1. Announcements: SEE BELOW
2. Report on the NYS Budget
The budget passed on time. It includes property tax relief and more funding for education, including prekindergarten. The following items affect people with developmental disabilities:
- DSP Salary Increase. Salary increase for direct support professionals (DSPs) in non-profit agencies funded through OPWDD (NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities) and 5 other state agencies. There will be an increase of 2% on January 1, 2015. And a second 2% increase on April 1, 2015. The second increase must be included in the 2015-2016 budget; no problem is anticipated so long as there is no major fiscal disaster in Albany. Thus, as of April 1, 2015, DSPs should have a total increase of 4%. This increase applies to staff in both Medicaid-funded and state-funded programs. The April 1 increase will also go to clinicians, including those in Early Intervention. ADVOCACY WON THIS INCREASE! THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE CALLS AND VISITS!
- DSP Credentialing Pilot Program Study. OPWDD will study national and international models of DSP credentialing, including career ladders, training requirements, and the costs associated with a credentialing program. Based on the study findings, OPWDD will make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature for the establishment of a DSP credentialing pilot program.
- Funding for Development of New Services. The Governor had proposed about $35 million for new OPWDD services, to include new day services for graduates, new res and day services for students aging out of residential schools at 21, and all other services. $35 million is not a sufficient amount for development of enough 24/7 residential opportunities to meet urgent needs.
- Expansion of the Nurse Practice Act Exemption. This language will allow DSPs who are appropriately trained and supervised by a registered nurse to administer medications and perform certain other medical tasks in non-certified settings funded, authorized, or approved by OPWDD. Currently, DSPs cannot administer meds at a job site, in a person’s own home, etc. This would enable them to do so. Details still have to be worked out.
- Tax Credit for Hiring People with Developmental Disabilities. A new tax credit will allow employers to get credit for hiring people with developmental disabilities after 6 months of employment and after a year of employment.
- Integrated Employment Plan. OPWDD is required to develop an integrated employment plan with an array of employment options to increase employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.
- Early Intervention. No additional funding but 2% cost of living increase to clinicians 4/1/15.
- Special education schools and preschools. No additional funding. But SEIT (Special Education Itinerant Teacher program) funding will be changed to fee-for-service payments instead of tuition payments.
- Special Education Mandate Waivers. The Governor’s proposal would have allowed NYS to waive any special education requirements, such as class size, that exceed the federal requirements. It was defeated.
3. Report on the Statewide Family Support Services Committee
The Acting Commissioner reported on the budget (see above).
The committee had previously decided to raise concerns about family support services with the Commissioner at this meeting. We drew up a list of questions and submitted them to her in advance of this meeting. Our concerns were that:
- There must be a mechanism to preserve, expand, and create programs that support families, such as recreation, afterschool, behavior intervention, crisis intervention, social skills, and family training. Previously, this mechanism was the Request for Proposals (RFPs) issued by OPWDD to providers.
- OPWDD has declared there will not be any more RFPs for family support programs; instead, individuals will apply to the front door to have their needs met and will receive authorization for needed services. We questioned where the funding would come from to support not only the direct support personnel, but the supervisory and clinical components and the “Other Than Personal Services” (OTPS: expenses for office supplies, phone, program supplies, transportation, etc.) and administrative components. We pointed out that the Front Door process may not always work even for modest expansions of existing programs because of staffing ratios, group size, and other considerations. And for larger expansions of existing programs, the Front Door has no mechanism to ensure sufficient funding for the essential clinical, supervisory, OTPS, and administrative components.
- The Commissioner and her staff repeated that needs will be handled on a one-person-at-a-time basis: the person would go to the Front Door. If the individual needed a new service, the family would have to identify the other participants, find an agency to run the service, and have that agency submit a proposal, which could be funded from a central pot of money. OPWDD wants Consolidated Supports and Services to be the first option for everyone. If that were not a viable option for a person/family, other options could be considered.
- The committee also raised concerns about the Family Support Services Advisory Councils. Committee members pointed out that the councils hear directly from families and have a good sense of the local priorities. Therefore, the councils must be part of the priority-setting process for their localities. The councils must also continue to participate in program evaluations in order to ensure that programs are effective and of high quality. The Commissioner assured us that our councils could identify gaps in services and present the gaps to the Front Door. If there were a documented need for a new service, OPWDD would consider an RFP-type process. In that case, the councils requested that they be part of the review process. The Commissioner had no objection to that.
- The committee members felt that several issues were not resolved by the conversation, which lasted about 3 hours. We will try to arrange a follow-up discussion or discussions. We did not even broach the subject of what will happen to family support services under managed care. We will do that, too, in future meetings.
4. Nominations of Officers for Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Council
Elections for officers will be held in June. We will elect a chairperson and an executive committee, with terms of 2 years. To be eligible to serve, a person must have attended 3 meetings within the last year. To nominate yourself or another person, please contact Julia Rogge, chair of the Nominations Committee, at 212-737-0527. The Nominations Committee will present a slate at the May meeting. Nominations from the floor will also be accepted at the May and June meetings. Elections will be held at the June meeting.
5. Speaker: Lana Small, Coordinator of Behavior Management Services, YAI, on
“What Do I Do When My Child…”
Lana Small presented a number of scenarios of children acting in undesirable ways and techniques and principles for dealing with the behavior. Many of the families who were present shared their own scenarios and were able to get guidance. The presentation was lively and very helpful – and fun. Please see the attached power-point for a summary.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & FLYERS DISTRIBUTED @ MEETING: Handouts April 14, Handouts 2 April 14, Handouts 3 April 14
Family Support Services Committee
Tuesday, May 13, 2014, 10:00 am – noon
YAI, 460 West 34th Street, 11th floor
Information: Amy Bittinger (718) 859-5420 x 234; Abittinger@ucpnyc.org
Transition Committee
Wednesday, May 14, 2014, 9:30am – noon
AHRC, 83 Maiden Lane, 11th floor Board Room
Information: Kathy Kelly (212) 780-2724; Kathy.kelly@ahrcnyc.org
Legislative Committee
To Be Announced
Information: Jim Malley (212) 928-5810 x 101; Jmalley@esperanzacenter.net
Children’s Committee
Monday, April 28, 2014, 9:30 am
Esther Ashkenas Central Park Early Learning Center, 65 Central Park West, Lobby floor
Topic: How Do I Choose a Summer Camp for My Child?
Information: Christina Muccioli (212) 780-2532; Christina.muccioli@ahrcnyc.org
Service Coordination Committee
Friday, April 25, 2014, 10:00 am – noon
UCP/NYC, 80 Maiden Lane, 2nd floor conference room
Speaker: Dr. Paul Hutchinson, Director of Advocacy Services, AHRC
Information: Carol Lincoln (718) 859-5420 x 225; Clincoln@ucpnyc.org
DD Council
Thursday, May 8, 2014, 9:30 am
FEGS, 315 Hudson Street, 9th floor
Information: Marco Damiani (212) 273-6188; Marco.damiani@yai.org