The New Freedom Initiative was announced by President Bush on February 1, 2001, followed up by Executive Order 13217 on June 18, 2001. The initiative is a nationwide effort to remove barriers to community living for people of all ages with disabilities and long-term illnesses.

It represents an important step in working to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to learn and develop skills, engage in productive work, choose where to live and participate in community life.

The Real Choice Systems Change Grants were made available to states to design and implement effective and enduring improvements in community long term support systems.

Your Voice ... Your Choice is a Nursing Facilities Transition Grant that was awarded to Arkansas in 2002. The grant award was for $598,444.

The primary focus of Your Voice ... Your Choice is to divert individuals from nursing facilities by offering them home and community-based services to remain in the community.

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Your Voice ...Your Choice Goals

• Develop a working model for a diversionary process from nursing homes.
  
• Establish an ombudsman program for individuals who use home and community-based waivers.
  
• Develop a blueprint for interagency collaboration for identifying, developing, and coordinating access to community housing.

An ombudsman (pronounced om-budz-man) is an individual who represents the consumer and assists in solving problems.

Ombudsman Mission

The mission of the HCBS Ombudsman is to act as an advocate for consumers receiving home and community- based waiver services, whether the waiver services are received through a home care agency or are self-directed by the consumer. The Ombudsman will provide information on consumer rights and assistance to help resolve care problems.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What does the HCBS Ombudsman do?

The ombudsman works with waiver participants, families, friends and waiver staff to resolve complaints and difficulties; provides information about rights and procedures; and identifies additional community resources.

2. Who can ask the HCBS Ombudsman for assistance?

Any participant receiving services from a home and community- based waiver can ask for help from the ombudsman as well as a friend or relative of participants, an employee or administrator of a home care agency or
an individual providing services to a participant.

3. When should you contact the ombudsman?

You should contact the ombudsman when there is concern about the care or treatment of a participant receiving waiver services; if you have a question about the services available in the community; when you receive notice that your services are being changed or terminated.

4. Where do I file a complaint?

You may file a complaint by

Calling 1-866-801-3435 (toll-free), by

Emailing your complaint to
Dallas Parks, LSW or by

Writing to:

Dallas Parks, LSW
HCBS Ombudsman
DAAS
PO Box 1437 Slot S530
Little Rock AR 72203-9935

[See link to Ombudsman brochure.]

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Participants of Home and Community Based Services waiver programs have the right to receive written or oral information about rights in advance of receiving services or during the initial assessment visit before the initiation of services, including what to do if the following under-listed participants’ rights are violated.

Participants have:

1. The right to be treated with dignity, worth, and respect.

2. The right to be informed in advance of services provided through the qualified waiver program as well as limitations that could lead to termination of services.

3. The right to be informed in advance of any changes that will be made to services received.

4. The right to choose the agency or individual that will provide your services.

5. The right to have personal information treated in a confidential manner.

6. The right to receive a clear explanation of all the forms that you are asked to sign.

7. The right to participate in the patient assessment and in developing the plan of care.

8. The right to know the name of your case manager and how you can contact him or her.

9. The right to voice complaints and concerns about the services you receive without fear of reprisal.

10. The right to file an appeal if you become ineligible for the program.

11. The right to be free from physical, sexual, and verbal abuse and financial exploitation.

Click HERE to view a brochure on the
Ombudsman for
Home & Community-Based
Waiver Services.

In order to view this file, you will need Acrobat Reader which is available free from the Adobe web site.

Acrobat and the Acrobat logo
are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

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For questions, email (click on name) or call:

Kris Baldwin
(501) 682-8509
for General Questions

Dallas Parks, LSW
for HCBS Ombudsman Questions
(501) 682-8565

Division of Aging and Adult Services
501-682-2441
TDD: 501-682-2443
Fax: 501-682-8155

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