Minutes for December 11, 2003

Meeting Location: Four Points Midway Sheraton, St. Paul

Present:  Lois Johnson, Karen Larson, Mark Eggen, Janiece Duffy, Roseann Faber, Phyllis Coppess, David Hancox, Sharon Johnson, Ann Zick, William Bauer, Bradley Westerlund, Linda Lingen, Bryan Jensen, Mary Pennington.

Absent:  Cory Heit (excused), Clarence Jones.

Guests:  David Zick, Steve Scholl.

Call to Order, Introductions: The December 11, 2003 meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Lois Johnson, chairperson. Introductions of members and guests followed.

Approval of October Minutes December Agenda:  Mark moved, Sharon seconded, that the October minutes be approved as written. There was no discussion and the motion carried. Lois Johnson asked if there were any revisions to the December agenda. There were none, and the December agenda was approved by consensus.

IL Needs Survey Report: Steve Scholl reviewed the analyses completed to date. As of this meeting, only the transportation and consumer demographics have been completed. All data shall be analyzed by the end of December, and a complete report submitted to the SILC prior to the January 8 SPIL planning meeting. This report will include a comparison of outstate and metro IL needs.

Visitors’ Comments:  There were no comments.

State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind Report:  Roseann Faber stated that the SRCB has met twice since the last SILC meeting. The first meeting was held in November to review the draft annual report, which was approved at the second meeting held on December 6. There are a number of SRCB members whose terms will be ending in January, and several blind groups have been added to the membership. Chuck Hamilton has been appointed to serve as the director of State Services for the Blind. The next SRCB meeting is scheduled for February 7, 2004.

Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities Report:  Ann Zick announced that the DD Council met on December 3, 2003 and heard presentations from Health Match which is a project undertaken by DHS to create a way for people to determine if they are eligible for health care programs offered by the Department.

The Council also held its own town meeting on health care issues. Dr. Sanne Mangnan from Blue Cross Blue Shield attended the meeting and handed
out the results of 1,000 people participating in town meetings around the state. The document is called "Minnesota Decides," and the conclusions are that Minnesotans hold certain key values about health care. Health care should: be accessible & fair, be consumer-driven, promote healthy living, be safe and provide high quality services, be affordable, and promote personal responsibility. After Dr. Mangnan completed her presentation, the Council members voted on the recommendations that will be submitted to Senator Durenberger's Citizens Forum on Health Care Costs. Citizens are encouraged to submit their suggestions by going to www.mncitizensforum.org.

State Rehabilitation Council Report:  Lois Johnson reported that the public Vocational Rehabilitation Program and IL are still receiving funding through a continuing resolution. There are approximately 1500 VR consumers in categories two, three and four waiting for services. With the state's deficit, VR wants to work more closely with Centers and other vendors. DEED's IL Section has developed a memorandum of understanding with the Centers to draw down additional Federal dollars. DEED and DHS also signed a memorandum of understanding to support work incentive programs. DEED will be vacating the building at 390 North Robert Street and moving to the First National Bank building starting in March 2004.

704 Update:  William Bauer asked council members to review the draft of the FFY 2003 704 Part I narrative and to phone or e-mail him with any recommendations for revisions. He stated that he will begin aggregating the data as soon as he has all eight of the Centers' Part II reports on his desk. It is the plan to have the aggregated report completed before the January 8-9 meeting.

Appointment of Acting Treasurer:  Janiece Duffy, treasurer, announced that she will not be returning to the council when her term ends on January 1, 2004. Lois Johnson advised SILC members that she asked Karen Larson to temporarily serve as secretary-treasurer until Governor Pawlenty makes the 2003 and 2004 SILC appointments. Ms. Larson agreed to do so. Once the appointments are made, elections will be held for all SILC officer positions.

Committee Reports:  Lois Johnson reported that Barbara Deming will facilitate the January 8, 2004 SPIL planning session. Her fee shall be $2367; a fact of which Ms. Johnson was advised prior to the signing of the contract. Ms. Deming's work shall include a written report which will permit all SILC and DSU members to participate without having to take minutes.

Janiece Duffy reported that all FFY 2003 Part B funds have been expended. SILC expenses for the month of October are presently at $2199.93; however, there are some non employee expense reports that have not been submitted for payment. During the January meeting, the finance committee will be scrutinizing the SILC's operating budget for FFY 2005-2007. The finance committee approved the slight increase in the SPIL facilitator's budget.

