Grantee Project Status Summary
FFY’ 15 Fourth Quarter Reports
For the period of July 1st, 2015 – September 30th, 2015
Goal 1 Informed Decision Making by Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
(1.3 and 1.5) Nevada State Employment Leadership Network (SELN)
Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD) ……………….……………...….…2
Goal 2 Self Advocacy Information Skills
(2.1) Statewide Self Advocacy Organization
NGCDD/People First of NV Project………….……..…………………..……...... 4
(2.2) Leadership Training/Partners in Policy Making
Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities (NCED)………...... ….……...…..…7
Goal 3 Develop and Strengthen Systems in Quality and Access to Services
(3.1) Sierra Nevada Transportation Coalition (SNTC)
CitiCare……………………………………………………………………………..….10
(3.1) Nevada Rural Transit Association (NRTA)
Elko County…………………………………………………………………….………11
(3.2 and 3.3) Systems Change
Family TIES of Nevada…………………………………………..…...... 13
Glossary………………………………………………...……………………………………………..16
Nevada Governor's Council on
Developmental Disabilities
Compiled 11/16/2015
By: Kari Horn
NEVADA STATE EMPLOYMENT LEADERSHIP NETWORK (SELN)
11
Organization: ADSD Project Director: Rosemary Melarkey
Project Period: 10/1/14 - 9/30/15 Grant Funds: $40,000
Goal 1: Provide training to promote/encourage informed decision making by individuals with developmental disabilities, leading to increased independence, productivity and full inclusion in their communities.
Objective 1.3 Educate a minimum of 45 community based employers, employer groups and 20 job developers per fiscal year in all regions of the state of Nevada on best employment practices for individuals with I/DD.
Expected Outcome: Employers will be recruited and educated about the benefits of employing people with disabilities and adults with I/DD will demonstrate the capability of working in competitive employment or in self-employment with comparable income.
Grantee Proposal: Integrate two services: continued membership in the State Employment Leadership Network (SELN), and address Nevada's training needs to provide professional development opportunities. Through our SELN participation we will coordinate webinars, provider meetings, disseminate resource materials on national movements and changes in federal and state policies and practices to state employees, community jobs and day training providers, families and individuals served.
Project Summary:
Activity 1A: To use the expertise of SELN to help educate Developmental Services (DS) staff, community providers, families and individuals in best employment practices, through technical assistance (i.e. training, webinars, and dissemination resource materials)
Project director presented with others about Meaningful Community-Based Activities to Earning a Paycheck at the 2015 Nevada Disabilities Conference. The recipients were individuals served, parents of transition students, advocacy groups, Developmental Services staff, community providers, teachers, job developers and Executive Directors of Community Agencies.
Activity 1B: Provide assistance to DS community providers who demonstrate the interest and skill level to create a career planning service to assist individuals with the transition to competitive employment. Career Planning Services must meet The Home and Community Based Service Waiver criteria as specified and approved by CMS.
Project Director continued to visit with jobs and day training providers. Discussions of their interest in providing Career Planning Services were held. This quarter the following providers were visited: Progressive Choices, CTC, Las Vegas, Choices for All, CTC, Reno, Trinity, Services, CTC Reno, High Sierra Industries, CTC, The Summit, CTC, Las Vegas, Transition Services, CTC, Las Vegas, Opportunity Village, Las Vegas. Many providers have expressed interest in career planning and supported employment services by having key staff enroll in the College of Employment Services – Direct Courses as a first step. Three providers have entered into contract with the DS Regional Center and Vocational Rehabilitation to provide Career exploration, job exploration, and job placement services. Easter Seals (Southern Nevada) is interested in beginning a Pathway to Work (PTW) program that combines classroom-based learning with real work experience. A meeting between VR, Rosemary Melarkey and Easter Seals of S. NV was held to formulate a cooperative agreement. It is the hope that this program will begin by mid- November.
Activity 1C: Hold provider meetings with community partners to disseminate information and resources to all DS Jobs and Day Providers on the CMS final ruling (individuals with I/DD) have opportunities to seek employment and work in competitive integrated employment) and ADSD revised regulations to the Nevada Administrative Codes for Job and Day Training Provider Certification.
