December 2010 Newsletter
Dates To Remember
October checks will be mailed on November 24, 2010.
October second invoice checks will be mailed on December 10, 2010.
November forms are due in the office December 7, 2010 by 9:00AM.
Procedure Changes
Unreported meal time changes will now result in meal disallowances. State regulations now require sponsors to disallow any meals that are monitored outside of approved meal times. You will continue to have 15 minutes before or after a meal to remain in compliance. If a monitor arrives for a review visit and the meal is being served outside of approved hours without prior notification, the meal for that visit will be disallowed and a follow-up monitor visit within 30 days must be completed. Please report all meal time changes to the office immediately to avoid meal disallowances.
If a monitor is conducted and a provider is not home during the visit without prior closure notification, a note will be left to call the sponsor. According to state regulations, a follow-up monitor visit must be completed within 30 days. If the provider is again not home without prior closure notification during this follow-up visit, a serious deficiency procedure will be initiated. Please report all closures to First Step to avoid a serious deficiency.
Both of the above stated procedures take effect immediately. If you have any questions regarding these procedure changes, please do not hesitate to contact First Step for further clarification.
Group Training Registration
Training locations and times will be mailed after the New Year. Please save your training date.
Recipes for the Soul ...
\"Consider the postage stamp, my son. It secures success through its ability to stick to one thing until it gets there.\" - Robert M. Persing
Stick With It ...
With the world vying for our attention, focusing on one thing for any length of time may seem like a luxury, even impossibility. That\'s why completing long-term goals can be hard. Once the initial thrill is gone and distractions crop up, it gets more difficult to stick with a task. Planning for those distractions can help you get across the finish line.
Simple Steps ...
Develop a \"stick-to-it\" plan. Divide your goal into specific tasks, and write their due dates on a calendar. As you finish a task, put a sticker on the completion date. Your calendar will show you how much you\'ve done; unused stickers remind you of what\'s left.
Identify distractions - people, events or habits that might come between you and your goal. Add steps or time to deal with them.
