1. Announcements: See Below
2. Changes at OPWDD
Acting Commissioner Laurie Kelley resigned, effective June 1, less than a year after being appointed. Executive Deputy Commissioner KerryDelaney will serve as Acting Commissioner and will also continue in her current role as the search for the next permanent OPWDD Commissioner gets underway. Kerry Delaney was appointed Executive Deputy Commissioner in January 2013; she previously served as OPWDD’s chief counsel. Laurie Kelley’s future plans are not known. No reasons have been given for her resignation.
OPWDD has experienced tremendous upheaval over the last 8 years. Tom Maul served as commissioner for 13 years (1993-2006), but since then we’ve had 4 commissioners (Laurie Kelley, Diana Ritter, Max Chumura, and Courtney Burke). This lack of continuity has come at a time of momentous changes affecting OPWDD services, especially the change from fee for service to managed care, where the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and the state Department of Health are playing larger roles than ever.
3. Summer Advocacy
There have been various advocacy efforts recently to urge new development of 24/7 residential services. This is families’ top priority throughout NYS. Over the summer and fall, we may undertake concerted efforts to visit our legislators to explain the vital importance of residential development and to make clear its impact on families and individuals. We anticipate that there will be legislative hearings on this issue in early fall. Thus the timing will coincide with the budget cycle: OPWDD submits its budget to the Governor in the fall; the Governor submits his budget proposals in January. We want to influence OPWDD to include funding for residential development in its budget and we want to create support among legislators and influence the Governor. We’ll keep members informed of all advocacy efforts.
4. Update on the Statewide Family Support Services Committee
As Margaret reported previously, OPWDD’s statewide Family Support Services Committee discussed at its last meeting how to ensure families’ access to family support services in view of OPWDD’s discontinuation of statewide RFPs. Since that meeting the statewide committee has had two phone conferences and decided to make its next meeting, June 11, a working meeting to resolve some of the issues. The committee developed a formal agenda of questions and will have the relevant OPWDD staff attend the meeting in order to do some actual problem-solving. Some of the questions to be addressed are: the role of the Front Door/DDRO in identifying service gaps; how the Front Door will work with the FSS Advisory Councils to address gaps in services; the need to develop a mechanism for expanding existing family support services and/or creating new services, both waiver and non-waiver grant programs; the need to assure that people receiving the waiver service Consolidated Supports and Services (CSS) have access to non-waiver family support services. There are many other questions as well. The committee intends to work through the questions at the meeting and schedule additional videoconferences if necessary to get resolution on all questions.
5. Elections of Officers of the Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Council
Elections were held, and the following officers were elected:
Chair: Margaret Puddington
Executive Committee: Kate Bini, Trish Chapman, Lynn Decker, Caroline Grant, Michael Haas, Linda Irby, Sharon Nelson, Joey Perez, Lori Podvesker, Elly Rufer, Ursula von Wartburg, Susan Williams, Yee Wah Yee.
6. Presentation: NYC Family Information and Resources Network, by Elly Rufer
Elly Rufer & Meri Krassner recently founded the NYC Family Information and Resources Network. Recognizing that parent advocates are aging and a new leadership generation is needed, Elly explained that this network will serve to prepare new families to become strong advocates through a mentor/mentee program. Additionally, the network will be a source of information for parents via meetings, a website, and other avenues. Please see attached description:nycfirn Intro 6, nycfirn policy 6
7. Speakers: Improving Medical Care Through Technology, presented by Dr. Lela Mayers, Chief of Medicine; Kathryn Butvick, RN, Chief Nursing Officer; and Carolyn Driscoll, Research Associate, LMSW; Premier HealthCare.
The speakers gave an excellent overview of the incredible possibilities of telemedicine/telehealth: the use of technology to remotely deliver health services to patients and to provide preventive services such as health education and supports. Through technology, for example, patients can have home visits, nurses and doctors can have consultations with other physicians, patients can access nursing call centers, staff can be supervised by videoconferences, patients can be taught to use medical equipment, and patients can participate in support groups, to name just a few services. The benefits are countless: improved access to care, decreased costs, improved quality of care, and improved patient satisfaction. Please see the attached powerpoints for more information: Lela Mayers ppt, Telehealth ppt
Announcements:
Family Support Services Committee
Tuesday, September 9, 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, June 11, 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
To Be Announced
Information: Christina Muccioli (212) 780-2532; Christina.muccioli@ahrcnyc.org
Service Coordination Committee
To Be Announced
Information: Carol Lincoln (718) 859-5420 x 225; Clincoln@ucpnyc.org
DD Council
Thursday, June 12, 2014, 9:30 am
AHRC, 83 Maiden Lane, 11th floor conference room
Information: Marco Damiani (212) 273-6188; Marco.damiani@yai.org
Attached: powerpoints, and announcements: