Guest guest Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 ***************************Heidi J. Newsletter #2 January 9, 2008******************************* Dearest Advocates: Please find below important information. I am personally excited about Greg Kirk taking over as Executive Director of the Arc of Georgia. With his leadership, hopefully the Arc will develop into a powerful voice for everyone with disabilities. If you live in Region 2 (Augusta area) and are having issues/concerns with your MRWP/NOW waiver, this is the meeting to attend to express those issues. In addition, FOCUS has an excellent educational conference coming up in February. The transition to Constant Contact is complete and I have not heard of many complaints. I hope you find this information helpful. Have a great day Heidi J. (Proud Mother to - 8 yrs old with Down syndrome and - 6yrs old) *************************** Save that Date: FOCUS'(Families of Children Under Stress) 21st annual educational conference on Saturday, February 9, 2008. More information to follow in the next week. http://www.focus-ga.org/ Region 2 (Augusta, GA) MHDDAD Meeting- January 16, 2008 Families and other interested stakeholders who live in the DHR Division of MHDDAD Region 2 (Augusta) area are invited to an informational session about Georgia's "New" DD Waivers. This event will take place in Augusta on the evening of Wed. January 16, 2008. Please help us to reach families in the East Central region of the state by distributing the attached announcement. The announcement will also be posted on the Division of MHDDAD training website at http://mhddad.dhr.georgia.gov/training, where it can be printed or downloaded. Registration online is quick and easy at www.cviog.uga.edu/training/dhr and the announcement includes details about how to do this. Refreshments will be provided so please register so that we know how many people will be attending. Questions about the event can be emailed to manais@... or to RegistrationMHDDAD@... Directions to request special accomodations are included in the announcement. Similar events will be held in each region of the state. Announcements with dates and locations will be distributed soon. Thank you! Joetta Prost, Ph.D. Director, Policy & Training DHR, Division of MHDDAD From The Arc of Georgia: Please see the attached flyer (Heidi Note: I am not able to attach the flyer since I'm not allowed attachments at Constant Contact. If you need additional information or an application, please contact Greg directly) concerning the legislative reception for the Arc of Georgia on January 24th, 2008 from 5-7pm at the Depot in downtown Atlanta. Here are some things you can do: Contact your local State Senator and Representative. (If you need to know who your legislators are e-mail me and give me your zip code I'll find out and let you know). Attend the meeting and meet your legislator there to help make them aware of the needs you have as a family member of a person with a disability. Introduce me and other members of The Arc of Georgia who will be at the capital to your legislator so they can make a connection to you when we see them and discuss needed policy. Here what the latest issues are for our community as this session begins to take shape. Meet other people from all over the state who share your convictions and passion for people with disabilities. Remember as the new waivers are implemented we need an untied voice that will speak loudly and strongly. Further, as the "R" word, recession, is being used we need to be very clear that disabilities are not a democratic or republican issue and the needs do not fluctuate with the stock market so any cuts in funding or reduction in new funding is unacceptable! I also have a big meeting earlier that day and hope to make a big announcement at the reception that night. So please be present and be a part of the impact we will have. Sincerely, Greg Kirk, Executive Director, The Arc of Georgia gkirk@... P.S. I also attached a membership application that you can print and share with others. Please sign up with The Arc of Georgia as quickly as possible so we can build a strong and vibrant organization. I appreciate all the memberships and donations that have already come in and know that together we will make a difference! --Heidi J. (Proud Mother to - 8 years old with Down syndrome & - 6 years old) For more information about how Heidi can help you maximize your child's potential, please go to www.heidijmoore.com "Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!" The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal representative. For previous advocacy email's, please go to the following website: http://www.lgtinc.org/authors/41/Heidi-J.-. To see how you can advocate for your child go to www.kidshealthcarega.org. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2008 Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 --Heidi J. (Proud Mother to - 8 years old with Down syndrome & - 6 years old) For more information about how Heidi can help you maximize your child's potential, please go to www.heidijmoore.com "Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!" The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal representative. For previous advocacy email's, please go to the following website: http://www.lgtinc.org/authors/41/Heidi-J.