Español abajo
NEXT MEETING
Tuesday, June 5th, 2018 – 10:00 am – 12 noon
Managing Challenging Behaviors – Back to Basics
Linda Schellenberg, Director of Community Services
Center for Family Support
333 Seventh Avenue @ 28th Street, 9th floor
RSVP @ manhattanfamilyadvisory@gmail.com
*******************************************************
¿Te Frustran Las Conductas Desafiantes?
PRÓXIMA REUNIÓN
Martes, 5 de Junio de 2018, de 10 a 12 de la tarde
Manejando Conductas Desafiantes—de vuelta a lo básico
Linda Schellenberg, Directora de Servicios Comunitarios del Centro de Soportes para Las Familias
333 Séptima Avenida (Calle Número 28), Piso 9
Si necesita intérprete durante la reunión es necesario avisarle a manhattanfamilyadvisory@gmail.com antes de 29 de mayo del 2018.
*****************************************************
MINUTES, May 8, 2018
Upcoming Meetings:
Manhattan DD Council
Thursday, June 14, 2018 9:30 am – 12 Noon
Sinergia, 2082 Lexington Avenue @ 125th Street (4th Floor)
Chairperson Marco Damani (212) 780-2661
***Elections
manhattanddcouncil.com
manhattanddcouncilchair@gmail.com
Family Provider & Information Committee
Tuesday, June 26, 2018 10:00 am – 12 Noon
AHRC, 83 Maiden Lane, 11th Floor
For more information contact either of the co-chairs:
Kathy Kelly (212) 780-2724 Kathy.kelly@ahrcnyc.org
Carol Lincoln (718) 859-5420 Clincoln@adaptcommunitynetwork.org
This new committee, created in January 2018, meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at various locations.
If you are a family member, self-advocate, service coordinator or service provider interested in finding out information on available services and supports, come be a part of this great, new committee.
1. INTRODUCTIONS:
New Co-Chairs:
Jackie Goldberg (212) 288-2209
Mary McGuire-Weafer (212) 754-2870
manhattanfamilyadvisory@gmail.com
We would like to thank Margaret Pudddington for her enormous work over the past 30+ years with family information, advocacy and opportunities available to the developmental disability community. She promises to continue her involvement of our Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Committee. We look forward to her joining our Executive Committee.
Elections for the Executive Committee to be held at our NEXT MEETING, June 5th.
Slate for the Executive Committee ( Candidates must have attended at least three (3) meetings in the last year.)
Present members up for re-election:
Kate Bini
Caroline Grant
Michael Haas
Linda Irby
Elly Rufer
Susan Williams
New Candidates:
Genora Johnson
Margaret Puddington
Valerie Stark
2. Report on Statewide Family Support Services, March 29, 2018 – Margaret Puddington
Acting Commissioner Kerry Delaney’s report:
OPWDD’s accomplishments in 2017 included:
- Developed and began to implement a multi-year housing strategy. OPWDD issued a request for certified residential services for people living at home. 459 opportunities were funded, for 56 providers to develop 83 homes, at a cost of $58 million.
- Opened 55 supported apartments – 280 in development.
- Developed mechanism for funding of residential services for higher-needs individuals
- Rollout of Housing Navigator Curriculum, covering housing options and housing plan
- Employment: 28,000 individuals receiving support
- Transformation of sheltered workshops, which were exclusively serving people with I/DD, into integrated businesses
- Working with businesses to promote hiring of people with I/DD
- Self-Direction – 40% increase of people enrolled in 2017 compared with 2016; 6100 people now enrolled. NYS has the richest Self-Direction program in the U.S. OPWDD has implemented various recommendations, including increased remuneration for Fiscal Intermediaries.
Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs), presented by Leslie Fuld
The committee viewed a new video for families, explaining the change from MSC to CCOs. To see it, go to opwdd.ny.gov and type into the search box: MSC toolkit. Most MSC agencies are now affiliated with a CCO. OPWDD is now holding a second round of forums on the changes. OPWDD will record one of the forums and post it on its website. There are also trainings for MSCs on the website.
START, presented by Kate Bishop and Angie Francis
START, a new crisis prevention program for people with I/DD and mental health diagnosis, has been implemented everywhere in NYS except Region 2 (northern NYS), which will begin in April 2019. START develops linkages with hospitals, schools, and service providers. They provide trainings and develop individual crisis plans that detail what to do in emergencies. The outcomes have been extremely positive: significant reductions in emergency room usage and hospitalizations; improvement in stabilization of the individual; increased family comfort and confidence in dealing with behaviors and keeping the person home longer. New York City START is doing very well: having learned from the experiences of other regions, NYC has faster implementation and faster progress. You can reach
NYC START at 347-396-6880.
