Below are a few upcoming webinars and virtual events from our federal partners that address the experiences of the direct support professionals workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, housing supportive services, and supporting youth with disabilities transitioning out of foster care.

The Impact of the Pandemic on Direct Support Professionals

Wednesday, August 11, 1:30 - 3:00 PM ET

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This training will explore the Direct Support Professional’s (DSP) experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through information gathered through the National Core Indicators (NCI) Staff Stability Survey, the presentation will highlight current research on the DSP workforce gathered before and during the pandemic. Information will be presented regarding the DSP workforce nationally and its growth and importance to those needing long-term services and supports. Results from two national surveys conducted with DSPs during the pandemic will be shared reflecting the impacts the pandemic has had on individual DSPs. Finally, the training will share the personal stories of six DSPs as they navigated the pandemic. This training is hosted by CMS' Centers for Medicaid and CHIP Services, Division of Long Term Services and Supports.

CMS-Medicaid Resources for Housing Supportive Services

Thursday, August 12, 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET

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This session is part of a HUD webinar series that will introduce Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), Continuum of Care programs, and other housing stakeholders to opportunities through HHS to fund and provide housing-related supports and services that can be coordinated with HUD housing assistance for people experiencing, or at-risk of, homelessness, including the 70,000 Emergency Housing Vouchers awarded by HUD to PHAs through the American Rescue Plan.

The webinar series also includes a webinar on August 16 which will cover housing-related resources from HHS' Administration for Children and Families.

Supporting Youth with Disabilities Transitioning Out of Foster Care Summit

Wednesday, August 18 - Thursday, August 19

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CMS invites you to attend Supporting Youth with Disabilities Transitioning Out of Foster Care – a two-day virtual summit to share promising practices and collaborate on solutions for addressing challenges faced by state Medicaid agencies and their partners in supporting youth with disabilities transitioning out of foster care. This summit is open to the public and will focus on strategies for state Medicaid agencies and their partner agencies. Topics covered during the summit include continuity of care, continuity of Medicaid coverage, socio-cultural supports, and employment.

Lessons Learned from the Advancing Housing-Related Supports for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders State Medicaid Learning Collaborative

Thursday, August 19, 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET

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Section 1018 of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (also known as the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act) authorized the Secretary of Health and Human Services to “provide technical assistance and support to States regarding the development and expansion of innovative state strategies to provide Housing-Related Supports and Services and care coordination services under Medicaid to individuals with substance use disorders.” This CMS webinar will focus on key activities and lessons learned from states that are working to develop and expand innovative strategies to provide housing-related supports for Medicaid beneficiaries with substance use disorders.