# ![](media/image1.jpeg){width="2.4166666666666665in" height="3.3881944444444443in"}[Instructions for Submitting a proposal]{.smallcaps}

**[About the Conference]{.smallcaps}**

Join us in Boston for the 24^th^ National Home and Community Based
Services Conference, *"The Spirit of Independence"* September 28 through
October 1, 2008 at the Westin Waterfront Hotel.

The National Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA) and the
Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs will convene the
conference with the support of a dynamic national planning committee.
Participants will hear about national trends, federal initiatives, state
policy directions, and local grant programs. Best practices from the
host state of Massachusetts, the broader New England area and the nation
will be featured.

If you administer and operate home and community based service programs
at the national, state, and local levels you won't want to miss this
conference. Join administrators and direct service staff of government,
non-profit, healthcare, and long term care organizations, policymakers,
researchers, educators, county public health and social service
providers, aging and disabilities service providers, housing experts,
consumers of HCBS supports and many others. Here's how to submit your
proposal:

#### [Step 1: Identify the Proposal's Primary Submitter]{.smallcaps}

##### The primary submitter is the individual proposing the session and the person with whom all correspondence will occur. Complete all required fields on the online submission form. Space is provided for up to four additional speakers. A *Submitter and Presenter Responsibilities* page is provided at the end of this document.

##### 

###### [Step 2: Select a Session Title and Write a Session Description]{.smallcaps}

Be concise, creative and descriptive with titles and descriptions. Your
session description should be no more than 200 words and convey
objectives for participants. Please note that conference planners
reserve the right to modify session titles and descriptions as
necessary.

**[Step 3: Select a Conference Track]{.smallcaps}**

Select one of the following eleven learning tracks. An outline of
*Tracks and Suggested Workshop Topics* is provided at the end of this
document to assist you with thinking about potential focus of your
session.

-   Administration

-   Advancing Diversity

-   Approaches to Employment

-   Caregiver Supports

-   Consumer Direction/Self Determination

-   Housing

-   Quality

-   Supports for Community Living

-   Systems Change

-   Technology

-   Transportation

-   Other

**[Step 4: Identify the Session Population Focus]{.smallcaps}**

Select the population focus of your session. Consider one or any
combination of the populations identified.

-   Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)/Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

-   Adults with Physical Disabilities

-   Alzheimer\'s Disease or Related Dementias

-   Autism Spectrum Disorder

-   Children

-   Chronic Medical Conditions

-   Developmental Disabilities

-   Family Caregivers

-   Medically Fragile

-   Mental Illness

-   Older Adults

-   People with HIV/AIDS

-   All of the Above

**[Step 5: Designate a Session Format]{.smallcaps}**

Choose one of the following formats for your session:

-   *Workshop/Symposia:* Concurrent breakout sessions featuring
    presentation(s) on program experience/ideas, promising practices,
    skill building, policies, procedures or other types of training; may
    include research as well as program experience. Sessions should
    include opportunities for audience discussion/questions.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   *Open Forum:* Concurrent breakout sessions designed to promote idea
    exchange and dialogue among participants around a specific topic
    (e.g., CMS, Medicare, disabilities, aging) led by a subject matter
    expert on the specific topic.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   *Poster Session:* Highlights of best practices, research projects,
    and program accomplishments are displayed on poster boards.
    One-on-one and question and answer discussions around the topic
    being presented. Presentations should be formally coordinated and
    printed (e.g., PowerPoint slides, print outs, or similar materials).

**[Proposal Submission and Deadline]{.smallcaps}**

Submit your proposal online at
<https://www.letsmeet.net/forms/nasua_session/nasuases08.htm>

If you require another option for submission, please contact Bernice
Hutchinson at <bhutchinson@nasua.org>. To be considered, all proposals
must be submitted by the deadline and include all information requested
on the proposal submission form. The deadline for proposal submission is
April 14, 2008.

**[Proposal Status Notification]{.smallcaps}**

An e-mail notification of acceptance or denial of a proposal will be
sent to all submitters in May 2008. The acceptance letter will contain
additional details regarding requirements for presenters. Acceptance of
a proposal may be contingent on a presenter's willingness to combine
with another session.

