Cluster Updates

Hello Everyone!

It is amazing 3 months have passed! Here are some updates for Cluster C:

Staff Announcements:
*Kimberly James has been promoted to Lead IC/SC/Program Manager for Cluster C. Please feel free to contact Kim with any questions! Her email is kjames@awsusa.com
*Shelly Stuckey had her baby boy on June 17th! Mom and baby are well!

Provider Progress Report Distribution (NEW Cluster Policy):
To align with state policy, effective with July progress reports, providers are responsible for emailing reports to ALL members of the IFSP team. Providers may send to all team members in the same email. For example, if a child receives DT, OT, and PT services: the DT emails his/her report to the SC, OT, and PT; the OT emails his/her report to the SC, PT, and DT; the PT emails his/her report to the SC, OT, and DT.

As always, the provider is responsible for reviewing and providing a copy of his/her report with the family. Also, the SC will submit all received reports to the SPOE for the EI record.

Provider Progress Report Due Date Reminder:
As a reminder, reports are due to the entire IFSP team by the 1st of the month of the 3rd, 5th, 9th, and 11th month of the IFSP. For example, if the IFSP date is 6/20/10; the reports are due 9/1, 11/1, 3/1, 5/1. Submitting timely reports is a requirement of your provider contract. As part of our LPCC contract guidelines, we will begin to monitor this more closely and contact providers who are out of compliance.

Service Start Date (SSD):
It is a federal requirement that ALL IFSP services begin within 30 days of the service start date. Please notify the SC of your SSD after your 1st visit upon a new authorization (initial IFSP, 6 mos review, annual review, addition of service).

Matrix:
Please remember to update your matrix at least monthly! Even if you have no changes, please login and "update" so that the last update is within the past 60 days. Again, this is a requirement of your provider contract. As part of our LPCC contract guidelines, we will begin to monitor this more closely. Also, be sure you have a phone #, fax #, and email address listed!

LPCC (Local Planning and Coordinating Council):
The LPCC is looking for parent membership! It is important to have parents' perspectives and voices heard while we consider local program needs. Please email Katie Blosser if you know of a parent who might be interested in this opportunity! Her email is kblosser@awsusa.com

Provider Relations Committee:
We hope to engage the provider community in at least a quarterly activity. To assist with this task and other provider-related topics, we would like volunteers to serve on a Committee with SPOE/LPCC staff. Please email Katie Blosser if you are interested! Her email is kblosser@awsusa.com

Program Name:
Due to some concern about the similarity of Cluster B and Cluster C using "North East Indiana", Cluster C will now be known as First Steps of North Central Indiana. While this is the same program name as Cluster E, AWS is the fiscal agent for both clusters and will ensure that communication between the regions/offices is seamless.


Finally, the SPOE office will be closed on Monday, July 5, 2010, in observance of the July 4th Holiday!

Have a wonderful and safe weekend!