DDSN Stakeholders’ Listening Sessions Media Advisory Memo (PDF)
Videos of the Sessions will be posted below.
The SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) has scheduled seven “listening” sessions across the state scheduled between Monday, June 14th and Wednesday, June 23rd. The meetings are open to individuals served, families, advocates, providers, and the general public. Each session will be led by the DDSN Commissioner representing the region.
The most immediate issue is to gather stakeholder input to develop a strategy to use the estimated $40 million in funds from the American Rescue Act of 2021 to support Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). These funds can be used to address immediate needs due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as pursue longer-term HCBS delivery system improvements. Information from these listening sessions will also help the Commission shape the use of existing DDSN funding in its upcoming Fiscal Year 22 spending plan, as well as its Fiscal Year 23 legislative budget request.
These meetings can be attended in person or through a web-based Microsoft Teams meeting forum. We will request stakeholders confirm if they intend to attend in-person or virtually because we need to ensure the meeting room has adequate space to still meet COVID-19 social distancing needs.
*** We request that members of the media contact Robb McBurney at Robert.mcburney@ddsn.sc.gov or 803-898-9723 when they register to attend.
The meeting times and locations for the seven (7) sessions are:
Monday, June 14, 2021 @ 1:00 PM
Burton Center – Training Room
2605 Highway 72/221E
Greenwood, SC 29649
(Commissioner Thomas – District 3)
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 @ 2:00 PM
Clarendon County DSN Board
Training Room
312 Pine Street
Manning, SC 29102
(Commissioner Miller – District 6)
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 @ 2:00 PM
Babcock Center
Large Training Room
2725 Banny Jones Avenue
West Columbia, SC 29171
(Commissioner Kocher – District 2)
Friday, June 18, 2021 @ 3:00 PM – (PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE)
Thrive Upstate
Patrick Center Annex Building
Large Training Room
1700 Ridge Road
Greenville, SC 29607
(Commissioner Robin Blackwood – District 4)
Monday, June 21, 2021 @ 3:00 PM
Charleston County DSN Board
Work Activity Center
1375 Remount Road
North Charleston, SC 29406
(Commissioner Malphrus – District 1)
Tuesday, June 22, 2021 @ 10:30 AM
Union Services, Inc.
Workshop Area
737 Industrial Park Road
Union, SC 29379
(Commissioner Lemel – District 5)
Wednesday, June 23, 2021 @ 3:00 PM
MB Wallace Center
1209 E National Cemetery Road
Florence, SC 29506
(Commissioner Rawlinson – District 7)
If you plan to attend, please register here. This will help us properly plan for in-person attendance.
More details on the CMS guidance on using the funds from the American Rescue Act of 2021 to support HCBS.
Thank you in advance for your involvement and input into better serving our individuals.
Listening Session Videos
Listening Session - District 1 Charleston (YouTube)
Listening Session - District 2 West Columbia (YouTube)
Listening Session - District 3 Greenwood (YouTube)
Listening Session - District 4 Greenville (YouTube)
Listening Session - District 5 Union (YouTube)
Listening Session - District 6 Manning (YouTube)
Listening Session - District 7 Florence (YouTube)
