Manhattan DD Council Minutes 3/21/23

By Andrew Harris

Posted May 23, 2023

In DD Council Minutes, Minutes

Manhattan Developmental Disabilities Council

www.manhattanddcouncil.org

Next Meeting

Tuesday April 18th, 2023

10:00 A.M.

Virtual Zoom meeting

Meeting ID: 933 3291 9204

Passcode: 183158

Manhattan Developmental Disabilities Council Minutes

March 21st , 2023

I. Introductions

The January minutes are posted on the Council website. If you would like to refer to past minutes, they are always available on the DD Council website: (www.manhattanddcouncil.org).

III. Announcements

ManhattanDDcouncil@gmail.com. Please send all information and flyers to the email address. All non-fundraiser events can be posted on the website.

We will continue our meetings via zoom and we appreciate everyone who participates

NYC FAIR Town Hall on HCBS waiver settings rules changes on January 26th – OPWDD and NYCLU representatives sharing info. Registration required. Questions being solicited ahead of meeting.

NYC FAIR: Town Hall on HCBS Waiver Settings Rules Changes, 1/26/23 Register Here:https://forms.gle/RCvU3Hy8wYBsy7Y69

ADAPT Community Network – formerly UCP of New York City

Please contact ADAPT Community Network’s Project Connect at 877-827-2666 or projectconnect@adaptcommunitynetwork.org. We have openings in Family Reimbursement, Com. Hab, Home Modifications, ISS, Housing Assistance Services. We are offering telehealth services via Station MD and Day Hab Admissions is running virtually. contact mhwang@adaptcommunitynetwork.org or 718-594-7374 or Kliebman@adaptcommunitynetwork.org

Contact projectconnect@adaptcommunitynetwork.org or call 877-827-2666.

ADAPT Community Network is offering a free webinar “How to Understand the Meaning of Your Child’s Challenging Behavior” on Thursday, January 19th 10 am – 11:30 am where you’ll learn positive hands-on coping strategies. Our speaker is Susan Cuoccio who has a Master of Science degree in Special Education with a concentration on autism. Spanish and Cantonese translation will be provided. Registration is required.

Advance Care Alliance

Please contact Frida Valdez, the Outreach Coordinator at ACA/NY. directly at frida.valdez@myacany.org/ 646-633-6842 to discuss the unique support provided for families in our pre-enrollment process into ACA/NY CCO (Care Coordination Organization).

We can assist with applying for OPWDD eligibility, scheduling/completing Psych/ Social/Telehealth Medical evals/ADOS assessments when applicable, and obtaining Medicaid for enrollment into our CCO for Care Management services. We also have:

•Specialized Admissions Coordinator who can help navigate more complex enrollment cases.

•Cultural Liaisons who speak Cantonese, Mandarin, and other languages.

•The Linkage Admissions Coordinator will assist with linking people with healthcare needs before enrolling.

Let us know if you have any questions, as we are here to support you! Thank you.

Unique Care Community Services

We have openings in our Group Day Hab, Com-Hab and Respite program. We are accepting individuals. Please email me at ajames@uniquecarenyc.org I can also be reached at 347-784-4622

Goodwill NYNJ

We have openings in our Day Habilitation without walls focusing on employment, Respite, and Advance services located in East Harlem If you have any questions please call or email at lstilson@goodwillny.org or (347)906-2556, thank you!

Ohel Bais Ezra

Family reimbursement funds available Manhattan and Queens

Call 718-686-3451 or email Communityservices@ohelfamily.org

YAI

Transition To Independence: The Transition to Independence Program is available to people, ages 17-21, who have a diagnosis of autism and live at home with family in Manhattan. Limited spots are available for Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island residents. The program is open to people who are not currently receiving OPWDD HCBS waiver services (ex: Self Direction, respite, NYSTART/CSIDD, community habilitation, day habilitation, supported employment, etc.) and those who do not have OPWDD eligibility.

For more information or a referral please email LINK@YAI.ORG or call 212-273-6182.

Funds still available for emergency respite.

Travel Training workshops for staff, parents and caregivers. In the workshop, we will discuss the Travel Training program in detail, including the stages of training and pre-service documentation. Please feel free to email TravelTraining@yai.org.