Division of Quality Improvement (DQI) Collaboration with FSS Advisory Councils, presented by Shawn Desroches and Barbara Van Vechten
The Statewide FSS Committee has been working with DQI for over a year on ways that the local FSS Advisory Councils can contribute to the oversight of waiver respite programs. For many years, most local councils evaluated these programs – overnight respites, afterschool respites, weekend respites, etc.
Because of various changes in how these programs operate—such as the way people now enroll in these programs, through the Front Door–OPWDD has given oversight of waiver respite programs to DQI, which does person-centered reviews. It is not possible for the local councils to participate in these DQI audits because of issues of confidentiality.
Most Statewide Committee members feel strongly that the local councils made important contributions in evaluating these programs. DQI tends to focus on compliance issues whereas the local councils’ focus was on the quality of the services. Most Statewide Committee members do not want to lose that oversight role.
As a compromise, the Statewide FSS Committee suggested that DQI present their audit findings to us twice a year, and DQI is working on a way to do that. We also suggested that local councils receive a schedule of DQI audit visits beforehand so that the councils can share with DQI any concerns or historic issues with the programs that will be audited. We requested that in cases where DQI finds deficiencies, the local councils be given brief summaries of the deficiencies identified for specific programs. The Statewide FSS Committee’s recommendations are under consideration by OPWDD. DQI has offered the Statewide Committee’s members the opportunity to provide training to the DQI surveyors in the fall.
OPWDD Family Support Services Advisory Council Booklet
The Committee participated in developing this booklet, outlining the goals and roles of the local advisory councils as well as the statewide FSS Committee. It is available at https://opwdd.ny.gov/opwdd_services_supports/supports_for_independent_and_family_living/family_support_services. Scroll down on this page to download the booklet.
Minutes of the Statewide FSS Committee
At the request of the Manhattan FSS Advisory Council, minutes of the Statewide FSS Committee are now posted on the web. Go to: opwdd.ny.gov, type into the search bar “FSS Advisory Councils” and see under “Meeting Notes.” There is a long lag time, however, between the meetings and the posting of minutes.
Manhattan Representative to Statewide FSS Committee
Margaret’s term as Manhattan representative to the Committee has expired. Candidates for the position must be actively involved in the local Manhattan FSS Advisory Council and familiar with its work, particularly the work of evaluating Manhattan FSS programs. Margaret would like to continue as Manhattan representative. She is the chair of the Committee and has a leadership role in its subcommittees. An election will be held at the June meeting of the Manhattan FSS Advisory Council. To nominate yourself or someone else, please contact Jackie or Mary at manhattanfamilyadvisory@gmail.com
3. Guardian Presentation – Ellyn Kravitz, Esq.
***See attached – Power Point Presentation*** https://gallery.mailchimp.com/02d9ef551f0693585b7a9eabf/files/b4ebbecf-c1e6-4bc9-881e-ac10ccc8e048/Guardianship_presentation_May_2018.pdf
There are TWO (2) types of Guardianship
A. Article 17A – This grants guardianship protections for people with developmental disabilities who are deemed to be unable to manage their own affairs. An appointment is in the best interest of the respondent. This is through Surrogate court.
B. Article 81 – This grants guardianship for those unable to provide for their personal needs and/or property management and cannot understand & appreciate the nature and consequences of such inability. This is through Supreme Court. This is more costly because it is tailored to the individual’s particular strengths & needs, requiring a more thorough internal investigation. It is also more limited, (i.e. granting guardianship over financial and medical matters but not over lifestyle decisions.)
**Disability Rights NY brought a lawsuit seeking to repeal Article 17A as unconstitutional BUT that lawsuit is up on appeal.
**Once guardianship is granted, it was suggested that you CARRY a copy (or picture) of it and a healthcare card with you at ALL times.
4. Final Remarks:
As our first meeting as new co-chairs we were thrilled with the number of attendees, especially seeing so many NEW faces !!
We had such an overwhelming interest, we had to CLOSE the workshops RSVP list due to space limitations.
However, for those of you unable to attend, we look forward to seeing you in the future !!
Best,
Jackie and Mary