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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210323_I-DD AWARENESS PANEL MINUTES-MARCH 23-2021-FINALJEFFERSON COUNTY SECOND INTELLUCTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS PANEL MINUTES FINAL Tuesday-MARCH 23, 2021 2:45 – 4:30 PM This Panel focuses on disability groups, agencies and resources designed for people who experience Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) in Jefferson County. The purpose is to raise awareness about people who experience I/DD, while educating and sharing disability resources in Jefferson County. Panelists: Catie Morton, DDA/CRM- Community Engagement Program Kimberly Adams ARC of the Peninsulas, P2P Coordinator Jenny Vervynck, PTSD/Kitsap Mental Health Services Janie Nelson-Achodor, Lead Family Resource Coordinator-Birth to Three Services Debbie Linner, Dove House, DA/SA Advocate Bob Wheeler, Father’s Group, President Linda Ferris, Gathering Place, Executive Director Claudia Coppola, Olympic Neighbors & Hamilton House, Executive Director Attendees: Tricia Burks, DVR Counselor Tanya Barnett, YMCA, Family Resource Navigator Heidi Eisenhour, BoCC Robin Burdick, Skookum, Program Manager Taylor Webster, Cascade Community Connections Executive Director Kelly Matlock, DDAB Board Member Al Latham, Olympic Neighbors & Fathers Group Cherish Cronmiller, OlyCAP, Executive Director Nat Jacob, Public Defender’s Office Nan Jordan, OESD 114 LeAnne Raines, DVR Olympic Unit Supervisor Cassondra Vellucci, DVR Counselor Lani Peterson, Cascade Community Connections Misty Parkhurst-Gates, Concerned Citizens, , Program Manager Lara Radke, DVR Rehab Tech EJC Joe Noel, Jeff Co Sheriff Shelby MacMeekin, Dir. Of Special Serv. PTSD Marcia Myers, Cascade Community Connections Staff: Anna Mc Enery-BH & DD Coordinator 1. Community Engagement Program- DDA/CRM-Catie Morton Catie Morton shared information about the Community Engagement Program. Five years ago, DDA made real efforts to get Agencies into contract for services. Now it is a very busy service that most clients with Waivers have in their plans. At one point it was a short term service, which made it harder on the Providers because it had a limited timeframe. DDA heard the message loud and clear that this needed to change, and they made it happen. The program is designed to be creative and flexible to help connect individuals to participate, engage, and integrate more into their community and to connect with resources. Jefferson County does have a lot of options for people to work with. There are four vendors in Jefferson County working with the program at this time; Skookum, Cascade Community Connections (under Ace It), Gatheringplace, and Concerned Citizens. There is a pamphlet that clients are given when they express interest, and they then choose a Provider; goals are developed with each client, with that Provider. Often the client’s interest evolves and one thing turns into another. It is all about getting the individual out and engaged in the community. Those goals are centered around whatever the client wants to make happen. Ideas have run the gambit. They range from wanting to start a band – visiting thrift shops to find instruments, and then working to get a small band together. Some individuals have used the service to move out of their home, to get on waiting lists and search for their own apartment. Other individuals who have finished High School, want to stay connected with the people they knew there, or to reconnect with family members or other folks they have a desire to reach out to. It has been interesting to see what Providers have done during COVID to help people connect. There have been virtual Bingo games and there was a Halloween Party where individuals dressed up and shared on Zoom. One Provider worked with three individuals who wanted to learn how to cook. She shared a virtual crock pot cooking session, from start to finish. At the end, everyone was sitting down at the table with family and friends to share the meal they had cooked. The program is really about supporting people to engage and have quality of life, all while working on not being isolated. 2. Arc of the Peninsulas- P2P Coordinator-Kimberly Adams Kimberly Adams explained that the purpose of the P2P program is to help and support parents and caregivers of children with I/DD. Kimberly speaks from a place of experience, as she herself parents a child with I/DD. Kimberly feels that an important part of the program is to match new parents with other parents who have already walked the journey. This is a one-to-one match to aid in success for new parents. Educational training opportunities are also provided for parents, giving them the tools and knowledge they need to feel fully supported in their walk down this road. Another exciting program is a workshop called “Sib-shop” where siblings of those with a disability may interact and exchange thoughts with other siblings in the same situation. This gives siblings an outlet and an opportunity to come together and be with other children who can relate to their experiences. Kelly Matlock expressed her feeling that the P2P Program saved her life and her family’s life when they were first dealing with her son’s diagnosis. The support, just through interaction at the meetings was amazing – practical strategies to meet the challenges. Kelly shared that her adult daughter still participates in “Sib-shops” and the ripple effect continues to go on as her daughter’s experience helps others on their journey. Both are very important programs. Kimberly shared that the Arc is also providing an online social hour, for people who experience intellectual and or developmental disabilities. The online group provides the opportunity to build healthy relationships, by focusing on interpersonal skills, social media skills and by working on boundaries. These meetings have been held three times weekly and have been very well received and successful. 