Minutes for August 8, 2002

Meeting Location:  Four Points Midway Sheraton, St. Paul

Present:  Connie Lee Berg, Cory Heit, Lois Johnson, Roseann Faber, Mary Pennington, Joe Ascheman, Sharon Johnson, Linda Lingen, Bill Bauer, Brad Westerlund, Mark Eggen, Ann Zick, Janiece Duffy, Dave Hancox, Bryan Jensen.

Absent:  Karen Larson (excused), Phyllis Coppess, Clarence Jones.

Guests:  Ted Siebert, David Skilbred, ASL interpreters Candy Shannon and Albert Linderman.

Call to Order:  The August 8, 2002 meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council was called to order at 9:10 a.m. by Connie Lee Berg, SILC chair.  Introductions of members and guests followed. 

Review of August Agenda and June Minutes:  There were no requests for revisions to the August agenda.  The agenda was approved as submitted by consensus.  There were no requests for revisions to the June 27-28 minutes.  The June minutes were approved by consensus as written. 

Remarks from the Chair and Vice Chair:  Lois thanked Ann and the Advocacy and Education Committee members for a job well done on the June training session.  Lois reported that one on-site compliance review and several monitorings have been conducted since May 2002.  She next discussed the 2002 consumer forums.  Dates, times and locations known to date are as follows:

Lois requested that more than one council member attend each of these forums, and would like all council members to attend at least one forum.  Lois said she will request and note SILC members’ participation during the committee reports portion of today’s meeting.

Connie reported that she has been participating in Option’s strategic planning process. 

Connie announced that Chairman-elect Gerald Brun will be sworn-in on Tuesday, August 12.

Connie was a speaker at the grand opening of the new Bemidji SSA facility. She was also asked to serve as a summative program reviewer for several university projects funded by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). She was selected by NIDRR for her knowledge of and experience with diverse populations, and was provided opportunities to comment on these project’s outreach activities. 

Connie is considering participating in a study to be conducted by the University of Wisconsin, Stout, regarding Red Lake VR’s services and long-term placements.  Consumers participating in this study will be provided stipends. 

Connie reported that there have been numerous changes in Red Lake’s VR program.  She is focusing on delegating tasks and leadership development. 

State Rehabilitation Council Update:  Lois reported that the SRC’s meeting in White Earth was cancelled due to flooding, but will be rescheduled.  The SRC submitted written comments for the Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act.  Lois stated that she expressed some concerns surrounding access in some rural WorkForce Centers.  In response to a question, Lois stated that there have been no discussions surrounding “order of selection” to date, but this will be a future SRC topic.  The next SRC meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 21 in St. Paul. 

State Rehab Council for the Blind Update:  Roseann reported that the last SRCB meeting was held on August 1.  Via a speaker phone, SRCB members talked with representatives from Region V RSA.  At issue were the roles and responsibilities of the SRCB.  Following a recent RSA review of SSB, there were concerns that the SRCB was becoming too involved in state issues; e.g., the SRCB’s submission of written comments regarding the relocation of MDES programs, SRCB’s receipt of state budgets and the number of positions lost due to these cuts. 

Roseann announced that “The Store” was closed on July 31.  There may be a vendor in line to reopen the store but, for the time being, consumers can check the SSB web-site (www.mnssb.org) for mail-order companies. 

Roseann reported that she serves on an SRCB committee that deals with self-sufficiency matters.  The committee is working on “information fairs” for the provision of facts on eye care and services for seniors. 

The next meeting of the SRCB will be October 5, 2002. 

Discussion followed on the cuts at SSB.  It was asked if there are service areas that Centers could assist in filling some of the voids.  Linda stated that there are ample opportunities for other organizations to get involved.  Linda added that these were not easy decisions for SSB’s management to reach, and anything that the Centers can do to fill the gaps would be helpful.  In response to another question concerning the changes at SSB, Linda stated that information is being received by the public from counselors, radio announcements, and newspaper articles. 

David Skilbred advised SILC members to communicate with their state legislators, for additional cuts may be coming with the next biennial budget process. 

Developmental Disabilities Council Update:  Ann reported that the DD Council submitted consumer directed community support surveys to people residing in twenty-one counties around the state.  Of these surveys, 650 of these surveys were completed and returned; a majority of which included individual comments.  To review survey results go to: www.mnddc.org 

The DD Council provided grants or sponsorship dollars to a number of organizations, which included the Brain Injury Association of MN.  Another project receiving funds provides instruction on “making your case” with legislators. 

In June, the DD Council underwent a “Monitoring, Technical Assistance and Reporting System” (MTARS) Federal review.  A number of consumers attended the June DD Council meeting to provide testimony. 

There is a book in draft form dealing with leadership.  Several consumers provided stories for this soon-to-be-released book, and these authors will be present at the next DD Council meeting to autograph the books. 

Ann discussed several interagency activities being undertaken by the DD Council.  These activities include “re-envisioning long-term care.”  Ann also announced that “Partners in Policy-making” allocations have been made.  The DD Council hopes to have at least one person from every county in the state completing this training.  Eighty-two counties have had residents who successfully completed “Partners in Policy-making” training, and grad classes are now being offered.  The council has also provided several scholarships for people to participate in various trainings, workshops, and seminars. 

