HHS Community Living Initiative Upcoming Stakeholder Dialogues
From: Henry Claypool, Director, Office on Disability
Re: Community Living Initiative Stakeholder Dialogue
Date: March 29, 2010
On June 22, 2009, the 10th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in the case of Olmstead v. L.C., President Barack Obama launched “The Year of Community Living.” In response, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) established The Community Living Initiative to identify and promote ways to improve access to housing, community supports, and independent living arrangements for individuals with disabilities and older adults.
As part of The Community Living Initiative, HHS is holding dialogues with State and local officials as well as other critical stakeholders with diverse opinions on issues related to community living. These dialogues will help your public officials develop and/or refine their policies and practices to better meet the needs of people with disabilities and older adults, and provide information useful to achieving the goals of the Initiative to improve community living options.
On February 18, the first stakeholder dialogue was held in San Diego, CA.
Upcoming dialogues are scheduled for:
- April 6 in Raleigh, NC
- April 19 in Fairfax County, VA
- May 27 in Boston, MA
These stakeholder dialogues are focused discussions on critical issues related to community living. Federal HHS representatives will hear directly from local stakeholders, and get their ideas for ways to improve community living options for individuals with disabilities and seniors. This open communication is critical to the success of the Community Living Initiative.
More details on the remaining initiative will follow.