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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210126_DDAB MINUTES-JANUARY 26-2021-FINAL1 Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board (DDAB) MINUTES Tuesday, January 26, 2021 FINAL Board Attendees: Carl Hanson (Co-Chair), Kim Rafferty (Co-Chair), Owen Rowe, Kelly Matlock, Heidi Eisenhour, Shelby MacMeekin, Cherish Cronmiller, Dale Wilson Guests: Robin Burdick, Ian Chessman, Taylor Webster, Carina Robinson, Gina Majerle, Lara Radke, Nan Jordan, Melinda Miller, Noah Johnson, Cassondra Vellucci, Melanie Garrett, Claudia Coppola, Melanie Garrett, Nancy Gaskin, Misty Parkhurst-Gates, Alysa Thomas, Bob Wheeler, Al Cairns Staff: Anna Mc Enery CALL TO ORDER Member Hanson called the meeting to order. INTRODUCTIONS Staff Mc Enery introduced our newest board member, Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour and welcomed her to the board. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Member Hanson called for approval of the meeting agenda. Member Wilson (M)/ Member Rafferty(S). The agenda was approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Hanson stated that the minutes from the November 24, 2020 meeting would be approved at a later meeting as a new Clerk Hire will be hired soon and will cover these. PUBLIC COMMENTS Member Rafferty invited everyone to participate in Olympic Neighbors big cookie sale and purchase Valentines cookies at the CO-OP on February 13th and 14th. NEW BUSINESS AND PRESENTATIONS a. Public Works presentation on the new RFP for the Recycling Contract Al Cairns-Solid Waste Manager reaffirmed the 30 year standing commitment, Jefferson County Public Works has had, to support the vocational program at the Transfer Station. The Skookum contract agreement is going up for renewal on March 31st of this year. Al Cairns explained that there is a one-year option to extend that contract; he believes that the County will do that. The extension will give Public Works time to create a new RFP for the services that are going to be needed. Al explained that the recycling market has gone through some seismic shifts in the last two years. Especially since the overseas market, (particularly China), is no longer a recipient of recyclables. As a result, a number of jobs have been created to keep the program going, and at a relatively affordable proposition. Cairns and his Public Works team are looking at a range of potential proposals. 2 Due to new requirements, there is some concern, that the employment program could be in jeopardy. The present thinking is the employment program element should be pulled out of the RFP, (for the first time since 1993); have it be a standalone service agreement. Public Works would like to enhance the employment program and the scope of work. Member Hansen asked what that new agreement might look like. Al Cairns explained that as the agreement stands it is more or less ancillary to the caring service agreement. Over the years it has become less of the principal focus that it was in 1993. The market has shifted and the sorting line came offline, so the Group Employment Program had to change. Currently, employment opportunities are focused principally around litter control. With a new program they hope to expand it outward to meet a number of service needs for facilities maintenance and grounds maintenance, across the whole facility. Al Cairns explained the thought that if the employment program were left embedded in any RFP, there is some substantial risk that it would be lost. And so, the thinking is to remove it from the recycling contract and let it stand on its own. Staff Mc Enery asked if Al Cairns knew how much funding will be attached to the RFP for employment providers who work with people who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities? Cairns responded that at present, there is a kind of “wish list” being developed for all the grounds maintenance and perhaps other maintenance at the Transfer Station. Public Works would like to put out the RFP to employment providers, in order to see how they would meet the requested requirements. Cairns explained that a lot of housekeeping work needs to be done in advance of putting the RFP out. The plan is to work with the Solid Waste Advisory Committee on the issues that need to addressed. Cairns believes a number of special meetings will be required to tackle all the issues. Once a resolution is reached, then it will be time to put out the RFP. The RFP for Solid Waste and the RFP for I/DD employment services would go out at the same time. Staff Mc Enery said that the DDAB and DD Program would be happy to assist with any part of developing the Group Employment RFP. Cairns reiterated a desire to include all expertise in the development of the