DD Awareness and Advocacy Day is March 8
Registration is now open for this annual event at the Ohio Statehouse, which aims to
educate and empower people with developmental disabilities, family members, and other community allies to come together on a single day to advocate on policy issues that impact the lives of people with developmental disabilities.
This year's theme is "What's Your Story?" Visit the website for registration and other details.
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Thank you to Paul Daugherty for speaking at our annual all-staff meeting in mid-January.
Paul and his wife Kerry graciously shared their family's journey with their daughter Jillian that Paul documented in his book, "An Uncomplicated Life."
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Share your thoughts!
We would like feedback from readers about our monthly newsletter, so we can make it better in 2016.
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The Ohio Department of DD recently announced the implementation of a raise for agency and independent providers of homemaker/personal care services.
The rate increased by 6 percent for Homemaker Personal Care services delivered through the Individual Options (IO) and Level 1 Waivers, and for Ohio Shared Living (Adult Family Living and Adult Foster Care) through the IO Waiver. The 6 percent applies to the entire rate, not just the wage component, therefore agencies also are getting an increase in the parts of the rate that go toward administrative expenses such as supervision, benefits, and bonuses.
Independent providers don't need to do anything - the new rates already are reflected in the system. Agencies will make the adjustment for staff who work for them.
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In the news
Recently
The Cincinnati Enquirer
and
The Journal-News
wrote stories about the complex issues facing Ohio's DD System.
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Snow and winter weather reminders
January brought Cincinnati's first significant snowfall, and
we want to remind everyone that if programs are closed or delayed due to weather, notice will be posted on our agency website, Facebook and Twitter.
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Reminder:
Tuesday, Feb. 16 is the deadline to register to vote for the primary election.
Early voting begins Wednesday, Feb. 17, by mail or in person at your local Board of Elections. Tuesday, March 15 is Election Day.
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We're very excited to share that Hamilton County DD Services will be part of the Super Bowl!! Our agency has partnered with the Boards of DD in Butler, Brown, Clermont and Warren counties for a series of short promotions airing on Local 12 throughout Super Bowl Sunday. Ours features
Nakiea Spaulding
, who works at the Perlman Center at Cincinnati Children's.
These promos will start to air the first week of February and continue periodically throughout the year. We'll share an exact schedule for Super Bowl Sunday on our Facebook page.
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Stakeholder work complete
The stakeholder workgroup launched last fall has presented its final recommendations to help Hamilton County DD Services position itself to meet federal and state mandates that require conflict-free service delivery by 2024. This group included 19 family members, two advocates, five providers, eight DD Services staff, and two community partners.
The top six recommendations to be implemented in the first-half of 2016 include:
- Create a user-friendly and accurate data base (available in print and electronic formats) searchable by criteria of interest to families and Service and Support Administrators (e.g. behavior support, nursing services, and opportunities for community experiences) and defines the standard for listing each criteria.
- Develop creative and effective ways for DD Services to offer consultation and supports (e.g. nursing, behavior support) so people served in adult centers can continue to get the same level of service and providers can serve those with intense support needs.
- Create a Quality Council, inclusive of family members, that focuses on reviewing the results of surveys and provider quality reviews.
- Strengthen and communicate the role of the Service and Support Administrator (SSA) as the point person to guide the process, particularly during times of transition.
- Share information with families about changes that will be coming to all Medicaid funded day services so that families understand that provider programs may be changing in response to federal and state requirements.
- Assist providers to navigate the services/ supports and rate add-ons in the Adult Day Array Funding Redesign to most effectively support people with intense support needs and advocate for any additional changes that may be needed to the funding structure.
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Her job is a piece of (cheese)cake
Sharon Whitling knew she wanted a future in the food industry, and when she was ready to get a job in the community, she looked for some help from Hamilton County DD Services.
Sharon works at Cheesecake, Please Cafe where she makes the restaurant's popular cheesecake bites, dips them in chocolate and decorates the pieces with candy, nuts and other toppings.
"I love my job," she said. "It gets me out of the house and keeps me occupied. It's a lot of work, but it's fun."
Watch the video above or click here to read the rest of Sharon's story on our blog, Employment Spotlight.
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- Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati Annual Winter Dance. 6-10:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Newport Syndicate. Tickets and details available online.
- Family Advisory Council meeting. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9 at OCALI, 470 Glenmont Ave. in Columbus. The agenda includes a conversation where families can share their ideas about finding, interviewing, training and retaining providers; a chat with Ohio DODD Director John Martin; and an update on nursing and the TDD transition. Click here for details and to RSVP.
- Support meeting for parents of transition-age adolescents with ASD. 6:30 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Hyde Park Library, 2747 Erie Ave. Presenter is Amie Duncan, a psychologist at The Kelly O'Leary Center for Autism at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, who has both research and clinical experience in working with adolescents with ASD and their families to help them make a successful transition to adulthood. More details on the Autism Society website
- CILO Life Series: Budgeting. 1-2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19 at Center for Independent Living Options, 2031 Auburn Ave. Become more aware of your spending behaviors and learn about financial planning tools that can help establish self-sufficiency. Click here for the flier and registration details.
- Empowering Families Symposium & Vendor Fair. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, March 4, at the Xavier University Cintas Center. Families can access community resources, learn information and network with others facing similar challenges. Click here to download the flier or here to register.
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