July 24, 2002 Work Group Meeting Minutes
The William S. Cohen Community Center, Hallowell, Maine
Present: Helen Bailey (chair), Stirling Kendall (Muskie staff), John Baillargeon, Stephanie Crystal, Deb Parker-Wolfenden (by phone), Kate Brogan, Nat Hussey, Christine Bartlett, Danny Westcott (Muskie staff), Jonathan Connick, Todd Ricker (visitor), John Longbrake (visitor from Maine’s Center on Deafness)
Not Present: Steve Hoad, Tom Bancroft, Ron Welch, Cynthia Sudheimer, Jane Gallivan, Alice Conway, Lora Perry, Chandra Murphy, Tonya Labbe, Shirley Bastien, Drew Bolduc, Debbie Rogers, Myra Champagne, Kathryn Kazenski, Chris Zukas-Lessard, and Linda Jariz
The afternoon session began at noon with lunch. Helen Bailey was chair. Stirling Kendall facilitated the meeting.
1. Check-in
and Roll Call
Two guests were present. Todd Ricker works for the State
Employees Association, which represents employees who deliver health care services
in the state. Jon Connick introduced John Longbrake, the HIV Coordinator
for Maine’s Center for Deafness (MCD), and the adoptive parent of a child with
a severe developmental disability.
2. Vision Statement
Helen Bailey read the Work Group’s revised vision
statement: “All of us together, in community with equality in rights and dignity,
in pursuit of happiness and fulfillment.”
3. Meeting
Minutes
The Work Group approved the June 24, 2002 meeting minutes
with revisions.
4. Review of Agenda
While discussing the agenda, Stirling
distributed a chart that lists the status of completion for each of the eleven
Roadmap components. The Work Group has approved six stand-alone reports. For
this meeting, the goal is for the Work Group to thoroughly review and comment
on the three remaining drafts (Coordination of Services Plan; Housing; and
Affordable, Appropriate, Integrated Housing). In August, we will seek the
Work Group’s approval
of the revised drafts.
5. Drafts for Review and Comment
At this meeting, drafts of
the three remaining reports: Coordination
of Services Plan; Housing; and Affordable, Appropriate, Integrated Housing were,
for the first time, presented to the Work Group for its review, edit and
comment. The drafts will be revised based on Work Group recommendations and
then submitted for further review in August. Since the revised reports
contain Work Group edits and suggestions, only the most salient points and
the dispositions of the reports are noted below.
Coordination of Services Plan:
- The draft Coordination of Services Plan was thoroughly reviewed by the Work Group. Modifications will be made, and the revised draft will presented to the Work Group in August.
- While improving the management and coordination of services is important, the Work Group also asked for reassurance that the Roadmap addresses the quality and delivery of service coordination services to consumers. The Work Group further requested that the reports from the Services Sub-Group be reviewed to ensure that the delivery and quality of service coordination are covered.
Affordable, Appropriate, Integrated Housing:
- The Affordable, Appropriate, Integrated Housing draft was thoroughly reviewed by the Work Group. Edits will be made and the revised draft will be presented to the Work Group in August.
- The Work Group discussed whether to support the housing recommendation to develop smaller group home options, which typically offer in-home support services. Or rather, to only support recommendations that separate housing from services so people aren’t at risk of losing their homes when their needs for support change or funding for support services is reduced.
Housing:
The draft Housing report was thoroughly reviewed by the Work Group. Edits will be made, and the revised draft will be presented to the Work Group in August.
6. Announcements
Kate Brogan announced that the Bureau of
Rehabilitation Services (BRS) is considering applying for a grant, due August
21st, from the Office of Disability Employment Policy in the U.S. Department
of Labor. The grant’s purpose
is to assist with planning, coordinating, and developing competitive employment
opportunities for people with disabilities in conjunction with the State’s
plan to address the Olmstead decision. BRS intends to work jointly with the
Workforce Investment Board, the CareerCenters, and the Maine Jobs Council to
integrate services for people with disabilities. Kate asked for the Work
Group’s support in applying for the grant and assistance should BRS get the
grant award. After some discussion, the Work Group decided to leave the
decision of support to individual Work Group members. Kate said she would keep
the Work Group informed.
Danny announced that Chandra Murphy called this week to resign from the Work Group so that she can focus her attention on other interests in her life; including Speaking Up For Us (SUFU), and helping SUFU plan its fall conference.
7. Next
Meeting
The August Work Group meeting at the Cohen Center is scheduled
for Wednesday, August 28 from noon to 4:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Helen
Bailey will chair the meeting.