All inquiries should be directed to YAI LINK at 212 273 6182 or link@yai.org. You can also fill out a Getting Started form to begin the screening process.

Holiday Respite (ages 6 to 18)

Overnight Respite (ages 5+)

Parents with Special Needs: Program to empower parents with I/DD to strengthen parent/child interaction and enhance independence. The program focuses on goals identified by the parents to enhance their effectiveness and lead a balanced parenting lifestyle.

In-Home Behaviour Management

Social Skills (ages 9+)

You and I Social Networking Skills (ages 18+): This group offers adults the opportunity to learn social and dating skills in a structured setting.

Independent Living Skills (ages 18+): A series of 12-week group sessions, providing the opportunity for adults to learn and develop skills in a group setting. A parent/caregiver education component is also included to help families bring the information home.

NY START(CSIDD)

212-273-6300

Accepting referrals. Provide help with conflict and behavior needs.

Crisis intervention. Coordinators on call 24/7. Crisis line available

February 21^st on line training.

NYLPI – Looking for services for immigrants with disabilities that do not require Medicaid. NYPLI has free services and trainings available on future planning, guardianship, and special education rights; call 212-244-4664 for information or by requesting assistance online www.nylpi.org/get-help. We also provide a resource guide every Friday https://nylpi.org/resource/special-education-remote-learning-information-contacts-resources-links/

Sinergia– Offering Service coordination and Family Reimbursement to all Boroughs. We also offer non-Medicaid Free Evaluations and case management for Manhattan residents. We have openings in our Day Habilitation program and our employment program. Please feel free to reach out Jsantana@sinergiany.org There is also Housing Advocacy available as well https://www.sinergiany.org/services/housing-assistance

Esperanza has a day hab program in Washington Heights, and funds available for transportation reimbursement for Manhattan only. 212-928-5810

GHO– GHO has openings:

FSS services(Family Reimbursement and Case Management, Medicaid is not required)

Medicaid Waiver services (Employment program, including SEMP, ETP/Pathway, community based pre-voc., Day Hab w/o walls, site-based Day Hab, Com-Hab and respite. Bilingual staff speaking in Chinese, Korean and ASL available

Info/questions:

call: 718-307–6563/ 6564/6570.

Email: pat@ghoinc.org

GHO has contract with CDNY continue to assist Chinese and Korean speaking families enrolling into Care Design’s care management regardless of language barrier. Speak to Joe Tan 718-2616552 ext. 2054. Workshop on April 7 at 11:00AM

The Center for Discovery. We are an OPWDD run residential facility, as well as DOE run school. We are currently accepting applications for residential placement. Please have anyone interested have their school district send the child’s referral packet to us directly. Call me with any questions 845-649-5104 or slivanos@tcfd.org. Website: www.tcfd.org. We are also working on a brand new DDPC partnership grant for restraint and seclusion reduction analysis for all of NYS. If you would like to participate please reach out to help! Opening children’s hospital in 2021.

Health Care Advocate ICAN. Please contact Lynn Decker, ldecker@cidny.org 646-442-4188. I am the designated participant advocate for enrollees in the FIDA-IDD plan with Partners Health Plan, and can assist others enrolled in Medicaid Managed Care plans.

Elmys Silvia Navas from family reimbursement we have opening for Queen and Brooklyn we are accepting applications. Please feel free and contact me at 917-324-6825 or 718-789-7539

Goodwill- opening in Harlem Dayhab without walls

Summertime Gallery – an art studio + gallery for artists with and without disabilities pushing towards a more inclusive art world. We currently have two exciting groups we have during the week.

Studio Hours is a virtual group where we use different prompts, materials, and mediums to create art together. This is less of a step by step class but more of an art family/community where artists encourage and support each other.

Our second group is Art Walks + Talks. This hybrid group consists of visiting art museums or galleries in person every other week, and the opposing week we are virtual and create art using inspiration from the week prior. This group is great for those who want to immerse themselves in the NYC art world.

These groups accept Self-Direction and fee-for-service. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to anna@summertimegallery.org or check out our website at Summertimegallery.org

Open the Lid– We offer Individual and Group, Web-Based Empowerment Classes that teach self-regulation, self-advocacy and communication skills in a supportive, inclusive community with neurodivergent people and allies.

