This series of events, called HOMEtown Conversations is part of the Hope and Opportunity in Many Environments (HOME) initiative to redesign Iowa’s Medicaid waiver system.
The sessions will take place in-person and virtually, in communities across Iowa in October and November. Iowans who wish to share feedback to improve the state’s community-based services are encouraged to attend.
Community-based services allow older Iowans and people with disabilities to receive care in their homes and communities rather than in an institution.
The focus of these sessions is to hear from Iowans who use community-based services, caregivers, advocates, service providers, case managers, and others. These invested Iowans will also hear from Medicaid leadership about the goals of the HOME initiative and updates about recent accomplishments and upcoming activities.
“Since the start of the HOME initiative, we’ve made seeking the input of Iowans a key priority in informing the direction, and we are excited to continue that commitment through our upcoming community conversations,” said Iowa Medicaid Director Elizabeth Matney. “We are looking to Iowans with experience navigating these services to help us make the right decisions and guide how we move forward.”
The HOME initiative began in late 2022 with a collaboration between partners at Mathematica and the Harkin Institute who evaluated Iowa’s community-based services and published an evaluation outlining recommendations for how Iowa can improve services. Using the recommendations in the evaluation, HHS created a transformation plan to guide next steps and implement suggested improvements.
This series of events, called HOMEtown Conversations is part of the Hope and Opportunity in Many Environments (HOME) initiative to redesign Iowa’s Medicaid waiver system.
The sessions will take place in-person and virtually, in communities across Iowa in October and November. Iowans who wish to share feedback to improve the state’s community-based services are encouraged to attend.
Community-based services allow older Iowans and people with disabilities to receive care in their homes and communities rather than in an institution.
The focus of these sessions is to hear from Iowans who use community-based services, caregivers, advocates, service providers, case managers, and others. These invested Iowans will also hear from Medicaid leadership about the goals of the HOME initiative and updates about recent accomplishments and upcoming activities.
“Since the start of the HOME initiative, we’ve made seeking the input of Iowans a key priority in informing the direction, and we are excited to continue that commitment through our upcoming community conversations,” said Iowa Medicaid Director Elizabeth Matney. “We are looking to Iowans with experience navigating these services to help us make the right decisions and guide how we move forward.”
The HOME initiative began in late 2022 with a collaboration between partners at Mathematica and the Harkin Institute who evaluated Iowa’s community-based services and published an evaluation outlining recommendations for how Iowa can improve services. Using the recommendations in the evaluation, HHS created a transformation plan to guide next steps and implement suggested improvements.
Positive Discipline (Approved for foster parent credit)
Parents often say guidance and discipline is their number one concern. This workshop will
help you see positive discipline as an opportunity to build positive parent-child relationships.
Learn about the difference between discipline and punishment and strategies for positive
discipline, including Stop. Breathe. Talk.
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Register online: https://go.iastate.edu/GTFUGH
Children’s Ages and Parenting Stages
Just like our kids grow through different ages, we go through stages as parents, too! Learn
about those stages, your child’s development, and tips for adapting your parenting to your
child’s age and abilities.
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Register online: https://go.iastate.edu/I7Z6VP
Understanding Temperament
Every child is unique, and their individual temperament is one of the biggest reasons why!
This workshop will introduce you to the individual temperament traits and offer an opportunity
to explore how your child’s temperament can impact their feelings and behaviors.
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Register online: https://go.iastate.edu/GQZDEV
Understanding Research and Reality (Approved for foster parent credit)
How can parents use research to help inform the realities of parenting? Learn about how
parenting realities are different and discover helpful parenting tools and techniques.
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Register online: https://go.iastate.edu/ZPETWG
Join this webinar to:
How do multilingualism/biculturalism, familismo, personalismo, and respeto, help develop and foster strong cultural identities for our children? How do we create pathways that build on the strengths of our children and families?
Join us as we create a Latinx parent community of mutual learning and support.
What does mental health mean for our Latinx babies and young children? What does it look like, and what makes it happen? How do we create safe and nurturing spaces in our families to support social and emotional well-being and children’s mental health? How might the COVID-19 pandemic, other community-wide events, and our children’s cultural identities come together to impact our children’s emotional health?
Join us as we create a Latinx parent community of mutual learning and support.
