I. Introductions were completed.
II. Minutes from December were accepted.
III. Announcements
UCP Please see the attached Family Connect Workshop Series. The vacancy list is attached. Please call 212.979.9700 ext.70 for more information.
YAI The vacancy list is attached. See attached for the Free Winter Series Health Education Workshops, starting in January. Please see attached for the Autism Family Support Series as well as the Yoga Relaxation Series. Call YAI LINK at 212.273.6182 for referrals and any other information.
AHRC The vacancy list is attached. Resources for Children with Special Needs Annual Camp Fair is January 28th. For information, call 212.677.4650.
Margaret Puddington announced the Havdalah Service (celebrates the end of Shabbat) on February 4th, 5:45-7:00 pm, at B’nai Jeshurun, 257 West 88th Street, between West End and Broadway. It’s for any age. RSVP to Emily Walsh at ewalsh@bj.org or 212.787.7600 x 243.
Elly Rufer is consolidating the council website. If you would like to change or add anything, please let Elly know.
Presentation Catherine Jones, YAI. Abuse Perpetrated Against People with ID/DD: How to Identify, How to Respond, How to Help. Please see the attached.
IV. State News
The Governor’s proposed budget will be announced mid-January. Regarding the 1115 waiver, each DDSO will have separate statewide Discussion Boards for families/advocates, for providers, and for state employees that will meet monthly with their statewide counterparts via videoconference. There is also preliminary discussion among OPWDD, DDPC, and the provider associations about a possible statewide conference on the 1115 waiver. There is a new table of OPWDD organization; please see attached, or visit the OPWDD website. OPWDD is initiating three measures regarding agency executive compensation: capping Medicaid funds that may be used for compensation; developing consistent standards and appropriate percentages for compensation; reviewing governance regulations. OPWDD will also be reviewing community habilitation: quality of services, family/individual satisfaction, and how the funding is being utilized. OPWDD is reaching out to families, self-advocates, and providers for their input on community habilitation. CMS has directed a contract vendor to conduct a review of health and safety in OPWDD services. Richard Monck will be retiring at the end of February.
V. City News
Willie Lopez, Assistant Commissioner, will be retiring from DOHMH, after 33 years of service (36 overall with both OMRDD and DOHMH) on January 27, 2012. Dr. Gerald Colon will be the interim Assistant Commissioner. There is no update yet on the NYC FY 13 city tax levy. The proposed amount of NYS local assistance funding will be announced in the Governor’s Executive budget. This year almost $3 million was cut in local assistance causing 4 providers to lose their city funding. Cuts over the years have reduced city-funded services to bare bones. The City Council funded autism initiative update: 24 out of the 25 providers in the initiative completed contract submissions and will be processed. Substance abuse DDPC grant initiative update: there will be a possible follow up meeting to discuss a potential pilot residential program jointly administered by OASAS and OPWDD. The Bureau will coordinate a joint meeting.
VI. IAC / Federation Report IAC:
The new position, Director of Education Services, which includes early intervention and preschool, will be filled by Chris Trieber beginning in February. Chris is currently ending a 22-year stint at AHRC where he is Director of Advocacy. IAC has submitted a recommendation concerning executive compensation to OPWDD and is awaiting a reply. Commissioner Burke is scheduled to visit on January 19th. Lobby days will be February 14th and 15th. On June 14th and 15th there will be a conference sponsored by IAC at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Federation: No report.
VII. Committee Reports
Family Support – At its January meeting, the committee reviewed the Fair, and Jennifer Shaoul discussed the revised FSS Directory, highlighting new programs. There will be an EPIC conference May 19; we want to encourage representation from every county. IAC is now conducting the MSC core trainings; we are exploring with IAC how to disseminate all boroughs’ FSS directories at the trainings. There will be no February committee meeting. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 13th at 10 AM at YAI, 460 West 34th Street, 11th Floor. There will be a presentation on museum programs for people with disabilities. Call Amy Bittinger at 718-859-5420 x 234 for more information.
Legislative – The legislative breakfast will be on March 16th at Barnes & Noble at Union Square. The theme will be the family perspective. We will again organize a Family Advocacy Day before the Breakfast. The committee is meeting today after the DD Council. The following meeting of this committee will be after the DD Council on Thursday, February 9th at 12 PM at IAC, 150 West 30th Street, 15th Floor. Call Judy DeIasi at 212-780-2667 for more information.
Transition – There will be a Student Information Exchange meeting on Wednesday, February 1st at 9:30 AM at Metro DDSO, 75 Morton Street, 1st floor activities center. Call Kathy Kelly at 212-780-2724 for more information.
Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Council – At the January meeting, Richard Monck provided an update on various OPWDD changes and initiatives. The next meeting will be co-sponsored with the DD Council on February 9th at 9:30 AM at IAC, 150 West 30th Street, 15th floor. Call Margaret Puddington at 212-799-2042 for more information.
Service Coordination – The committee is in need of more participants. Please ask your MSC supervisors to allow MSCs to participate in the meetings. The next meeting will be on January 23rd at 10 AM at AHRC, 83 Maiden Lane, 11th Floor. The topic will be the 1115 waiver. Call Irina Tuchina for more information. She can be reached at 212-273-6100 ext. 2418.
Children’s Committee – Marilyn Rubinstein presented on turning five and discussed special education reform at the last meeting. Most of the 37 people that attended were families. The next meeting will be announced. For more information, contact Christina Muccioli at 212-780-2532.
Next meeting: Thursday, February 9th, at IAC, 150 West 30th Street, 15th floor.