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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDDAB_Minutes FINAL- 03-26-2019 Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board (DDAB) MINUTES Tuesday, March 26, 2019 FINAL Board Attendees: Carl Hanson (Co-Chair), David Sullivan, Laura Cook, Kim Rafferty (Co-Chair), Dale Wilson Absent: Kelly Matlock (Parent), Claudia Edmondson and Pamela Adams Guests: Lee Springgate, Al Latham, Iris Wehrle, Claudia Coppola, Bob Wheeler, Robin Burdick, Taylor Webster Staff: Anna Mc Enery CALL TO ORDER Member Hanson called the meeting to order. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Member Hanson called for approval March 26, 2019 meeting agenda. Member Cook moved to approve the agenda, Member Wilson seconded. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM November 27, 2018. Member Sullivan called for approval of November 27, 2018 meeting minutes. Member Rafferty seconded. INTRODUCTIONS PUBLIC COMMENTS NEW BUSINESS AND PRESENTATIONS Presentation about ABLE Accounts/Peter Tassoni – ABLE Administrator & the DD Endowment Trust Fund/Tamara Roberts – Trust Manager Peter Tassoni shared there is eligibility between the both programs. There are various uses, differences in fees, records, contributions, etc. ABLE eligibility criteria includes the individual’s disability must have occurred prior to his/her 26th year of age and also the beneficiary must be receiving SSI or SSID. For Washington state, you must also be a resident of the state. Only one ABLE account per person nationwide. Tamara provided the 3 criteria for the DD Endowment fund, i.e., must be resident of the state, the individual must meet the developmental disability definition as determined by the DDA representative and the beneficiary must be under the age of 65 at the time of enrollment. Staff Mc Enery asked Peter to provide information on what happens if Washington beneficiary moves east at a later time. Once an individual is qualified to participate, Peter provided a list of expenditures the ABLE funds could be spent on, e.g., assistive technology, transportation, education, personal support services, legal services, financial management, health and wellness, groceries, household supplies, etc. The Endowment trust cannot be used for groceries, household supplies, or anything that would affect the amount of SSI/SSID the individual receives. With ABLE, once the individual has an account, the account can be accessed via online banking to transfer money, load a prepaid card, automatic bill pay, etc. However, Tamara indicated that with the Endowment, a written request on the ______ form. Each request needs accompanying documentation supporting the request. Requests will take up to 2 weeks for approval and reimbursement is by a check only. Staff Mc Enery stated the comparison sheet between the 2 programs seems to be missing the qualified expenses for the Endowment Trust. Peter will provide the information by Friday. According to Tamara, there is a $600 fee to enroll in the Endowment program and a 1% soft fee is charged for management after a year participation, and a $75 annual tax preparation fee. Peter shared that ABLE has an annual $35 administrative fee, and then pay between .03-.038% management fee on the asset balance. If funds are used for non-qualified disability expenditures, a 10% federal tax penalty may apply along with other fees. Record keeping is the ABLE recipient’s responsibility. With the Endowment program, the _____ manager keeps the records. We do handle the taxes, but do not report to Social Security. ABLE annual contributions are limited to $15,000, which aligns with the federal gift guidelines. There is a lifetime maximum of $500,000 contributions. Recipient can access funds via online banking in a variety of ways. The Endowment Fund does not have any annual contribution limits, nor any lifetime maximum. Can accept a paper check which you may set up through your bank’s bill pay. ABLE has several market options through Vanguard. ABLE and the Endowment Fund have different processes for how the money is handled, as well as any Medicaid recovery, self-settled trusts, and settling an estate/will. Back to question about if an individual moves after establishing an ABLE account in Washington, since only one account is available nationwide, the account stays with you no matter where you move. However, an individual may switch to an account in another state and may choose to do so based on income tax issues in that state. As far as the Endowment, only Arizona and Colorado do not recognize the WA program document. Still discovering about other states. The only drawback is that WA does offer a state matching funds and would lose that benefit if move to another state. Question re: Since ABLE account is subject to Medicaid recovery, does that apply to Waiver or Medicaid bills? Peter indicated it applies to long term care (if aged over 55), and in the past, there were some Waiver services that were recovered. However, recovery only incurs from the individual’s enrollment into ABLE forward. There will be a presentation for parents at Chimacum High School library on May 16. Presentation from Jefferson County Fathers’ Group/Senate Bill 5672/Bob Wheeler Bob has 7 dad members and Claudia is also a member. Formed to demonstrate that fathers are also involved, along with mothers, with children/adults who have developmental disabilities. Focusing on Jefferson County but also statewide issues. We are concerned about potential housing issues for our children as they become adults. Looking for better solutions, services and funding (see handout). Worries start birth to 3, then school age issues, funding is always an issue. Transition then occurs with issues in employment, housing, and parents are aging, etc. ________ spoke about the lack of planning at the state level for long term housing to address the 12K developmentally disabled people over 18 you, who are living at home and what happens if the