-. To see how you can advocate for your child go to www.kidshealthcarega.org. -------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- From: "Heidi J. " <heidijmoore@...> heidijmoore@... Subject: Misc. Information Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:01:47 +0000 ***************************Heidi J. Newsletter # 7January 30, 2008******************************* Dearest Advocates: Below is some great information regarding the Upcoming Walk for Autism, respite for families, information regarding wheelchair basketball, as well as, need for our continued support of Unlock the Waiting Lists. Hope you find this information help. United- We Will Make A Difference! Sincerely, Heidi J. (Proud Mother to - 8 yrs old with Down syndrome and - 6yrs old) *************************** April 12th, GA Walk for Autism http://www.walknowforautism.org/site/c.puIWL9MQJpE/b.3623267/ # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Wheelchair Basketball, February 22-24 Youth Wheelchair Athletes to Compete at the National Prep Wheelchair Basketball Tournament in Kennesaw, Georgia The country's top youth wheelchair basketball teams will compete at the 2008 National Prep Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Feb. 22-24 at Kennesaw State University. BlazeSports America is hosting the tournament which will bring together 16 teams in the 13 and under age division of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association to compete for the national championship. Local partners for the National Prep Wheelchair Basketball Tournament include the Georgia Beverage Association, Kennesaw State University, Kids on Wheels Magazine, Resurgens Orthopaedics and Sportaid. For more information visit the BlazeSports America website at http://www.blazesports.org Conta Pete Latino ct: Director of Communications BlazeSports America Phone: (770) 850-8143 E-Mail: platino@... # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Respite for families from Kool Kidz Foundation: A time of respite for parents in the metro Atlanta area sponsored by the Kool Kidz Foundation Saturday, February 9, 2008 5 pm to 9 pm Location: The ph Sams School 280 wine Boulevard Fayetteville, GA 30214 Enjoy an afternoon for lunch out, or get some housework or holiday shopping done without worrying about the little ones while your children are taking part in planned activities organized by trained therapists and volunteers. Fun activities for children of all abilities, ages 0 to 21 - Movies - gross motor time - singing - dancing - games - crafts - friendship - quiet time Reservations are a MUST as space is limited. Call the Kool Kidz Foundation at 770-517-1585 or e-mail Wentz, PT at ewentz@... before Wednesay 2/6/08 to reserve your spot. Please include your email address, phone number and names and ages of children in your email or voice message. A few days before respite, you will receive an email of confirmation, outlining the specifics of the day and directions to the location. We look forward to seeing your kids there and hope you have a great night out while they are having a great time with us. If you are unable to make this event but would like to continue to receive information about upcoming respite events through e-mail, please respond at contactus@... # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # From Governors Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD)- son- Update on the legislative session in Georgia. Both Houses were adjourned this week while Joint House and Senate Appropriation's Committee spent three days hearing from all the state agencies on their budget requests for the FY 2008 Supplemental (amended) and FY 2009 budgets. Meetings began with Governor Perdue reviewing his initiatives, followed by Georgia State Economic Forecasting Center reviewing the larger state and national economic pictures. That presentation elicited a feeling a caution on the part of legislators of which advocates took note. DOE budget review On Wednesday, Superintendent Kathy presented the Department Of Education budget. Current school enrollment is 1.6 million. 60% of the schools qualify for Title I funding, another indiction of the level of poverty in the state. Superintendent noted that the state has received good grades on the Georgia Performance Standards ( the curriculum revisions) from the Fordham Foundation, and this curriculum continues to be rolled out. The state is also receiving very positive feedback on its standards, testing and accountability program, but learning and achievement remain poor, Math being the lowest area. The DOE will begin a math mentor program, modeled after the science mentor program, which over three years has significantly improved the scores on the science EOCT. Also proposed is a VIP (Very Important Parent) program that will provide $25,000 in funding to districts (in addition to local match funding hopefully) to fund a parent lia ison to help parents become more engaged in their child's school. 