Events for Hawaii Waiver Providers
Inclusion Practices: From Onboarding To Boards
The Developmental Disabilities Division, in partnership with The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), will be having free virtual trainings for waiver providers between March and November 2026. Please click here for brief descriptions of the trainings. If you or your staff are interested in attending, the registration links for each training session are included on the flyer and below.
ID/D & Aging: Save the Date
Save the Date: ID/D & Aging Series from Catholic Charities Hawaii
This panel will feature Kathryn Pears and Kathie Bishop on Transitions and Changes in Routine, how it can affect someone aging with IDD with cognitive issues or dementia.
More details TBA
HWPA INSPIRE Provider Portal Discussion Group
HWPA Members and DDD representatives come together each month to troubleshoot and share best practices around the INSPIRE Provider Portal. A Zoom link is shared with confirmed HWPA Members.
These meetings are typically on the 2nd Wednesday of each month but will be held on November 18th due to Veteran’s Day falling on the usual meeting day.
HWPA Membership Meeting
Genevieve Manset, PhD, from the UH Manoa Office of Evaluation and Analytics for Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities will present on the DDD Factbook. We’ll also hear from the DOH DD Division, SAAC, DD Council, and the HWPA Board. Bring your questions and contributions! Zoom link will be shared with HWPA Members.
AI for Strategic Visioning in a Day
This one-day, executive-level experience is designed for CEOs, founders, and senior leaders who want to align their personal leadership brand with their company’s strategic vision — and use AI to rapidly plan what comes next.
HWPA INSPIRE Provider Portal Discussion Group
HWPA Members and DDD representatives come together each month to troubleshoot and share best practices around the INSPIRE Provider Portal. A Zoom link is shared with confirmed HWPA Members.
ID/D & Aging: Save the Date
Save the Date: ID/D & Aging Series from Catholic Charities Hawaii with Kathryn Pears
More details TBA
The Seven Most Important Things to Know about Aging and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD)
Catholic Charities Hawaii (CCH) is offering another Zoom workshop focussing on IDD and Aging topics, including cognitive changes that can occur, the importance of knowing the life history of the person and being able to screen and get an accurate diagnosis for dementia or other causes of memory loss. These workshops are made possible by a grant given to Catholic Charities Hawaii from the U.S. Administration for Community Living/DHHS for the Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative awarded to organizations across the country to increase resources and information to improve the well-being of persons living with dementia or at higher risk for dementia in the community and their caregivers.
Advance Registration is required at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-seven-most-important-things-to-know-about-aging-and-idd-tickets-2003637987156?aff=oddtdtcreator
A Zoom link to join the October 29th workshop will be sent to you upon registering on Eventbrite
Sorry, no CEs are available for this Workshop
For questions about the Webinar or if you have trouble registering on EventBrite, please contact: Jody Mishan, (808) 295-2624
jmishan@hawaii.rr.com
This session will target caregivers and providers for persons aging with IDD, friends & family, neighbors, educators, and advocates who support them. Please share this announcement with anyone who could benefit.
Legislative Fair
Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities Legislative Fair
This legislative fair is intended for people with disabilities, their families, friends and colleagues to meet their district Senator and Representative and help answer questions about their community.
Lunch will be provided. There is no charge to attendees for this event and parking is free.
AI for Strategic Visioning in a Day
This one-day, executive-level experience is designed for CEOs, founders, and senior leaders who want to align their personal leadership brand with their company’s strategic vision — and use AI to rapidly plan what comes next.
State-Level Innovations to Address the Direct Care Workforce Crisis
The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University, in partnership with the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center, is convening a virtual, three-part series in October to address the escalating crisis facing America’s direct care workforce, with a particular focus on home and community-based services (HCBS) and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Support for this series is provided by the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation.
The series will consist of three 90-minute sessions held over three weeks, bringing together leading scholars, policymakers, legislative staff, advocates, self-advocates, and state leaders from across the nation. Together, participants will showcase state-level innovations and technological strategies to strengthen and sustain the direct care workforce, examine challenges and opportunities in supporting people with IDD and their caregivers, and conclude with a focus on broader labor market forces, federal policies, and cross-sector, big-picture solutions to address the workforce crisis.
