May 14th, 2009

Meeting Location: Best Western- Mankato

Members Present: Judy Sanders, Ann Zick, Barbara Chromy, Roberta Cich, Vicki Dalle Molle, Larry Lura, Hulet Sherry, Ann Roscoe, and Jeffrey Nurick.

Members Absent: Jim Oneill, Connie Lee Berg, and Julia Washenberger.

DEED Staff Present: Brad Westerlund, Gail Lundeen, David Sherwood-Gabrielson, Linda Lingen, Kim Peck, Anne Paulson and JoLynn Blaeser.

Guests: David Hancox, Cara Ruff, Alan Augustin, Steve Thovson, Howard Rosten, Sarah Mullenbach, Doug Miller, Bonnie Jacobsen, Kathy Kluver, Craig Padgett, Ann Murray, Linda Jarvis, Beth Winter, and Jean Marti.

SMILES CIL Overview- Alan Augustin and Staff

SMILES was incorporated in 1989 and opened their doors in 1990. SMILES staff serves a nine county region, which includes Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan.

Staff is comprised of 24 employees, and 48 PCA’s.

SMILES CIL offers the four core IL services, and an array of other services that include: Assistive technology, ramp program, computer training and assistance, nursing home relocation, transition, social recreation, safety and emergency training, and PCA program.

The rural advantages for SMILES are less turnover, higher staff sustainability, less agency involvement, quality control and assistance. The rural challenges are diversity, transportation, implications of family/friends as PCA, and distances related to oversight. For a more detailed description of services offered at SMILES CIL, please go to www.smilescil.org

Building Stronger Partnerships- Kim Peck

Kim Peck: discussed the vision about building partnerships. The programs can’t stand alone and must work in partnership. Kim reviewed the stewardship of the federal and state dollars and the responsibility that goes along with that stewardship. We will be most effective by reaching out and building community partnerships. We have to look and refocus the larger community, understanding the needs and working with them effectively.

Kim discussed the RSIL collaboration – historically there has been tension between VRS and IL Centers. Kim understands the necessity in rebuilding these relationships. The VRS IL collaboration is an investment in independent living services for our customers. Early on there was some distrust and the kind of partnership that could exist. Kim believes that we have turned the dynamic and relationship around 180 degrees. Kim is quite proud of the relationship that has been developed. DEED VRS are looking at some “co presentation” with VRS and IL to demonstrate the partnership that has been developed.

This collaboration has set the stage for the developing stronger partnerships with our CRP’s. We are working on strengthening these relationships. Our role is to engage to better serve our customers.

Review of the new value proposition: VRS message. We cannot achieve this without collaborations. We now have stimulus dollars to contribute to the relationship building. We are here today to looking at ideas on utilizing these dollars. We appreciate your input on the use of these stimulus dollars. We know that the dollars are going to run out, so we want to consider sustainability.

We have turned a corner regarding our relationships and working together. In the past, there had been a philosophical difference about protecting VRS dollars and working in a silo. I believe that we have to work together.

At this time, we are seeing the work and value of the IL services in the field. The administrative office believes that there is a comfort level in just letting the good work continue.

Overview of SPIL goals and Stimulus Guidelines

Roberta reviewed the current SPIL goals and stimulus guidelines. See attached.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

Stimulus Package
IL (Part B) ARRA Funds

ARRA Principles

Spending Examples

IL Part B ARRA Similarities

2008-2010 Approved State Plan
Goals and Objectives

Goal A: Improve SILC Advocacy.

Objective A1: Educate SILC members on effective communication with the legislature.

Objective A2: Develop effective communication network.

Objective A3: Advocate for the development of a statewide Olmstead plan through public education and collaborative activities.

Goal B: Enhance SILC Outreach Efforts.

Objective B1: Document statewide Independent Living Needs.

Objective B2: Identify and target unserved and underserved populations for inclusion in the IL needs assessment.

Objective B3: Increase recruitment activities to seek potential SILC members.

Objective B4: Assure maintenance and updates of the SILC website.

Goal C: Expand the knowledge and availability of Independent Living services in Minnesota.

Objective C1: SILC will collaborate with other IL services providers, organizations, and stakeholders.

Objective C2: Provide monetary resources for disaster/emergency preparedness planning efforts.

