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 : Attachments
Hawthorne Foundation
See attached for details on in-home behavior management services for people ages 3-21, living in Manhattan. Must be OPWDD eligible.
YAI
Information is attached for vacancy highlights: Free Education Workshops through December, Crisis Services, outreach for an autism study, and Emergency Respite funds. YAI also has a contract with the DOHMH for people in Manhattan who are uninsured or under-insured, to conduct psychologicals, psychosocials, and autism evaluations.
For more information about these programs, or the Autism Family Support Series, Autism parent support group, an Adult Yoga group, psychological evaluations, and all other services, call YAI Link at 212-273-6182, email link@yai.org or go to www.yai.org/link.
QSAC
Current program openings are attached; call 718-728-8476 for more information.
Center for Human Development & Family Services (CHDFS)
New respite space available; see handout for details. Also providing MSC and other services. For more information, go to www.chdfs.org.
Sinergia
Free evaluations in Manhattan for people who are looking for OPWDD eligibility. Evaluations can also be done in the home, or over the weekend.
“We Are Parents, Too” offers Intensive Case Management for parents who have I/DD.
See attached for more information for both programs.
UCP of New York City
Vacancy list is attached, along with information about an upcoming webinar about accessing services. For more information, email projectconnect@ucpnyc.org or go to www.ucpnyc.org
NYC FAIR
Meeting about “bFair2DirectCare” (including 4410 and 853 schools) on November 2, hosted by IAC, from 6-8pm, at 150 West 30th Street, 15th floor. Discussion regarding the ongoing turnover and salary issues, and what can be done about them. Go to www.nycfair.org for more details.
Camp Oakhurst
The 2016-2017 respite schedule is attached, along with details about the program. Go to www.nysh.org for more information.
Birch
Available to provide MSC, Community Hab, and Res Hab in all boros. Call 212-616-1856 for information.
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
See attached for information on Free Special Education Workshops for parents in English and in Spanish, workshops and information on Special Education matters, and free legal assistance for nonprofits and community groups.
AHRC NYC
Program vacancy list is attached.
Other Council Business
Volunteers are needed to help keep the Council website and Facebook page active and up to date. If you are interested in helping, or learning what would be needed, please email manhattanddcouncil@gmail.org.
DD Council dues are due! The invoice for provider agencies is attached. Paid members will have their agency’s non-fundraising events listed on the Manhattan DD Council website’s calendar of events.
Presentation by NY START Tri-Borough, Dr. Ros Robertson, Director; Nadine Wilches, Clinical Director; Stefon Smith, Assistant Director
NY START provides crisis prevention and intervention to OPWDD individuals, age 6+, who have developmental disabilities and complex behavioral health needs, as well as their families and those who provide supports. START stands for Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources and Treatment. The Tri-Borough program serves Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. A separate START program serves the other boroughs. START is a systemic intervention model, which does not duplicate other supports. START offers: consultation, education, and training; cross-system partnerships; crisis plan development; short-term therapeutic in-home supports; short-term therapeutic emergency and planned Resource Center services; and crisis response for people already receiving START services. START has a collaborative team with a consulting medical director and psychiatrist. There is a 24/7 crisis number: 212-273-6300. The program is just starting with a full roll out in January.
OPWDD is funding this service, which is based on a national evidence-informed model, replicated in 10 states. The model has proven to reduce hospitalization rates. NY START emphasizes the development of cross-systems relations, trainings, and education, as well as crisis prevention and response supports. All START staff must be certified—a year-long, intensive process.
For more information, please see the several handouts and Start-Presentation attached.
IV. State News – Donna Limiti
• Waiver 01 Amendment: OPWDD received much feedback and tweaked the amendment regarding conflict-free case management; respite, where rate changes will be implemented over time to minimize any negative impact; and since there are no longer rate appeals, a methodology for OPWDD to provide enhanced funding to providers to hire additional DSPs needed to meet new/changing needs of people served—beginning with people new to OPWDD.
• As reported last month, the NYS budget included $10 million statewide dedicated to residential development for category 2 and 3 people living at home. NYC has been allocated about $2.8 million. A NYC stakeholder group made the following spending recommendations: 50% of the funds would be dedicated to non-certified residences and family care; 40% to certified residences; 10% to a small transition home, time-limited to about 6 months, to assess people’s support needs. A Letter of Interest will be distributed to agencies soon, together with the letters from all the other regions. The criteria for selection will be based on what families want/need, not on the urgency of need. Donna reminded us that some of the remaining $120 million may also be used for residential development, and backfill opportunities will also continue to be available.
• Respite fees: agencies are being surveyed about respite rates, which some report are threatening programs. There are about six types of respite with different fees, such as in-home respite, camp, etc. New rates will be released next year.
• OPWDD’s 5.07 plan will be released in November.
V. City News – Sandra Piggee
Sandra reported that there is no City news at this time.
VI. IAC/Federation – Jim Malley
No report.
VII. Committee Reports
Family Support Services: Wendy De Leon distributed copies of the Fair brochure (attached). You may request additional copies from Jessie Backe at AHRC: Jessie.backe@ahrcnyc.org. A Fair volunteer sign-up form was circulated. Volunteers are need for registration, the information table, translation coordination, and other tasks.
Next meeting will feature a presentation on ISS: Tuesday, November 8, 2016, 10:00 am – noon, Sinergia, 2082 Lexington Ave., 4th floor. Information: Wendy De Leon 917-965-2950 x 109, wdeleon@ucpnyc.org.
Legislative: Next meeting to be announced. Information: Jim Malley 212-928-5810 x 101; jmalley@esperanzacenter.net.
Transition: Next meeting: Wednesday, October 19, 2016, 9:30 am – noon, AHRC, 2080 Lexington Ave. Information: Kathy Kelly 212-780-2724, Kathy.kelly@ahrcnyc.org.
Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Council: Margaret Puddington reported that Donna Limiti provided an OPWDD update at the September meeting. Families appreciated her straight-forward and information-packed presentation and asked that she return for a Part II. Donna agreed and will continue the discussion at the next FSSAC meeting November 9, 2016, 10:00 am – noon, at Sinergia, 2082 Lexington Ave., 4th floor. Elections were held at the September meeting where a new Executive Committee was elected and Margaret was re-elected as Chair. Information: Margaret Puddington 212-799-2042, Margaret.puddington@gmail.com.
MSC Committee: Carol Lincoln announced that the committee is trying out a different format at its next meeting. In the first hour Michael Levy will present on travel training and Access-a-Ride, and in the second hour Contemporary Guidance Services will present on employment services. Next meeting: Friday, October 28, 2016, 10:00 am – noon, Contemporary Guidance Services, 52 Broadway, 4th floor. Information: Carol Lincoln 718-859-5420 x 225, clincoln@ucpnyc.org.
Children’s/Education Committee: No report. Information: Christina Muccioli 212-780-2532, Christina.muccioli@ahrcnyc.org.