Team 3 - PUNS and HCBS Enrollment Recommendations

Quadrant 1: Hi Impact, Low Doability, long term planning. Quadrant 2: Hi Impact, Highly Doable, short term planning.
PUNS UPDATES - Require face-to-face annual updates for those in the emergency category and for those requesting a change from critical to emergency category. If ISC starts an update by phone and determines a change to the emergency category exists, the PUNS update should stop and MUST be completed at a face-to-face meeting. For those individuals with a PUNS in planning or critical categories, the PUNS update may be done by phone, mail, fax, or email as long as the opportunity for a face-to-face meeting was offered to the individual/guardian/family member. INITIAL PUNS COMPLETION-All initial PUNS should be completed face-to-face at the location of the individual/family's choosing.
CLOSING PUNS - Team 3 recommends that a standardized script be developed for phone calls and letters and that the scripts are INITIAL PUNS COMPLETION-Include a standard statement on all forms/letters related to PUNS, "if your address or phone number changes, please let us know."

CLOSING PUNS - Within the revised PUNS manual include specific information regarding who is eligible for PUNS and who is required to be present to complete the PUNS.

* Individuals 12 and older should be encouraged to participate in the PUNS completion meeting. ISC's should reschedule the PUNS meeting if necessary to accommodate attendance by the individual and/or family.

 INITIAL PUNS COMPLETION-Require all PUNS to be signed by individual and/or guardian except for Express PUNS. (Exception-closing PUNS due to being unable to locate individual/guardian.)
PUNS INSTRUMENT REVISION-(A SUBCOMMITTEE TASK)-Create an "Express PUNS" for those individuals who will be served through the crisis process; hence, information will be captured yet it will not be perceived that these individuals are waiting for services. Revise the PUNS tool to contain a checkbox for "Express PUNS" for people who do not need to be selected from PUNS to request funding such as having a crisis funding packet submitted, ICF/DD downsizing, SODC downsizing, DCFS wards aging out, and Bogard class members. Abbreviated information to be completed and guidelines will be included in the PUNS manual revision. INITIAL PUNS COMPLETION-Encourage people to apply for Medicaid during transition planning.
PUNS INSTRUMENT REVISION-(A SUBCOMMITTEE TASK)-Develop a grid such that an urgency of need is attached to each service INITIAL PUNS COMPLETION-Encourage people to apply for SSI once they turn 18.
PUNS INSTRUMENT REVISION-(A SUBCOMMITTEE TASK)-Review service definitions to assure consistency with PUNS & Illinois. (example developmental training/regular work/sheltered employment/CILA/supported living arrangements) PUNS UPDATES-ISC should take primary responsibility for PUNS updates, but this should be a shared responsibility with the family.
PUNS OUTREACH-(A SUBCOMMITTEE TASK)-Use the DHS memo that went out to ISC/PAS executive directors on 7/1/14 as the basis for the plan. PUNS UPDATES-Revise the language in the annual update letter from DHS to be simple, straightforward language. Add a sentence in several foreign languages (Spanish, Polish, etc.) near the bottom of the letter stating if you need interpreter services or the letter in a different language, check the box and mail it to your ISC agency.
PUNS OUTREACH-(A SUBCOMMITTEE TASK)-There needs to be a strong relationship between the local school districts and the local ISC agencies. PUNS UPDATES-Within the update letter, state the number of people who received services last year in order to show that PUNS matters.
PUNS OUTREACH-(A SUBCOMMITTEE TASK)-Cultural concern and issues unique to special populations including autism need to be included in the outreach plan. PUNS UPDATES-Revise the PUNS tool to contain a statement with a check box for the individual/guardian to sign stating a face-to-face meeting was offered (including alternative locations), but they chose to complete the PUNS by telephone, mail, email, or fax.
PUNS OUTREACH-(A SUBCOMMITTEE TASK) - Ensure there are linkages with other agencies for outreach purposes. (e.g. providers, non-traditional providers, Family Support Network, school districts, transition committees etc.) CLOSING PUNS-DHS should send the PUNS update letter 90 days prior to due date.
PUNS TRAINING-DHS should provide ongoing ROCS training to all users of ROCS. CLOSING PUNS-ISC complete 1st phone call or text 60 days prior to PUNS update due date.
PUNS TRAINING-Training plan must be developed for PUNS, once the instrument and manual are revised. CLOSING PUNS-If there is no response and an update session is not scheduled, ISC complete 2nd phone call or text 1-2 weeks following 1st phone call, varying day and time of call.
OTHER-Once the instrument and process are revised, the manual should be significantly revised. CLOSING PUNS-If there is still no response or plan for updating, ISC completes 1st letter or email 45 days prior to PUNS update due date stating that the person's record will be closed if there is no response within 30 days.
CLOSING PUNS-If there is no response, ISC completes 2nd letter or email two weeks after the previous letter stating case will be closed if there is no response in 30 days.
CLOSING PUNS-If there is no response, after 2 weeks of 2nd letter, ISC will close the PUNS.
PUNS INSTRUMENT REVISIONS-(A SUBCOMMITTEE TASK)-Revise the PUNS tool to contain a statement as to whether the individual participated in the PUNS meeting; if not why not.
PUNS OUTREACH-this should be a subcommittee task-Encourage people to apply for Medicaid during transition planning.
PUNS OUTREACH-this should be a subcommittee task-Encourage people to apply for SSI once they turn 18.
Quadrant 3: Low Impact, low Do ability postpone for future consideration. Quadrant 4: Low Impact, Highly Doable, short term planning.
NO RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS QUAD CLOSING PUNS-DHS should update the currently used consent form to include electronic communication and remove the witness signature line.