North Central Community Collaborative

North Central Community Collaborative

“We are a network of resources and services as well as a forum for advocacy and education aimed
towards empowering youth and families within our community”

Monthly meetings held in partnership with Help Me Grow

Family Support Services Division

Monthly Meeting

February 3rd, 2016

In attendance: Lisa Baker, Parent; Ashley Beard, CHR; Gina Beebe, OEC/Family Support Services; Cathy Calway, DDS; Chris Damato, DDS; Caitlyn Dion, CHR; Angela Frame, DDS-Autism Unit; Tramaine Frank, Enfield Youth Services; Jennifer Galvan, DDS-North; Attorney Michael Keenan; Probate Court Judge Timothy Keeney; Falinda King, CHR; Penny Lemery, CHR; Manuel Maldonado, FAVOR; Greg Mark, Parent; Ann McAdams, WECC; Joann Moriarty, Rockville LIST; Lisa Palazzo, Beacon Health Options; Lis Phillips, Advocates Lis; Karen Ravenelle-Bloom, Enfield Youth Services; Diane Reynolds, NCCC Admin/Parent; Andrea Richardson, PATH; Haydee Rivera, CSSD/Judicial; Tracy Roche, FRC; Lauren Rosetta, CTBHP; Sara Senft, CT Behavioral Partnership; Torre Skjerli, DDS; Katherine Vanase, Suffield High School; DorianaVicedomini, NCCC Chair/Parent; Jillian Webber, The Village; Judy Weiss, DDS; Jennifer Wilder-Jackson, OEC; Chad Williams, The Village; Nancy Willoughby, Parent; Ashley Wilson, CHR

1.Welcome and Introductions

• Thank you to Jillian Webber, The Village, for providing the refreshments.
• Thank you to Manuel Maldonado, FAVOR, for providing the copies.

2.Approval of Prior Month Meeting Minutes

• The January meeting minutes were reviewed and approved.

3.Care Giver / Provider Gaps, Concerns, Information, Trends, Successes

• Judy Weiss, DDS, has a 19 year old in Enfield with health issues which causes them to stay in the house and they are looking for a mentor to keep them company – not someone in and out of their life.

Recommendation:Asnuntuck, Best Buddies for Adults (bestbuddies.org/ ) – also check in MA

• Many school CT schools have a Best Buddies program for mentors - bestbuddies.org/find-programs/connecticut/

4.Care Coordination Needs / CHR Reporting

• No Care Coordination Needs / CHR Reporting at this time.

5.CBHAC/CAAC Update

• CBHAC, Children’s Behavioral Health Advisory Committee

The next meeting will be Friday, February 5th at Beacon ValueOptions, 500 Enterprise Drive, Rocky Hill CT. It will be a subcommittee update.

• CAAC, Connecticut Autism Action Coalition

Autism Awareness Day at the Capital will be on Wednesday April 6th. They are looking for sponsors for the bags and breakfast. Contact Doriana if interested – or 504-259-4327.

The next CAAC meeting will be Tuesday, March 1st at FAVOR, 185 Silas Deane Hwy, Wethersfield, CT.

6.NCCC Business

• No NCCC Business at this time.

7.Speaker Presentations

• Monthly Topic – Special Needs Trust, Probate Courts
• Special Needs Trusts and Protecting Assets – Attorney Michael J. Keenan, Esq.

Special Needs Trust 2316.docx - Presentation Handout

Estate Planning is important when there could be an issue with “asset tested”government programs (ex. Medicaid (Title 19), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), subsidized housing, food stamps) for those with special needs. CT can collect money from a windfall an individual with special needs receives for past state allocations.

A Special Needs Trust holds the assets of a special needs child and are not counted for asset tested government programs. A Trustee manages the trust from a distribution to accounting point of view. Special Needs Trust funds cannot be used to provide services already provided for by the government but can be used to supplement them. Trusts do not avoid probate.

There are two types of Trusts:

1. Third Party Trusts – the trust is funded by someone other than the special needs child

2. First Party or Self Settled or D4A Special Needs Trust – funded from the assets of the special needs child themselves – ex receives a settlement windfall.

For Estate planning:

1. Create a Special Needs Trust

2. Update your will to have inheritance go to the trust and not directly to the person

3. Update your non-probate assets (retirement accounts, life insurance, annuities, TOD/TOD accounts, etc) beneficiary to point to the Special Needs Trust

There is no need to fund the Special Needs Trust until both parents have passed away. A second to die life insurance policy is popular for young families with limited assets. It is very important to let family members know to reference the Trust in their wills.

The trustee and backup trustee should understand government benefits, be organized, experienced investor, cares about the child, etc. Plan of CT ( can act as a trustee. It is also important to assign a Trust Protector than periodically will review the trust.

ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience Act) will allow individuals with disabilities or their families to open savings accounts, with no tax on the earnings, to pay for certain qualified expenses. Individuals can build up a financial cushion without fear that their eligibility for Social Security and Medicaid benefits will be jeopardized. CT is still working out the specifics.

• Probate Court for Children with Special Needs - Judge Timothy Keeney

Probate Court 2316.docx - Presentation Handout

Probate Court deals with probate, wills, trusts, guardianships, conservators, adoptions, name change, etc. There are fees for court charges but fees can also be waved. Judge Keeney’s North Central Connecticut Probate Court (PD11) covers the towns of Enfield, Somers, Stafford and Union. To find the district court for your town go to . Judge Keeney’s court clerks are MichelleFeltovic and Tiffany Outlaw. Judge Keeney will have a hearing in any location needed – ex. group home, hospital, etc.

Planning is very important if you have children. You should have a will, advance directive (living will), health care representative, and power of attorney.

Guardianship- Guardianship can be received for a child with an IQ of 69 or less once they turn 18. The process can begin within 180 days of a child turning 18. Child must have diagnosis by the age of 18. The child should be present for the Hearing. Once a guardianship for the intellectually disabled is established, the Department of Developmental Services can make services available if appropriate including: housing, training, special programs etc. If an intellectually disabled individual with an assigned guardian needs financial management assistance, a conservator of estate should pursued.

5 areas child can receive help with: residence outside of family home, educational behavioral programs, release of clinical records/photographs, routine/elective medical/dental records, any other

1. Limited Guardianship – specified listing of a subset of the 5 areas can be covered

2. Plenary Guardianship – all 5 categories are covered

Conservatorship - For those higher functioning individuals with an IQ of 70 and over that need supervision. Those with autism can now receive conservatorship along with those with ADHD, Traumatic Brain Injury, etc. A conservator is a person appointed by the Probate Court to oversee the financial or personal affairs of an adult. An involuntary conservator may be appointed for a respondent determined by the court to be incapable of caring for personal or financial needs. A recent physician’s evaluation is required for the Hearing before the judge. A voluntary conservator may be appointed if a capable adult requests assistance in managing his or her affairs.

Periodically the Guardianship and Conservatorship will be reevaluated.

8.General Announcements

• No General Announcements at this time.

9.Adjournment

Next Meeting Topic: Connectability / BRS / Autism Spectrum Disorder Services

March 2nd, 2016

9:00am-11:30pm

Saint Francis Care Medical Office Building

7 Elm Street, Enfield, CT

Community Room Suite 301 – 3rd Floor

The following minutes respectively submitted by Diane Reynolds, Collaborative Admin.