331 elementary, 111 middle and 109 high schools have been selected on the basis of absenteeism and graduation rates. The DOE base is still $141,000,000 short, an austerity cut to the Quality Basic Education formula that is still being carried. The IE2 committee (formed to work on revisions of the per pupil funding formula) is on the agenda of the Senate Education and Youth Committee meeting for January 29th to present the cost model for pupil funding. We have been following the development of this work closely and will continue to do so. (Heidi's Comments: The funding formula per pupil is very dated and needs to be revised basic on actual needs for the child. This is a real serious issue for the Dept. of Education and making sure they receive enough money for our children with disabilities based on services in IEP) DHR budget review As Moving Forward reported, the Governor's budget contains funding for 500 waiver services, and for the annualization of the 1500 services awarded in the FY 2008 budget. There are no rate increases included in Governor's recommendations, nor were the funds to improve the unified transportation system, a service sorely needed for people to be more active in their communities. Commissioner B.J. was asked by several legislators about the package that was submitted by Department of Human Resources (1500) services, and what advocates had asked for (2500 services) so that made for an open discussion about the differences between the need and what the Governor proposed to fund. Many questions were also asked about the lack of funding in the Division of Aging for the adult protective services budget, which experienced a loss of federal funds, and the lack of Community Care Service Program waiver funding which serves to help senior stay sa fe and healthy in their homes as long as possible. There are continuing concerns and questions about the transfer of dollars from Adult Developmental Disability services to Adult Forensics and Adult Mental Health, and legislators asked several questions about this. Both Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, Addictive Diseases Division Director Gwen Skinner and Commissioner promised to provide the committees with the backup documentation from several years of trying to align budgets with programs that resulted in this transfer. Advocates will be following this information closely. (Heidi's Comments: If you have not already done so- please take a moment to advocate for the additional 2,500 waivers and 7% increase for providers of adults and children with disabilities. You can go to the following website to make a difference http://www.unlockthewaitinglists.com/advocate.html ) DCH Budget The Department of Community Health budget proposes to fund 150 Independent Care Waiver Program waiver slots, 100 for individuals moving from nursing homes under the Money Follows Person federal initiative, and 50 for individuals currently living in the community. There were no rate increases for ICWP providers included in this budget either. The current waiting list for people in the community awaiting ICWP is 122 according to Mark Trail. Although it is very difficult to assess the number of folks in nursing homes who wish to move to the community, some estimate that it could be as high as 4000. The proposed waiver package does not meet the ask of the advocacy community, which was 500. Other issues soliciting a number of questions concerned PeachCare and the implementation of Care Management. A number of legislators are very concerned about what they are hearing from constituents about the roll out of managed care. When asked, Commissioner Medows rated the initiative as a "7." The DD Council, along with other partners commissioned a survey through the University of Georgia Survey Research Center which provides some other information on the quality of this implementation. Look for it next week. (Heidi's Comments: If you have not already done so- please take a moment to advocate for the additional 500 Independent Care Waiver slotsand 7% increase for providers of adults and children with disabilities. You can go to the following website to make a difference http://www.unlockthewaitinglists.com/advocate.html ) In addition, please continue to contact your legislators in your area if you currently are enrolled in the Care Management Organization (CMO) under PeachCare and are having concerns/issues. You can find your State Senator and State Representative by going to: www.vote-smart.org ) They need to hear from those that having been utilizing the system! # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # For more information about how Heidi can help you maximize your child's potential, please go to www.heidijmoore.com "Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!" The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal representative. Forward email This email was sent to heidijmoore@..., by heidijmoore@... Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by Heidi J. Consulting | 1 | Alpharetta | GA | 30004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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