Manhattan Developmental Disabilities Council
Next Meeting
Tuesday, November 12 2024
10:00 A.M.
Come and hear updates from providers, OPWDD, and New York City DOHMH
Learn what’s happening as we continue to work to ensure services and supports for people with I/DD!
Hybrid Meeting – Join In Person OR Virtual
In Person:
YAI
220 E. 42 Street 8th floor NY NY 10017
Virtual:
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/97723827673?pwd=CDw2MFQvdvNvaIMgxOWiumRPmPiCBV.1
Meeting ID: 977 2382 7673 / Passcode: 983899
One tap mobile: +19292056099,,97723827673#,,,,*983899#
Manhattan Developmental Disabilities Council Minutes
October 15, 2024
I. Introductions
The June 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
NY State Institute on Disability
Doris Khan
Family support service provider agency
Family reimbursement available for Manhattan families (camp, goods, services, etc.)
Jackie Tripodi, 929-202-1115, jtripodi@nysidinc.org
NYC FAIR
Upcoming town fair on CAS is canceled. Stay tuned for rescheduled town hall!
Sinergia
Openings for evaluations, case management, family reimbursement, housing advocacy, educational advocacy
Johana Santana, jsantana@sinergiany.org
YAI
Crisis Intervention – programs include in-home behavior management, in-home crisis counseling, independent living skills and social skills groups for Manhattan
Program to assist people who have IDD and children with IDD or that a person had IDD and the children do not. YAI can help support the entire family.
Latino health conference coming in October, see YAI’s website for more info
212-273-6200
GHO
Services available: Day hab, day hab without walls, prevocational, non-Medicaid case management to assist families seeking OPWDD eligibility, evaluations, CCO referral, family reimbursement, assistance for Chinese & Korean speaking families
Contact Pat Liu Chang, 718-307-6563, Pat@ghoinc.org
Lifespire
Openings in Manhattan behavior management & parent training program (virtual or in-person), no wait list
Call Jay Kleinman, 646-338-5632 or email jkleinman@lifespire.org
ADAPT Community Network
Housing assistance, home modifications, family reimbursement, day habilitation, community habilitation, respite & more
New clinic location in Bronx
Family Connect Summit happening 10/16 (virtual)
1-877-827-2666 for more info
QSAC
Openings in Manhattan day habilitation program, 718-728-8476 x1222, jnunez@qsac.com
Openings in non-Medicaid case management and SD broker services, 212-244-5560 x2059
Everett Community Services
Location in Brooklyn, openings in community habilitation & respite, day habilitation without walls (Bronx, available for Bronx & Manhattan residents)
Christopher O’Connor, 718-255-5946 x4056
Care Design NY
Care Coordination Organization (CCO), offering Care Manager services
Accepting new referrals, including those coming from other CCOs with wait lists
Assisting families through OPWDD eligibility, Medicaid enrollment, Medicaid waiver/parental deeming process
November 13th at the JCC fair?-get from virtual
Studio artist summertime galary.org
Show sex ,love and famtsy lives by 60 artists-November 1st.
Esparanza-site based day program in Manhattan the and the Bronx as well as recreational programs for adults.
III. State News – James Doherty, Samrawit Tadesse
Early voting starts on October 26th. We encourage all individuals to vote and care managers and residential facilities are responsible for helping individuals vote. Registration closes on October 26th
CDAPAP
9/30/24 Public partnership LLP with be NY state partnership with CDPAP. OPWDD has it’s own intermediary program through self direction which will remain as is. We did not anticipate any disruption. If you have a disruption please work with CM
COLA 2.84% 1.7 % includes targeted salary increased. Has been approved by DOB. Agencies should have gotten payment by 10/9
Evaluation f cc
35 interviews have been completed and 2 focus groups have ben completed. Report expected by 2025
9/27 HCBS approval of renewal application for 5 years. Maintains authority for comprehensive waiver. For over 100, 000 individuals we serve. 10/1/24-9/30-2029
Employment first services to increase employment rates Statewide for people with IDD and non IDD on 9/2024. Chief of disability officer will be responsible to make sure this is implemented. Trainings for state staff will come…more information in the chat
Comment from Ely-Employment . She went to the fair in Albany and it was energetics and there were no people with IDD represented.
Copy of briefing notes.
