- Introductions were completed.
- Minutes There was a technical problem with the distribution list and last month’s minutes did not go out. They 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: Flyer Distributed at Meeting Available Here
–Please remember to pay your dues which help support our events throughout the year. You can reap many benefits when paying your dues.
AHRC
See attached flyers for program vacancies
AHRC relocated it’s Day Habilitation site from VanDam Street to 101 Norfolk Street on the Lower East Side.
ADAPT Community Network – formerly UCP of New York City
See attached flyers for all upcoming programs as well as program vacancies
–Mercy Drive
See attached flyers for all upcoming programs as well as program vacancies and other various programs available
-QSAC
See attached flyer for program vacancies
Openings in the after school programs
-Ohel Bais Ezra
Family reimbursement funds available Manhattan and Queens
Call 718-686-3451 or email Communityservices@ohelfamily.org
-YAI
Information is attached for service vacancies. For information about any YAI programs, please call 212-273-6182, or email link@yai.org.
-NY START
212-273-6300
Accepting referrals. Provide help with conflict and behavior needs.
Crisis intervention. Coordinators on call 24/7. Crisis line available
-Tri County Care
availability in all Boroughs and NY State for care coordination
Birch Family Services
See attached flyers for details
Elmy’s Special Services Inc
See attached flyer for details
Disabled in action
January 13th 1:30-PM-4:00PM. Selis Manor on 135 West 23rd St.
- State News – Ellen Bleckman, Mary Grace Giuliano
- The commissioner is leaving and moving to Partner’s Health Plan. Roger Bearden is now acting commissioner and acting deputy.
- Kate Bishop will be retiring soon. Date to be given at a later time.
- Regional offices Jackie Best is appointed as the head of all the Regional offices and she is able to streamline things forward.
- Liz Lonnergan has been appointed as Deputy Director for Region 4, covering Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx
- In Manhattan we are adding an extra Front Door information session every month to the already planned info sessions. They are trying to limit the amount of people who come from other boroughs
- Thursday December 20th will be the first meeting with OPWDD and the 3 CCO’s in New York City. This will a bi-monthly meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to have better communication with OPWDDD and the 3 CCO’s.
- There has not been an update on what is happening with the optional special ID cards resulting from legislation passed
- City News –
- Gavin Myers has been appointed as the new Liaison for the DD stakeholders
- IAC –
- Most recent staff survey is overtime numbers continue to go up and staff vacancies remain flat. The Campaign Be Fair to Direct Care continues this year as we advocate for the next installments to be included in the state budget
- Possible 2.9% COLA proposal on the table for this year’s budget
- Surveys for Early childhood education have gone out.
- Kids must have a flu vaccination by December 31st or schools can be fined $200-$20000 a day. The only exemption is medical or religious. However the Religious exemption is up to the school itself. It is estimated that 52% of kids would be out of compliance at this point
- There is a lot of ambiguity and concerns surrounding Staff Action Plans. Many providers have come up 1. Concerns of Billing compliance issues; 2. Getting information from the Life Plan. OPWDD is going to ask OMIG to put a moratorium on audit findings during the Transition period
- Medisked is saying that they are working on their issues and Life Plans are beginning to be uploaded.
- IAM assessment was supposed to happen with the whole team and be part of the planning process throughout. The provider assigned goals are not matching with the Life Plan goals.
- There was a recent training on Staff Action Plans The bullet points in the training are good but the providers and the Care Managers need to work together.
- Staff Action Plan webinar on YouTube
- In addition, the same subject matters was addressed at the Quarterly Care Coordination webinar, slides only available here:
- Mary Grace Giuliano stated that the plans should be driven by the individual but we should try as best as possible to ensure that the advocate and the providers should really work together to give everyone the best outcome possible.
- Lobby day is February 27th,
VII. Committee
Family & Provider Information Committee: Co-Chairs: Carol Lincoln and Jackie Ceonzo
The first few months have been great and the next few months to come have great meetings in the future.
Next meeting is Jan 22nd at AHRC New York City – 83 Maiden Lane – 11th Floor. The topic will be a presentation on START
Legislative Committee: Co-Chairs Jim Malley & Lynn Decker-
Lynn and Jim are inviting people to stay after today’s meeting to join the legislative breakfast
March 8th is the day for the legislative breakfast
Manhattan FSS Advisory Council: Co Chairs Jackie Goldberg and Mary McGuire-Weafer
- November 15th. The topic was family reimbursement programs. 18 agencies came to represent. The room was standing room only. If you need the list please contact Mary McGuire-Weafer.
- The next meeting is Tuesday January 15th at SNACK – Topic is Educational Advocacy
- Margaret congratulated both chairs on the amazing work they have done on the committee thus far.
The family support fair was a great success!!!!
Thank you to all of our sponsors who supported us. Because of the sponsorship we were able to have the event at a more central space. The Sponsors were: Metro DDRO; NYC DOHMH; NYC DOE – District 75; Advance Care Alliance; Care Design NY; Partners Health Plan & TriCounty Care.
495 people came of which 217 were families. It’s one of the highest percentages of families at the fair.
Some pictures went up on Facebook and the new directory and pictures will go up on the websites by next week.
Preliminary Feedback:
The space was very good. The extra side room should have announcements or other things there should be in another room
The dividing walls during the sessions are not as sound proof so be aware of the sound
The usability of the vendor map should be improved.
In past years vendors have left at 1PM but this year they stayed until 2PM as they definitely had more traffic.
VIII. New Business – Kathy Kelly
- No new business