MN Statewide Independent Living Council

Meeting Minutes -- May 12, 2017

SMILES Center for Independent Living

709 S. Front Street, Suite 7

Mankato, MN56001-3804

Members Present:Heather Allyn, Jessica Andrist, Tammie Campbell, RoseAnn Faber, Zainab Jama, Mary Koep, Linda Lingen, Cynthia Moore, Anita Olson, Mark Smaaladen, Annette Toews, Brian Wagner, Brad Westerlund.

Members Absent, Excused:David Fenley, Gloria LaFriniere, James Lovold, Renee Solomon-Wise, Meredith Kujala, Melissa Doherty

Members Absent, Unexcused:Shelly Pflaum.

SILC Coordinator:Pam Taylor

Minute Taker:Suzanne Renfroe

The meeting was called to order at 9:13am.

Introductions/Icebreaker:Heather

Where are you from, and are you celebrating Mother’s Day or the Fishing Open?

Agenda Approval:Heather

One change:Brad would like to move the DEED/VRS updates to right before the break.Mary made a motion,Cynthia seconded to approve the May 12, 2017 agenda with the above-noted change.Motion carried.

April Minutes Approval:Heather

The members carefully reviewed last month’s minutes, and made necessary changes.RoseAnn made a motion, Cynthia seconded to approve the April 13, 2017 minutes as corrected.Motion carried.

Public Comment:Heather

Anita:Update from April’s minutes regarding the discussion about accessibility– The County has been approached about it.They are in the process of correcting the process.

We thank Alan Augustin and staff for providing the space, information and welcoming SILC to Mankato.A special thanks to Vickie Apel.

Expense Sheet Review:Pam

Heather:Mentors meet with your mentees to review the sheets.

Dates:It is critical to include the trip dates and times.

Address:Completely entered; home or starting point and meeting location.Hotel mileage (to and from) should also be included.(Mileage is determined by map quest.if there is a variance, you need to note the reason).

Meals (maximum):Breakfast-$9; Lunch-$11; Dinner-$16.(Receipts are not needed; just be honest).

Per Diem:Days of actual meeting, as well as meetings lasting over 3 hours.(No committee meetings.)**Executive Committee will approve other meeting requests.

Other: Explanation(s) or further descriptions.

Home Accessibility Meeting:Cynthia

  • Met on April 20th, at MCIL, with representatives from other CILs who deal with home accessibility.MCIL provided a note taker.
  • The attendees are doing the same work independently, and wanted to share everything they do:Building varying models of ramps according to need; most building modular wooden ramps that canbe used with little change; ‘suitcase’, available for renting and short-term use;having a warehouse; and using prison help as laborers.
  • Talked about low income seniors receiving services through DHS.
  • They did a cost analysis (costs of things that people needed).This provides MACIL with some basis of return on investment; another area that we can get some tangible data.
  • The reporting process for each county is different; so are unsure about what is required.It would be better if it could be standardized.CILs themselves are different.Some use outside contractors, and others have their own people.
  • Talked about wanting to stay in touch: discussion about new SPIL, so workers can be in contact with each other for information and resources.
  • Would be great if staff from CILs could attend at least some of the time.It was suggested to hold meetings at different CILs.Goals are: to get other people involved; have a take away from each meeting, and an activity that people are going to have to do.
  • Heather indicated we would hold quarterly meetings.
  • Annette questioned the possibility of list serves for communication.There are good and bad points about using them.Cynthia responded that this idea will be investigated after the conference.
  • Heather was excited about the work during this meeting.
  • Cynthia is excited that people will be able to include their information and work at the conference.

BRAD:

With respect to WIOA:July 20th of this year is deadline.

All CILs have been amazing in jumping on board.There are 5,603 consumers.

Conversations about whether or not they would like to pursue jobs over subminimal wages (unfunded mandate) -- 1,074 yes.

How do we go to the next step with information and jobs?Asked CILs to have conversations and what that looks like.They have been assisting DEED with working with people to look at next steps.Would they benefit from working with the county?Metro area is a bit behind.They will be meeting in next couple of days to determine this before July 20th.There are missteps with providers about how we are going to do this.Met with CILs on monthly basis to see how they have met challenges with caregivers.

Benefits Planning and Financial Planning:

VR/IL collaboration started about 10 years ago.Essentially collaboration is all CILs under contract with providing services for VR/IL clients.Some areas are variant:from success stories being phenomenal; to immediate needs not being met.

Last year, Benefits Planning and Financial Education – pilot project in Vocational Rehab; trained VR staff working with clients.Comments:amazing thing that people hadn’t had anyone working with them; everybody liked it; where was this service.Question is, what happens to collaboration.What we have now, after this year; all CILs and their staff have gone through this benefits training or will be done by September of this year.This is something of a pilot that we are excited about and will have so much benefit.There is a part time contract (through money and not a grant), for making it as clear as possible of all services that centers are providing.What happens to IL services?October 1st, beginning of new grant cycle – training (provided through the University of Massachusetts, Boston) and providing services.