Ann recently attended a Brain Injury Association national conference.  Post traumatic visual syndrome was one of the topics.  A new treatment for this syndrome utilizes prisms to correct double or blurred vision.  For more information go to: www.padulainstitute.com

Metropolitan CIL Update:  Dave Hancox, MCIL executive director, began by commenting that a CIL is a unique place to work, and that there are many dedicated people at a CIL.  MCIL provides the mandated IL core-services of information and referral, IL skills training, peer counseling and advocacy.  Ninety percent of the staff, and seventy percent of the MCIL governing board members are people with disabilities.  Housing information and referral is heavily used at MCIL.  The Center publishes a semi-monthly newsletter. 

Dave reported that there have been several changes at MCIL over the past two years.  There has been a focus on generating additional fees for service, reducing the Center’s dependency on public funds, and finding innovative ways of serving IL consumers. 

Dave stated that approximately seventy-two percent of MCIL’s revenues are generated beyond public funds.  One recent fee for service contract is with the Veterans Administration from which the Center has about thirty active cases.  The VA also has contracts with other Minnesota Centers.  Nursing home relocation services also have fees through a similar contract with Ramsey County.  A contract may also be developed with Hennepin County.  At present, there are 350 prospective relocation consumers in Ramsey County, and roughly 1700 in Hennepin County.  In accordance with the Olmstead decision, counties must go to nursing institutions to ask residents whether they want to move back into the community.  Dave reported that Hennepin County alone hired seventy-seven additional case managers to work on contacting nursing institution residents.  Dave stated that the revenue generated from the Ramsey County contract will permit the Center to hire an additional part-time staff member to work at relocating people from institutions.  Dave reported that National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” recently covered the disability community’s housing issues. 

Dave reported that the ramp project has expanded to include environmental and home modifications.  The Center will also be entering into a contract with the Ramsey County Personal Care Attendant Program. 

As a result of greater awareness of consumer directed services, Dave announced that MCIL’s Personal Assistance Services Program has grown 100% over the past two years; that is, from twenty-five to fifty consumers.  Under consideration now is how large the MCIL board wants the PAS Program to become. 

Questions and answers followed. 

Statewide IL Needs Survey:  Bill expressed his concerns with the current methods utilized for determining the assessment of IL needs statewide, and recommended that a statewide IL needs survey be considered for 2003 in addition to the SPIL’s approved method (consumer forums) for obtaining this information.  Bill stated that he has approval to utilize the services of a skilled MDES staff person for the development of an ethical survey instrument, and to facilitate the implementation of the survey through the University of Minnesota.  It was determined that this proposed project would be discussed during the finance committee meeting. 

Visitors’ Comments:  There were no visitor comments. 

Committee Reports:  Lois commented on the on-site reviews and monitorings that have been conducted for FFY 2002.  Lois stated that Centers are notified well in advance of the scheduled review dates; nonetheless, one of the Centers failed to have staff members present on the scheduled review date.  In her estimation, this was a waste of Part B dollars and her time.  Discussion followed.  It was recommended that should something similar occur in the future, Lois reschedule the review and leave the Center. 

Lois reported that it appears that the SILC is “on track” with the SPIL’s goals and objectives. 

Assignments to the consumer forums scheduled to date were:  Bryan, Dave and Sharon ILICIL; Connie and Cory Freedom; Lois and Karen SWCIL.  Discussion followed regarding Options' failure to schedule a consumer forum after receiving notice. 

Sharon reported for the education committee.  She discussed the diversity survey that was sent to the Centers, which asked four questions surrounding race/ethnic groups served, what disabilities, what barriers, and what else should the SILC know about IL and serving diverse populations. 

Sharon reported that the education and advocacy committee will begin planning for the FFY 03 trainings.  Randy Sorenson will speak at the September 12 SILC meeting on housing. 

Cory reported that the finance committee discussed the proposed statewide IL survey.  Steve Scholl, who will facilitate the survey process, should be placed on the September agenda to discuss the survey’s parameters, cost, etc.  The finance committee had no recommendation concerning the survey at this time. 

Cory reported that the 03 RFP topic will be leadership development for youth and people with disabilities who are disenfranchised.  Cory also reported that Options will be the final CIL to receive the $15,000 ramp project grant, which will be awarded in FFY 03. 

Announcements, Issues, Correspondence:  Connie reported that Red Lake’s 121 Project has been collaborating with PACER, which is seeking funds to produce a video on Red Lake’s special education students. 

Ann announced that she has discs from a supported employment workshop that she recently attended.  Please contact Ann for copies. 

Dave reported that the CMS grant will be effective on October 1, 2002. 

Bill reported that he had received a voice mail from Phyllis that her mother passed away in late June as a result of being struck by an auto while she was crossing a street.  Bill sent his apologies to Phyllis for not getting the word out sooner to SILC members, but he received Phyllis’ message the same day he was leaving for Indiana to attend his brother’s funeral.  Bill thanked SILC members for their e-mail messages, cards, and telephone calls following his brother’s death. 

Next Meeting, Adjournment:  The next meeting of the SILC will be September 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Four Points Midway Sheraton, St. Paul.  The august 8 meeting was adjourned at 2:50 p.m.  

PLEASE NOTE:  Following the August SILC meeting, word was received on Options’ consumer forum, which will be on September 27, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Heritage Center, 301 Fourth Street East, Thief River Falls.