Winter Safety Tips            Stay indoors when possible Have several blankets on hand Dress in lightweight layers Wear mittens or gloves, a scarf, and a hat Ensure smoke alarms have working batteries Avoid travel during poor weather If you must travel tell a friend or relative when you plan to return Keep your gas tank full Keep your cell phone fully charged Let faucets drip to avoid frozen pipes Check on pets and ensure they have nonfrozen drinking water 2015 is upon us and we’re only two short months away from the Annual Celebrating the Artist in You Art Show held in Kirksville. County Connections is excited to share that talented artists from across the region will be able to display their work to the public from March 16th-March 29th with the traditional Awards Ceremony slated for Thursday, March 19th from 66:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Kirksville Art Center at 117 S. Franklin Street this year and participants and the public are invited to view the artwork before the ceremony from 4:30-6 p.m. on the 19th. Celebrating the Artist in You Art Show will feature artwork by individuals from the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DD), The Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services (CPS), and the Division of Alcohol & Drug Abuse (ADA). For more information on submitting artwork contact your Support Coordinator or call our main office at (573) 7354282. Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Please welcome our newest team member, Brenda Arp! Brenda has joined the County Connections team as a Support Coordinator and will serve individuals in Knox and Clark counties. She is based out of Shelbina office and can be reached by calling (573) 588-7919 or emailing barp@loqw.com. Welcome, Brenda! Don’t forget to visit us online at: www.countyconnectionstcm.com NEMT is a transportation service for Medicaid/MC+ recipients. NEMT may be able to help you by providing transportation to a doctor’s appointment or for a service that is covered by Medicaid/MC+. The cost is only $3 per trip. To arrange for a ride you must call 1-866-269-5927 at least 3 days before the day of your appointment. You can call this number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When you call for a ride you will need the following information: -Your name, address, phone number, & Medicaid ID number; -The name, address, & phone number of your health care provider; -The date & time of your appointment; -Special needs, such as use of a wheelchair The forum is a unique career leadership training program for individuals with disabilities ages 16-21. Participants are selected from their local communities to cultivate leadership, citizenship, social and career development skills during the leadership conference. This is a life-changing opportunity. The Goals of the Forum:  Develop leadership skills to ensure that all youth with disabilities will realize their full potential  Develop career strategies that increase the youth’s potential for employment  Promote inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society  Participate in policymaking or practices that affect young people with disabilities In March, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule which includes 6 standards that all home and community-based services need to meet. Each standard can be applied to 1 or more of the following key initiatives: Fostering Self-Determination Supporting Families Facilitating Individualized Services & Supports Developing Accessible Housing Promoting Employment First To participate please contact: (573) 751-2600 or 1-800-877-8249 Or visit: http://disability.mo.gov/gcd/ylf.htm The final rule includes 6 standards that all home and community-based services need to meet: 1) Integration into the Community: living and working in neighborhoods which include people without disabilities, having access to personal spending money, having friends in your community, etc. 2) Individual Choice: deciding where you want to live and who lives with you, having privacy in your home, etc. 3) Individual Rights: the right to talk to your friends and family privately and choosing what to do in your home, such as watching TV, listening to the radio, etc. 4) Autonomy: Making choices about how your spend your free time, doing household activities, like laundry, at times that you choose, etc. 5) Choice Regarding Services & Providers: choosing the services your get and who provides those services. 6) Person Centered Planning: choosing people to be on your planning team, having a plan that is accessible to you in a way that you understand, and meeting at times and locations that are convenient for you.