Minnesota Statewide Independent Living Council"Creating the future of Independent Living through guidance and direction from people with disabilities"
Meeting Minutes for March 8, 2007
Members Present: Roberta Cich, Barbara Chromy, Mark Eggen, Bryan Jensen, Lois Johnson, Larry Lura, Judy Sanders, Hulet Sherry, Julia Washenberger, Ann Zick, Linda Lingen (ex-officio), David Sherwood-Gabrielson (ex-officio).
Members Absent: Connie Lee Berg (Excused), Vicki Dalle Molle (Excused), Adrienne Haugen (Excused).
Guests Present: David Hancox.
Staff Present: Gail Lundeen.
Approval of February 2007 minutes and March 2007 agenda.
Lingen moved to accept the February 2007 minutes with the following corrections:
- Mark Eggen's absence should be recorded as an approved absence.
- This SILC meeting is on March 7th, not March 8th.
- Roberta Cich noted that there was not formal acceptance of the IL mission statement. This does not need to be corrected in the minutes, but will be revisited in a subsequent meeting.
Zick seconded the motion. Motion passed with all in favor.
Cich announced that the March meeting agenda would be modified to hear an update on legislative issues from David Hancox, on behalf of MACIL.
MACIL Update - David Hancox
Additional funding for the statewide IL service coverage
- The Centers have been working to restore funding to the pre-2003 level and to seek additional funding to achieve statewide IL service coverage.
- Identical bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to provide additional funding for Centers for Independent Living in Minnesota. The bills request an additional $2.5 million to be added to the current base, bringing state funding to $4.1 million.
- David Hancox summarized the impact of various levels of new funding on Centers, and on the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) goals for statewide IL service delivery. (Please see the attached MACIL Network Plan.)
- In the Minnesota House, the IL funding bill (HF873) was authored by Representative Rukavina, Chair of the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Policy and Finance Committee. In the Senate, the IL funding bill (SF867) was authored by Senator Tomassoni, Chair of the Economic Development Budget Division Committee.
- In the Senate, SF867 will be rolled into the omnibus funding bill by 3/19/07. In the House, the third committee deadline in 4/7/07, and the timing is less clear.
- Hancox urged the SILC to officially support the Center's efforts to achieve statewide service coverage, which is consistent with the SPIL's framework. He also encouraged SILC members to express their support for this funding effort as individuals. Questions or further communication with MACIL should be directed to Cara Ruff, President of MACIL.
- Washenberger asked if there was a way for MACIL to set up a list serve for legislative alerts on the MACIL website. David Hancox indicated that MACIL would be willing to consider doing that, if that would be of benefit to IL constituents.
HF 408 and SF 473, referred to as "The Language Bill"
- In a rewrite of the DHS policy manual on Medicaid funded services, Centers were not included in the list of approved contractors for certain DHS-funded programs, such as community-based waivered services. Many of the Centers have been providing IL services and continuing to be a recognized contractor is critically important to these Centers. MACIL has been working with the Department of Human Services staff on the language in the Bill. DHS supports the language changes.
Disability Linkage Line
- The Disability Linkage Line (DLL) was designed in 2005 and became operational in 2006. DLL is a one stop call center that provides information, referral, and follow-up to requests for information on disability-related programs and resources statewide.
- The DLL was not included in the Governor's Budget for DHS, and efforts are underway to secure $800,000 to retain this unique service.
- In the Minnesota House, Representative Hosch will be authoring an amendment to the DHS funding bill.
- A similar bill is to be authored in the state Senate, and efforts are underway to find an author. Conversations are being held with Senator Lynch about legislation to fund the DLL.
SILC Letter Supporting CIL Services
Cich reviewed a letter drafted in support of the network of independent living services. The Council suggested minor modifications to the draft letter. Cich, with assistance from the DSU, will edit, sign, and send the letter.
MOTION: Judy Sanders moved that the SILC send a letter informing legislators about the importance of Centers for Independent Living in Minnesota. Lois Johnson seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
SPIL Planning
Goals and Objectives:
Goal A: Improve SILC Advocacy.
Objective A1: Educate SILC members on effective communication with the Legislature.
Strategies
A1.1: Provide training to SILC members.
Target Date: 2/1/08 and ongoing.A1.2: Develop tools for member orientation packet.
Target Date: 2/1/08 and ongoing.
Responsible Committee/s and/or Partner/s:
Objective A2: Develop effective communication network, e.g. list serve.
Strategies
A2.1: Develop a list serve for information on priority SILC issues.
Target Date:A2.2: Develop SILC member list serve.
