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DD Subcommittee Meeting Minutes – April 5, 2016 DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SUBCOMMITTEE OF CORTLAND COUNTY Community Services Board April 5, 2016 1:00 P.M. Room 304 – County Office Building Members Present: Jeff Beal (Chair), Don Noble (Vice Chair), Aaron Baier, Ellen Wright, Jacquelyn Stegeland, Maria DeRado and Liesl Moheimani Members Excused: Rebecca Costa Others Present: Mark Thayer (Director), Tom Spillett (OPWDD Regional Office), Megan Crowe and Fran Burnham (MC ARC), Richard Anderson and Kimberly Corbett (JM Murray), Harold Baker (Go-Getters), Kathy Reynolds (Cortland Schools), Marianne Odell, Sandra Ehrlich, Kim Belden, and Jillian Perkins (Racker Center), Jennifer Thompson (Early Intervention), Elaine Fisher, Alexandra Huntington-Ofner (CCMH) and Gail Spitzer (Secretary) Call to Order: 1:02 p.m. by Chair, Jeff Beal MINUTES Agenda Item: Approval of Meeting Minutes Jeff Beal asked for motion to approve Motion to approve minutes of March 1, 2016 made by Aaron Baier, seconded by Ellen Wright. With no further discussion minutes passed unanimously Introductions Agenda Item: Starry Nite Respite House Presentation Kim Belden and Jill Perkins Kim Belden, Regional Director, overseeing several group homes, Jill Perkins hired to oversee Starry Nite – Roster from the time Starry Nite opened, served 72 individuals – opened up to Tioga and Tompkins Counties, majority from Cortland County – Serves over age 3 – currently open Friday through Sunday – hoping to be able to offer more hours including week days – Sandy Ehrlich: house originally approved for 7 days per week, told by OPWDD to begin with weekends, after State would not fund week days – eligibility determined by service coordinators – applications leads to enrollment, tour – Jeff: what accommodations for crisis? Jill, try to make arrangements – five people (guests) per weekend, average staff determined by guests’ needs, minimum 2 or 3 – Medical staff shared with 4 or 5 other homes, nurse on call 24 hours per day / have been able to successfully accommodate all needs, so far – Jeff: what can be done to help OPWDD grant more respite hours? Kim, grant applications written every year – Marianne: if State cuts waiver respite rates, there will be big impact on Starry Nite, may no longer be a viable option – July 1, 2016 date for first rate cut – programs offered to guests designed to be fun retreat-like activities Update: Fran Burnham from MC ARC provide brochures relative to the Camp ARCO program for the coming year- Inclusive, virtual camp, work with families, for children ages 5 to 17, provide support staff and transportation, number of support staff will depend on number of children participating, arrangements discussed with families – children need to be eligible but not necessarily on waiver, can serve child with any documented disability – siblings cannot participate this year Agenda Item: Membership Vacancy Discussion Mark Thayer briefly explained the structure and purpose of the Community Services Board and the relation to the MH, CD and DD Subcommittees / Don Noble gave a brief history and change in purpose of the government structure / Jeff Beal: the people who attend these meeting all share ideas and work together – the voting aspect of membership represents only a small part of the work of the Subcommittee – well attended by dedicated, highly valued people willing to volunteer their time and participate. Jeff Beal welcomed Elaine Fisher who would like to be considered for membership in the DD Subcommittee. Elaine has two children, with special needs – as parents there have positive experiences, working with most programs in Cortland County, with successful outcomes – Elaine is also a speech therapist Harold Baker is also interested in becoming a member. Mark stepped out of the room with Elaine Fisher and Harold Baker. Gail Spitzer: Rebecca Costa volunteered to step down from membership when needed, due to her many conflicts of schedule and inability to attend many meetings. She will continue to attend as her schedule allows. Jeff Beal highlighted the contributions of each candidate. Gail will reach out to Rebecca, explaining the process for the new members will not be finalized (after CSB and Legislative approval) until July. On behalf of Chair, Jeff Beal, Gail asked for a motion to recommend the nomination of Harold Baker as a member of the DD Subcommittee to the Community Services Board Motion made by Aaron Baier, seconded by Jacquie Stegeland – all in favor, none opposed Pending the resignation of Rebecca Costa: Motion made by Aaron Baier to recommend the nomination