Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout20201124_DDAB MINUTES-NOVEMBER 24-2020-FINAL1 Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board (DDAB) MINUTES-FINAL Tuesday, November 24, 2020 Board Attendees: Carl Hanson (Co-Chair), Kim Rafferty (Co-Chair), Owen Rowe, Kelly Matlock, David Sullivan, Shelby MacMeekin, Cherish Cronmiller Absent: Dale Wilson Guests: Linda Middleton, Sarah Grossman, Robin Burdick, Taylor Webster, Lara Radke, Robin Burdick, Nan Jordan, Melinda Miller, Noah Johnson, LeAnne Raines, Cassondra Vellucci, Maureen, Kimberly Adams, Claudia Coppola, Catie Morton Staff: Anna Mc Enery CALL TO ORDER Member Rafferty called the meeting to order. INTRODUCTIONS Member Rafferty welcomed the two new board members and Staff Mc Enery introduced them by sharing a bit about each. Shelby MacMeekin has been involved as a teacher in Special Education for 18 years and works as the Director of Special Services for Port Townsend School District. Cherish Cronmiller is the highly qualified Executive Director for OlyCAP. Staff and the DDAB are delighted to welcome these two new board members to the team. Member Rafferty and Staff Mc Enery both said good-by and thank you to Commissioner Sullivan for his years of service on the DDAB. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Member Rafferty called for approval of the meeting agenda. Member Roe (M)/ Member Sullivan(S)/ the agenda was approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Rafferty called for any corrections and approval of the January 28, 2020 minutes. Member Hansen made one correction to page 3 paragraph 3 under the Roman Numerals: the two vans should be corrected to be two small busses. The minutes will be corrected. Member Matlock (M)/ that the minutes be approved as corrected and Member Hanson (S). The minutes were approved. Just as a point of information: Instead of having a DDAB Meeting on Tuesday, March 24 we scheduled an Employer Appreciation Event on Friday, March 20th at 4pm @ Public Health, but had to cancel due to COVID. Minutes from DDAB Meeting of May 26, 2020 did not record. Instead of having an DDAB Meeting on September 22, 2020, we had an Intellectual/ Developmental Disabilities Awareness Panel that occurred via Zoom on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, no minutes were needed. Staff Mc Enery will post this information on the Public Health website under the DDAB. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None comments were made. 2 NEW BUSINESS AND PRESENTATIONS 1. Presentations about Remote IE & CI Services due to COVID a. Taylor Webster, Executive Director of Cascade Community Connections: Taylor reported that CCC serves 46 clients in their Community Guide program, 18 in their Individual Supported Employment and Community Inclusion Programs. They are currently working with six individuals in DVR. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Cascade staffing meetings have transitioned to Zoom. They continue to meet weekly, in order to stay connected and informed. Each week all eight staff listen to Dr. Locke’s report to the BoCC, along with other COVID reports from local, state and national news outlets. With everything changing from week to week, it helps to inform their own program practices at Cascade; as well as share the information with their clients and families, (particularly in cases where they don’t have the same access to this information). They have also worked with families and clients to get internet access, computers and IPads and have worked to get people trained on Zoom, to allow them to connect and stay informed. Over the summer, they were able to hold some in-person meetings with clients, but took great care to follow COVID protocols. Staff were also able to complete a number of community-based assessments in local businesses, with some job positions being developed because of COVID. For example, greeter positions in a restaurant or a store. Staff continue to work with businesses to develop and find positions for some of their clients. Staff keep in weekly contact with current employers who worked with CCC clients before the pandemic. They keep them updated and to talk about when workers might be coming back, or how they might redesign positions to fit current needs. Staff are advocating weekly, to have clients write emails or letters to supervisors, co-workers and employers to stay in touch. Staff spend a lot of time on “discovery” with clients. This helps to get to know them better, by developing skills and goals for employment, helping with prep activities such as updating resume, food handler prep and interview skills. Staff has been able to take the opportunity to take many hours of training and professional development. CCC is holding a “pandemic town hall” this week for clients and families to talk about latest guidelines and how that affects the changes to their services. They will be recording and posting that town hall on line as well. All clients who had been working