New programs or existing programs?

When budget times are tough, should we expand programming to include new people? Should we create new programs to help new people? Or should we fund programs that exist that are getting severely cut?

What do you think?

HHS budget efficiencies

Where would you look? Contracts? Field offices? Mental Health Institutes? Resource Centers? Other?

State Government Reorganization

It is a large bill covering a lot of topics. What do you think?

DHS reorganization

The first part of the plan is to go from 8 service areas to 5. Could this be a way to make DHS more efficient?

State Audits

Did you know there are over 25 different types of audits that any human service providers can undergo in the state? Several of them are from Medicaid on different issues at different times. Is there a way to make this process more efficient?

Open Thread- suggestions for discussion

This week I have had many meetings with providers. One request is to add topics to my discussion board about inefficiencies in system processes.

One of these inefficiencies came from 7 words being added to the state code. From those words, multiple employees have to work many hours to track trips to and from work for their consumers. It seems simple, but the waste involved in such a simple request is amazing. And, better yet, it is not a federal requirement.

Issues like these are exactly what I would like us to discuss here. I look forward to your suggestions.

How much Accreditation is enough?

I had two comments on accreditation for state schools and community colleges.

Is there a way to simplify the process?

Paperwork and more Paperwork

The biggest complaint I get from persons working with children and families is the amount of paperwork. As a therapist, I was paid for the time I was with clients and not for when I was working on paperwork.

Options for reducing paperwork?

Why do we do it this way?

The idea for this blog came to me when thinking about all the things we do in Iowa because of Government rules and regulations.  Some times we are told that things are a federal mandate. Other times we are informed the state has legislated a certain act. Upon investigation, many times things could be changed. They have just “always been done like way.”  This is a place to list the most inefficient parts of our lives in Iowa. My goal will be to investigate which can be changed or made more simple.  Most times simple equals more cost effective.

As Ideas are submitted, I will make each into a separate blog post. The goal is to get Iowans to share their ideas about “why do we do it this way?”

A special thanks to Delaine Peterson of the ARC of East Central Iowa for the blog title!  Happy posting!.