May 1st, 2026
From Twogether Consulting
Hello Everyone!
This month is Mental Health Awareness Month. Many of your individuals receiving IDD services are dually-diagnosed with IDD or related conditions and MH issues. Finding services for those you serve such as counseling, psychiatrists, behavioral support providers, and even crisis stabilization options, can be very challenging, depending on which part of the state you are located. This is especially true when trying to find services for children. This has become more and more of a problem. I urge you to try to contact your local IDD authorities for assistance in searching for resources. Some of these LIDDA’s provide incredible mental health supports, such as clinics, support groups, behavior therapy providers, transition support teams (for those highly likely to be institutionalized who are transitioning to the community), mobile crisis intervention teams, or they can help point you towards the help you need. You can also contact 211 for resources and call 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. HHSC partnered with UT Health SA to provide supportive training courses: Mental Health Wellness for Individuals with IDD (MHW-IDD): A free training course for supporters of people with IDD. In addition, here are some “Specialized IDD Crisis Services” in Texas.
- Crisis Intervention Specialists (CIS): These specialists work with individuals and families to develop crisis prevention plans and coordinate with Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams (MCOT) for face-to-face assessments.
- Crisis Respite: Short-term therapeutic support provided in-home or at a safe residential facility (like an ICF/IID or group home) when a crisis cannot be stabilized with existing supports.
- Outpatient Biopsychosocial Approach for IDD (OBI): A pilot program at select locations (e.g., The Harris Center, Integral Care, Bluebonnet Trails) that offers specialized outpatient care and case management for people with IDD.
- Transition Support Teams (TST): These regional teams provide psychiatric and behavioral technical assistance for individuals at risk of being admitted to an institution
Other helpful resources and supports are:
- NAMI Texas: Offers free support groups, education, and resources for families and individuals affected by mental illness.
- The Arc of Texas: Provides advocacy and a wide directory of resources specifically for Texans with IDD.
- Disability Rights Texas: Can assist with legal advocacy if an individual’s rights are being violated during a crisis or while seeking care.
Just a few other reminders: Do not forget that STAIRS historical information for cost reporting will not be available anymore after April 30th, 2026. Please don’t wait til the last minute to download your reports or information for 2025. Remember that cost reports are due in May as well. STEPS will replace STAIRS. Lastly, don’t forget Mother’s Day is on May 10th. You definitely don’t want to forget that, or there will be some very upset moms out there, lol!
In addition, new Rules for ISS are being enforced beginning May 1st, 2026, so the “hold harmless” period ends. HHSC presented a webinar on April 30th, 2026, to review the changes. Most likely, a recording will be available for those who missed it within a few weeks.
April 30th webinar. Please review the following provider letter: PL 2026-05 revised New ISS Rules-TAC Title 26 Part I Ch. 559 came out in Feb., 2026.
The recording from “Nursing Documentation & Billable Services (HCS/TxHmL)” and handouts from April 17th, 2026 is now available for those who missed it. Cost is: $65.
Live Training: “Admissions & Post Admission Follow-Up: Best Practices” -April 29th & 30th, 2026 in Austin was CANCELLED. This will probably be rescheduled for Houston later this year. .If you are in need of training on this topic asap, we do have a “mini” version of this session. It is a 3 hr pre-recorded webinar. Feel free to contact us to request the training. If you have any suggestions or questions concerning classes, please email us at info@twogetherconsulting.com.
Here are our May Training dates so far:
TWOGETHER CONSULTING TRAINING:
May 2026 Training! (These classes are posted on our calendars on the website: www.twogetherconsulting.com
Webinar: “Best Practices For The RN: Admissions (HCS/TxHmL)” 10:00 AM-Noon (May 26th, 2026)
Webinar: “Important Policy Updates & Best Practices For ISS Providers” (For DAHS with ISS Only) (For DAHS with ISS Only): 1:00 PM-3:00 PM (May 29th, 2026)
June 2026 Training!
Webinar: “Who, When & How: Completion of The Individual Plan of Care” (HCS) 1:00 PM-3:00 PM (June 2nd, 2026) * Note: This session is not aimed at TxHmL, but we will be discussing the differences between both programs concerning the IPC.
