October 1st, 2026
From Twogether Consulting
Hello Everyone!
Hoping everyone is well. It is finally starting to feel like Fall. Temperatures are dropping. Leaves are falling, and rain is here. Flooding is expected in many parts of the state in the next few days, and some places are already experiencing this, so please take care, and again, I stress reviewing your emergency preparedness plans.
Here are some essential emergency preparedness tips for flooding season:
- Register with STEAR (State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registration). It’s free and provides local emergency planners and responders to help with needs in your community.
- Make a plan: Create an emergency plan with your family that includes designated meeting spots and emergency contacts. Make sure everyone knows what to do and practice your plan.
- Build an emergency kit: Prepare an emergency kit with essentials such as non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, first-aid supplies, and any necessary medications. Don’t forget to include supplies for pets.
- Have your individuals build their own “Go-kits”: a change of clothing, favorite item, chargers for cell phone and any for important medical equipment, hand sanitizer…)
- Know Your Neighbors: By knowing your neighbors and building a strong network, you can increase your community’s readiness level in an emergency.
- Stay informed: Keep your cell phone charged or a battery-powered radio to monitor local weather conditions. Sign up for emergency notifications from WarnCentralTexas.org to receive important information during emergencies.
- Protect your property: Secure loose items such as outdoor furniture and garden tools that could become dangerous projectiles during high winds. Keep trees trimmed to prevent damage from falling branches.
- Turn off utilities: Know how to turn off gas, water, and electricity in case of an emergency.
- Check TxDOT for Road Conditions
- Check Evacuation Routes
- Contact 211 for the Emergency Coordinator in your area and other information
- Check Wireless Emergency Alerts
- Flood recovery: Safely check your property and/or automobile for any damage. If you see any damage, take photos for insurance purposes. Be aware of potential scams looking to take advantage of damage from the storm. Work with your insurance representative to find reputable businesses for any needed repairs.
Just a reminder:
Rob Peek is our newest member of the team with Twogether Consulting. Rob has worked in Survey & Certification, Residential Survey, and Utilization Review at HHSC over the last 13 years. He performed utilization reviews of HCS and TxHmL IPCs, trained UR staff, and provided training, technical assistance, and troubleshooting as a subject matter expert (SME) to LIDDA and HCS/TxHmL Provider personnel. Rob recently presented two awesome training webinars this month: “Answers To Frequently Asked Utilization Review (UR)” and “Common Challenges In Justifying Community First Choice (CFC)”. They were incredibly helpful and we appreciate the feedback. If you didn’t get a chance to see them and would like to purchase the recording and the handouts, please contact Meghan Jones at meghanjones.tx@gmail.com. Each session is $50. We will also probably present them again live after the holidays.
Please see “Twogether Consulting Webinar Trainings” below for more information. For a complete copy of the topics on this webinar session, feel free to check out our website calendars on the home page www.twogetherconsulting.com
Featured Upcoming October Disability & Inclusion Events Around Texas:
- AccessAbility fest & abilitySTRONG March
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- Date & Time: Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Conference runs 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM)
- Venue: Travis Park, 300 E. Travis St, San Antonio, TX 78205
- Description: Celebrate the 20th anniversary of AccessAbility fest with a community march, live music, family-friendly activities, and over 100 exhibitors showcasing resources in education, employment, housing, and therapies.
- Cost: Free (RSVP recommended via AccessAbility fest)
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- Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival (Virtual Access)
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- Date & Time: Through Monday, October 5, 2026
- Venue: Online via the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
- Description: Watch independent short films and documentaries celebrating and exploring disability perspectives from home.
- Cost: Sliding scale starting at $5 (Tickets available through the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities Film Festival Page)
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- Free ADA Training in Austin
- Date & Time: October 19, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
- Venue: Manchaca Road Branch Library, Austin, TX (RSVP at AccessVine)
- Description: Informative community training on the Americans with Disabilities Act, featuring complimentary food and drinks
- Date & Time: Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM
- Venue: Lions Club Park (1700 East Stan Schlueter Loop, Killeen, TX)
- Description: An all-abilities kid-friendly outdoor community gathering featuring resources and family fun for Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
- Cost: Free admission
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- Date & Time: Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- Venue: Houston Health Department Southwest Multi-Service Center (6400 High Star Drive, Houston, TX)
- Description: Provides free hearing screenings and brand-new fitted hearing aids for eligible individuals in need.
