FSS Committee Meeting – 9/9/14

Next Meeting:                       Tuesday, October 14, 2014, 10:00 AM – 12 Noon

Topic:                                    Discussion on planning for the Dec. 18^th Manhattan DD Council’s Family Support Fair.

Location:                               YAI, 460 West 34^th Street – Ground Floor, Meeting Room

For More Information:      Jennifer Shaoul @ 212.273.6869 / Jennifer.Shaoul@yai.org

Amy Bittinger @ 718-859-5420 ext. 234 / abittinger@ucpnyc.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. Danielle Raymond of UCP of NYC announced:
   1. Family Reimbursement available in Staten Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx.
   2. Extra funding available for durable medical equipment in Manhattan.
   3. Family Reimbursement (Manhattan) flyer was distributed.
   4. Family Reimbursement application for four boroughs was distributed.

Call 877-827-2666 or email projectconnect@ucpny.orgfor more information.

2. Tim Barlow of Sprout announced:
   1. There are openings in Community Respite (NYC Day and Evening Program), must be 16 years of age or older, living with family in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.
   2. Openings for “free” vacations.
   3. In process of planning OPWDD sponsored “free” vacations (school break and overnight weekend).

Contact Tim Barlow or Andy Lee at 212-222-9575 for more information.

1. Annie Rivera of UCP of NYC announced:

1. Housing Assistance Services (HAS) are accepting applications.
2. New Home Modification Program for Medicaid recipients with a qualifying health condition.

Call 877-827-2666 or email arivera@ucpnyc.orgfor more information.

1. Claire McLoughlin of UCP of NYC announced:

UCP is accepting applications for OPWDD’s ISS rent stipend for individuals who are seeking independent living or avoiding residential placement by remaining in family care in non-emergency situations.

Call 212-683-6700 x101 for more information

1. Wendy De Leon of UCP of NYC announced:

1. Overnight Respite program flyer was distributed.
2. Project Connect Service and Support flyer was distributed.
3. Family Connect Workshop Calendar for September was distributed.
4. Family Connect Conference Save-the-Date flyers distributed.

Call 877-827-2666 or email projectconnect@ucpnyc.orgfor more information.

6. Margaret Puddington from Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Council announced:
   1. They are going to have open forums for families and advocates to discuss important issues to advocate this year. There will be two sessions listed on the Manhattan Developmental Disabilities Council’s website https://www.manhattanddcouncil.org/ai1ec_event/fssac-make-voice-count?instance_id=5922
   2. Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Council flyer was distributed.

7. Michelle Lang of YAI LINK announced:
   1. Autism Parent Support Group Series flyer was distributed. (English/Spanish/Mandarin).

1. Project G.R.O.W. flyer was distributed. (English/Spanish/Mandarin).
2. Project Grown Up-Cantonese flyer was distributed.
3. Advocacy Resource Center flyer was distributed.
4. Free Education Workshops flyer was distributed.
5. Parent and Caregiver Phone-In Support Groups flyer was distributed.
6. Family Services Vacancies flyer was distributed.

Call 212-273-6182 for more information.

8. Pat Lin Chang of General Human Outreach Inc. announced:
   1. Family Support Case Management (No Medicaid required)
   2. Family reimbursement for goods and services.
   3. Respite for weekend, hourly, free standing for ages 18 and older.
   4. Staff speaks Chinese and Korean.

Call 718-307-6563 for more information.

9. Liz Brady of Snack announced:

They are starting a new semester with new programs at their new facility.

Call 212-439-9996 for more information.

1. Robert Pacenza from Camp Oakhurst announced:
   1. That there are openings in Respite programs including Emergency Respite.
   2. Camp Oakhurst flyer was distributed.
   3. Out-Of-Home Overnight Respite at Camp Oakhurst flyer was distributed.

Call 212-533-4020 or 732-531-0215 or email info@nysh.org for more information.

Presentations:

Cliff Datys, Resource Manager for NYC-Administration for Children Services-Bridges to Home (B2H) Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid Waiver Program

The Bridges to Health (B2H) Home and Community-Based Waiver Program provides opportunities for improving the health and well-being of children in foster care or community services supervision. The purpose of B2H is to avoid, delay, or prevent medical institutional care and provide enhanced services to children with disabilities. B2H services are provided to the child, family and caregivers in the foster home or community setting. B2H consists of three waivers-B2H for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances (SED), B2H for children with Developmental Disabilities (B2H DD) and B2H for Medically Fragile (B2H MedF) children designed to provide community-based health care services and supports to children in foster care or community services supervision.

Who’s Eligible? To be eligible to participate in B2H, a child must:

• be in custody of the Commissioner of the Administration for children’s Services (ACS), or the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS);
• be Medicaid eligible;
• have a qualifying diagnosis
• be able to benefit from service.

Since the number of “slots” statewide is limited, applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis, and the child may be placed on a waiting list.

Kathleen Kingston, OPWDD-Community Services Region 4

Gave brief overview to Front Door practices and answered specific questions by attendees.

We spoke briefly about the Family Support Fair scheduled for December 18, 2014 at Hotel Penn.

Jennifer distributed some of the Directory sheets that need to be updated to a number of agencies that were present. We are in the process of finalizing the workshops. If you have any recommendations for a workshop topic, please contact either Amy or Jennifer. During the October meeting we will have a thorough discussion about the fair and areas of responsibility.