My first foray into the field of community-based services was when my wife and I got a job in a group home for six people with intellectual disabilities. It was January of 1983, and it was also a crash course in the service system – as it was then – and really into a new and different culture. All those years ago workforce and staffing were among our most primary challenges. We often worked six days a week because we could not find the additional staff we needed. In the ensuing 38 years services have changed dramatically, but our workforce challenges have remained.
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Governor Reynolds signed Executive Order 8 launching a new Child Care Task Force to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the child care shortage and barrier to work in Iowa. Mary Janssen, Regional Director for CCR&R of NE Iowa, has been named to this task force.
With the election nearing, we wanted to interview an EPI employee who spent some time as an election poll worker. See what she had to share on how she started this journey, what ways you can vote, and what to expect.
As a society we need to be critically invested in making sure organizations like EPI stay healthy for the people they support. We must continue to share their stories and tell our lawmakers they can no longer overlook people with disabilities and the critical services they rely upon.
I have been following The Courier's COVID-19 coverage and want to share the story of invisible but essential workers who are providing care and support for our neighbors with disabilities during this crisis.
Dan Levi, EPI board member and owner of Levi Architecture, was recently invited to speak in Washington, D.C. about the Black Hawk Country Child Care Coalition.
Learn about the comprehensive data tool that examines how well state Medicaid programs are serving residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing an annual ranking throughout all 50 states.
While voting at the polls can present challenges to some people we serve, it is our duty to make sure they can still do so.
Making sure everyone is registered to vote is the first step. Everyone must be registered by October 27.
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) is causing a lot of uncertainty among people with disabilities and the providers of supports and services on which they rely. The good news is that you can be part of the solution in one easy step!
Earlier this year, U.S. House of Representatives voted to set back accessibility for Americans with disabilities by decades with the passage of HR 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act.
EPI has recently been mentioned in an article published by the Des Moines Register.
Speak up for Medicaid. Link inside this blog to send an email directly to your Senators! Full Senate vote could happen soon - expected the week of the 27.
IA Health Link Announces AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa Inc. is withdrawing from the IA Health Link managed care program.
Things are heating up in Washington around Medicaid once again. Your help is needed. The next few days are critical. Please read and take action (it will take just a few minutes of your time but could make a big difference for the people we serve).