program. Robin Burdick with Skookum asked if there would be any possibility of Public Works hiring each individual who experiences intellectual disabilities as regular employees. Cairns stated that there is a desire by Public Works to keep it a very lean program and that process would add an additional administrative function that may not work for Public Works. However, it is something they might be willing to discuss. b. Overview of the OESD 114 Special Services Nan Jordan, Olympic Educational Services District 114 Social Worker presented an overview of the Special Services Program, an umbrella of services that are provided to both large and small school districts in the way of training and support for students, educators and schools. Speaker Jordan explained that the Special Services Department is one spoke of the umbrella of services. This department provides: • Technical assistance on regulations, program development and instructional practices for children with special needs ages birth to 21 • Professional development and training geared to the needs of staff who serve special needs children • Collaboration with other agencies providing support to special needs children • Networking opportunities 3 Noah Johnson, Behavior Technician with OESD, presented an overview of the “Transitions Group.” In this context the Transitions Group is working with kids, to support them to be successful after school, getting people together to talk about transition at younger ages, instead of just having it be a high school transition plan. To work with youth, to help them transition from high school and beyond. Speaker Johnson explained that the OESD is trying to get a feel for what different districts, counties and communities have to offer, so they can bring those resources together for transition teachers. The desire is to create a forum where teachers can come together, to share the work they are already doing and not “reinvent the wheel”. The Transitions Group is growing every month; currently there are teachers from Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallam, and even from Tacoma and Olympia. Speaker Johnson explained that it is a very informal group, that speaks openly about what’s working or what’s not working for them. If there are things that need improvement, or may not be working for them currently, then the OESD gets together and finds resources to share. The OESD tries to be the hub to find resources and facilitate conversations in the Transitions Group. The Board was introduced to Mandy Gaskill, a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with OESD, who is working with assistive technology for the Region. Speaker Gaskill explained that the goal is to work with the local OESD group, to talk about the ATIG (Assistive Technology Interest Group) and to share ideas and resources. Assisted Technology is anything from a pencil grip up to high tech, iPads, reading machines etc. Melanie Garret, is the Assistant Director at the OESD for Special Education Special Services. She shared information about the Early Childhood group; where all Coordinators from the Region meet monthly to discuss what is happening in their Districts. Melanie commented that there is a lot of transition in Early Childhood. Children are that are enrolled in birth to 3 services and still need early intervention services at the age of three, are then enrolled in the school district program. Speaker Garrett said there is a monthly early childhood newsletter, that supports families and staff. Inclusionary practices are an important theme; the newsletter helps with resources and sharing Teacher Trainings and Para-Educator Trainings, which have been very successful. The trainings focus on very targeted topics: working in the day to day classroom, communication, universal design in the classroom, promoting student independence. Staff Mc Enery asked what the meaning of inclusionary practices is for Early Childhood. Speaker Garrett explained that the effort at the early childhood level is to work to make preschools more inclusionary. They want preschool students to transition more effortlessly to kindergarten. There is grant funding to assist in facilitating this process, help with the curriculum and to get those inclusionary practices working. In Jefferson County, the Quilcene School District, recently obtained an Inclusionary Grant. The OESD will work with Quilcene to look at their data, to see what areas they should work on, so their Pre-K kids are ready for kindergarten. Melanie Garrett informed the group that there is an Inclusionary Practices Training Series coming up. Staff Mc Enery said she would forward out the flyers to all attendees. 