Using Data to Drive Decision Making
The Developmental Disabilities Division, in partnership with The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), will be having free virtual trainings for waiver providers between March and November 2026. Please click here for brief descriptions of the trainings. If you or your staff are interested in attending, the registration links for each training session are included on the flyer and below.
Smart Infrastructure in Practice
As human services organizations navigate changing regulations, workforce shortages, and growing demands for accountability, having access to the right data at the right time has never been more important. Static reports are no longer enough. Organizations need practical, actionable insights that support better decisions every day.
Join ANCOR Gold Partner Radicle Health as we explore what it takes to build a modern data and intelligence strategy. Drawing on lessons learned from partnering with organizations across the human services sector, we’ll share real-world experiences implementing AI, analytics, and reporting tools that help agencies improve operations, strengthen financial performance, and better support the people they serve. We’ll also go over how each step of an EHR workflow impacts data quality, including UI design, database setup, data pipelines, and the final analytics later.
You’ll leave with practical strategies for how to:
Build organizational buy-in
Create a strong foundation for data-driven decision-making
Position your agency for long-term success in an increasingly complex environment
HWPA Membership Meeting
Every fourth Wednesday at noon, HWPA members are invited to hear from a featured speaker as well as updates from the Developmental Disabilities Division, DD Council, SAAC, and more on Zoom.
August’s featured speaker is TBA
HWPA Administrator Kendra will host and record notes. Zoom link will be provided via email to HWPA members.
DSP Insights on Well-Being, Support and Success
Direct support professionals (DSPs) play a vital role in the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; providing care, connection, and advocacy every day. The emotional demands of this work can take a toll.
In recognition of DSP Appreciation Week next month, join us for a candid roundtable conversation featuring three DSPs with ANCOR membership, and moderated by Arlene Bridges from Relias. Together, they’ll explore what well-being really looks like for DSPs by sharing insights, personal experiences, and practical ways organizations can better support their workforce.
Have a question you'd like our panelists to answer? Share it on the registration form when you sign up, and it may be featured during the live discussion!
Expanding Access to Psychiatric Care Through Technology
Learn how telepsychiatry bridges gaps in behavioral health services by connecting patients with psychiatrists virtually.
This presentation will cover how telepsychiatry works, its clinical benefits, real success stories, and key considerations for provider organizations.
Billing Group Discussion
HWPA’s internal standing meeting for members to share on medicaid billing best practices, problems, tips, tricks, and more.
Zoom link is provided to HWPA members.
The “Right” To An Effective Human Rights Committee
The Developmental Disabilities Division, in partnership with The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), will be having free virtual trainings for waiver providers between March and November 2026. Please click here for brief descriptions of the trainings. If you or your staff are interested in attending, the registration links for each training session are included on the flyer and below.
Provider Monitoring Tool Training
The Developmental Disabilities Division will be hosting virtual trainings in June and July 2026 for waiver provider staff (Service Supervisors and Direct Support Professionals). Registration information will be forthcoming.
HWPA Membership Meeting
Every fourth Wednesday at noon, HWPA members are invited to hear from a featured speaker as well as updates from the Developmental Disabilities Division, DD Council, SAAC, and more on Zoom.
July’s featured speaker is TBA
HWPA Administrator Kendra will host and record notes. Zoom link will be provided via email to HWPA members.
Creating AI Policy
This session positions SETWorks as a leader in responsible AI adoption. Participants will learn how to build practical policies that address ethics, compliance, and staff training—ensuring safe, mission-aligned AI use across their organizations. AI is powerful—but without clear policies, it can also create risk. This session walks participants through the essentials of building an organizational AI policy, including data privacy, ethical use, compliance, and staff training. With practical tips and templates, attendees will leave with a roadmap to draft or refine their own AI policies.