Open the Lid Web -Based Empowerment Classes for any age, label or location

VIRTUAL COFFEE: HTTPS://www.openthelid.com/coffee

FREE TRIAL www.openthelid.com

EMAILsupport@openthelid.com

CALL/TEXT 607-339-8092

CARES Article 16 and Article 31 clinics– FSS Grant in Brooklyn and are able to provide free evaluations for individuals looking to obtain OPWDD eligibility. Please contact me at pratz@caresnyc.org or 212-420-1970 ext. 123

MTA Accessibility Coming Soon OMNY Reduce Fare Training Please Contact Sara Bahri Systemwide Accessibility sara.bahri@nyct.com set up date time on zoom Please Update Reduced-Fare Metro Cards Information no photo need https://new.mta.info/fares/how-to-apply-reduced-fare-metrocard need print out page only address phone and email address mail Mail to MTA Reduce Fare 130 Livingston St Brooklyn Ny 11201

reduce fare OMNY go on https://reducefare.mta.info/omny-registration

if need to Presentation Disability systemwide email accessibility@mtahq.org seniors Call mta Government 646-252-2660 link omny.info Baby stroll my mtainfo/accessibility

Please visit the MTA website for the redesign of the new buses from the Bronx into Manhattan. New elevator in Times square.

NY foundation for seniors– Home care program is looking to talk to people who are interested in housing

Metro community health centers-4 centers available in Staten Island, Manhattan, Bronx and Manhattan dental

Lifespire has immediate openings in behavior management and parent training in Manhattan. Email Jay Kleinman at jkleinman@lifespire.org for further information or to make referrals

Anchor Health – Independent from OPWDD. We service both children and adults(contact info in chat) At Anchor Health, we provide compassionate, skilled, person centered home care services to individuals and families.

Anchor’s home health aids are trained in crisis intervention, IDD and mental/medical health and are supervised by a licensed clinical social worker. Our home health aids make it possible for people to live more satisfying lives in their homes. We are Medicaid funded and are independent from OPWDD. I can be reached at 347-709-9181 or psych1325@gmail.com for assistance or inquiry.

Gateway Counseling Center– We currently have openings for Group Day Hab site-based and Without Walls, Supplemental Group Day Hab, Pre Vocational (Pilot program), and Community Habilitation for Manhattan. To make a referral, I can be reached at (929) 237-7222 or via email mary.tejada@gccnyc.org

III. State News –James Doherty

Budget

Target investments 2.5%COLA for provider agencies
700 million towards increased costs for staff increases
20 billion through supported housing imitative
Funding for legislation to train support staff to administer medication and other nursing
Funding for crisis services for people who are duly diagnosed
ITO upstate in the finger lakes campus to help support people with complex needs
Funding for ombudsman program that allows for conflict resolution
Increased Medicaid rates for oral health to have dentists spend more time with people in the IDD population.
1 million for IBR to do research , how IBR aligns with OPWDD strategic goals.
Programs reform and to ensure people get the services they need.
March is DD month and OPWDD will be partnering with others to celebrate.
June is get outdoors and get together day across the state. NYC region river bank park.
HCBS rule compliance. Full compliance went into effect on March 17^th. It outlines different rights for the individuals. CMS will be doing targeted sight visits during July 23^rd 2023.

V. City News – Gavin Meyers

Local Services Plan for NYC – forward-looking public health needs assessment for NYC area, covering next 4 years. The planning is beginning again and is due in June. March 27^th will receive guidance from the sate and then will reach out to DD council chairs. City hopes to have information to the State by April 14^th. Housing and workforce were most urgent expressed concerns across boroughs.

New Covid vaccines and boosters for age 12+, bivalent shots designed for Omicron. Over 1.1 million NYers have received this shot. Available through CVS, Duane Reade, and other providers listed on city vaccine finder.

Currently 2.6% positive testing rate (percentage of tests coming back positive). Positivity trend decreasing 248 daily cases on average. Hospitalizations daily average is 16 and deaths also decreasing. It could be attributed to more immunity in the community.

