Manhattan DD Council Minutes 9/17/24

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

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

III. State News – James Doherty, Samrawit Tadesse

“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

V. IAC Report – Richard Bosch

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

Lobby Days

2/25 & 2/26
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 – Tomorrow 9/18 @ 10am, co-sponsored with FPIC

Focus on new allowable items, clinical justifications, policy changes
Covering intersection between Self-Direction budget and family reimbursement

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

Family Reimbursement Meeting – Tomorrow 9/18 @ 10am, co-sponsored with MFSSAC

Meeting every odd numbered month starting in October

Family & Professional Resource Fair

Seeking input for presentation topics of interest for 2025 fair

Transition Committee: Co-Chairs: Andrew Harris and Pat Liu Chang

On break for summer, getting started with meetings for new school year

Next Meeting

Wednesday, October 9th @ 10am (Zoom)
“What’s After High School? Navigating Services for Adults with I/DD”

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

Next Meeting:

Tuesday, October 15th, hybrid (in-person at Sinergia & virtual on Zoom)