- Cost: Free (application fees waived for this event).
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- Date & Time: Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- Venue: Brazoria County Fairgrounds (901 South Downing Street, Angleton, TX)
- Description: Dedicated fair day featuring a specialized rodeo, barnyard access, entertainment, and food for children with special needs.
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- Date & Time: Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 11:00 AM
- Venue: Peace Love Autism (502 Mason Street, Tomball, TX)
- Description: A sensory-aware Halloween event with crafts by ARISE FIT, activities with ACES ABA, and community vendors.
- Cost: Free for parents and children under two; $10 vendor spots.
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- Date & Time: Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 1:00 PM
- Venue: Scarborough Renaissance Festival (2511 Farm to Market 66, Waxahachie, TX)
- Description: Features ASL interpretation during select live entertainment and storytelling performances in an accessible enchanted village setting.
- Cost: Discounted tickets available using code
AUTUMNMAGICfor 10% off (Tickets & Info).
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- Date & Time: Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- Venue: Amon Carter Museum of American Art (3501 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX)
- Description: An indoor gallery program with a hands-on, creative art-making experience tailored for families with children on the autism spectrum.
- Cost: Free
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- Date & Time: Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 9:30 AM
- Venue: Crowley Recreation Center (405 South Oak Street, Crowley, TX)
- Description: A support morning focused on fellowship, food, and encouragement for caregivers, hosted by The Center for ASD and Noah’s Ministry.
- Cost: Free (RSVP required due to limited space).
Just a few important items:
HHSC is beginning to require HCS/TxHmL providers with open-ended contracts (those which start with 001 and which HHSC refers to as evergreen contracts) to amend their contracts.
Some of you may have received a letter from HHSC indicating that they needed to renew or amend their contract so HHSC could assign an end date. This has to be done via CAMP which, heretofore, HHSC has stated CAMP was not fully operational and was only to be used for new contracts or renewal of contracts which had an end date. This letter gave providers 5 days to complete the process, or they would be placed on vendor hold and not be able to bill. HHSC later said the 5 days was an error and that one has 120 days. As of now, there has been no training on CAMP or any mailouts of informational letters or FAQs. There has also been no communication about HHSC now requiring all contracts with open-ended dates to now have an end date or information as to the process for securing an end date. There is an extensive backlog of requests for contract amendments, new contracts, and renewal contracts, and because of this, the new CAMP system was intentionally being rolled out slowly. My understanding is that development of training webinars, FAQs, informational letters, etc., regarding CAMP is in process and should be posted soon by HHSC.
Providers do need to have an account in CAMP. It is, however, highly recommended that you do not initiate the process until you receive the generic letter if you have an open-ended contract, as this may only create further delays in the process.
TWOGETHER CONSULTING LIVE TRAINING:
October 2026!
There is still time to sign up. October 2nd, 2026 is the last day of registration
Live In-Person Training: “HCS Care Coordination/Case Management 2-day Training” Location: Down Home Ranch (Elgin, TX) Times: Day 1 (9:30 AM-4:30 PM) Day 2 (9:00 AM-4:00 PM) Date: October 5th and 6th, 2026 Cost: $300/person (includes manual) Presenters: Julie Blacklock & Sheila Hanson
All HCS providers are welcome, and you can book your lodging on-site in some of the DHR cabins if anyone is interested in staying on-site instead of staying at a hotel in town.
Please email booking@downhomeranch.org to book your stay at DHR
For more details and registration, go to the calendar on our home page at: www.twogetherconsulting.com
You can also contact us at info@twogetherconsulting.com if you would like to register for any of the trainings before the info is posted on the site.
Note: Our hourly off-site consultation fee is $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 a consultation or mentoring time, 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.