were assisted with filing unemployment and were set up to receive unemployment. They were also helped in setting up Able Accounts, which is a national savings account, which helps people with disabilities to put away money. b. Presentation: Linda Middleton – Executive Director Concerned Citizens They have been working ways to help people stay connected and get on line, it’s been very difficult with the population they work with to figure out Zoom, but they are trying to reach out through Social Media. Their client list in Jefferson is minimal right now. The Birth to 3 Program is doing well. There are four kiddos in Chimacum, two in Brinnon and 12 in Port Townsend. They met with the new Special Ed Director in Quilcene and are hopeful about getting some kids from there too. 3 The movement from the School District to the State has been a bit challenging, but they are working on it. Concerned Citizens is still in the learning phase of trying to make it all work, but doing well. They are doing some remote access work with physical therapy and speech therapy; a therapist from Holly Ridge providing blind and deaf therapy as well. It is a busy program. Trying to resume home visits has been a bit of a challenge. With the pandemic, it is always one-step forward and two steps back. 2. Presentation/Update Jefferson County Universal Playground – JUMP Sarah Grossman – JUMP Board President The $250,000 original playground envisioned in May of 2016 has now morphed into a million-dollar project. The project includes many enhancements, such as ADA approved parking spaces, paved paths to the playground- on the perimeter trail, as well as to the bathrooms and out to the ball fields. There will be perimeter fencing, a concrete plaza area with seats and tables. The paths will be wheelchair accessible and will include a rock climbing structure. The project has been broken into two phases for funding reasons. There is still a lot of money to be raised, but we are getting closer. Phase two will be a wheelchair accessible play structure, with a glider and some swings. There will be a marine theme to the playground by taking into account that HJ Carroll has the salmon viewing deck out on the lake, and we will be connecting with the Rick Tollefson trail. We are including a local artist to design a marine themed climbing and crawling opportunity. All of the local school districts will be involved, because we want school-aged kids to make tiles or other art that can be embedded in the paths and along the concrete. NOSC—North Olympic Salmon Coalition will provide educational components, by providing informative signboards throughout. The JUMP Playground is going to meet the capabilities of people of many different ages. There will be music and other activities that caregivers, family members, elderly folks and individuals who use a walker or a wheelchair can come and participate in, or just sit and relax, while watching their kids or grandchildren play. In October of 2020, Jefferson County Public Works applied to the RCO – Recreation Conservation Office, (RCO) for a Washington Wildlife Recreation Program grant, (WWRP), with close assistance from JUMP. Jefferson County was awarded a half a million dollars to hire a project manager and send the design out for bid. The actual construction will not begin until early 2022. With the half million from RCO and $277,000 raised or committed that should cover phase one. Another $230,000 is needed to complete both phases. The JUMP Board is continuing to raise money; if things go well, we hope to build the whole playground at once! 3. Presentation– Cherish Cronmiller-OlyCAP Executive Director Jefferson County and Housing House Bill 1590 Cherish Cronmiller gave a brief overview of House Bill 1590 which allows the 1/10th of 1% tax to be allocated through Councilmatic action to support local housing. She explained that at least 60% of the revenue needs to be for constructing affordable housing or facilities. Funds must serve people whose income is at or below 60% of the area median income, as well as being one of the following: persons with mental illness, veterans, senior citizens, and families with children who are homeless or at risk of being homeless, 4 unaccompanied homeless youth or young adults, persons with disabilities and domestic violence survivors. When the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners considered this program, they wanted to see if there was something tangible that the housing providers could do immediately with this fund. In 2021, the expectation is for $350,000-$370,000 could be available and in future years, it could be around $600,000. Nonprofits in the local affordable housing business got together to look at a five-year plan on homelessness. It was determined that Jefferson County is lacking affordable housing units and permanent supportive housing units. For example, a place where individuals could receive supportive mental health or other supportive services. In breaking down 1590, the