Planning on DHS, DEED, VR/IL and SRC-General working together; and having quarterly meetings of the benefits financial planning piece.

Discussion:

Cynthia:As a parent, financial education and benefits piece are so important!Our young adults don’t want to hear it from a parent; accepted better from a professional.

Brad:We also realize that not every individual is going to need full blown benefits packages.Individuals will be looking at ‘general’ piece.

Heather:Suggested, maybe that SILC be updated at our meetings.

Brad:Mentioned a couple of people could come and speak at one of our meetings.

Professional Development Conference Update:

Katy is leaving DEED.She has forwarded all her information.There is no other staff who can finish her work.We are in a good position, know what we’re going to do, and will be finalizing everything in the next 4 days.There will be a staff onsite.Also Suzanne and Heidi Johnson (former SILC chair) will be at the conference for help.

Annette:Sam Fisher, from SSB in communication, will also be onsite, dealing with accessibility issues.

Break: 10:35 – 10:50am

Professional Development Conference – Review of Forum:Tammie

  • They have been meeting every week.
  • Brad will contact the speakers to confirm all information will be covered.
  • Signs are being made for each breakout room with title and speaker(s) names.
  • We are grateful that SSB will provide braille for free and get it for you next week.
  • On the first day, 6/13: There will be an evening of networking:Full-sized suite, hoping that people will come and go.

Review of Agenda: June 13, 2017 Pam

Welcome: Heather Allyn, Don Brunette

Keynote: Civil Rights and People with Disabilities – Martin Castro

Break /Passing Time

Aging Eyes Initiative – Cindy Kauffman

What the 2016 Comprehensive Needs Assessment Shows Us -- Cynthia, Linda, Pam

Core Services – Melissa Doherty, Jesse Bethke-Gomez

Dementia Friendly Communities – Elaine Spain

Working Lunch:Building a Brand –Mike Morris, Jesse Bethke-Gomez

Break

Assistive Technology -- Mike Provancha, Amy Perron, Jonathan Campbell, Byron Lee

Youth and Young Adult Services – Kim Hicks, John Hoge

Home Accessibility –Corey Birkholz, Jason Worlie, Diane Sprague

Mental Health –Mike Bachhuber-WI, Roberta Opheim-Omnibus

Passing Time

Exploring Assistive Technology –Bridget Gilormini, John Bredehoft

American Indian Population and Disability –Gloria Lafriniere

Freedom in Action –Diane Siekaniec

Augustana Care Apartment – Technology to support seniors

5:30-7:Informal Networking Opportunity

June 14, 2017

8:30 – 9:Check in Registration

Keynote:Restoring Resilience: Blending Science and Wisdom to Sustain a Health Mind, Mood and Heart – Henry Emmons

Break /Passing Time

Legislative Update (CCD) –Sharon Grassie

Rehabilitation Facilities –Cynthia Moore

Social Security Advocacy – Kim Hicks

Preventing and Ending Homelessness in MN:Is it possible? –Cathy Tenbroeke

Noon-1:Lunch on your own

Consumer Directed Community Support (CDCS) – Bonnie Danberry, Linda Halber, Tony Engesser

Civic Leadership Engagement –Vickie Dalle Molle, Melissa Cummns

PRIDE: Parent Resources Independence Direction Education –Felicia Mills

Somali population and disability –Zainab Jama

Passing Time

Transition: A Parent Perspective –Suzanne Renfroe

Transition Coordination, Where the Bucks Stops –Heather Everson

ADA:Legislation that affects ADA – Peter Berg

Discussion:

  • Only 11 people are registered outside speakers and SILC.
  • Conversation regarding group registration.
  • Not able to do it this way, individual registrations only.
  • League of Cities, Associations of Counties should be considered for invitations.
  • Limited by our own budget to 150 participants (includes speakers, members and whoever signs up), how to host these, must build up to having larger audiences.

Review of Forum:Heather

Acoustics/Sound:Disappointing; awful (not conducive to hearing); sounded fine up front, someone should have let us know (hearing issues); lots of hi-pitch feedback

Expecting more community people there.

It was better attendance than the SPIL hearing.

There was a lot of outreach.Vicki did a phenomenal job (i.e., radio spots, letters sent, flyer).

Discussion was pretty good and engaging

Suggestions:

Should be opened up through CILs (i.e., board members).

We had a list of questions that we wanted answered; not just one person asking questions.Lots of questions could be answered in a timely way.

Should have asked, “What do YOU think solution should be?How are you going to be a part of it?

Alan offered:Forums are a thing of the past.You won’t get people to come.Surveys are not good either.Focus groups with questions; and, sending invitations so thatpeople feel wanted.

Anita:Agreed with Alan, that focus groups are excellent.The information received was very good. Cynthia:When you have focus groups, would you share info with SILC?It will help us to collect data about our needs.

Alan:704 Report has a question about feedback from the community.Most centers have at least one focus group.A combination of focus groups and surveys are used to get data for 5-year plan.They will send SILC their information.2018 is the last year of this plan, so they are in the process of putting together a task force to develop the data.