Sharon Johnson reported on the activities of the advocacy and education committee. All of the committee's goals and objectives under the current SPIL have been attained. Linda Lingen and Marilyn McGuire will provide the council with TWWIIA (ticket to work) training on January 9. The May 13-14, 2004 outstate meeting shall be held in Marshall with the training topic being migrant and rural IL service-delivery. It was reported that by the time the new council appointments are made, the advocacy and education committee will be poised and prepared to provide orientation training to the new members. The SILC manuals will be delivered at the time of the orientation training. SILC responsibilities/duties, IL history, and practical logistics are the three areas included in the orientation training. Sharon Johnson stated that the advocacy and education committee is open to recommendations on ways to improve the orientation training. A list of acronyms was suggested. Roseann Faber commented that the SRCB is working on an orientation packet for that council, and there may be some common areas. Ms. Faber will share information as the SRCB's orientation is revised. It was reported that advocacy and education will not conduct a training in April due to work on the new SPIL.

Nursing Home Transition:  David Hancox again summarized the work done by the eight Centers in relation to transition from nursing home to community living through a state grant. It was mentioned that there are four other entities pursuing this work -- all of whom have a vested interest in institutional living. Questions were raised on this matter and discussion followed. It is the various counties' responsibility to conduct the first assessment of those institutionalized but expressing interest in transitioning to community living. The Olmstead decision requires every state to have an "Olmstead Plan," which is the Department of Human Services' responsibility to develop. Minnesota is one of only four states nationwide that has no Olmstead Plan. The videotape, "Take the Road to Independence," which was produced under this grant, was played. Copies of the video, brochure and workbook can be obtained by contacting the CIL nearest you. Discussions followed on MiCASSA and the nursing home bias. William Bauer encouraged council members to seriously consider only one priority for the FFY 2005-2007 SPIL, and that is Olmstead implementation.

MACIL Report:  David Hancox reported that William Bauer requested MACIL to develop a list of priorities for the FFY 2005-2007 SPIL. It was reported that MACIL's priorities are to continue to strengthen the Centers' relationship with the SILC, and to expand the IL network. It is MACIL's opinion that one way expansion of the IL network can be facilitated is to receive $40,000 annually from the SILC for two years to permit MACIL to hire an executive director. MACIL encourages feedback on this proposal. At the time of this presentation, only Lois Johnson had a copy of the proposal. David Hancox will e-mail the proposal and budget to William Bauer for e-mailing to all SILC members.

David Hancox next reported on Metro Center's annual meeting. Awards and recognition of legislators and personal assistants was part of the program.

It was reported that MACIL has been involved in the preparation of the Abler report. DEED, DHS and MACIL have been working on the Kiscaden report.

Midway Sheraton Accessibility: Janiece Duffy stated that she was appalled to learn that there are no brailled or raised numbers on any of the hotel's sleeping rooms. The elevators and restrooms are accessible. It was suggested that a letter from the SILC to the Four Points Midway Sheraton's general manager be drafted and sent. David Hancox so moved, Karen Larson seconded and discussion followed until the question was called. Both motions carried. Lois Johnson and William Bauer will prepare and submit a letter requesting the hotel to install braille and/or raised numbers on all sleeping and meeting rooms in the hotel.

Visitors' Comments: There were no visitor comments.

Announcements, Issues, Correspondence: Ann Zick asked when the MN legislature would be going into session. The session will begin on February 2, 2004. MAEPD (Medical Assistance for Employed People with Disabilities) now has a co-pay; however, Ms. Zick believed that if one was on Medicare and MAEPD, one did not have to make the co-pay. Ms. Zick stated that she would send William Bauer an e-mail on this matter for forwarding to the full council.

Linda Lingen announced that Sharon Johnson was elected by her peers as "Counselor of the Year." Sharon Johnson received a round of applause from council members.

Next Meeting, Adjournment: The next SILC meeting will be January 8-9, 2004 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on January 8, and from 9:00 a.m. to noon on January 9 at the Four Points Midway Sheraton, St. Paul. The December 11, 2003 meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m.

Note: A full breakfast for SILC members has been ordered for the morning of January 9, 2004. This meal was ordered to avoid charges for the meeting room, and the breakfast was less costly than the room rental. Enjoy!