September 3, 2008

Secretary Bigby and the Governor's Office have approved the attached Community First Olmstead Plan. It contains a few changes since your last review, but these do not substantively change the commitment, direction, outcomes or timeframes of our work.  "Community First" continues to be one of the Secretary’s top priorities, and she is looking forward to facilitating the developments you have identified.  An accountability plan has been developed so that we will have reliable mechanisms for tracking progress with the activities in the implementation plan. 

Community education forums are being scheduled for September and October in three or four locations around the state. We will be looking to the public process workgroup to lead the design and management of those events, and also hope that as many of you as possible will join us.

Thanks again for all the great work that has brought us this far.  Congratulations on having an Olmstead Plan in place! 

Sincerely,

Jean McGuire                                                        Community First Olmstead Plan

Assistant Secretary

Tom Dehner

Medicaid Director

Mike Festa

EOEA Secretary