of Elaine Fisher as member of the DD Subcommittee to the Community Services Board – seconded by Ellen Wright – all in favor, none opposed ---PAGE BREAK--- DD Subcommittee Meeting Minutes – April 5, 2016 - 2 - Conversation: Nominations will be brought to the CSB to approve, with that approval, a resolution will be brought by the Chair of the Cortland County Legislature for final approval Conversation / Update: Liesl Moheimani discussed events after her meeting and presentation at the Rotary Club – information for follow-up had been provided attendees and there was no feedback, despite the interest shown – Liesl has been considering other options, meeting with other community business leaders – offering employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities, in either existing or new options is the goal – one option is the new Cooperative Extension “Farm to School” project being explored. She will meet with others in the area and continue to look at options. Agenda Item: Second article in Cortland Standard Jeff Beal passed around copies of the second article published in the newspaper, written by Katie Keyser. Jeff thanked Sandy Ehrlich for helping to facilitate the article. Agenda Item: Director’s Report (copy provided) Mark Thayer → Corporate Compliance – OMIG (Office of Medicaid Inspector General) 2009 Audit – reply from State received March 15, 30 days to reply – working with Conference of Local Mental Hygiene / hopeful for either significant reduction or complete overturn – this includes three other counties in NYS in similar process, this may appear in newspaper Updates from Alex (Alexandra Huntington-Ofner) → May is MH Awareness month: Walk, May 25 (will be a longer walk than previous years) – MHA Dinner May 5 → Youth MH First Aid – Alex and Christopher Driscoll conducting 2 trainings – two half days (April 21, 22) and one full day (May 21) – flyers provided – contact [EMAIL REDACTED] or [PHONE REDACTED] → IRT (Innovative Readiness Training) opportunity for free medical care, walk in for all services except vision, dental and veterinary services which require appointment; July 15 to 24, 2016 – information will be released soon → “The Big Event” sponsored by SUNY Cortland – students and any voluntary community members will do work in and around peoples’ homes – will rake, garden, paint etc. at no charge, event to be held Sunday, April 24 – last year there were over 300 volunteers Regional Updates → Magnarelli and Congressman Katko meetings six county region – coordinate variety of funding streams, intended to reduce hospitalizations by providing a variety of crisis services and increased respite availability – meetings began when State began reducing the number of hospital beds – primary focus is youth population State → Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors’ Statewide Meeting May 1-3 in Albany Conflict with next DD Subcommittee meeting – can meeting date be moved one week: YES – Next DD Subcommittee meeting will be May 10, 2016 → DSRIP – Encourage agency representatives to get involved in the DSRIP process, if not already – Mark will help anyone connect → State system updates – links provided for new information → State Budget passed – minimum wage increase directly affects hiring and maintaining staff by agencies Agenda Item: 2017 County Plan Discussion – Preparation for Joint CSB/Subcommittee Meeting Survey attached to packet, will also be emailed – this helps to quantify the needs of Cortland County in advance of completing and submitting the Plan – deadline for submission: June 1, 2016 – Changes in requirements – form asks for rankings of priorities in our County make sure they are highlighted on the County Plan – links to the questions are provided for more detailed explanation Please complete survey on paper or electronically and return to Gail – for next DD Subcommittee meeting the data will be aggregated; this along with last year’s plan can be used in preparation for 2017 Plan - Joint CSB / Subcommittee meeting: May 24, 2016 – 4:00 p.m. Legislative Chambers of the County office Building Agenda Item: Updates – Schools, Agencies, State Representatives Jeff Beal with Sandy Ehrlich, presented at the EDPRT, well received Discussion about agency reporting – what information would be relevant – Jeff and Don asked agencies to review – how to get more involvement from schools, get more data from State Agenda Item: Adjourn Chair, Jeff Beal adjourned the meeting 2:30 p.m. Next Regular Meeting: Tuesday, May 10, 2016 – 1:00 p.m. NOTE: All approved minutes are available upon request - Gail L. Spitzer [EMAIL REDACTED] [PHONE REDACTED] (Posting to website currently unavailable)