3. Behavior Interventionist, In-school Assistance/Kitsap MH/PT School District-Jenny Vervynck Jenny has been contracted as a Mental Health Specialist, (through the generosity of the PT School District), to work in the Blue Heron and Salish Coast Schools with children whose behavior has become a barrier to their education. Jenny presently meets with 11 students in-person. Because of COVID, the behavior challenge for learning has primarily been attendance and the primary focus has been on connection with families around resources and access for school attendance. There is a real need for connectivity with students who are learning remotely and that itself has become a huge barrier to their education process. Jenny shared that the in-school assistance she provides, has worked very hard to see that students are able to connect with their teachers and receive the tools they need to get their work done remotely. This has been done by being in touch with families, making home visits, and accessing the social and emotional needs to help the kids get what they need to be successful students. A lot has been learned about family situations in this process. Jenny shared a story about a home visit where she discovered that, in addition to the Middle school student she was coming to see, there were two younger children who had not made any connection to the resources they needed. In addition, their single parent had no idea how to go about finding those resources/services. As a result of that visit and with a lot of time and effort, the Mom and the two little ones are now being served in a variety of ways, with a variety of services, through a more holistic approach by addressing the needs of the student, by including the needs of the whole family. Jenny gave a shout out to Tanya Barnett, the new Family Resource Navigator. She pointed out, that Tanya has been able to help look broader and deeper to help make connections with the community, for a families’ social and emotional needs. Staff Anna Mc Enery asked Jenny if her program have a connection with Juvenile Services. Jenny explained that with COVID and distance learning the lack of truancy support has really hampered their ability to make in- roads with this sector of the population. 4. Birth to Three Services- Lead Family Resource Coordinator- Janie Nelson-Achodor The Birth to 3 program with Concerned Citizens, strives to serve the child’s needs and the related needs of their families. During COVID, the program has grown with therapists working with parents on-line. Janie Nelson explained that she has been with Concerned Citizens for over 20 years and she is presently managing the Early Intervention Program for Jefferson and Clallam Counties. This is a Federal and a State program. Historically School Districts have been involved, but many smaller School Districts such as those in Jefferson and Clallam County have been unable to keep up with that involvement. As a result, Janie explained, their program has taken over the Family Resource Coordination part of the program, but are now also hiring and managing all the therapists who provide the Early Intervention Services. The Birth to 3 Program serves the therapy needs of the child, and then goes the extra step to include the families’ needs as well. It can be very helpful for the family to have this kind of wrap around service, particularly if they are first time parents, or they discover they have a child who has special needs. A child can be admitted to the Birth to 3 Program, (if they meet specific criteria), or a child can be enrolled through a referral. A child would be screened, and then there are then some tests the child goes through in all five areas of global development, and then they would have another test in the specific area of concern. Once a family has met the criteria -- if there is found to be a 25% delay, then a plan is developed with strategies, techniques, and goals that families and caregivers can incorporate into their everyday life. In this way the process is ongoing, and not only directed when a therapist is present. The biggest plus of COVID for this program has been that, because everything has been virtual, therapists have learned to be great coaches as well. Currently, the Birth to 3 Program serves 70 kids across the Olympic Peninsula. Many referrals come through the WIC program and a number from Doctors’ clinics. The goal is to get early intervention services for babies and children, so that they can catch up with their peers. If that is not possible, then parents and families understand what services continue to be available. Over 37% of kiddos who are enrolled in a Birth to 3 Program, no longer need interventions services by the age of three. 5. Dove House-Debbie Linner-DA/SA Advocate Debbie is the Manager of the confidential shelter and acts as a bridge to the community for those individuals. The shelter is off site and exists for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Everyone who comes through their doors, comes from every different socio-economic background. Those with I/DD are more vulnerable than many others. Debbie’s job is to help survivors with the services that the Dove House and the community provides. Debbie acts as a bridge to the community for individuals who come to the Dove House by working with OlyCAP and other service agencies. People seeking the services of Dove House come from all over Jefferson County. Under the Dove House umbrella, they have The Recovery Café (open Thursdays 1-3 at this time), Recovery Circles (for men, for women), Trauma Informed Yoga, Legal Advocacy, General Crime Advocacy, and General Legal Assistance. The Dove House also has advocates who walk with victims of crime or sexual assault. 