Learning Objectives:
Identify the critical components of a strong AI policy in disability services.
Apply best practices to ensure compliance, ethics, and data security in AI use.
Draft a tailored AI policy outline that can be adapted to your organization.
Community Engagement in Action
Beth Wike, Training Associate at the Institute for Community Inclusion, will discuss the vital role Direct Support Professionals (DSP) play in helping people access and engage in their communities in meaningful ways. With a focus on person-centered thinking and planning, participants will be introduced to practical strategies and tools that support identifying individual interests, strengths, and goals, and translate them into real opportunities for connection, belonging, and participation.
Billing Group Discussion
HWPA’s internal standing meeting for members to share on medicaid billing best practices, problems, tips, tricks, and more.
Zoom link is provided to HWPA members.
AI AND HAWAI'I's WORKFORCE: OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS
Please join the Hawai‘i Workforce Development Council, in collaboration with Imua Onipa’a, for a dialogue on how AI is transforming Hawaii’s key economic sectors. The sessions will also explore workforce risks, emerging skill needs, and the protections required to support workers as AI adoption expands.
HWPA Membership Meeting
Every fourth Wednesday at noon, HWPA members are invited to hear from a featured speaker as well as updates from the Developmental Disabilities Division, DD Council, SAAC, and more on Zoom.
In June, representatives from DD Council will join HWPA to share tips for the upcoming hurricane season and disaster preparedness.
HWPA Administrator Kendra will host and record notes. Zoom link will be provided via email to HWPA members.
Using Appreciative Inquiry to Shift Culture and Spark Transformation
The Developmental Disabilities Division, in partnership with The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), will be having free virtual trainings for waiver providers between March and November 2026. Please click here for brief descriptions of the trainings. If you or your staff are interested in attending, the registration links for each training session are included on the flyer and below.
HWPA Membership Meeting
Every fourth Wednesday at noon, HWPA members are invited to hear from a featured speaker as well as updates from the Developmental Disabilities Division, DD Council, SAAC, and more on Zoom.
For May’s meeting, the featured speaker is Jodi and Jason from People First Communities, who works alongside providers as a real estate partner to help them grow, improve homes and expand into new areas without taking on the real estate themselves.
HWPA Administrator Kendra will host and record notes. Zoom link will be provided via email to HWPA members.
Billing Issues Talk Story
Every second Wednesday at noon, HWPA members are invited to join collaborative ‘talk story’ sessions on Zoom to share concerns, tips, and more about all things Billing.
HWPA Administrator Kendra will host and record notes. Zoom link will be provided via email to HWPA members.
Dementia in Adults with I/DD and Down Syndrome: What to Look for at the Primary Care Visit (3/3)
Join the NTG for a free, three-part webinar series designed for primary care clinicians and allied health professionals supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
This series offers practical, I/DD-informed guidance on recognizing dementia, navigating diagnosis and medical management, and supporting function and safety after diagnosis.
Register for the third and final session using the link below.
Developmental Disabilities & Aging: Planning for Care from Diagnosis to Late-Stage Dementia
Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi is announcing a Zoom webinar to aid staff at Hawaii agencies and organizations as well as family caregivers to learn more about the risk, assessment and care of persons aging with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who may experience cognitive decline or dementia as they age. Registrants will receive the Zoom link to attend after registering on Eventbrite by clicking here. A link to the handouts and email confirmation and reminders will be sent prior to May 7. Presenters include:
Kathryn Pears, MPPM is Chief Operating Officer of the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG), a national nonprofit advancing dementia-capable care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). A recognized leader in the field, she co-chaired the development of NTG’s evidence-informed national curriculum and has led more than 85 trainings across 35 states. With over 40 years of experience, her expertise spans early detection, differential diagnosis, and the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. She previously served as Director of Policy and Programs for the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter. Prior to joining NTG, she served on its Board of Directors and was principal of her consulting firm, Dementia Care Strategies.