Pam:The national SILC group is talking about the time frame for the SPIL.Three years is a short time for planning.A five-year time frame is much better for completing tasks.

Committee Reports

Finance:Brian

Our funds have an excess of $116,000 (through Sept. 30).Is this the time that we are going to make suggestions on how we are going to spend the money?During our phone conference, we came up with some ideas for spending it.They included: increasing conference attendees;making maps for CILs; SSB and/or CILs getting funds; and a couple more members going to conferences.It is challenging for CILs to get money because of the time limit for spending and it is only one-time.

Discussion:

Heather:No official funds for networking part of conference.

Heather:Could this be tagged for staff to go to the Conference?

Pam:Yes, but Alan would prefer it to be put in ‘General Funds’.

Zainab:Could it be used to cover the hotel costs?

Pam:We will have to figure out the most effective way.

Zainab:Due to the time restraint, I recommend the finance committee can decide how funding is going to be distributed.

Excess Funds Decision:Heather

The Executive and Finance Committees are authorized to deal with excess (carryover) funds.Zainab made a motion, Mary seconded to give the two committees authorization.Motion carried.

Pam:I would recommend talking to Alan regarding CILs funding from Legislature.

Alan:The Conference Committee between House and Senate, agreed to $250,000/year for both years of biennium ($500,000 total).Nothing else changes.According to Maury Sifer, likelihood more money will be freed up and all committees’ targets change.We ask to be kept in mind if there is an increase.At a minimum, that’s where the provision is.Looks like there will be a special session.Big issue is tax cuts, $1,000,000 vs. $300,000+ (governor).

Network of Centers:Heather

We did not meet.I’m excited about the working lunch at the Professional Development Conference.

Outreach:Cynthia

Last meeting,we talked about what was going to be discussed at the Home Accessibility meeting.

We looked at a ‘recruitment brochure’ for SILC, and will talk about financing at the next meeting.

Reports:Anita

Heather and Pam also attended.

Heather:Wediscussed getting the 704 Report and Annual Report started.We need more people to join this committee.

SRC-G:Anita

Our meeting was very interesting.In the morning, we met at Independent Lifestyles in St. Cloud.The staff talked about their concerns.Our afternoon meeting was at the VR office in St. Cloud.We discussed: WIOA and the transition between Vocational Rehab and Independent Living.We need a few more meetings about this.We received excellent information from the staff.

With Karla coming in, everybody has been busy.The staff has been concerned about legislative issues (i.e. contacting them, doing a lot of committee legislation work).Not a lot to report on yet.

SSB:Annette

  • The Senior Services Unit is on pace to serve 700 seniors this year through the Aging Eyes Program.Both our assistive technology staff and Cindy will be presenting at the upcoming SILC Conference.
  • Prior to Wednesday of this week, this conference committee left SSU funding in place through 2019, but starting in 2020, funding will be cut by $500,000, which is the amount of the recent increase we just received to assist us in serving seniors.Ed Lecher, SSU Director, is concerned that should these cuts materialize, the long-term sustainability of the Aging Eyes program would be in jeopardy.
  • On Wednesday, we received word that the conference committee “fixed” this and left SSB funding in place through 2021.
  • We remain concerned about provisions prohibiting agencies from transferring money to other agencies.SSB receives money from the Department of Education to produce braille for Minnesota K-12 students, as well as from other state agencies for programs and work we provide (Telephone Access Minnesota funds, for instance, are used to provide our telephone newspaper and magazine reading services.)
  • We are in the midst of rolling out a new case management system in June and we are also going to open up our Rule in the fall for some revisions.

SRC-B:RoseAnn

The director, Carol Panko reported on a meeting that she and other council members attended with other agencies for the blind and general rehab.It was held in Mankato, specifically for seniors who are just experiencing change in vision.They discussed various ways they had been handling transition.This resulted in several new appointments.Staff spoke about the process involved when people come to SSB, and the Work Force part of the agency.There were 35-40 participants and family members whoattended.The keynote presentation was given by the National Federation of the Blind (from Baltimore).She is blind and worked in the field with newly blind people.There was lots to share with individuals regarding accessing services and repairing all sorts of things.The speech was recorded and played on radio talking book and rebroadcasted by other programs.

Announcements:Heather

  • APRIL (Association for Programs for Rural Independent Living) Conference:2 people are budgeted to attend.It will be held Oct 20-23 in Spokane, Washington.It is posted on their website; however,registration is not yet available.
Comments:

Cynthia:Bring things to SILC.Their youth conference is held simultaneously.

Heather:Highest energy conference.Send Pam email soon so that the Executive Committee can decide the attendees.

Should we have a meeting in June?

Pam:Technically listed, but due to conference probably not feasible.We need to make a formal decision.Possibilities include:tagginga meeting day onto the conference; have meeting on June 8; or reschedule it to August, which would be the 10th(we typically do not meet during the summer).