#### [Audio Visual Equipment]{.smallcaps}

A complementary podium with microphone, laptop computer, LCD projector
and screen are provided for all workshop and open forum sessions.
Presenters will be responsible for ordering and paying for any
additional audio-visual or other equipment needed for your session.
Session confirmation materials will include instructions for ordering
and payment.

**[Conference Registration]{.smallcaps}**

All presenters are required to register for the conference and pay the
appropriate registration fee. Registration will not be waived for
presenters. Travel, per diem, and other associated costs are the
responsibility of each presenter.

**[Dates to Remember]{.smallcaps}**

HCBS Conference Dates: September 28 - October 1, 2008

Call for Sessions Deadline: April 14, 2008

Presenter Notification: May 2008

**[Questions?]{.smallcaps}**

Contact the HCBS Conference Staff at the National Association of State
Units on Aging with your questions. For conference session proposals,
contact Bernice Hutchinson, <bhutchinson@nasua.org>. For conference
sponsorship, exhibits and all logistics contact Kimberly Fletcher,
<kfletcher@nasua.org>. To reach the HCBS conference staff by phone,
contact 202-898-2578 and 202-898-2583 to fax materials.

**[Tracks & Suggested Workshop Topics]{.smallcaps}**

We encourage creativity and original ideas on topics of your choice that
fit into any of the eleven designated tracks. Proposals may address
state initiatives, partnership development, coordination and training
that focus on the following population groups: adults with physical
disabilities, children, family caregivers, older persons, Alzheimer's
disease or related dementias, developmental disabilities, persons living
with HIV/AIDS, medically fragile, mental illness, acquired brain injury
(ABI)/traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic medical conditions and
autism spectrum disorder.

Acceptance of a proposal may be contingent on a presenter's willingness
to combine elements of his/her proposal with that of another presenter
and agree to work together to plan the session.

The National HCBS Conference Planning Committee has prepared a list of
suggested workshop topics to assist you with framing your submission,
however you are not limited to these topics.

I.  Consumer Direction/Self Determination

-   Cash and Counseling

-   Defining Consumer Choice

-   Balancing Risk and Choice

-   Risk Assessment

-   Policy Issues

-   Promising Practices, Approaches and Models in Service Delivery

-   Quality Assurance

-   Staff Roles and Responsibilities

-   Training/Technical Supports

-   State Approaches to Resource Allocation

-   Fiscal Management Services

-   Individual Budget Development

-   Role of Representatives in Participant Direction

-   Drafting Agreements Outlining Responsibilities of Individuals and
    Those Who Support Them

-   Thinking Ahead: New and Creative Programs for the Future

-   Young Adults Aging Out of Children's Programs

II. Systems Change/Comprehensive Long Term Care Reform

-   Federal Policy Initiatives

-   Policy Changes

-   Organizational Change

-   State Administration Issues

-   Medicaid Redesign

-   Mega Waivers

-   Consolidating Waiver Programs

-   Coordination Across Systems

-   Chronic Care Management Models

-   Money Follows the Person Initiatives

-   Promising Practices, Approaches and Models in Service Delivery

-   Nursing Home Diversions

-   Nursing Home Transitions

-   Re-Balancing Initiatives

-   Role of Federal, State and Local Systems

-   Role of Consumers and Providers

-   System Integration

-   Aging and Disability Resource Centers

-   Increasing Funding to Support Community Living

III. Supports for Community Living

-   Interventions for Special Populations

-   Preventing Abuse, Exploitation and Neglect

-   Health Promotion/Evidence Based Disease Prevention

-   Serving Persons with Mental Illness

-   Workforce Issues

-   Communicating and Coordinating with Community Medical Providers

-   Disaster Preparedness and Aftermath Response

-   Accessible Infrastructure (curb cuts, parking, ramps, Segway ®
    access)

-   Livable Communities (walkable communities, physical access,
    "visitability")

