Meeting Minutes for January 14, 1999

Meeting Location: Midway Sheraton, St. Paul

Present: Rand Stenhjem, Karen Larson, Scott Anderson, Barbara Knowlen, Cory Heit, Marty Bergland, Connie Lee Berg, Steve Thovson, Joan Harris Stephan, Cliff Miller, Bill Bauer, Carl Bryngelson, Brad Westerlund, Mick Coleman, Dick Davis.

Absent: Jerry Hennen, Laurie Weih, Terry Graff, Rosemary Laberge, Maureen Pranghofer, Lois Johnson, Judy Sanders, Dale Polton, Susan Shogren Smith.

Guests: Bill Stech (121 Project Director, White Earth), Jay Johnson, David Hancox, David Schwartzkopf, Kim Breznik, Mike Knowlen, Ted Siebert (SSB Recording Tech), ASL

Interpreters- Carol Murphy, Nancy Evelyn.

Call to Order:  The January 14, 1999 regular meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by Karen Larson, SILC Secretary.  Introductions of SILC members and guests followed.  Due to a heavy snowfall and hazardous road conditions, a number of Council members had advised DSU staff that they would be arriving late, or would be unable to attend.  Calls or e-mail notices were received from Terry Graff, Lois Johnson, Dale Polton, Laurie Weih, Judy Sanders, Maureen Pranghofer and Rosemary Laberge.

Approval of December Minutes and January Agenda:  Steve asked that the December minutes be revised to reflect that up to an additional $250,000 per Federally-funded CIL would be available to Minnesota's eligible Centers should Congress approve the NCIL request for a seventy-five million dollar increase in the IL Program budget.  The December minutes were approved by consensus as revised.  Agenda revisions included moving Barbara's report to IO: 00 a.m., shifting the RSB and SSB updates to 1:00 p.m., as well as the additions of an Institute on Community Integration grant announcement and a 704 report update.  The January agenda was approved by consensus as revised.

121 Project Update: Connie began by wishing everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous 1999.  She reported that the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians entered into an agreement in which the Minnesota Department of Economic Security (MDES) will supplement Red Lake's Federal funding to continue the provision of Vocational Rehabilitation Services to the Red Lake Nation.  The agreement was signed by Bobby Whitefeather, Chairman; Judy Roy, Secretary; and Michael Coleman, Rehabilitation Services Branch (RSB) Assistant Commissioner.

Technical advisors from Northern Arizona University provided training to Red Lake and White Earth staff in the areas of grant writing, VR programs on tribal lands, VR counseling for American Indian people with disabilities, native healing concepts, and Individualized Plans for employment.  Connie reported that she recently began her third session of studies with Western Washington University for her Rehabilitation Administration degree.  The training schedule was revised to accommodate 121 Project reporting mandates from RSA.

Connie stated that six or seven grants will be awarded nationwide for creating self-employment (small business) ventures for American Indian people with disabilities.  With these upcoming grants, Connie expressed her concerns to the Region IO Commissioner regarding HUD lease agreements, which prohibit operating businesses out of HUD housing.  Connie provided several recommendations on this matter, which are presently under consideration.

Connie reported that she was selected to serve on the National American Indian Advisory Project, which will study IL issues on tribal lands.  Connie stated that while being considered for this project, she emphasized her involvement with the Red Lake public hearings conducted in conjunction with the SILC and Options CIL.  Connie's personal views on the need for IL services on tribal lands were also provided during the selection process.

Connie stated that she is presently working on a satisfaction survey for Red Lake's 121 Project consumers.  She reported that she is working closely with Red Lake's Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA).  Red Lake's JTPA Director was recently assigned as Deputy Director of all Red Lake employment programs, with the exclusion of Red Lake's VR program.  This exclusion was granted by Chairman Whitefeather, but Connie was asked to continue her outstanding collaboration with JTPA.  Connie stated that she has also been meeting with the Deputy Director to discuss issues surrounding employment and single-parenting. 

Several of the White Earth 121 Project staff have been providing in-services to the Red Lake staff.  Representatives from Options CIL, State Services for the Blind (SSB), the Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Project, the Loan Equipment Distribution Program, and the Headwaters Regional Development Commission also provided in-services to the Red Lake staff.  There were also presentations on senior linkages, personal perspectives on IL, and a training on the VR process.

State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) Update:  Barbara reported that there has not been a SRC meeting since the last SILC meeting. the Next SRC meeting will be held on January 26.  Barb reminded the Council that some thought must be given to who will replace her as SILC representative on the SRC.  She reported that she and Mike have purchased a house, on which they will close in March, in Oriskany, New York and will be moving when the weather breaks.