The following Providers had on-site visits to review the new regulations by CMS on the Home and Community Based Services – Final Ruling on Settings during this quarter: Progressive Choices, CTC, Las Vegas, Choices for All, CTC, Reno, Trinity Services, CTC Reno and the Summit, CTC, Las Vegas /Henderson. Project Director meet with administrators, program directors, employment specialist and job developers to review The Home and Community Based Services (HCBS Non Residential Assessment Form). Discussions included examples of opportunities for regular meaningful work and activities in integrated community settings, individual choice, meaningful non-work activities that are responsive to goals, interest and match to skills and needs of the individual they serve, staff interactions, storage of personal belongings and negotiating his/her work schedule. Transportation and the level of supervisions seem to be a large barrier for these providers having the ability to build great community inclusion and opportunities for the individuals they serve.
Objective1.5 A minimum of 10 agencies that provide direct service to individuals with developmental disabilities across the state will receive information on nationwide best practices in the employment first philosophy of individuals with I/DD.
Expected Outcome: Agencies that provide direct services across the state to individuals with I/DD will receive information on best practices in employment first philosophy and have opportunities for competitive/community employment.
Grantee Proposal: Same as Obj. 1.3
Project Summary:
Activity 1A: Review and select competency training opportunities for providers which allow for a multiple approach to employment for people with I/DD including competitive employment, customized employment, supported employment and transitional employment.
Direct Course-College of Employment Services – On line curricula was chosen for this project. The activity was described in previous reports.
Activity 1B: Offer and fund employment training to key jobs and day training provider staff that will build their knowledge and skills in providing career planning, customized employment and supported employment.
Individuals continue to sign up for the Direct Courses-College of Employment Services and in person presentations were conducted to DS Regional Centers, contracted Community Jobs and Day Training Providers and Vocational Rehabilitation individual providers of employment services in the Las Vegas, Reno and Rural areas. Each organization was asked to submit potential applicants for the Direct Courses-College of Employment Services in relation to the number of individuals with I/DD they served. A letter was then sent to those designed learners for enrollment.
Activity 1C: All key staff who received training opportunities funded through this grant will be required to complete an evaluation survey/tool to collect feedback and discuss the impact of their training on providing and implementing better employment practices that support and encourage people they served to pursue and realize their employment goal.
Satisfaction surveys were provided to the NGCDD. Overall feedback was positive.
Performance Measures:
· Agencies that provide direct service to individuals with developmental disabilities received information on nationwide best practices in the employment first philosophy of individuals with developmental disabilities. (Minimum of 10) = 5
· Job developers educated on best employment practices for individuals with I/DD = 5
· Community based employers, employer groups educated on best employment practices for individuals with I/DD. = 30
PEOPLE FIRST PROJECT (In House)
Organization: NGCDD Project Co-Directors: Santa Perez, Sheree Cassingham
Project Period: 08/1/14 - 9/30/15 Total Grant Funds: $81,737
Goal 2: Ensure self-advocates have the information and skills necessary to participate in advocacy and policy making activities throughout the state.
Objective 2.1 Establish or strengthen a minimum of one program for the direct funding of a statewide self-advocacy organization led by individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Expected Outcomes: Members will have increased knowledge and skills that promote involvement in other statewide organizations. Statewide organization will increase leadership opportunities and financial independence, will collaborate with other groups on developing a coordinated legislative agenda for the 2015 Legislative Session and will encourage the participation of individuals with I/DD in cross-disability, non-disability and culturally diverse leadership groups. (Work towards Objective 2.3)
Project Proposal: People First of Nevada will be a strong membership run self-advocacy organization which is sustainable and financially independent through the development of a step by step plan for self-supporting efforts on sustainability and independence to include: evaluation of current strengths and weaknesses, action plan, supports needed to implement the action plan and timeline. People First will also identify/develop/expand relationships with cross disability and culturally diverse leadership groups for awareness, guidance, funding and socially inclusive opportunities and work with DD Network Partners and/or other agencies to establish a coordinated legislative agenda for the 2015 Legislative Session.
Project Summary:
Activity 1A: Form a statewide steering committee to advise the chapters and statewide board.
