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 In This Issue |
ACTION NEEDED ON CONFLICT FREE CASE MANAGEMENT FRONT
New York State is out of compliance with the federal regulation for conflict free case management, as well as our own state plan commitments. The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) will be submitting comments soon regarding their plans to come into compliance with the federal rule.
We know the decisions regarding the future of care coordination and Medicaid Service Coordination (MSC) are a major concern for our Affiliates and the people we support. There are many questions to be answered, but the concern is that there will be changes to MSC that negatively impact the people we support. While we want to work with New York State to come into compliance with the federal rule, we don't want to see the people we support and their families lose their ability to choose their service coordinator and/or their provider.
Please reach out to the people you support, their families, and others and ask that they send letters expressing their concerns about New York State's impending changes to MSC. A draft/model letter for you to use can be found
here
. When you get to the website, simply fill in your contact information and you will be sent to a page with the sample letter and a list of representatives that will receive your letter.
Please visit the site and use the sample to generate letters to key decision makers. Our goal is for thousands of letters from across the state to be sent before September 30 - the day before OPWDD's conflict free case management plan is due to CMS. The easiest thing to do is to send electronic letters through the system on the Website above, but we also ask, when possible, for people to consider sending a hard copy. We have sent a copy of the sample letter with background information about this issue to all Affiliates. If you would like to send a hard copy of the letter via the U.S. mail, here is a
sample letter. If you have any questions, please contact Al Shibley or Barbara Crosier at 518-436-0178, [email protected] or [email protected].
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In order to be a success, the #bFair2DirectCare Coalition's "300 Days to Better Pay" campaign needs everyone in your organization to participate.
Families,
staff, volunteers, and program participants need to speak up so all of our voices are heard. The Governor and State Legislature need to hear why they must act.
The Coalition has assembled a #bFair2DirectCare Toolkit containing sample letters to the editor and Governor Cuomo, social media tips, message points for visiting with your local legislator, and other helpful documents. We ask that you participate in several ways between now and early November. For more information, and to view and download the Toolkit, please
click here
.
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It is time to register for the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State
(CP of NYS) Annual Conference taking place at the Hilton Albany Hotel, October 17-19.
This year's Conference will have some interesting twists on the standard offerings as CP of NYS celebrates its 70th Anniversary. Please join us and help celebrate 70 years of working together to fulfill our collective mission.
This year's program reflects the many areas important to Affiliate staff, volunteers, and people with disabilities and their families. Please review the complete Conference program and additional information about the Conference sessions available on our web site at
http://www.cpofnys.org/2016-annual-conference/
. Check back often as we update the schedule and highlight some of the special features of the event.
The Annual Conference is a terrific opportunity for volunteers, staff, and the people we support to enjoy a great informative program. It will also provide an opportunity to meet with your colleagues and friends from across the State to exchange ideas and join with us all as we recognize some of the people and organizations who have helped the people we support and serve.
We also have Affiliate sponsorship opportunities available for consideration. We hope you will join us and we are looking forward to another great Annual Conference.
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Mark Kearney, representing CP of NYS Affiliate AccessCNY in Syracuse, is the winner of the 2016 CP of NYS
Visions of New York Art Contest. This is the 13th year of the contest, which highlights artwork
created by people with disabilities from CP of NYS Affiliates across the state. Mr. Kearney's winning entry, "Mirrored Mountains,"
will be the centerpiece of the annual commemorative poster featuring artwork from 22 different agencies. He will be recognized at the CP of NYS Annual Conference
Kickoff Luncheon on Monday, October 17 at the Hilton Albany Hotel in downtown Albany.
Each Affiliate will receive a copy of the poster and Mr. Kearney will receive a plaque and a framed copy of the poster at the luncheon.
Adam A. DelliBovi, from
Franziska Racker Centers in Ithaca, and
Kathleen Goyette, of
Inspire in Orange County, were named runners-up in the statewide competition.
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Mary Walsh Boatfield, President and CEO of Happiness House, CP Rochester, and Rochester Rehabilitation, was recently named Executive of the Year for 2016 by the Rochester Business Journal and the United Way of Greater Rochester Inc. The awards program recognizes contributions in the nonprofit sector. Ms. Boatfield was recognized for her outstanding record of innovative leadership in providing services. Rochester-area individuals and organizations were honored in seven categories: Board Leadership, Career Achievement, Community Champion, Executive of the Year, Rising Star, Outstanding Corporate Volunteer Group, and Bank of America Impact Award. The winners will be honored at a ceremony on October 14 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. Read more
here
.
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A LIFE WELL LIVED
We at CP of NYS were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Louis M. Withiam on September 12. Lou was a great friend of CP of NYS and the Home Service Program. In his six years as Major Projects Chair, Lou raised millions of dollars in support of the CP of NYS Home Service Program. More than that, he helped raise awareness of the needs of people with disabilities.
However, his service to his community and his country didn't end with his tremendous commitment to the Elks Major Projects Corporation and the Home Service Program.
He was a former Exalted Ruler of the Ithaca Elks Lodge and a volunteer firefighter. He served as Police Commissioner for the City of Ithaca, and for 17 years was Director of Safety and Security at Ithaca College. After 30 years of service Lou retired as a Lt. Colonel from the United States Marine Corps in 1981. He also spent nearly 20 years as a coach of youth sports. He was first and foremost a loving husband, devoted father and grandfather, and a great friend to many.
The family asks those who would like to make a contribution in Lou's memory to kindly consider the New York State Elks Major Projects Fund, c/o Ithaca BPOE #636, 124 Coddington Road, Ithaca, New York 14850.
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