4 c. Presentation about Remote IE & CI Services because of COVID Skookum- Robin Burdick/Program Director Speaker Burdick shared the experience Skookum has had due to COVID. It’s been an opportunity to grow: • They made sure every client had hand sanitizer in their pocket. • They made sure everyone had a mask with clasps so they could wear it around their neck if they ever had the opportunity to take their mask off. • They purchased four remote control trucks, which have provided the opportunity to click off many boxes around hand and eye coordination – both hands are required to maneuver the trucks, and it takes finger action. Before COVID Skookum workers could work a four-hour shift, but now their stamina is reduced. They don’t use the word “exercise” but the trucks have provided opportunity to get outside and to be walking and moving and bending up and down. They call it movement, employment movement – motion and movement. • Recently they had an employment apparel fashion show. She showed appropriate work clothing on a hanger and discussed appropriate clothing and shoes to wear to work. DD COORDINATOR INFO/UPDATES • Update/Jefferson Co. DDAB 2021 Legislative Priorities Staff Mc Enery asked that all attendees to please note, that the Jefferson County DDAB 2021 Legislative Priorities document, we are asking the Legislature to provide leadership and funding for the housing crisis for people with intellectual, developmental disabilities. This is not just about not enough homes and houses, but also funding for DDA Residential support and assistance. A copy of the information was sent by email to the DDAB. Staff Mc Enery reported that Kelly Matlock was gracious enough to take all the information that was put in our Legislative Priorities document and put it into letter format, which she then emailed to our three local Legislators. Staff Mc Enery suggested that housing updates for Jefferson County, as well as Statewide, be presented at each DDAB meeting. This would give the Board, (and any attendees), an opportunity to strategize about the acute housing needs at every meeting. A few years back, the DD Program hired Pam Blanton of Partners 4 Housing to present about housing issues and strategies for people who experience intellectual disabilities, here in Jefferson County. Staff Mc Enery suggested that it might be time to think about having another Housing Forum, (via Zoom), in late fall or early winter of next year. But only if there is a community interest. • ACAC Grant Projects-2020-2021 Update Staff Mc Enery shared the history of the ACAC (Accessible Community Advisory Committee), which was established in 2015. ACAC grants raise awareness and acceptance of people with any kind of disability through education, access and barrier removal. The State of Washington has established this fund through the fees obtained from ticketing people for parking in accessible parking spots without a placard. Approximately $120,000 or more is raised every year. Jefferson County has received over $168,000 in ACAC funding over a period of five years; for staffing and accessible projects in Jefferson County. 5 Highlights of a few ACAC Projects that have been funded-include: • Updated DASH restaurant guides, an accessible DASH website and an accessible updated DASH map of Port Townsend. • Created Emergency Preparedness Rack Cards, for people that are medically fragile. • Sponsored a series of movies about disability at three PT Film Festivals. • Purchased of a beach wheelchair and beach walker, that is housed at Fort Worden. • Improved accessibility with updated ADA parking spaces at the local Fairgrounds. • Created a sidewalk extension and replaced a threshold at the Fairgrounds. • Created a new accessible sidewalk to the restroom at the Fairgrounds. • Purchased ADA accessible doors at the Coyle Community Center and for each Community Center in Port Townsend, Chimacum and Quilcene. (The ADA doors for the Brinnon Community Center are still in progress.) • Purchased assistive listening devices for the City of Port Townsend, Fort Worden and the Public Health Department. • Purchased a number of books about kids with disabilities, (some are superheroes) for the YMCA Literacy Program. • Purchased marketing materials for the JUMP Playground. • Purchased ADA access signage and accessible paths at Chetzemoka Park. (These projects are still in progress.) • Created a new accessible path at the Quilcene School District Garden. Staff Mc Enery shared that it’s time have a ACAC Community Forum. We want to continue to make more people in the community aware of this grant funding so that more individuals can benefit. • Job Foundations/Transition Network Update Staff Mc Enery reported that Job Foundations, is a Transition Pilot Project in Washington State. OSPI, DDA, DVR and the County DD Programs are partnering with School Districts to implement the Job