Plan for Achieving Self-support (PASS) Statewide Training Update: Barbara reminded SILC members that the statewide, SILC-sponsored PASS Training is scheduled for February tenth, eleventh and twelfth at the St. Paul Workforce Center.  Participants must make their own reservations at any of the downtown hotels.  A continental breakfast will be provided daily.  The SILC will reimburse participants for training materials, hotel accommodations, travel and meal expenses.  Barbara cautioned that this is an advanced training workshop opened only to individuals who have some knowledge/experience with SSA regulations and PASS writing, and who intend to write such plans for consumers.  In addition, participants must read all study materials prior to taking the training.  Send your completed registration forms to Barbara ASAP.  Barbara reported that, to date, the Hibbing CIL is sending three participants, St. Cloud two, Freedom one, Options one, SEMCIL two, SWCIL one, and SMILES three.  In addition, one consumer from the Twin Cities area and one consumer from Georgia will be participating.  SILC member Terry Graff will also attend, and Barb reminded that the training is opened to SILC members meeting the previously listed criteria.

704 Update: Bill reported that the FFY 1998 704 Part I forms and instructions were received in late December.  Unfortunately, the 704 Part 11 forms and instructions were not mailed to Minnesota's Centers.  Bill received the web site from Region V RSA for the Part 11 materials and e-mailed this information to all of the Centers.  In addition, RSA is not utilizing discs this year; thus, the Federally-funded Centers' reports must be compiled, in 723 states, by the Designated State Unit (DSU) this year.  Minnesota's eight Centers must have their Part 11 reports on Bill's desk absolutely no later than February 12.  Bill will then have two weeks to compile the federally­funded Centers' data and narratives, and submit this aggregate to RSA Central and Region V RSA. Bill reported that the Part I report forms and attachments were unchanged; however, the Part 11 (CIL) forms have several changes, including data on the number of consumers removed from, and prevented from entering, nursing institutions.

Legislative Update:  It was reported that the President is proposing a $1,000 tax credit for workers with disabilities, in addition to maintaining Medicare or Medicaid while working.  It is feared that this proposal may be viewed as a suitable replacement for MiCASA.

Visitors' Comments:  Jay invited SILC members to a training, which he is conducting for the North Dakota SILC.  Bob Michaels, National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), will be conducting this training at Options CIL.  The training will focus on SILC roles and responsibilities, and the Rehabilitation Act.  This training is being offered at no charge to Minnesota SILC members.  Jay stated that "unencumbered funds" from Options' and Freedom's budgets will be utilized to pay for this training.  Jay will advise the Council when the training date is finalized.

Jay stated that he submitted his SILC application to Governor Ventura's office.  Rachelle Worbashal will be in charge of scheduling for Governor Ventura.

SILC Self-appointments:  An amendment to the Rehabilitation Act now permits a state's appointing authority to relinquish this responsibility to a SILC.  The present appointment system was discussed, and Barbara and Karen stated that they felt that the SILC should become self­appointing.  Jay reported that, in North Dakota, the SILC submits three names to the Governor.  One, all or none of these individuals may be appointed by the Governor.  A discussion regarding current appointment politics followed, which concluded when Marty reminded Council members that politics works at all levels, and that politics would also be working if this Council becomes self-appointing.  Steve moved, Barbara seconded, that Rand contact the Governor's office to request that the SILC become active in the appointment process and request Governor Ventura to relinquish his appointment authority to the SILC.  Discussion followed, and the motion carried.

SILC Exchanges:  Rand reported that the idea of sending one state's SILC representative to other states' SILC meetings was discussed at the SILC Congress.  Discussion followed.  Karen moved, Cory seconded, that Rand draft a letter to nearby SILC's to propose such exchanges.  The motion carried.

Institute on Community Integration (ICI) Work Incentives Program:  Elly Emanuel with the ICI introduced her assistant Chris and both provided brief biographies.  This new ICI grant ,Vill provide SSI work incentives training to transition-aged (fourteen to twenty-one) youth.  Elly indicated that presently only a small percentage of eligible individuals with disabilities are utilizing these work incentives.  Elly offered individualized training to all Centers' staff, with this training being customized to meet each Center's needs.  At present, this program is being offered to youth in St. Paul and Cloquet schools; the project is also operating in Maryland.  An important component of this project is to document what has happened to youth who have utilized these work incentives, and to pass this data on to the SSA policy-makers.  The hope is to ultimately revise the SSI application process.  Marty asked how one moves from the research stage to policy change.  Elly replied that since SSA representatives are serving as grant advisors at the Federal level, the connection to changing policy is already in place.  You may phone Elly at (612) 627-4135.