Steering committee meetings were canceled for the 4th quarter. The People First board did not vote on Steering Committee suggestions or scope of work at their July meeting. The Steering Committee couldn’t move forward without further direction so they haven’t been meeting.
Activity 1B: Provide support for meetings through board member/officer training on Sustainability Binders.
Co-directors attended chapter meetings in the North and South, continuing to provide guidance to the officers, when requested, on the use of the resources in their binders. Guidance on officer duties has also been done via teleconference calls and a video made by Santa Perez, acting as the People First Statewide President.
Activity 1C: Training on how to run a 501c3 non-profit organization.
A teleconference training was held by Santa Perez this quarter. The materials were approved by her and sent out via email to People First members in advance so they would have time to review the materials. When asked, several members stated they still did not understand what a 501(c)3 was, so future trainings are warranted.
Activity 1D: Fundraising and grant writing training.
Santa Perez created a video in September presenting the Grant Writing Toolkit for Self- Advocates she and a former co-director created. The video link was sent out to members statewide via email and Facebook and is also on U-tube for viewing. A hard copy of the materials was also sent to members in advance.” Tools and checklists for fundraising and grant writing are available to members in their Sustainability Binders and on the website.
Activity 1E: Money management training to officers/members.
In August Santa Perez did a statewide teleconference on ‘How to Manage a Bank Account” Hard copies were sent out to the members and Santa and Sheree reviewed that information at chapter meetings.
Activity 1F: Yearly audits of finances and records by accountant for 501 ©3 status, federal and state tax reporting purposes (relate to C, D & E).
Feelers were sent out but no one came forward with an interest in doing this for People First.
Activity 1G: Chapters will invite educational speakers to chapter meetings.
The Winnemucca, Fallon and Las Vegas chapters regularly have guest speakers from the community. Other chapters either don’t have a speaker or have someone from the chapter appoint themselves to speak.
Activity 2A: Review People First 5 year state plan and assess current goals and objectives to see where People First is currently and where it needs to go.
The plan has not been reviewed by the statewide board yet. Co-directors attend regular conference calls with the other state’s EPIC (Equal Partners Interstate Congress) committee members to review our combined and Nevada’s needs, and identify specific strategies to meet those needs. The progress with EPIC has been very slow. Nevada has identified specific needs and goals but we are waiting on other out of state agencies and payment structures to be put in place. A People First member was identified to be a third member of Nevada’s committee but has not been able to attend any of the calls. Another member has been identified but due to work, also has not been able to participate on the calls. Minutes of the calls are now being taken and other strategies being discussed to facilitate full participation for this individual.
Activity 2B: After assessment of the 5 year plan, develop an action plan for People First and train members on areas that need improvement.
Goals identified for Nevada are to use technology to connect more people to the self- advocacy/civil rights movement via information sharing and collaboration between individuals with I/DD from different organizations across the state. A youth advocacy training has also been identified as a need for Nevada. Again, progress within the Interstate Congress has been very slow for reasons identified above.
Activity 2C: Collaborate with Partners in Policy making members to help provide more support in advisory roles for chapters.
None of this year’s graduates chose to participate in a support and/or advisory role for People First chapters. Two graduates did give a presentation to a local People First of Nevada chapter about a topic they learned in class. Graduates have completed other tasks that will be reported under the Partners Grant summary.
Activity 2D: Explore model for potential chapter advisors/mentors.
As noted above, this year’s Partners graduates did not chose to participate in an advisory role for the chapters. The Steering committee was going to discuss this as well but they could not move forward as also noted above. There are individuals that provide supports to the Reno, Fallon and Winnemucca Chapters but a formal model was never adopted by the Board. There are suggested guidelines for advisors/mentors in the Sustainability Binders and on the website.
Activity 2E: Monthly toll free conference calls will be available to provide an opportunity for better communication, encouragement, support and problem solving between the co-directors and members.
Monthly conference calls were held on various topics however, those calls had to be discontinued in September upon realization that the Council had no authority to guarantee compliance with ADA requests as this was a People First led activity. Santa Perez is now making U-tube videos each month as the statewide President, for members to watch on their own or at their monthly meetings. Members can call or email Santa as the statewide President any questions or ADA accommodation requests.
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