Center Directors Panel/Presentation

David Hancox

Part B suggestion: Would like to see a study developed to look at the impact of the 2009 legislative cuts to the PCA services. There is an anticipated budget of $62,600 needed to staff and conduct a survey. The portion of the cost related to SILC funding would be $36,400. The remainder of the cost would be provided by participating CILs and other participants as in-kind.

Steve Thovson

We are going to hire a person to be responsible to take our ramp program to the LLC business. We are seeing requests for bathroom and home modifications. We have technology limitations – DSL is difficult to obtain for many people.

Transportation is an issue.

Can we fund GIS Map? Served and underserved counties. Is there a partner that we can get to help us with this?

Cara Ruff

St Cloud – VR IL grant. Our main emphasis is on transition. Now that we are taking off with the schools, they are seeing the value, but we cannot cover all the need in these areas. Travel is a big challenge.

Vicki Dalle-Molle

We will use stimulus money to support a paperless work environment. Point and click forms, so we aren’t carrying paper into houses and protecting confidentiality.

Strategic plan:

Recommendation for the SILC: we fund gaps analyses and needs assessments for a variety of disabilities and issues, and gaps in the state. This feeds into one of the goals of the SILC.

Alan Augustin

Service gaps issues. We have 7 underserved counties. Our thoughts are to take a risk on hiring at least one staff in the Fairmount area (branch office program outreach coordinator). The underserved tends to be some of the core services.

Part B money – haven’t thought much about it and don’t want to comment on this.

The SILC received written comments from the CIL Director’s that were unable to attend the meeting, as well as comments from Connie Lee Berg and Gloria Lafriniere. Their comments are as submitted:

Connie Lee Berg- Red Lake

Part B – ARRA stimulus funds

Establish protocol for addressing tribal outreach initiatives by authoring guidance and information material; perhaps a Technical Assistance Plan specifically for Tribal Service Provision – there would be a need to communicate with each Tribe in Minnesota to assist in co-authoring a separate section which is applicable to each Tribe. This would honor Tribal Sovereignty and Self-Determination by including Tribes into the discussion; it will also demonstrate tremendous strides in statewide coverage.

Provide additional funds to be used by Centers and Tribes for children with disabilities (and also to their families to provide additional support; including the availability of basic information and perhaps resources to assist).

If only one priority can be established, I would ask specifically for expansion of services to families contending with AUTISM and the entire spectrum.

Providing additional funds to be used by Centers to maintain their technology base/computer systems to assist Center staff.

Because each Tribe is different – communicate directly with White Earth on what their needs are and if possible, with all the other Chippewa Tribes and Sioux Communities in Minnesota. Red Lake and White Earth are the only two Tribes in Minnesota that fortunately have Section 121 funding availability; we are not the only two Tribes in Minnesota.

Gloria Lafriniere

White Earth Vocational Rehabilitation wants to take this time to request stimulus monies for a ramp project.

In the event that we would be considered for any stimulus monies, we would like to take this opportunity to request that any monies received would be used to build portable ramps.

We have contacted our tribal council to see how many requests are made each year. They have a tally of 100 requests at this time and have been able to assist with 17. Of course, some of these requests came from off the reservation, but the majority of requests came from on the reservation.

When we receive a request, we also work on the request immediately even if it is not a VR consumer. We contact the county to inquire about different waivers, and Options, Independent Living Center staff.

Many of the requests come from the elderly and it is important for them to remain in their homes to sustain a fulfilled and excellent quality of life. In addition to assisting in their mobility, it may enable them also to supplement their meager social security checks and find employment on a part time basis. Acquiring better mobility not only increases a better life, health and safety, but being able to work would further boost the economy in our area. Some requests have come as they are going through surgery and need to have a ramp temporarily. It is critical for them to be able to get out for their therapy. Diabetes continues to be high on our list of disabilities as a whole and we see a high number of loss of limb. Some family members have built their own ramps which are extremely dangerous.

It would be our plan to initiate the fabrication of 3-5 portable, modular ramps depending upon the availability of the monies.

Option One:

We have been in contact with our three counties about the possibility of using the sentence to serve folks in the building of these ramps. The Sheriff’s office from Clearwater County has responded very favorably, and Mahnomen County has also responded in favor of this possibility.