6. Father’s Group- President- Bob Wheeler Bob Wheeler is the co-founder and President of the local Father’s group. Bob is the Father of a 32-year-old son with Down Syndrome. The Jefferson County Fathers Group serves as an advocacy group for housing and residential services for adults with I/DD. There are seven to eight Dads in the group right now and more are welcome. All have children who are mostly adults; they meet four to five times a year, but stay very involved outside of their meetings. Bob shared the reality of aging parents and adult children with I/DD, who need to be safe and secure in housing after their parents are out of the picture. Housing is a crisis for this population that needs to be actively addressed. The Father’s Group has been very active on housing issues. Their primary focus areas are: the housing crisis, caregivers pay and benefits, and talking about long term plans for families with adult I/DD children. The group work as political activists to increase awareness about these issues. A number of power point presentations have been created to highlight this. The Father’s Group is advocating for the State to do a study of the housing and residential services crisis. There are 13,000 adults with I/DD living with their parents and the Father’s Group wants the State to take this on as a problem that needs to be solved. They have also been advocating for an addition to the DDA Assessment Form that is filled out annually. Beginning at age 16, they want the question “what are you thinking about long term housing for your loved one, “to be added. The Father’s group meets regularly with Legislators from District 24. To educate and inspire them to take action on the issues surrounding I/DD, in all areas of concern. 7. Gatheringplace- Director- Linda Ferris Gatheringplace was born out of a need for Linda’s own adult daughter Megan. When she completed school, she needed additional stimulation and opportunities were hard to find. There was a Birth to 3 Program at the time, but after age 3 parents just didn’t know what to do with their children and many were institutionalized. Public Law 94-142; Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 started to create change, so when children with disabilities reached the age of 5, some limited School programs were available. At that time though, many people did not know what to do with these children and they looked to the parents for direction. Linda and her husband found a great teacher at the Port Townsend High School. So, they moved with their daughter Megan to Port Townsend in 1992, where she finished High School in 1994. None of the Group Homes would take Megan because she couldn’t work. There was really nothing in Port Townsend for her after High School and so Gatheringplace was born in 1994, with some small classes. The local Group Homes had individuals attend from time to time. Gatheringplace provides a place for about 25 participants to learn and participate in 5 different classes during the week. Classes provide cooking, gardening-vegetables and flowers, art classes, music and movement and the well-known dog biscuit bakery. The goals of Gatheringplace are to help participants maintain and grow skills that can carry over into a job, when possible. Relationships develop between volunteers and participants and they experience connection. As Volunteers get to know participants, they carry that relationship on into community. The Farmers Market has been a great place for participants to interact and sell their art or creations, to socialize and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment. Gatheringplace never turns anyone away from being able to participate. The fundraising and ongoing support helps to keep things going. 8. Olympic Neighbors & Hamilton House- Executive Director- Claudia Coppola Olympic Neighbors is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating home and community for adults who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities. They are providing affordable housing and staff support 24 hours a day 365 days a year to adults with I/DD. They have been open for just over 3 years. The organization was started so that aging parents could be sure their adult children would be cared for. Olympic Neighbors runs an Adult Family Home called Hamilton House. Hamilton House holds 6 residents and has a waiting list. Adult Family Homes are regular homes in regular neighborhoods licensed by the State Department of Health and Social Services. Up to six people can be served in an Adult Family Home and Hamilton House has been full since it opened. Residents at Hamilton House presently are all paid by waiver, but private pay would be acceptable as well. Staff assist with all aspects of daily living – cooking, cleaning, medication, hygiene, cooperative living skills. But most of all staff are helping residents to be productive and to find their niche in their community. Adult Family Home are found in every State and are a cost-effective way to help support this community. It is one piece in the effort to help solve the housing crisis for this population. Hamilton House is the only Adult Family Home in Jefferson County; there is one other on the Olympic Peninsula and it’s located in Forks. The reason there are so few Adult Family Homes is that they are severely underfunded. Washington is in the bottom of the nation when it comes to funding Residential Services. Hamilton House is rare in that every resident has their own room and is different than many that found in Washington State because they employ multiple staff. There is always one staff person on 24 hours a day, and often there are two staff to meet the needs of residents. Most people with I/DD are going to need safe supportive housing as they age. Olympic Neighbors is hoping to grow more homes here and serve as a model for the State. Some will stay in the Adult Family Home for their lifetime, some stay to learn skills so that they may eventually live alone. The purpose of the program is to help to define what a good life means to each person and to help them develop the goals to reach that definition for themselves. DDAB Meetings for the rest of 2021-from 2:45pm to 4:30pm- Zoom Platform ➢ Tuesday, May 25, 2021 ➢ Tuesday, September 28, 2021-THIRD I/DD AWARENESS PANEL ➢ Tuesday, November 23, 2021