Minutes for September 9, 2004

Meeting Location: Four Points Sheraton Midway, St. Paul

Present: Lois Johnson, Karen Larson, Sharon Johnson, Linda Lingen, Ann Zick, Gloria Lafanier, Roberta Cich, Barbara Chromy, Roseann Faber, Bryan Jensen, Mary Pennington, David Hancox, Phyllis Coppess, Bradley Westerlund, William Bauer, Joan Willshire.

Absent: Mark Eggen (excused), Mary O'hare-Anderson (excused).

Guests:  Cindy Ostroski and John Jordan, Region 10 Quality Assurance Commission.

Call to order: The September 9, 2004 meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) was called to order at 9:05 a.m. by Lois Johnson, SILC chairperson. Introductions of members and guests followed.

Review of June Minutes and September Agenda: There was uncertainty as to the number of waiver programs indicated in the June minutes. The number of programs reported in the minutes will be dropped. The June minutes were approved as revised. As to additions to the September agenda, Lois Johnson added compensation for guest speakers, and election of SILC officers. the revised September agenda was approved by consensus.

Guest Speakers' Compensation: Lois Johnson announced that she would entertain a motion to reimburse the two speakers' expenses in accordance with SILC compensation rates. It was so moved, seconded, and the motion carried.

Election of SILC Officers: Lois Johnson recommended that the council delay, until January 2005, the September elections of officers. This was being entertained to provide new members with an opportunity to become better acquainted with the SILC. Sharon Johnson so moved, David Hancox seconded, and discussion followed. Sharon Johnson then restated the motion: "I move that the SILC suspend the September elections by-law, and conduct the officers' elections during the January 2005 regular meeting to allow new members time to become familiar with the council and SILC members." The restated motion was seconded, and there was no further discussion. The motion carried.

State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind Update: Roseann Faber reported that the last SRCB meeting was in August. During this meeting, priorities were established for FFY 2005, which include the workforce and employment for people who are blind. Training for new SSB employees has been scheduled for October 13-14. There is a vacant position at SSB, which is director of senior and communication services. The application deadline for this position is October 7. Linda Lingen will be developing the deaf-blind materials for "adjustment to blindness" training.

Developmental Disabilities Council Update: Ann Zick reported that the DD Council submitted its Family Support 360 implementation grant application to the Administration on Developmental Disabilities on July 30th. MN is one of thirty-one states to receive a planning grant from the federal government to create a one-stop center for fifty families in the Jordan neighborhood in North Minneapolis. During the planning year, the Council worked with Vivian Jenkins Nelsen to conduct focus groups to collect input from the families in this neighborhood. The Council contracted with the Minnesota Disability Law Center to conduct legal clinics at the Jordan New Life Community Church, and the Disability Law Center staff also created simplified versions of their fact sheets for families on key topics cited in the focus groups. The fact sheets have been posted on the Council web site.

The Council collected hundreds of books, pamphlets, videos and other resource materials from state agencies to be used in creating a resource library. Pat Morrissey of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities came to Minnesota on August 24th to address the Aging Odyssey Conference in St Cloud. Pat gave a keynote presentation on the Family Support 360 concept and spoke very positively about the Minnesota effort.

In the middle of August, the Council hosted seven visitors from the United Kingdom to learn about youth leadership programs. Sophia Erskine is a fourteen-year-old from Merseyside who met with Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss the need for youth to lead social change. Sophia received 20,000 pounds to come to America and study youth leadership efforts so that she can create her own program in the United Kingdom next summer. William Bauer was one of the people Sophia interviewed. The group also attended a state self-advocacy conference, the National Down Syndrome Congress, and visited several programs. They will continue to exchange information with all the people they interviewed.

CIL Update: David Hancox provided an update on the statewide CMS grant. The second field-test of the housing survey instrument has been completed. The results of the housing survey will be provided to a broad audience, which includes architects, contractors, local policy makers, and service-providers. Invitations will be extended to the SILC et al for an upcoming two-day housing conference. The first day of the conference will focus on nursing home relocation. The second day will include a presentation of the housing report, and the housing needs of people with mental disabilities. A brochure is being developed. MCIL is one Center that has been successful at developing fees for nursing home relocations.

David Hancox attended the SRC public hearing in Monticello and provided testimony, which included comments regarding the memorandum of understanding. He stressed that getting the MOU into state law was historic in that both the DSU and the Centers worked in concert to get the agreement into law.

Regarding the MOU, the Center directors and DEED staff continue to meet to fine-tune the details of this agreement and make it possible to draw-down additional Federal dollars.

David reported that the Center directors are beginning work on a legislative agenda for the upcoming budget session. During the last session, funds were identified to be returned to the Centers during State Fiscal Years 06 and 07, which would return the state's centers to ninety percent of the original $1.825 million. Details of the legislative agenda will be provided to the SILC once the agenda is developed.

