November 13, 2019
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has developed a draft strategy (Powerpoint) to improve the range and flexibility of services for adults in Maine with developmental disabilities and autism.
The draft reviews the historical roots of the current service array, reviews where individuals who receive Section 21 and 29 services are housed, compares Maine to other states, and lays out our "Community 2.0" framework for understanding the primary drivers of an improved system and how to keep Maine people at the center of it. The goal is to support individuals and families with better information and a more flexible array of services over the lifespan, as individuals' needs and goals change over time.
The Department's Office of Aging and Disability Services has begun to discuss this strategy with stakeholder groups and will continue to do so in the coming weeks. We will gather input from individuals, families, advocates and providers to shape this strategy, meaning this draft is a starting point that is intended to evolve.
Comments may be submitted to OADS@maine.gov. Please indicate "Community 2.0" in the subject line.