Option Two:

Decreasing the cost of one ramp of the proposed 3-5 and pay our returning felons a stipend or a contract under the direction of Sonny Wadena, Director of the felon program. White Earth currently has a contract developed that states the agreement, contract time, contract price etc. I would have a copy available upon request.

We would estimate the cost of materials for these ramps to be in the area of $2,500.00-$3,500.00.

It would be the intention of this project to build these ramps in sections that would be mobile and would be able to be moved to the next person that needs a portable ramp.

Randy Sorensen

From my perspective I would like to see initiatives that the SILC has historically offered to the existing CILs within the State offered to the various tribes in an RFP. Initiatives could put emphasis on initiating a Ramp Project, Durable Medical Equipment Loaner Closet, purchasing technological equipment that could be used as demo's for people with disabilities to see and use to insure that the devise would fulfill their needs, and Consumer computer work stations with adaptive equipment where p/w/d and their families could access the web to ask questions to the existing CILs, IRA centers, VR etc.

For the two tribes in the State that have 121 projects I think it would be easy, but am unsure about those tribes with no 121 presence. I know there is an association of Ojibwa Tribes encompassing the eastern part of MN and part of WI but am unsure of the other tribes in MN.

It may turn out that the only entities with the capacity to fulfill the auditing requirements, staff needed to implement the projects, and identifiable lead agency within a tribe may be those with 121 projects.

Nate Aalgaard

The following are some possibilities that we are looking at for use of our Part C money:

Upgrade of office space at the main office. This would include reconfiguration of some space, upgrade of furniture, and upgrade and modernization of lighting system.

Upgrade of computers, PowerPoint projector and screen, video conferencing system, and portable amplification system for outdoor events.

New accounting and consumer database software.

Additional staff to provide direct services in the main Fargo Moorhead office.

Additional staff to provide direct service in unserved and underserved counties.

Hire a person to develop a planned giving and fund-raising program.

Comprehensive marketing campaign.

Purchase additional assistive technology devices for demonstration and loan to consumers, including recreation equipment.

Hold community education events.

Where do you see service gaps?

The most glaring service gaps are in the unserved and underserved counties throughout the state. Many people who live in these areas do not have a resource to turn to when they experience disability related issues. People in need of public services are often overwhelmed by the complexity and array of programs. They need someone to help them decide what is best for them and how to apply and get signed up for services. They also need advocacy to help them assert their rights.

What suggestions do you have for the SILC to consider with regard to use of Part B Stimulus funds?

Provide mini grants in dollar amounts ranging between $5,000 and $25,000 through a RFP process to organizations throughout the state that would like to run short-term independent living-related programs.

Provide additional funding to the VR/IL counselors throughout the various regions to purchase durable medical equipment and other items that people need to live more independently at home.

Roberta Cich thanked the Center Directors for their proposals and for attending the meeting.

Afternoon Facilitation

The afternoon session was facilitated by JoLynn Blaeser, Director of staff development for DEED. The purpose of the facilitation was to gather ideas from the SILC and DEED representatives and to establish priorities for use of the ARRA stimulus funds.

The comments/ideas from this session were:

The comments/ideas from the morning session and the afternoon were placed on the wall around the room. Members were given ten sticky dots and asked to place them on any idea they liked. This process was used to prioritize and draw out any possible themes.

All ideas that were given a sticky dot, were then compiled and reviewed with the group. The following are a list of ideas that were identified as possible uses of stimulus funds. Stimulus ideas that were given at least one dot, were brought forward to the next round. The ideas are as follows:

-Priority-Expansion of services contending with Autism and the Spectrum

-Establish protocol for addressing tribal outreach initiatives.

-Technical Assistance plan specifically for tribal service provision. – need to communicate with each tribe in Minnesota to assist with co authoring a separate section which will be applicable to each individual tribe.

The next step in this process will be to use an evaluation matrix, which is used to measure whether or not the suggested uses fit within the approved SPIL goals, ARRA stimulus guidelines, and also to make sure each idea is an allowable use of Federal Part B dollars.

The council will meet on June 11, 2009 to continue this process.

Adjournment

The May 14, 2009 meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the SILC, will be held on June 11, 2009 at the Gateway Hotel in Minneapolis.

