- Introductions were completed.
- 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: Provider Information & Flyers
YAI
Information is attached for vacancy highlights, Free Education Workshops through December, Crisis Services, and “You and I” social skills training and networking program. 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.
UCP of New York City
Vacancy list is attached, along with information about Overnight Respite, and Family Reimbursement. For more information, email projectconnect@ucpnyc.org or go to www.ucpnyc.org
Cerebral Palsy Associations of NY State
See attached for details regarding a new athletic program for people interested in general conditioning, sports training, developing teamwork, and access to competitive venues. You must be enrolled in Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver Services through OPWDD in order to participate. The application is also included.
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
See attached for information on Free Special Education Workshops for parents in English and in Spanish, the Disability Justice Program, and workshops and information on Special Education matters.
Camp Oakhurst
The 2016-2017 respite schedule is attached, along with details about the program. Go to www.nysh.org for more information.
Hawthorne Foundation
See attached for details on in-home behavior management services for ages people ages 3-21, living in Manhattan. Must be OPWDD eligible.
AHRC NYC
Program vacancy list is attached. Summer camp spots are still available.
QSAC
Current program openings are attached; call 718-728-8476 for more information.
Unique Care Community Services
MSC, Community Hab and Respite opportunities available in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. Call Angelicka James at 347-562-8484 for more information.
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.
Marco Damiani thanked Marilyn Rubinstein, now stepping down as Vice Chair of the Council, for her service, and presented her with a small token of our appreciation. Marco also welcomed Kathy Kelly, newly elected to that position.
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 NYC Department of Education, Office of Adult and Continuing Education (OACE), Charmaine Luke, Principal, Massielle Pimentel, Community Liaison
Funded by NYS, this program serves NYC students over 21, with the goal of empowering them to be better parents, family members, workers, and citizens. They accept anyone functioning at a 2nd grade level of competency or above. They offer a wide curriculum including basic education, ESL, vocational training, high school equivalency, and career and technical education. Classes run 9am-9pm weekdays and 9am-4pm Saturdays to accommodate students’ work schedules. The program is the largest adult education program in the country, serving over 41,000 students throughout the five boroughs of NYC. Classes are tuition free. Contact: 212-868-1650, e-mail: region4@oacenyc.org, web: http://schools.nyc.gov/community/AdultEd.
- State News – Liz Cambra
- OPWDD is continuing discussions on respite fees. Some agencies are having difficulties with the new rates.
- 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, including one family/borough, Region 4 staff, a self-advocate, a representative from city government, and a housing navigator, 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.
- Marco Damiani reported that there is a class-action lawsuit in Buffalo, suing the Governor and Acting Commissioner Delaney over insufficient resources for needed residential development. The suit alleges a violation of ADA.
- Conflict-free case management: CMS is requiring that case managers be from a different agency than the one actually providing services because of a perceived conflict of interest. The Council discussed the need for preventing disruption of services and educating MSCs and families. Please see the attached powerpoint from OPWDD. Liz will try to arrange a presentation on this topic at the next DD Council meeting.
- Auspice changes: transition of FMCP programs is almost complete; Catholic Charities is transitioning to CPA of NYS; Human First and UCP of NYC have entered into a management agreement.
- The mechanism for the application process for enhanced funding in IRAs for individuals with intensive needs will be finalized soon. Central office will review the application and will continue reviewing every 6 months to determine whether enhanced funding is still needed.
- DQI has redesigned their survey protocols. Surveys will now be 3-fold: site review, review of all waiver services received by specific individuals, and agency review of policy and procedures. There was a training via Webex 9/12 and 9/20.
- City News – Sandra Piggee
Agencies are gearing up for newly funded vocational, clinical, and autism services. There are 41 new and existing autism programs.
- IAC – Wini Schiff
- Peter Pierri has retired. Richard Bosch is Acting Director for the duration of the search process.
- 853 schools got a 4% increase but 4410s got only 2%. The State Education Department requested 4% for 4410s, but there was much resistance from the counties because the counties bear a large share of the 4410 costs and they have a tight growth cap. There are serious teacher and assistant teacher losses and vacancies because these positions are much more highly paid in the district schools. Some classes have delayed openings because they could not recruit enough staff. State Ed and the Regents as well as legislators are supportive of increases to these schools, but the Governor is not.
- The DSP vacancy and turnover rates are terrible. We are headed toward crisis. All the provider associations have joined the #Bfair2directcare campaign to raise the salaries of DSPs and other low-wage workers. A bill has passed that would require a determination of how much money would be needed to increase salaries enough to reverse the trend. The bill has not yet been delivered to the Governor. The NYS minimum wage is going up and OPWDD agencies are scheduled to receive funding to raise salaries to the minimum level. The #Bfair campaign is proposing funding of $45 million per year for the next 6 years to raise salaries to an average of $17.72/hour in NYC and LI and $15.54/hour in other parts of the state. The campaign is requesting the following:
- o Send Wini info and photos of any DSP celebrations. She will publicize.
- o DSPs and families to send letters to the editors of their local newspapers
- o Reach out to important community figures to send letter to Governor
- o Boards of directors to pass resolutions
- o Visit with legislators
- o Host a news conference
- COPA, the coalition of 5 provider associations, will lobby together, holding joint lobby days February 28 and March 1, with the primary day being March 1.
- The last budget had $2 billion for housing. We requested $100 million of that, but no agreement has been reached between and Governor and the Legislature on a spending plan.
VII. Federation – Jim Malley
There will be an initial meeting of DD council representatives September 27. The annual local plan meeting is scheduled for April 11, 2017.
VIII. Committee Reports
Family Support Services: Wendy De Leon distributed copies of the preliminary version of the Fair brochure (attached). The Fair will be held December 13, 2016. Volunteers are needed. Agencies are requested to identify people who can help.
The first meeting of the year was September 13. The committee worked on plans for the Fair and had a presentation on housing. For the next meeting, the chairs are trying to arrange a presentation on ISS. Next meeting: Tuesday, October 11, 2016, 10:00 am – noon, UCP of NYC, 80 Maiden Lane, 2nd floor training room. Information: Wendy De Leon 917-965-2950 x 109, wdeleon@ucpnyc.org.
Legislative: Jim Malley reported that the top issues are the 853 and 4410 rates, DSP salaries, and need for residential services. Next meeting to be announced. Information: Jim Malley 212-928-5810 x 101; jmalley@esperanzacenter.net.
Transition: Kathy Kelly reported that the committee met September 14 and had an overview of the work of the committee, transitioning young adults to adult day services. The committee consists of schools, providers, parents, service coordinators. All are encouraged to attend. In June Kathy and her counterparts from other boroughs attended a productive IAC meeting with 4410 and 853 schools regarding 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 announced that at the next meeting Donna Limiti will present an update of OPWDD efforts impacting people with developmental disabilities. Next meeting: Thursday, September 29, 2016, INCLUDEnyc, 116 East 16th Street, 5th floor. Information: Margaret Puddington 212-799-2042, Margaret.puddington@gmail.com.
MSC Committee: Carol Lincoln announced that Kathleen Kingston, OPWDD, will discuss the Front Door at the next meeting. Conflict-free case management will also be discussed. Next meeting: Friday, September 30, 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.