Discussion followed.

State Rehabilitation Council Update: Lois Johnson added comments to David’s report on the SRC public hearing. She commented that the hearing was well-attended, and the SRC received some exceptional recommendations from consumers and service-providers.

NCIL Conference: Bryan Jensen reported on his June trip to D.C. to participate in the National Council on Independent Living's annual conference. One of the conference's highlights was getting more people with disabilities to vote; irrespective of the fact that accessible voting machines will not be available at all the polls this year. Bryan discussed a few of the many workshops he attended. A preliminary workshop schedule for NCIL's 05 conference has already been released.

Region Ten Quality Commission: Karen Larson introduced Cindy Ostrowski and John Jordan with the Region Ten Quality Assurance Commission. The training opened with the philosophy and background on the quality assurance process. The commission's web-site can be found at www.mn-voice.org. For an outline of the "VOICE Review Process" training provided, please refer to the commission's materials, which are attached.

Cindy and John fielded questions at the conclusion of their presentation.

Committee Reports: Ann Zick, Advocacy and Education, reported that orientation training for new members will be conducted on October 13 at the Four Points Midway Sheraton from six-thirty p.m. to seven-thirty p.m. In that no conference room was available on October 13, the training may be conducted poolside. Olmstead training is being considered for October's training. East Grand Forks will most likely be the location for the May 2005 out-state training. Consumer trainers on waivers may be sought for the two day out-state meeting. Hmong culture is another training topic under consideration for the out-state meeting, and the hope is to find someone from the Hmong community to conduct this training. Gloria suggested White Earth as another potential location for the May 2005 out-state training. Ann stated that if White Earth was selected, she would like to schedule additional training on American Indian Culture.

Karen Larson reported for the Finance Committee. The budgets are all in line, financial reports are accurate and timely. Karen will review the resource budget.

Lois Johnson reported that the SPIL Committee discussed the new plan (see below).

FFY 2005-2007 SPIL: William Bauer discussed the additional information requested from Region V RSA for the FFY 2005-2007 SPIL. The list had been circulated to all SILC members, and Bill provided comments. Sharon Johnson moved, Karen Larson seconded, that the SILC authorize Bill to write the additional information requested by Region V RSA for the FFY 2005-2007 SPIL. Discussion followed on several of RSA's requests. The motion carried.

October 13, 2004 Orientation Training: A notice will be included in October's packet

SILC FFY 2005 Meetings: October 14, 2004; December 9, 2004; January 14, 2005; February 10, 2005; no March meeting unless bad weather forces the cancellation of the February meeting, in which case there will be a meeting held on March 10, 2005; April 7, 2005; May 12-13, 2005; June 9, 2005; no July meeting; August 11, 2005; September 8, 2005.

2004 Monitorings and On-site Compliance Reviews: Lois Johnson announced that 2004 reviews have been completed. She commented on the innovations that many of the Centers had implemented in response to budget cuts.

Announcements, Issues, Correspondence: Lois Johnson requested the SILC's approval to attend the Association of Programs for Independent Living (APRIL) Conference, which will be held in the Twin Cities on October 15-18. Sharon Johnson moved, Phyllis Coppess seconded, that the SILC send Lois Johnson to the October 15-18 Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) conference. Discussion followed. The motion carried with Ann Zick abstaining.

Barbara Chromy asked the SILC to sponsor her to represent the SILC at the Minnesota Association on Mental Health Conference. Karen Larson moved, Sharon Johnson seconded, that the SILC send Barbara Chromy to the September 29 through October 1 Mental Health Conference in Brainerd and pay hotel, meals, mileage, and the registration fee if Barbara is unable to receive a scholarship for the registration fee. There was no further discussion, and the motion carried with Barbara Chromy abstaining.

William Bauer announced that work was begun in August on Olmstead implementation. Colleen Wieck and he met with a DHS attorney and a representative from the Office of the Attorney General to discuss the development of a MN Olmstead Plan. Mary Hartnet, Colleen, Bill and others have been meeting with various groups and are strategizing approaches to attaining the SPIL's Olmstead goal. It is agreed that the development of the MN Olmstead Plan must include representative from the disability community and Centers for IL.

FFY 2004 Section Eight Report: William Bauer provided an overview of this year's "Section Eight" report, which indicates the amount of state IL funding, DSU activities in compliance with Section 723 of the Act, and requests Minnesota 's continuation of "723 status" for FFY 2005. Karen Larson moved, Sharon Johnson seconded, that Lois Johnson sign the 2004 Section Eight report. There was no discussion and the motion carried

Next Meeting, Adjournment: The next meeting of the SILC will be October 14, 2004 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Four Points Sheraton Midway. An orientation training for new members will be conducted on the evening of October 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at a "to be announced" meeting area within the hotel. The September meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.