Target Date:A2.3: Disseminate IL issues to network through action alerts.
Target Date:Responsible Committee/s and/or Partner/s:
Objective A3: Advocate for the development of a statewide Olmstead plan through public education and collaborative activities.
Strategies
A3.1: Advocate for sufficient numbers of inclusive, accessible and affordable living options based on informed consumer choice.
Target Date:A3.2: Award Part B grants to remaining Centers for Independent Living. OPTIONS CIL and FREEDOM CIL will be awarded contracts of $32,500 in FY 2008, for expanding or improving the delivery of services to implement the Olmstead decision;
Target Date:A3.3: Develop fact sheets regarding the status of the Olmstead implementation in Minnesota.
Target Date:Responsible Committee/s and/or Partner/s:
Goal B: Enhance SILC Outreach Efforts.
Objective B1: Document Statewide Independent Living Needs.
Strategies
B1.1: Plan and conduct, at a minimum, one statewide multi-site consumer forum, public hearing or other event annually.
Target Date:B1.2: Develop and implement an on-line IL needs survey.
Target Date:B1.3: Work in collaboration with other interested parties to sponsor regional focus groups on IL needs in the areas of transportation, housing, and other IL service areas.
Target Date:B1.4: Evaluate the results of public forums, hearings, on-line needs survey, focus group data, other sources, as well as the Centers consumer satisfaction surveys.
Target Date:B1.5: Compile and distribute SILC annual report.
Target Date:Responsible Committee/s and/or Partner/s:
Objective B2: Identify and target new populations for inclusion in the IL needs assessment.
Strategies
B2.1: Inform diverse populations statewide of, and ensure access to, independent living concepts and philosophies through targeted outreach.
Target Date:B2.2: Review existing needs assessments (e.g. Wilder, other surveys on homeless population, veterans, or other group needs) to identify unserved and underserved populations, both by disability and ethnic group.
Target Date:B2.3: Compile and summarize findings from needs assessments and disseminate information through the IL network.
Target Date:B2.4: Collaborate with CILs on methods to reach target populations, including best practices, resource requirements, and service delivery options for identified groups.
Target Date:Responsible Committee/s and/or Partner/s:
Objective B3: Increase recruitment activities to seek potential SILC members.
Strategies
B3.1: Outreach to identify groups or organizations with potential members who could serve on the SILC.
Target Date:B3.2: Create a recruitment packet for potential members,
Target Date:B3.3: Disseminate recruitment packet to identified organizations or individuals.
Target Date:B3.4: Encourage SILC members take an active role in recruiting new applicants for SILC membership.
Target Date:B3.5: Draft a SILC informational letter, describing the role and responsibility of it's members, geared towards employers of potential and current members of the SILC.
Target Date:Responsible Committee/s and/or Partner/s:
Objective B4: Enhance SILC website to provide outreach.
Strategies
B4.1: Add links to training sites.
Target Date:B4.2: Create registry/guestbook.
Target Date:B4.3: Add reciprocal links to the site.
Target Date:B4.4: Keep updated events calendar.
Target Date:B4.5: Create a tool to document the number of persons who access the website.
Target Date:Responsible Committee/s and/or Partner/s:
Goal C: Expand the Independent Living Network
Objective C1: Encourage collaboration of IL service providers throughout the state.
Strategies
C1.1:
Target Date:C1.2:
Target Date:Responsible Committee/s and/or Partner/s:
Other Discussion
- The following topics were set aside for future discussion:
- Mentorship program for new members
- SILC white paper regarding the status of Olmstead implementation in Minnesota
- Emergency preparedness
- Assistive technology
- Identify one core IL service and provide resources for the expansion, or enhancement of that service for Centers for Independent Living.
- A subgroup review of federal law requirements (list – from pre-print template) and determine what needs to be transferred over to the state plan.
- Cich reviewed the following SPIL tasks that will need to be completed:
- Review the SPIL pre-print
- Review the network of CIL's
- Determine a budget
- Determine how Part B dollars will be allocated
The following approaches were agreed upon:
- Lingen, Zick, Johnson, Jenson, and Washenberger will meet on Wednesday evening, April 11 to review the federal requirements in the pre-print, which are primarily administrative in nature. They will recommend to the full Council what should continue in the new SPIL.
- The objectives and strategies that are developed at today's meeting will be sent out by email for Council member review and comment.
- Prior to the April meeting, the review of the network of CIL's will be discussed through email.
- MACIL network for independent living recommendations need to be reviewed by members via email. Send back comments.
The meeting adjourned at 3:00.