local affordable housing nonprofits reviewed current priorities and the availability to start building or working on this effort immediately. The idea was, not dole out funds amongst all housing entities, and instead find a way to see the sales tax go towards building as soon as this fund passes. The group came up with some ideas of boarding housing, supported apartments for young adults and youth, housing available to move towards home ownership and emergency dormitory type housing that could turn into permanent housing. It is very important that residents in the community be educated about 1590 so that they understand this is not “just another sales tax” but it is going directly to a serious need in our community. Commissioner Sullivan reported that the Homeless Housing Task Force forwarded the recommendation for 1590 to the joint Oversight Board, which then forwarded its recommendation to pass the tax to the County Commissioners. As this is to be a Councilmatic process it will only need the vote of the County Commissioners, and at this time, only one more vote of the County Commissioners needs to happen. A hearing is scheduled for December 14 at 1:30 pm. The Homeless Housing Task Force will oversee the fund and distribute RFP’s. Commissioner Sullivan reported that the intent is to get another group/board together, consisting of relevant membership with finance, real estate, legal or other relevant background, to review the RFP’s. Update on the Hendricks Housing Project Cherish reported that the Hendricks Housing Project is a low-income housing tax credit property. It is slated to be built in the area near QFC. The reason for selection of this spot has everything to do with three specific issues: 1. The sewer access issue – being able to access City utilities. 2. Zoning for a facility such as this. 3. The housing tax credits are given for access to services points and given for proximity to services: hospital, grocery store, easy access add to a point system for the tax credits. The Hendricks Housing Project is slated to be 43 units and will be considered permanent supportive housing with case management on site. Some units will be built for specific needs. A Head Start class room will be included, for residents and community members – and all of these things add to the point system for funding. It is going to be a big project, and a big cost. For these 43 units the cost will be 15-20 million. The majority of the funds will come from private investors using low income housing tax credits. These tax credits are crucial to being able to move forward with the project. 5 In order to be successful with this kind of an endeavor, it usually takes a private entity, often a community development entity such as our Community Action Agency that gets the tax credits. There should be news by January about receipt of State and Federal tax credits for the year. The next steps will be to look for private equity banks or other options. Cherish reported that there is a critical need for affordable housing units in our community. If the community wants to grow, there is a need for service workers and lower income jobs for people who now cannot afford to live here. 4. Presentation– LeAnne Raines DSHS/DVR (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation) - Olympic Unit Supervisor LeAnne Raines shared that DVR continues to assist people with employment barriers to obtain and maintain work. Staff have been working virtually with customers, taking applications, working directly with customers, using Zoom, telehealth, Skype and the phone. DVR is doing whatever is needed in order to work with adults to transition students. They provide substantial counseling, guidance and vocational assessments. The key focus and priority at this point is to start developing more relationships with the schools, so that earlier efforts can begin with students to help with success. LeAnne introduced her staff. Cassondra Vellucci is the lead counselor in the Port Angeles office and serves the Port Townsend office part time. Laura Radke is a DVR Rehab Tech and located in the Port Townsend office full time; she does all of the intakes for Jefferson County. Trisha Burks is the lead counselor in the Silverdale office and serves the Port Townsend office part time. 5. Updates: Anna Mc Enery- DD County Coordinator Legislative Priorities for the Jefferson County DDAB a. DDA had proposed changes to the eligibility standards that could reduce the number of individuals who receive DDA paid services, affecting about 8,100 individuals statewide. Almost 3,000 of those individuals would lose Employment and Community Inclusion supports. It would cut the State match of Waiver funds; which means we could lose a lot of matching Federal dollars in our DD budget. It could eliminate Employment Services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so then they cannot provide for themselves. b. Washington's Employment First policy. Staff Mc Enery reminded the DD Board that the State is