Kathleen M. Bishop, PhD brings over 50 years of experience in the IDD field and more than 30 years of specialization in aging with intellectual disability. She holds a B.S. from SUNY Geneseo, an M.S. in Special Education, and a Ph.D. from Syracuse University in Aging and Disabilities. Dr. Bishop is retired from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). She is a former Vice President of the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG) Board of Directors and co-chaired the committee that developed the NTG’s national model training curriculum on intellectual disabilities and dementia. In her personal writing, under the pen name Mary Kathleen McKenna, she is the author of the Women with Wisdom and Pets of Wisdom series. She is currently developing a guidebook on healthy aging for adults with intellectual disabilities
By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:
Describe early signs, risk factors, and unique presentations of dementia in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
Demonstrate application of appropriate screening and assessment strategies, including use of the NTG-EDSD, to support differential diagnosis and early detection
Identify and implement person-centered care approaches across the dementia trajectory, from diagnosis through advanced stages
Through an example of a specific activity of daily living, participants will be able identify how support changes over time to meet the changing needs
DSP Alliance Focus Group
Th Hawaii DSP Alliance is excited to announce its first focus group session.
This initial session will be a chance to connect, share experiences, and help shape the direction of the Alliance moving forward.
Click here for more information
To register: https://tinyurl.com/HawaiiDSPAlliance
Busting Bureaucratic Writing (Copy)
Melanie Sampson from the Clear Language Lab is leading an upcoming training on plain language titled “Busting Bureaucratic Writing.” This workshop is designed to support clearer, more effective communication with our communities.
We encourage participants to first view the on-demand training, “Introduction to Plain Language: Writing Clearly and Effectively to Our Communities,” available through the DHRD Adobe Learning platform, as this live workshop builds on that content.
This live session will be offered via Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nx5eYAzNRh-mLBy9Sdmx3w
Please note: These sessions will not be recorded. An on-demand version of the training will be available by June through the DHRD ALM platform.
Feel free to share this opportunity with your networks.
If you have any questions, please contact Wei Geng Lum at WeiGeng.Lum@doh.hawaii.gov.
Busting Bureaucratic Writing
Melanie Sampson from the Clear Language Lab is leading an upcoming training on plain language titled “Busting Bureaucratic Writing.” This workshop is designed to support clearer, more effective communication with our communities.
We encourage participants to first view the on-demand training, “Introduction to Plain Language: Writing Clearly and Effectively to Our Communities,” available through the DHRD Adobe Learning platform, as this live workshop builds on that content.
This live session will be offered via Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/uUYevHt1SvmBc5e3bMJfnA
Please note: These sessions will not be recorded. An on-demand version of the training will be available by June through the DHRD ALM platform.
Feel free to share this opportunity with your networks.
If you have any questions, please contact Wei Geng Lum at WeiGeng.Lum@doh.hawaii.gov.
HWPA Membership Meeting
Every fourth Wednesday at noon, HWPA members are invited to hear from a featured speaker as well as updates from the Developmental Disabilities Division, DD Council, SAAC, and more on Zoom.
For April’s meeting, the featured speaker is Meredith Nichols from Medicaid/Med-Quest.
HWPA Administrator Kendra will host and record notes. Zoom link will be provided via email to HWPA members.
Dementia in Adults with I/DD and Down Syndrome: What to Look for at the Primary Care Visit (2/3)
Join the NTG for a free, three-part webinar series designed for primary care clinicians and allied health professionals supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
This series offers practical, I/DD-informed guidance on recognizing dementia, navigating diagnosis and medical management, and supporting function and safety after diagnosis.
Register for the second session using the link below.
Billing Issues Talk Story
Every second Wednesday at noon, HWPA members are invited to join collaborative ‘talk story’ sessions on Zoom to share concerns, tips, and more about all things Billing.
HWPA Administrator Kendra will host and record notes. Zoom link will be provided via email to HWPA members.
AI for Strategic Visioning in a Day
This one-day, executive-level experience is designed for CEOs, founders, and senior leaders who want to align their personal leadership brand with their company’s strategic vision — and use AI to rapidly plan what comes next.