parents/caregivers are no longer able to provide housing, etc. One strategy by the state is to push developmentally disabled people (+/- 12K individuals) down from state institutions to communities, which the state thinks will save money. Second strategy is to keep our adult children at home for as long as possible and then when a crisis hits, the state will place them in whatever space is available, appropriate or not. Using the DHS numbers, calculate about $750M is used for housing the 12K developmentally disabled individuals in state housing (institutions, group homes, etc). So to effectively address the other 12K children/adults living at home, would require another $750M, for which the state has no plans. Family support and structure has changed, i.e., single parents, both parents working, more mobile/less family locally, etc. Encouraging assessment of entire caseload for housing needs, where do people go, how do they get there, what is the cost, how will it be paid etc. Wheeler reviewed slides showing information on comparison on state report of types of housing and the funding received per person in each type of housing. Reviewed the annual funding received to operate the 6 person housing provided by Olympic Neighbors. Encouraging the state to do a realistic planning of what is needed so can budget appropriately. Reviewed the proposed recommendations provided to the state legislature. Also encouraging parents to start thinking about what are they going to need in the future years. Discussion on core Waiver application for transitioning into housing and denial process. Staff Mc Enery stated it is a crisis driven system, only DHS department that doesn’t do budget forecasting or add to the budget unless it is transition students. Fathers group has interacted with state legislators and state senator. Had the 2 District 24 legislators come to the house to see what we are doing, how difficult it is to run an adult group home for developmentally disabled. Several proposals have been submitted and although not getting much traction, it is a start in educating people. Have been supporting SB 5672, which has passed Senate and now in the House. Mc Enery provided a handout for SB 5672. Also have testified for the bill as stakeholders. Currently all homes are assessed the same whether for seniors, Alzheimer, developmentally disabled, etc. This bill should provide additional attention to the housing situation. Father’s group has also met with several lobbying and rights groups, ARC of Washington, Adult Family Home Council, Governor’s Council on Developmentally Disabilities, Disabilities Rights of WA. Discussed how might be able to find different ways to fund, e.g., direct funds from new taxes to DD, maybe a real estate excise tax that would have DD receive some funds when property is sold, etc. Trying to get statewide acknowledgment of the developmentally disabled at same discussion level as mental health, homelessness, etc. DD Coordinator Update/Anna Mc Enery ACAC Grant Funding/Projects List for 2019 Reviewed the community projects which will utilize the received $54K Jefferson County 2019 Transition Workshop Series Attempted to have an adult panel at Quilcene and Chimacum but didn’t have parents coming out for them. With Social Security benefits, requesting providers to inform people of the workshop, don’t need to be transition students. May 16th , we have ABLE trust, in person, and they will have more information. Final 2019 Jefferson County DDAB Legislative Priorities Provided details. HB 1406……. Coffee with a COP/April 17, 2019 3-5pm at Ferrino’s Will be a promotional interview with KKTZ Tossed Salad on Friday, April 12. Sheriff is very excited. New Jefferson County Employment Provider Network Meetings Had first meeting on February 13th. Purpose is to share resources, provide train the trainer opportunities, problem solve issues, market employment success stories. Hope to continue quarterly. Discussed quality assurance, evaluation procedures, employment plan template, communication policy when provider change is requested. OLD BUSINESS-INFORMATIONAL ITEMS & FUTURE MEETINGS Old Business Update from Subcommittee about Goal Setting/2018 Developmental Disability Community Forum – Carl Hanson & Pamela Adams Member Hanson requested a delay for this information until Matlock and Adams are present. Informational Items Update about FLASH classes/Olympic Neighbors-Community Events – Kim Rafferty – Program Manager Olympic Neighbors has been sponsoring FLASH once a week on Thursdays. 8 attendees and 4 staff, who are sponsoring folks. There is room for some additional participants. Olympic Neighbors fundraiser is set for August 18, with a goal of $25K at the Courthouse. Update/Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) – Iris Wehrle – Voc Rehabilitation Counselor Jefferson County caseload is still low, maybe 30. Have new director in the state office over transition. No big changes. Update from the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) Future Meetings/Events Accessibility Community Advisory Committee (ACAC) Regular Mtgs (Grant from Governor’s Committee on Disability) to be held from 1-3pm @ Public Health/Pacific Room (unless otherwise noted) in 2019 on: May 20 July 22 – Coyle Community Center September 23 November 25 Transition Network mtg to be held 3:45 – 5pm @ Port Townsend School District – Gael Stuart Bldg/Board Room April 9, 2019 WORKSHOP – Supported Employment and Job Development in Rural Communities/Deb McLean from WiSe/Jefferson CO Public Health/Pacific Room – May 6th 9:3- am – 4:30 pm PUBLIC COMMENTS None were made. Future Agenda Items Mental Health Services for People with Development Disabilities Jefferson County Quality Assurance document/Provider Acuity spreadsheet Jefferson County ADA Plan Update/Mark Mc Cauley 2019 DDAB MEETINGS – from 2:45 pm – 4:30pm @ Public Health in Pacific Conference Room: Tuesday, May 28 Tuesday, September 24 Tuesday, November 26 Meeting was adjourned at ____ pm.