number one or two in the Nation when it comes to Employment services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Many of these individuals are essential workers; they contribute to the State's economy, as well as being able to support themselves. The Fathers Group has volunteered to speak to our Legislators on behalf of this group. Job Foundations The purpose of the Job Foundations Project is to engage students earlier in targeted employment training, while connecting them to the adult service system. Counties, who are participating, have received funding for the Job Foundations Project. DVR, DDA, Employment Providers and the Special Ed. Directors have been meeting and working on collaborative partnerships. Employment Providers will use their expertise to gather information on transition students so they be successful in employment. That information becomes the Job Foundations Report. 6 DVR can use the Job Foundations Report to serve the student immediately in a Community Based Assessment or even a Job Placement Plan in the last year of school. With the goal of the student leaving High School with a job. The County DD Program has created a brochure and flyer about the Job Foundations Program that was sent out to everyone involved in transition. An RFQ was put out to Jefferson County Employment Providers, to see who would be interested in being a Job Foundations Provider. Responses were received from Cascade Community Connections and from Skookum Contract Services and so they will be the Providers for Job Foundations for the near future. County Survey Public Knowledge of Services The intent of this survey is to help Counties to gain a clearer picture of what people know about the Service System and educational opportunities available in each County. Counties involved in the survey, also want to assess the current knowledge of services and supports as well as the level of inclusion in the quality of life those individuals who experience intellectual disabilities experience in their community. The hope is that answers will provide guidance on barriers and gaps in service delivery. The survey is still open and more responses are needed. ACAC Grant Project Updates Over $41,000 was received in this grant cycle from the Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment. This grant will end on May 28. Approximately $168,000 in grant funds has been received for Jefferson County over the last six years. Current Projects: • Hearing equipment for Public Health in the Pacific Room as well as in some of their meeting rooms – match was 50% – project completed. • Fort Worden-PDA received hearing equipment – match was 50% -- project completed. • The City Pool is trying to build a more accessible changing room, as well as create accessible signage and an improved trail for the Chetzemoka park restroom. -- Those two projects are not going to occur until 2021 because of budget cuts. These are also matched at 50% • The Quilcene School District requested accessible access for their garden. This project has been completed. • Accessible ADA doors at the Brinnon Community Center, was also a 50% match. Jefferson County will finish that project in 2021. • ADA parking spots at the Coyle Community Center have been completed, and they are still waiting to make their bathroom doors more ACA accessible. Disability Awareness Panel 10-13-2020 This was a very successful event. Many people from the community, who are not connecting with local agencies and individuals who do not work in the field of disability attended. October is National Disability Employment Month. The focus was on individuals who are supported through Individual Supported Employment. Many community participants were educated about disability employment resources in our community. Because March is National Developmental Disability Month, Staff Mc Enery and the DDAB would like to celebrate it by having a Second Intellectual Developmental Disability Awareness/Education Panel in March. 7 At this time, the focus will be on sharing local disability resources for people who experience Intellectual Disabilities. Ideally, it would be nice to have representation from: • Arc-Parent to Parent • Birth to Three • Community Engagement • DDA • The Fathers Group • Gatheringplace • Olympic Neighbors/Hamilton House • Jefferson Transit Services (hear from the mobility manager) • JUMP- Jefferson Universal Movement Playground 6. Updates: Shelby MacMeekin- Director of Special Services for Port Townsend School District. Shelby MacMeekin reported that Port Townsend schools have been forced to pause services, for the time being due to the rapidly increasing numbers. They are, however, dedicated to making sure that any educationally disadvantaged child still has access. As a result, after taking a microscopic look at who was able to thrive in a remote environment, and who was not, they decided to invite students with disabilities, homeless students, and students who are English learners back into the building. Given the nature of the school year, and trying to make create some opportunities out of out of a very unusual year, they have been doing a lot of work to improve services system wide. At the elementary level, they are doing a lot of work groups while focusing on inclusionary practices. At the secondary level, they continue to talk about transition, recognizing a need to start at the beginning by conducting interest surveys. Presently they are working on T folios. They are doing internal focus groups at all levels to look at services, Pre K through 21. The plan is to have focus groups, make some recommendations, and then pull in community partners and parent groups to have discussions, so that they are poised next year to make some tangible change. 