IV. Housing

-   Integrating Long Term Supports and Housing

-   Medicaid Waivers for Assisted Living

-   Consumer Owned/Consumer Controlled Housing

-   Addressing Accessibility and Affordability

-   Technology/SMART Homes

-   Promising Practices in Design and Approaches

-   Public/Private Partnerships

-   Renovation and Remodeling for Accessibility

-   Transitioning from Nursing Home to Community

-   Reverse Mortgages

V.  Caregiver Supports

-   Training and Technical Supports for Caregivers

-   Innovations in Providing Caregiver Support

-   Supporting Caregivers with Medicaid Waivers

VI. Quality

-   Quality Across Populations

-   Population Specific Quality Approaches

-   Developing Quality Measures

-   Promising Practices in HCBS

-   National Trends, Studies and Surveys

-   New Approaches to Monitoring

-   Consumer Perspectives on Quality

-   Data and Outcome Measures

-   Logic Models/Performance Measures

-   New Annual Cost Reports for Waiver Programs

-   Pay for Performance

-   New Approaches to Assessment

-   Licensure and Certification

VII. Administration

-   The Future of Medicaid

-   Disaster Preparedness and Aftermath Response

-   Medicaid Waiver Application

-   Leadership and Management Skills for Systems Change

-   Data Collection and Reporting

-   Innovative Financing for HCBS

-   Targeting Medicaid Waiver Funds

-   Expanding Medicaid Waiver Services

-   Federal and State Compliance Issues

-   Waiver Innovations

-   Comprehensive Planning Across HCBS Programs

-   Single State Medicaid Administration of Waivers at the Local Level

-   Renewal of Medicare Private Partnership Act

VIII. Technology

-   Innovations in Adaptive, Assistive and Information Technology

-   Using Technology to Advance Quality

-   Funding New Technology

-   Enhancing Access to Information

-   Using Technology to Promote Consumer Independence and Choice

-   Accessible Websites (Federal Requirements and Beyond)

-   Using Technology to Collect, Analyze and Report Data

-   Documentation of Services Delivery for Billing and Auditing Purposes

-   Documenting Service Delivery

IX. Advancing Diversity

-   Defining Diversity

-   Serving Racial, Ethnic and Culturally Diverse Populations

-   Meeting Rural Challenges

-   Examining Needs Across Age Groups

-   Planning Services for Baby Boomers

-   Opportunities to Enhance Services to Diverse Populations (Gay,
    Lesbian, Low Income, Caregivers, People with HIV/AIDS, etc.)

-   Tribal Issues

-   Serving Persons with Mental Illness: Challenges and Opportunities

X.  Approaches to Employment

-   Employment Services and Supports for People with Disabilities

-   Employment for Older Adults

-   Addressing Asset Accumulation

-   Customized Employment

-   Enhancing Employment Using Vocational Rehabilitation Services, PASS,
    TWIAA, etc.

-   Moving from Traditional Employment Programs to Paid Employment

-   Entrepreneurship

XI. Transportation

-   Coordinating Housing with Transportation Services

-   Coordinating Transportation Systems for Elders and Persons with
    Disabilities

-   Transportation as an Essential Component of Community Living

-   Value of Partnerships

-   Transportation Services for "Aging in Place"

-   Development of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

**[Submitter and Presenter Responsibilities]{.smallcaps}**

All presenters are required to register for the conference and pay the
appropriate registration fee. Registration will not be waived for
presenters. Travel, per diem, and other associated costs are the
responsibility of each presenter.

Primary Submitter Responsibilities

The primary submitter is the individual proposing the session on behalf
of a group. Primary submitters must provide complete and accurate
information requested for all proposed presenters. Submitters must
review the presenter responsibilities with each presenter prior to
proposal submission. Following proposal acceptance, the submitter will
be asked to:

-   Notify presenters of proposal acceptance.

-   Contact presenters to confirm their participation.

-   Forward session confirmation materials (provided by the HCBS
    Conference) to presenters.

-   Collect brief biographical sketch from each presenter.

-   Register for the conference.

Presenter Responsibilities

Presenters will be notified of a proposal\'s acceptance by the primary
submitter. Following notification, all presenters will be asked to:

-   Confirm participation with the primary submitter.

-   Review session confirmation materials (provided by the HCBS
    Conference and forwarded to presenter by the session submitter).

-   Provide a brief biographical sketch to the primary submitter.

-   Register for the conference.