May 15th, 2009

Meeting Location: Best Western- Mankato

Members Present: Barbara Chromy, Roberta Cich, Larry Lura, Judy Sanders, Vicki Dalle Molle, Ann Zick, Jeffrey Nurick, David Sherwood-Gabrielson, Linda Lingen, and Ann Roscoe.

Members Absent: Hulet Sherry, Connie Lee Berg, and James Oneill.

DEED Staff Present: Brad Westerlund and Gail Lundeen.

Guests: Alan Augustin.

Approval of April 2009 Minutes and May 2009 Agenda

Roberta asked if there were any changes or revisions to the April minutes. There were no changes to the minutes. Judy moved and Jeffrey seconded, to approve the minutes as written. All were in favor and the motion carried. Roberta asked if anyone had changes to the May 15th agenda. Roberta asked to add an approval of minutes and agenda section. There was no further discussion. Judy moved to accept the April agenda as revised. Vicki seconded the motion. The motion carried, with all in favor.

DEED Update- David Sherwood-Gabrielson

David reported that the Independent Living Internship was completed. John White completed an internship with DEED/VRS/IL from 11/03/08 to 3/13/09. The internship was part-time 16 hours per week over a 19 week period.

DEED has been in the process of conducting site visits with the Centers focusing on the VRS/IL Collaboration. The VRS team participating in these visits include: Connie Giles, Brad Westerlund, Anne Paulson, and DSG. An overview of the visits follows:

Visits still need to be scheduled with FREEDOM and OPTIONS.

IL Conference RFP Update

The conference planner RFP has been posted and closed. Five applications were received. A review group will be formed to rate the RFPs. The hotel facility request for proposal has been drafted and will soon be posted.

Further discussion is needed to determine cost of registration and the content of the conference. Council members suggested that hotel applicants be given extra weighting if they have a large block of handicapped rooms.

SRC Public Forum

The State Rehabilitation Council is inviting 2-3 members from each of the governor appointed disability councils to attend the SRC June 24 meeting. Purpose of the meeting is to hear about the work of each council, provide the SRC with comment on employment needs, and to allow for Council networking. Once developed, an agenda will be emailed to the group.

Round Robin Updates

The SILC Annual Report draft is near completion. Next steps: DSU submit letter for inclusion in the report, send draft to Vocational Rehabilitation Services Communication Director for review and editing, and begin to work with the DEED graphic designer. A draft will be provided to the SILC in June or July.

The SILC wishes to thank JoLynn Blaeser for facilitating the SILC’s economic stimulus discussion and will invite her back in June for further facilitation. In preparation, all suggestions/ideas that received a vote at the May 14 facilitation will be placed in an evaluation grid, which will illustrate if the topic meets the ARRA criteria and if it meets a SPIL objective. The evaluation grid will be shared with the SILC prior to the June meeting.

Julia Washenburger has unfortunately resigned from the SILC for personal reasons. She will be invited to lunch at the June SILC meeting. Cich appointed Vicki Dalle Molle to serve as the executive committee secretary, until the next officer elections are held in September.

Future Meetings/Deadlines/Events/Tasks

State Plan

Westerlund stated that the SILC needs to look at developing an annual process map, manual, or calendar that would assist the SILC in identifying what work needs to be completed. In addition, the by-laws need updating and an orientation process for new members needs to be developed. Sherwood-Gabrielson encouraged the SILC to consider a facilitated discussion to develop a calendar for SILC activities.

Nurick stated that the ‘SILC 101’ offered at the SILC congress could be improved upon, if there were two sections, one for new members and another for experienced members. The SILC informally agreed that a letter should be written to the SILC congress, asking them to take a look at their training curriculum and the process for orientating new members. The letter should be sent in the fall of 2009, when the Congress asks for input/suggestions for the agenda.

Westerlund informed the SILC that he is in the process of scheduling Federal on-site compliance reviews with SEMCIL, ILICIL, and CILNM. Due to time constraints and busy schedules, the remaining five CILs will be monitored through written and phone communication. Brad will inform the SILC of the compliance review dates at the June meeting.

Dalle Molle will solicit suggested topics from MACIL for the Independent Living Conference.

Adjournment

The May 15th, 2009 meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the SILC will be held on June 11, 2009 at the Gateway Hotel in Minneapolis.