Elly stated that she hoped that ICI and the Rehabilitation Services Branch (RSB) work incentives grant would provide opportunities for collaboration.  Mick briefly discussed the RSA grant, and stated that he believed that there would be opportunities for some joint efforts and information sharing.  The ICI work incentives materials will be submitted to all Centers, DSU staff, and SILC members.

Connie asked if ICI would be working with tribal nations under this grant.  Elly replied that she would not be working with tribal nations, but added that something could be arranged to provide some level of service.  Connie then asked if the grant's advisory council had any people with disabilities serving on it.  The answer was yes.  Rand asked Elly how the SILC could assist with this project.  Elly asked Council members to get the information out.

State Services for the Blind (SSB) Update:  Dick stated that Mick and he were between two legislative hearings.  The process began today with agency overviews, with performance reports being provided tomorrow.  No one knows anything about Governor Ventura's budget, but Dick added that it would become public information when it went before the legislature on January 26.

Dick reported that SSB was experiencing a structural budget problem, with roughly $800,000 having been overspent.  This figure will be carried forward into this year's budget.  This issue arose from insufficient increases in state budgets.  Dick stated that revenues generally increase one and a quarter percent a year, while costs increase at a rate of five percent annually.  Dick stated that there will be slightly more to spend this year on IL services, while SSB's VR applicants will undergo an "order of selection" process.  Efforts will continue toward the Communications Center upgrades.  Dick stated that every possible cut was made prior to cutting rehabilitation services.  Connie complimented SSB's efforts at working with tribal communities, and thanked Dick for these efforts.  Dick stated that the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind (RCB) needed a representative from a 121 Project to apply.  This individual does not need to be a 121 Project director.

Finance Committee Report:  Scott stated that the new SPIL has a process outlined for the allocation of Part B grant funds, and that this process is now in effect.  At present, the Council has $60,000 available for grants, and the Finance Committee has reviewed a number of proposals.  These proposals were received from the Minnesota Association of Centers for Independent Living (MACIL), from the Disability Institute, from United Foundation for Disabled Archers, and from the ARC.

The MACIL proposal contained several requests, which were MACIL meeting travel, an annual training request, a technology grant request, and the continuation of the Senior Companion grants.  Scott stated that the Finance Committee is recommending that the Council continue the MACIL travel grant for $8,000.  Scott stated that the training grant request would be tabled.  The Finance Committee is recommending that each Center receive a $2,000 grant for investigating and resolving "Y2K" issues, with any balance being utilized for the purchase of additional technology.  The Finance Committee also tabled the Senior Companion grant request.

The Disability Institute Research Project request was discussed.  The amount requested was   $10,000 to research issues and barriers confronting people with disabilities.  The Finance Committee recommends that this proposal be tabled pending additional information.

The United Foundation for Disabled Archers, or UFDA, requested $5000 to expand the program.  Scott stated that the Finance Committee is recommending that this proposal be funded at the amount requested.

Scott reported that an advisory committee was formed to establish an ARC chapter in Rice County, and that this advisory committee submitted a grant proposal to the SILC.  The Finance Committee rejected this request, and strongly suggests that the advisory committee revise its proposal.  Discussion of all of these proposals followed.

Cory moved, Barbara seconded, that a MACIL travel grant in the amount of $8,000 be awarded.  The motion carried, with Steve abstaining.

Barbara moved, Karen seconded, that each Center receive a grant of $2,000 for eliminating "Y2K" issues, with any balances being utilized by each Center for other technology needs. the motion carried, with Steve abstaining.

Karen moved, Barbara seconded, that a grant for $5,000 be awarded to the United Foundation for Disabled Archers.  The motion carried with Cory abstaining. Scott said more information is required from MACIL regarding the training request. Steve will follow-up.  Steve also offered to determine how many Centers were interested in Senior Companion grants.

Issues:  Rand stated that a letter was sent to Jerry Hennen regarding his absenteeism, and that Mr. Hennen's written response indicated that he planned to attend future SILC meetings.  Mr. Hennen failed to attend the January meeting, and Rand recommended that Mr. Hennen be dismissed from the SILC.  Karen so moved, and Connie seconded.  The motion carried.

Adjournment:  The January 14 meeting was adjourned at 3:10 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE:  The next SILC meeting will be held on February 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Midway Sheraton, St. Paul.  This meeting will be held on the third Thursday of the month, as opposed to the customary second Thursday, so mark your calendars.  Please contact Bill, or leave a voice mail message, at 1-800-328-9095, or (651) 296-5085 if you cannot attend.