Given its comprehensive nature, the deadline to complete the survey has been extended to April 30.

For efficiency and consistency, your agency may wish to coordinate a single response to the survey on behalf of your agency. The I&R Center’s director, Nanette Relave, is available to address questions, offer assistance, and provide the survey in an alternate formats. She can be contacted at 202-898-2578 x305 or nrelave@nasuad.org.

The 2018 Aging and Disability I&R/A National Survey is designed to assess the state of Information and Referral/Assistance (I&R/A) systems serving older adults, persons with disabilities, and caregivers. Findings from the survey will highlight important trends and developments in the provision of I&R/A services as well as innovative practices. The results of the survey will be compiled into a final report and shared with the I&R/A network. This survey is being conducted in partnership with NCIL.

We truly appreciate your time and assistance in completing this survey to increase our collective knowledge and understanding of the delivery of I&R/A to older adults and individuals with disabilities!

The HCBS Business Acumen Center is accepting applications for its second learning collaborative, the Business Development Learning Collaborative. The purpose of the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Business Acumen Business Development Learning Collaborative is to bring together three to five (3-5) state teams comprised of community-based organizations (CBO) serving persons with disabilities, state agencies and other related partner organizations to evaluate their business environment and develop business strategies to strengthen and sustain community-based organizations that serve people with disabilities.

Each team will work together to evaluate the environment that CBOs currently work within, conduct a strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis of their operations, analyze and utilize the combined external and internal data to develop a strategic plan that describes how each disability-focused CBO will maximize reimbursement, diversify payer sources and expand their business portfolio with the goal of long-term sustainability for their operations and meaningful outcomes for the individuals they serve. The partners within the state team will help each CBO identify, understand and develop strategies to minimize or alleviate any obstacles to their success and support implementation of the strategic plan.

Applications are due by Tuesday, April 10, 2018.

Access the application and further information.

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ― Benjamin Franklin

Maneuvering change, developing strategies and implementing solutions can quickly become overwhelming if your organization feels like it is alone in its quest for success. Fortunately most Community Based Organizations (CBOs)* have found that connecting and sharing with other CBOs provides critical information and insight as they seek ways to diversify their organization, develop new payment streams, customize services to a new clientele base, meet contractual obligations or otherwise advance their business.

The Disability Network Business Acumen Learning Collaborative works together to develop and implement business-related strategies to state-specific challenges to integrating long term services and supports and healthcare services. Each state team includes at least one state agency and CBO serving persons with disabilities (physical, intellectual and/or developmental). Most also include an integrated healthcare entity or other organization dedicated to the sustainability of CBOs serving people with disabilities. Working together, they serve as an example for how states, health plans and CBOs can enhance business relationships and develop sustainable business paths.

Join this webinar on February 28, 2018 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Eastern as representatives from Missouri, New Hampshire, New York and Texas describe how they have shared experiences to help each other advance solutions to resolve common issues.  [Read more…]

The results of your Community Based Organizations (CBO)* environmental scan, SWOT analysis and feedback from stakeholders and champions may highlight opportunities for growth and development or a need to respond to a changing environment. The results of your research may indicate that some parts of your operation may need to change. Whether the change is related to improving efficiencies, providing a better or different service, working with different partners or something else, the development of a strategic plan will guide the work that needs to be done. With a well-informed strategic plan in hand, you will work with your team and others to implement the needed changes. This process requires specific attention to ensure that you meet the targets that you have outlined and that the people impacted are informed and engaged in the process.

Join on November 15, 2017 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Eastern as Mark Davis, Executive Director at the Ohio Provider Resource Association and the Center for Epidemiological Research for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities describes how to use the information collected during your environmental scan and SWOT analysis along with the feedback and insight you received from stakeholders and champions to develop and implement your strategic plan.  [Read more…]

Source: NASUAD: National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities

• October 25, 2017; 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Eastern
• Register online

Business Acumen describes an organization’s ability to quickly and keenly understand and address a business situation in a manner that will likely lead to a good outcome. The first step in doing so is in understanding the world around you. As a Community Based Organizations (CBO*) serving people with disabilities, you may be seeking to diversify your payer portfolio or develop your business as a response to a new method of delivery such as a state transition to Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS). To ensure that you are fully informed when you begin, you will need to conduct some background research on the current or anticipated political environment, economic conditions, demographics and changes or opportunities within related organizations. Each of which will help you understand the environment you are in or will be entering.  [Read more…]

The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) is pleased to announce the five state teams selected for participation in the Disability Network Business Acumen Learning Collaborative. This effort is led by NASUAD in partnership with nine national organizations*.

Each of the five state teams includes at least one state agency and community-based organizations (CBO**) serving persons with disabilities (physical, intellectual and/or developmental). Most also include an integrated healthcare entity or other organization dedicated to the sustainability of CBOs serving people with disabilities. The five State teams represent Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York and Texas. 

These teams will work together to develop and implement business-related strategies to state-specific challenges to integrating long term services and supports and healthcare services. Collectively, these teams will share what they learn from their efforts including promising practices that can be used to help other CBOs enhance their current business relationships and diversify their business portfolios. The learning collaborative will launch at the 2017 HCBS Conference being held in Baltimore, MD, August 27 – 31.
[Read more…]

• July 26, 2017; 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Eastern
• Register online

Health plans responsible for Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) not only care about the health and well-being of their members, but they also have a direct goal to help those individuals remain in their homes and communities whenever possible. Community Based Organizations (CBO)* are in a unique position to partner with health plans to successfully manage the services and supports that impact people with disabilities and their social determinants of health, which when properly addressed facilitates positive outcomes for the person served and avoid outcomes that limit their ability to remain in their home and community– things that health plans and CBOs alike want to avoid. Join us on July 26, 2017 from 12:30 – 1:30P Eastern as Kristin Murphy, Director of Market Development with Centene will provide an insider’s look into what health plans seek when partnering with Community Based Organizations.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand what health plans look for when working with CBOs
• Understand how you may maximize your partnerships with health plans
• Understand where CBO and health plan goals align

This one hour webinar is available as part of the Disability Business Acumen Grant provided by the Administration for Community Living to the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities in collaboration with nine national partners*.

Notes:

* CBO is a broad term to describe local organizations that offer community living services and supports to advance the health, well-being, independence, and community participation of people with disabilities and older adults. CBOs include Centers for Independent Living, developmental disability organizations, University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research & Service, behavioral health organizations, Protection and Advocacy Agencies, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, Area Agencies on Aging, aging services organizations, faith-based organizations, Native American tribal organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native Hawaiian), nutrition program providers and other local service providers for persons with disabilities and/or older adults.

** Grant Partners include: American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD), American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD), National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), National Council on Aging (NCOA), National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), Mercer, University of Minnesota – Institute of Community Integration