Planning for Future Care and Services
ASAH[1] and ABCD Take the First Steps
The switch from contract-based services to Fee for Service (FFS) brought both increased individual choice and provider risk. The free market has required providers to anticipate service demands based on educated guesswork and their wait list, if they have one. The arrangement is risky, delayed, and inefficient.
Perhaps someday in the future, the Departments of Education and Children and Families (DOE and DCF) will have the opportunity to work with the Department of Human Services (DHS) give providers the tools with which to plan for individuals with IDD transitioning out of the education and children’s system by developing a statewide mechanism to do so. Only the state has access to the full scope of children with IDD peppered throughout our communities, in and out of state and in school’s public, private, and in home. We look forward to the day this data is gathered to help improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our system. Until then, we need information today for tomorrow and the day after.
In this spirit, ABCD partnered with ASAH on the following:
- Changes to the annual ASAH Outcomes Survey for High School Students. The 24/25 survey will show the number of graduates in each county and provide ABCD with a better idea of graduates’ plans for living arrangements and a life in the community.
- Creation of the ASAH ABCD Future Care and Planning Survey for Middle School Students which will begin distribution by ASAH schools during the 24/25 school year.
We thank our thoughtful and forward-looking colleagues at ASAH for working with us to better ensure that we have the right services and support in place for the significant transition into young adulthood, so no one’s goals and dreams need be put on hold.