COVID Treatment Options: People who have tested positive for COVID-19 may be able to receive outpatient treatment to help reduce COVID-19 symptoms and avoid hospitalization. Treatment usually works best if you begin it soon after you start feeling symptoms, so get tested right away.

Oral antiviral pills: These pills — taken daily for five days — help stop the virus from replicating. This reduces the amount of virus in your body. The FDA has authorized two pills to treat COVID-19 — paxlovid and molnupiravir. Both of these treatments are currently free. Learn more about treatment here!
Monoclonal antibody treatments are shown not to be effective against currently dominant strains of COVID-19 so are no longer authorized.

Booster Shots

New booster is available targeting the omicron subvariant. There is a two month period from your most recent vaccine or if you had covid please wait 90 days.
At least one vaccine booster shot is recommended for everyone 12 and older who is fully vaccinated.
If you are eligible, you can get your booster shot two months after you received your first booster. The second booster must be either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
We are still operating free in home vaccines. As well as transportation if you can not get to a site.
To find more information about the COVID-19 booster visit: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines.page

VI. IAC Report – Richard Bosch

Last week was a rally in Staten Island. 300 people were present
This coming Thursday is a rally at 11:00AM in Albany. In the Well.
The week of the 27^th is social media week of action. <More information to come
June 7&8 IAC annual conference. UJA conference center on 59thst.
Nursing schools in Florida are being investigated for issuing licenses to students that were not legitimate.
One house budget overview
IAC is looking for8.5% COLA and the governor approved 2.5%. The senate and Assembly agreed to 8.5%.
$4000.00 increase to DSP was not included.
Minimum wage both houses
Nursing tasks provided by DSP’s and non-certified setting. The Assembly rejected the proposal.
DOH Senate and Assembly agreed 11.5% to EI. There has not been an increase since 1994.
Looking for article 28 increase as well as Telehealth parody.
Proposal for inter state license compact.-rejected by state and assembly.
FI that get more authorizations for services than they have in their budget vs other agencies that have not been able to spend all of their money.
HCBS setting rules. Effective date was March 17^th. Technically it’s not fully in effect but agencies have been working on this.
Occupancy agreement-originally was called a lease.
CRO regulations the delaine dates has moved to June 14^th.

Education 853(school age) and 4410 (pre school) schools (Chris Treiber)

VIII Committee Reports:

Seeking 12-14% funding raise for schools
Early intervention – push for 11% increase in funding
State Ed has been asking for new tuition rate methodology Senate and Assembly agree that there should not be a cost neutrality cost.

Manhattan FSS Advisory Council: Co Chairs Jackie Goldberg and Mary McGuire-Weafer

Congratulations to Mary for speaking at the Staten Island rally

Workshop last week. Linda Shellenberg from CFS. A one page document on how to learn about me. Had over 40 people and 13 new participants. This is a great tool for doctors, schools, care givers, family members. Next workshop is camp and recreation

Family & Provider Information Committee: Co-chairs: Wendy De Leon & Luisa Eusse-Roché

March meeting featured speakers regarding some traditional and non traditional services for our population. Examples are the intrepid and the ballet

May meeting will be about the RSA and the SARF process. Demystify that for people.

Legislative Committee: Co-ChairsJim Malley & Lynn Decker

Citywide legislative virtual breakfast was on March 3^rd.

Over 500 people attended.

There are one click letters available that can be sent once a day! Send to your local politician. Our voices need to be heard! Every voice counts.

Transition Committee Co Chairs – Andrew Harris and David Summers

Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 8th – Manhattan Adult Services Meet & Greet

What’s next after high school? Join us online to learn more. A variety of organizations will be sharing about their programs and services, including adult day programs, employment services and more. Hope to see you there!

https://zoom.us/j/99720901827

Meeting ID: 997 2090 1827

Join by phone: 929-205-6099

Questions? aharris27@schools.nyc.gov

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us:

David Summers, AHRC NYC, david.summers@ahrcnyc.org

Andrew Harris, P138M, aharris27@schools.nyc.gov

New Business

Legislative Breakfast 2023

In PERSON family and provider resources fair!

June 14^th at the CUNY resource centre. Stay tuned for details.