7. Updates: Claudia Coppola- Olympic Neighbors Claudia reported that they have been able to stay open, as they are considered essential services providing 24-hour care. There have been very stringent rules that have had to be enforced in the home, as they fall under a similar licensure to nursing homes, even though they are completely different. Since March, there have been no visitors in the home, no parents, no partners, and no friends. Most residents were unable to go to work or to volunteer sites. Recently, some residents have now been able to return to work. One of the biggest challenges has been having all six of the residents’ home for 24 hours a day. Residents are very active and generally spend a portion of every day, out in the community, at work, or with family. Trying to figure out how to keep everyone engaged, sane and positive, while being together all day long has been one of his or her biggest challenges. Residents and staff have worked on house projects, baking, playing games and have been getting outdoors as much as possible. They have been able to implement yard visits, or walking visits, where family or friends come in and interact with their loved one, but they are outside, still six feet apart and everyone has a mask on. 8 Most recently, they were able to put up a tent and get an outdoor heater so that they have a winter friendly space outside where parents can come and visit, especially for the holidays. The Adult Family group home is part of a group of Adult Family Homes that meet through zoom and brainstorm about different activities, share concerns and ideas on how to deal with all that is occurring because of the pandemic. Olympic Neighbors has to fundraise a large portion of our budget. Like most organizations, they had to cancel many of the fundraisers that were scheduled for this year. A few were done online, but they have not generated the same amount of money as in previous years. They were fortunate to get a small business loan. That has helped with the increased costs related to more staffing, increased food cost and supply costs. 8. Updates: Catie Morton - DDA Case Resource Manager Catie expressed concerns about the proposed cuts to DDA, but expressed gratitude for the advocates out there working to help. The key priority for DDA is keeping people safe. There are a few clients who have had to quarantine and because there is no set residential service for clients, DDA staff are making many calls reminding people to stay home. Case managers started doing quick home visits again in October, having have not done them from March through September. The requirement of doing a home visit within 30 days after the annual assessment still stands. Catie is doing very quick home visits, eyes on the person, review of living quarters, their bedroom and then out. Recently, DDA combined the services of Community Guide and Community Engagement into one. Essentially, they are the same service but now it has called Community Engagement. A new service has begun called Specialized Habilitation. It is still in the early stages and they are starting to get providers to come on board. It works to help clients with self- empowerment, safety awareness, self-advocacy, interpersonal effectiveness, social communication, coping strategies, managing daily tasks and learning. They feel it is going to be a great new service that can be added to the client services plan. It works under the IFS Waiver, Basic Plus and Core Waivers, unless somebody is in a residential setting, so that would mean a companion home or supportive living. 9. Updates: Kimberly Adams- ARC of the Peninsula—Parent 2 Parent Coordinator Kimberly reported that she has started the Tuesday Parent to Parent support groups at 6:30 pm, by request – that is how they get the ZOOM link. They occur on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. At the end of September, Kimberly started a Life after High School Workshop series, for parents and families. The focus is on what to expect after the students exit High School. Future Meetings/Events: 2021 DDAB Meetings-from 2:45pm to 4:30pm- Zoom Platform ➢ Tuesday, January 26, 2021 ➢ Tuesday, March 23, 2021 ➢ Tuesday, May 25, 2021 ➢ Tuesday, September 28, 2021 9 ➢ Tuesday, November 23, 2021