Foundations in many Counties. Jefferson County is one of the Counties. The Job Foundations Program is another important tool to help transition students become gainfully employed. The Job Foundations program begins in their second to last year of transition in school. A few students will be turning 21 years old and graduating in June. So, the County DD Program will pay for their Job Foundations report, so they will have a completed report, as they move forward into the Adult Service System. Updates and reporting will be shared at future DDAB meetings. • Second Intellectual/ Developmental Disabilities Awareness Panel is scheduled during National I/DD Month @ March 23, 2021 @ 2:45pm Staff Mc Enery reminded the Board that in order to continue to educate and share disability resources in our community, a Second Awareness Panel will be held in place of the next DDAB meeting. This Panel will focus on disability groups, agencies and local resources for people who experience intellectual/developmental disabilities. 6 • Self-Advocacy Group for Jefferson County? Staff Mc Enery reported that she has been meeting with Catie Morton, a DDA Case Resource Manager, Priya Jayadev, the Executive Director of Mosaic and Krista Milhofer, People First Administrator, about looking into the possibility of restarting a People First/Self-Advocates group here. We hope to move forward in the near future. Old Business-Informational Items & Future Meetings I. Update/School Special Education Programs/ Shelby MacMeekin-PTSD Special Ed Director Shelby MacMeekin reported that despite COVID, students with disabilities have continued to attend school throughout the year. It has been important to make sure that the students who are most at risk educationally, still have an opportunity to attend in person. But, it has posed some really challenging obstacles for transition, because work sites are not available. Health and safety are always an issue and so is transportation, because students can’t be put in buses and vans like they once were. Special Education teachers are working hard to find other opportunities to prepare students. This year, Special Education is looking at all services, while thinking about how they can be strengthened. Right now we are in the planning phase and doing the groundwork to build a really strong foundation. We are concentrating on T-Folios, communication skills and interviewing skills. II. Update/Division of Vocational Rehabilitation-Cassondra Vellucci-DVR Counselor Cassondra Vellucci expressed excitement to partner with Job Foundations Program and to give some students opportunities that have not been there before. Also a reminder that DVR applications are always welcome. Cassondra reminded everyone that training is provided for educators as well as other support persons who wish to have more information about DVR forms and programs/opportunities. Upcoming trainings for T-Folios are also on the calendar. T-Folios are portfolios that educators use. DVR has also initiated a virtual job shadow, (it’s an online environment), they have been using to work with students. III. Update/Hamilton House /Olympic Neighbors- Claudia Coppola - Director Claudia reported that everyone has remained healthy. All staff have been able, (or had the opportunity) to be fully vaccinated and all residents have had their first shot. No visitors are allowed in the home yet, and the residents are unable to use any public transportation. Staff are doing a great job of making things work and created a safe space outside for residents to meet safely with family and stay warm. One resident transitioned from Hamilton House into her own place and a new resident is in the process of coming into the home. Adult Family Homes are very underfunded; so Hamilton House has to fundraise about a third of their budget every year. As they did last year, efforts are underway to figure out what can be done safely and/or virtually to raise the money needed to stay open. 7 Additionally, Olympic Neighbors, the Fathers’ Group, other Adult Family Homes, the State Arc and the Governor's Council have been having meetings. A meeting was held with Senator Randall and Representative Berringer to talk about the importance of funding Adult Family Homes and Residential Services; the group intends to continue to advocate for funding. IV. Update- Carina Robinson – Supervisor DDA-Clallam and Jefferson County Carina reported that the State budget isn’t as bad as anticipated; the really good news is that there were no cuts to client services/programs. The Governor has proposed a budget that will move forward this month to the House and Senate. It should be finalized in April. Carina appreciates the advocacy for housing that is being done in Jefferson County as it is a real crisis. Also the Father’s