“More Than Work” Statewide DSP Recruitment Campaign
- Public website: www.directsupportcareers.com
- Interested providers, contact communications.office@opwdd.ny.gov
- Developed with American Rescue Plan Act funding
- Good response from job seekers and employers
Disability Voting Rights Week
- 9/9-16, just finished
- Raising awareness for voting rights, including those with disabilities
- Accessible voting equipment available at all polling places
- Election day: 11/5
- Michael Orzel, OPWDD National Voter Registration Act Liaison at michael.orzel@opwdd.ny.gov or (518) 474-2757
Accessing Life Podcast
- Led by people with lived experience, debut during Disability Pride Month
Self-Direction Program Evaluation
- Evaluation in progress
- Guidehouse is contracted agency conducting evaluation
Care Coordination Program Evaluation
- 35 individuals/families have been interviewed
- Care Manager & self-advocate focus groups
- Final report expected October 2025
Managed Care Program Evaluation
- Guidehouse conducting evaluation
- Report does not recommend full transition to managed care, recommends continuation of fee for service
- Some managed care recommendations regarding health and behavioral health care
- Recommendations for improving CCO model, services for people with complex needs
- Currently working well, HCBS service system, Care Management experiences
- Barriers to care: provider shortage, lack of specially trained providers, administrative process delays
- No decisions made at this point based on recommendations, OPWDD will consider recommendations guiding future decisions
Advocacy Services Office
- New OPWDD office reporting to commissioner
- Educating people about civil rights, educating decision makers about people’s lived experiences
NY State Budget
- Included funding for ombudsman program, Community Services Society of NY selected as administrator
- Facilitating effective delivery of services, referral to legal representation, data driven feedback to OPWDD
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
- Happening all month in October
- Activities planned statewide promoting employment
- OPWDD developing employment awareness video for employers, online resources
- Participating in governor’s Dream Employment Awareness Month initiatives
CSIDD
- Services for the Underserved no longer serving Staten Island & Brooklyn for CSIDD
- YAI serving these areas in the interim, seeking new provider contract
ADMs & Regulations
- New regulation drafts closing for public comments, comments due by 9/29
- Proposed changes to Pathway to Employment & Supported Decision Making
Tri-County Care Enrollment Pause
- Other CCOs serving NYC (ACA/CDNY) accepting new referrals including those from TCC
- Volume of referrals has been a major challenge for local CCOs
IV. Reyana Mckenzie, DOMHM
Community Service Board subcommittee position open for self-advocate
- Contact Reyana Mckenzie, rmckenzie@health.nyc.gov
- Group comprised of parents, providers, self-advocate wanted
- November 12th will be the next DD meeting. In person 2pm-3:30PM at the Gotham office. -link in chat.
- Vacancy for the DD sub committee which they would like to fill with life experience.
V. IAC Report – Richard Bosch
Richard seconds Ely’s proposal
SED- rate reform for 853 and residential schools-link in chat to get mailing
November 19th Rally in Albany-wear orange!
Lobby Days
- 2/25 & 2/26
- Education lobby days 5/6
DSP wages are not in line with the level of skills and responsibility. Legislature should create a wage study as we need to be competitive.
Enhance capital funding.
Compensation to state op staff get $28.00 to start vs $17.00 per hour. Upstate $25.00 hr vs $16.54 hour
Care Coordination
- Major challenges with CCO system capacity, timeliness for enrollment
Guidehouse Report
- Report recommendations echoed feedback from local DD Councils
Coalition of Whole Person Supports
- New policy paper released, detailing systems changes to OPWDD & I/DD services
- IAC coordinates appointments between advocates and state legislators
State Budget Policy Positions
- 7.8% increase to staff pay
Voter Registration Drive
- Sharing registration info widely in advance of election
New Provider Rates
- New provider-specific rates for services have been posted
Fiscal Intermediary Contracts
- Being updated
Day Habilitation Programs
- Some reports of not enough openings to serve all who need a program
Missing Person Notices
- New guidelines for reporting & circulating reports
- Updated photos of people supported very important
- Include police precent number, reporting agency, known locations
V. Manhattan DD Council Reports
Membership Dues
- Resuming dues collection for member provider agencies, email coming soon
- Dues had been on pause during Covid while events were slower
- Provide funding for annual events including Family & Professional Resource Fair & Legislative Breakfast
- Member agencies receive benefits: agency info and events posted on Manhattan DD Council website, discount on resource fair vendor table fees
VI. Committee Reports:
Manhattan FSS Advisory Council: Co-Chairs: Jackie Goldberg and Mary McGuire-Weafer
Family Reimbursement Meeting – 9/18 @ 10am, co-sponsored with FPIC
- Focus was on new allowable items, clinical justifications, policy changes
- Covering intersection between Self-Direction budget and family reimbursement
- Our council has officially submitted and approved our bylaws
- Future meetings –
- Respite and recreation self direction summit. If anyone has any questions please contact
- Parent support hosted by Ramapo
In two weeks Jackie will be attending the self direction summit. If you have any question
Family & Provider Information Committee: Co-chairs: Wendy De Leon & Luisa Eusse-Roché
Family Reimbursement Meeting – 9/18 @ 10am, co-sponsored with MFSSAC
- Meeting every odd numbered month starting in October
Next meeting November 13th. We would love to hear from family and providers what you need
Family & Professional Resource Fair
- Seeking input for presentation topics of interest for 2025 fair
Transition Committee: Co-Chairs: Andrew Harris and Pat Liu Chang
- Last meeting was on Wednesday, October 9th “What’s After High School? Navigating Services for Adults with I/DD”. We had great turnout and great questions from parents
- 12/11 hybrid meeting about legal guardianship at Sinergia.
- Save the date annual adult meet and greet 2/12 via zoom. Everyone will learn about Day Hab employment services and more.
Meeting second Wednesday of every other month (even numbered months)
- Planning to hold December, April & June meetings in person
- Stay tuned for Zoom & in-person meeting info!
Save the Date!
- Adult Services Meet & Greet
- Wednesday, February 12th @ 10am (Zoom)
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us:
Andrew Harris, P138M, aharris27@schools.nyc.gov
Pat Liu Chang, GHO, pat@ghoinc.org
New Business