I.
I. Introductions were completed.
II. Minutes from the last meeting were approved; if you would like to refer to past minutes, they are always available on the DD Council website: (www.manhattanddcouncil.org).
III. Announcements
–Please remember to pay your dues which help support our events throughout the year. You can reap many benefits when paying your dues.
AHRC
See attached flyers for program vacancies
–ADAPT Community Network – formerly UCP of New York City
See attached flyers for all upcoming programs as well as program vacancies
–Mercy Drive
See attached flyers for all upcoming programs as well as program vacancies and other various programs available
-QSAC
See attached flyer for program vacancies
Openings in the after school programs
-Ohel Bais Ezra
Family reimbursement funds available Manhattan and Queens
Call 718-686-3451 or email Communityservices@ohelfamily.org
-YAI
Information is attached for service vacancies. For information about any YAI programs, please call 212-273-6182, or email link@yai.org.
-NY START
212-273-6300
Accepting referrals. Provide help with conflict and behavior needs.
Crisis intervention. Coordinators on call 24/7. Crisis line available
-Tri County Care
Accepting applications for care coordination see attached flyer
St. Xavier Home Care Services INC
-see attached flyer for details
NYC Rent Freeze Program
-See attached flyer
IV. State News – Ellen Bleckman
Managed Care Forum – OPWDD will be hosting information forums for families on Managed Care and the next steps of the process.
The 2 forums scheduled in the New York city Area are:
- November 15th at Heartshare
- IAC November 27th 5-7pm
- V. City News –
- Gavin Myers has been appointed as the new Liaison for the DD stakeholders
VI-Guest Speaker- Stephen King – Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement
Rent Freeze Program/Homeowners Tax Exemptions (see PowerPoint for full presentation)
Stephen is from the Public Engagement unit which is 3 years old. The goal is to get people with city subsidies into low income housing.
The program works with city council to try to do as much outreach as possible.
People must be eligible for every single requirement in order to get the subsidy.
They help with renewals as people tend to forget to fill out the forms when the renewal is due.
NYC Rent Freeze Overview
- Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE)
- Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)
- Administered by the Department of Finance (DOF): An exemption against future rent increases for eligible senior and disabled persons living in rent-controlled, rent-stabilized, Mitchell-Lama and other eligible apartments. Applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements for SCRIE/DRIE benefits.
- Landlords of SCRIE/DRIE tenants receive tax credits to make up the difference between the frozen rent and what the tenants would be paying without the benefit.
- Rent is frozen either at the prior rent amount or 1/3 of the tenant’s monthly income, whichever is greater
Approach to the program:
The Rent Freeze Team utilizes a case management approach and will work with the Tenant/Resident from beginning through the end of the process.
Once the person is approved let them know about the next step.
The program also helps with appeals
There is a Rent Freeze Hotline # 929 252-7242 for any questions as well as a Walk in center located at 66 John Street – 3rd Floor, New York, NY.
VI. IAC – Tom McAlvanah Executive Director , IAC
- IAC has been encouraging OPWDD to be more communicative families and agencies.
- NY State is targeting to have the Managed Care Plans for IDD run by providers instead of mainstream insurance companies. We need to continue pushing OPWDD to hear the voices of the families and share their concerns as to what should be in Managed Care.
- Election Results- Divided government for at least 2 years.
- State Senate is now in Democratic control. For our issues we need to make new relationships.
- 16 new senators! We have work to do. Many we know support or issues but we need to push to make sure we get the resources that are out there
- Education advocacy has been up as the teacher crisis continues. Town Hall meeting back in June kicked off many events. Chris Trieber has done two different testimonials.
- Chris was up at the Board of Education hearing to stress that providers are concerned of DOH coming in and closing the classes that do not have qualified teaching staff.(see last month’s notes)
- Starting to get the sense that there are high level meetings happening on these issues.
- Looking at possible discrimination law Suit in the not for profit pre schools
- Turnover and vacancy rates are at 30%.
- There will be a new senate chair in education and therefore new relationships need to be developed.
- IAC Lobby day February 26 and 27th.
- IAC redid their website and have a Facebook page. Go visit!!
VII. Committees
Family & Provider Information Committee: Co-Chairs: Carol Lincoln and Jackie Ceonzo
The last meeting was held on 10/23, it was on managed care and PHP. The meeting was very well attended.
Next meeting will be 11/20/18 with Ellen Bleckman discussing the new changes to the Front Door process resulting from the transition to Care Coordination. Location to be confirmed.
December 11th is the FAIR!! CUNY Graduate Center 365 fifth Avenue @ 34th St. (Concourse level)
Please make sure to take flyers for the fair. Spread the word!
If you have not made changes for the directory unfortunately you are too late. The Directory should be printed this week.
We need Volunteers for the fair please sign up to help for this important event.
If you speak Spanish and Mandarin please let us know as we need volunteers to direct people to the correct places.
kliebman@adaptcommunitynetwork.org is in charge of all volunteers. Please contact her to help. You can volunteer yourself or your colleagues.
Legislative Committee: Co-Chairs Jim Malley & Lynn Decker- Friday March 8th is the legislative breakfast at Barnes and Noble.
There will be a phone conference to discuss the breakfast. If you would like to join the committee please sign the volunteer sheet. The phone call will discuss the array of topics that can be brought up to legislatures.
Also news to note: The NY Immigration Coalition is encouraging people to submit public comments on the impact of Public Charge.
Family with children with developmental disabilities may avoid seeking needed supports because of fears of the impact on future status adjustments for an adult member of the household.
And beyond those concerns, our caregiver workforce is made up substantially of immigrants.
https://www.nyic.org/2018/10/60-day-comment-period-begins-new-yorkers-say-no-public-charge-rule/
https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/#take-action-form
Manhattan FSS Advisory Council: Co Chairs Jackie Goldberg and Mary McGuire-Weafer
- The next meeting is on November 15th. The topic is family reimbursement programs. If your agency can send a representative to the meeting it would be very helpful.
VIII. New Business – Kathy Kelly
- No new business