Group, the new Adult Family Home, the fundraising and letters to legislators… it’s all uplifting. One of the new services that has come out called Specialized Habilitation would be something that Carina would be willing to present at another meeting. There will be a Provider Meeting in the near future to introduce a Peer Mentoring program that Carina would like to see brought forward. An example of Peer Mentoring would be, a parent helping another parent go through steps for guardianship. Or perhaps a client who has gone to a prom mentor another who hasn’t, or someone who has never been camping talking to another about their experience. Opportunities to help a peer to be comfortable going through something new. V. Continued Update about Jefferson County Housing/ New 1/10th of 1% Sales Tax/House Bill 1590-/Update on the Hendricks Housing Project /Other Housing Issues/ Cherish Cronmiller-Executive Director-OlyCAP Cherish shared information about some of the things that are being attempted around advocacy, to change the housing landscape on the Peninsula. a) The Seventh and Hendrix Project: This will be an affordable housing facility with 43-units, that will be located next to QFC in Port Townsend. The majority of the funds to build the facility have been secured, with a few ideas on how to access additional funding for the gap. There is the possibility of 1) a capital campaign, perhaps selling bricks, and 2) selling naming rights to the building. Additionally, we hope to access the new 1590 funds that the City and County added, (through councilmatic action). This is another 1/10 of 1%, sales tax, but it’s designated for housing. Based on calculations, the tax should eventually generate about $600,000 a year. For the first year, the 1590 funds may be only half of that amount, maybe $250,000 to $300,000. For the Seventh and Hendrix Project, they will be asking for $200,000 in each of the first two years, for a total of $400,000. Cherish emphasized the need for good advocacy and education in our community around the housing issues. Discussions need to happen around inclusion and the people who work here, being able to live here. The last affordable housing project in Jefferson County was built in 2004. 8 The Seventh and Hendrix Housing Project will have Section Eight vouchers available. At least three units will be designated for individuals who experience intellectual/developmental disabilities, five units will be designated for individuals who experience chronic mental illness and two units will be for survivors of domestic violence. There could still be some changes to that depending on subsidies that might become available. All of the units will be for people with a household income below 50% of the area median income. Housing units like these need ongoing funding for maintenance and upkeep throughout the years. All of that has to be taken into consideration. The process for applications and who assists in getting applicants is unknown at this point; there will be outreach to those who can best assist with these things. Jefferson County really needs permanent supportive housing. A congregate facility with individual rooms, with shared living quarters, kitchen, laundry. That's the only way you can afford to provide the supportive services. Otherwise, the cost is outrageous. That’s why group housing is so important, but you've got to get correct zoning, permitting etc. The 1/10th of 1% funds are specifically earmarked for certain populations; that includes people who experience intellectual disabilities. We all need to work together to make sure we are prioritizing what is needed in the community and that includes special populations. Final Public Comments: Kelly Matlock gave a shout out to Anna Mc Enery for spearheading the work of the Board, as Developmental Disability Coordinator. It is due to her thoughtful and comprehensive approach that things are accomplished. Meeting Adjourned by Member Hanson. Future Meetings/Events: 1. 2021 DDAB Meetings-from 2:45pm to 4:30pm- Zoom Platform ➢ Tuesday, March 23, 2021-SECOND I/DD AWARENESS PANEL ➢ Tuesday, May 25, 2021 ➢ Tuesday, September 28, 2021-THIRD I/DD AWARENESS PANEL ➢ Tuesday, November 23, 2021 2. Accessibility Community Act Committee-(ACAC) MTGs (Grant from Governor’s Committee on Disability & Employment Issues) are held on Mondays, from 1pm to 2:00pm – Zoom Platform ➢ February 15, 2021 ➢ April 19, 2021 ➢ May 17, 2021- ACAC Community Forum ➢ July 19, 2021 ➢ September 20, 2021 ➢ November 15, 2021 3. Transition Network MTGs are held from 3:45 to 5pm on a Zoom Platform/ (DDA, Co DD, DVR, Providers and Special Ed-Directors Attend) ➢ February 23, 2021- Tuesday ➢ April 22, 2021- Thursday- New date ➢ June 8, 2021- Tuesday ➢ October 19, 2021- Tuesday-New date ➢ December 7, 2021