Webinar: “Emergency Plans- Tips For Preparation & Implementation-2026” (HCS/TxHmL/ISS) 12:00 PM-1:30 PM (June 17th, 2026)
Other Upcoming classes in June & July 2026! (to be announced at a later date, please check the website as well)
Free Resource Webinars: Anna Kuth from Daisy Consultants will be one of our guest presenters in June. Anna helps to support individuals with pre-employment transition services and collaborates with partners in their community to help these individuals with their transition. She often works with waiver providers, families, and the individuals themselves to help that person transition smoothly into employment.
Again, I wanted to invite everyone to attend this year’s American Association of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) Texas Chapter’s Annual Convention. This will be our 50th year of the AAIDD Texas Chapter. This year’s convention is “50 Years of Inclusion: Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future.” We are planning to have some amazing presenters, including self-advocates as well as breakout sessions for providers, LIDDA’s, and individuals with IDD, and their families. This year’s convention will take place in Corpus Christi at the Omni Hotel, August 18th-21st, 2026, so please save the date. For a recap of last year’s convention, please click on this link:https://www.aaiddtx.org/2025-convention
Please note that AAIDD members receive a discounted registration rate to the annual AAIDD Texas Chapter convention, so if you would like to join AAIDD, please go to https://www.aaiddtx.org/about for more information and to become a member. This year, we will be giving a free raffle ticket to all newly registered AAIDD members who then register to attend this year’s AAIDD Texas Chapter convention.. You will receive your ticket at the registration table at the convention, August 18th-21st. The raffle ticket is good for a free entry into our “New Membership Raffle” for the drawing to win a prize worth over $200-a Yeti cooler! We will be announcing the prize when registration information for the convention is sent out and posted on the AAIDD Texas Chapter website. We will also be holding a separate raffle for “Current Members” to win 2 fantastic Yeti tumbler cups!
For anyone interested in registration or vendor info, please contact Pat Holder at: patholder@austin.rr.com. Registration and vendor information should be available by the end of April, as well as general topics for breakout sessions and keynote speakers. Stay tuned, and you may also check the website at: https://www.aaiddtx.org/
Note: Our hourly off-site consultation fee has increased to $90/hr. We do offer discounted rates for current clients. We have updated the website concerning this rate change. Feel free to contact us at info@twogetherconsulting.com to request an appointment for consultation, or you can email our administrative assistant, Meghan Jones, to make an appointment at: meghanjones.tx@gmail.com
Please continue to check our website for webinars and live trainings. We will post them on the website “calendar” page
We have a variety of pre-recorded webinar trainings for program managers (HCS), administrators (ICF & ISS), case managers, QIDPs, nurses, and direct care, so feel free to email us at info@twogetherconsulting.com to inquire. Let us know what areas of training you would like, to help us plan future sessions.
Here are just a few of the recent pre-recorded webinar trainings available for purchase: “Admission, Post-Admission & Other Follow-Up Requirements-HCS Program”, ICAPs/LON’s/IDRC’s-ICF Program” (Also have for HCS program), “Development of The Comprehensive Nursing Assessment & Nursing Service Plan-HCS or ICF”, “Best Practices For HCS Providers: How To Remain In Compliance With TAC Ch 565”, “Role & Responsbilities of The Q”, “Surrogate Decision Making Process, Rights Restrictions & Immediate Jeopardy-ICF Program”, “Licensed ISS Providers: What You Really Need To Know.”,
We also have a pre-recorded 5-part Care Coordination/Case Management series, a 4-part Nursing series for HCS, and a 3-part Nursing series for ICF available. These trainings are epecially important for new providers. All these sessions come with handouts as well as the link to the pre-recorded session
Please contact Meghan Jones at: meghanjones.tx@gmail.com. Most of these pre-recorded sessions run $65-$75/person. We can provide the handouts as well as a link to the recording, once you have paid. Please notify Meghan Jones, for payment and to receive the link to registration for the training on “Gotowebinar” and handouts for the session.
Please see our “Updates” section of the website for the latest news for IDD providers.
