Issue 11, 2011
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News from NYSARC
The Facebook Update
Self-Advocate Corner
Guardianship Matters



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Marc Brandt

People First Waiver Steering Committee 

 

Greetings!    

 

The newly appointed People First Waiver Steering Committee will conduct its first meeting on June 9, 2011. This past April, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) released its "Concept Paper" for an 1115 Waiver which it submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Concept paper is one of the first steps in the process of NYS developing an 1115 waiver with the Federal government.

 

Section 1115 is part of the Medicaid Law that allows the Federal Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into research and demonstration projects with states using Medicaid funding. The Secretary has vast discretion to give states a waiver of almost any section of Medicaid law or regulation to accomplish the demonstration outcomes. For years, states have been entering into 1115 waiver agreements to do such things as Managed Health Care, expanding Medicaid to low-income populations that might not otherwise have insurance, or restructuring Medicaid payments to the states to increase efficiency of its programs.

 

The OPWDD Concept Paper emphasizes coordinated, comprehensive and individualized care; "reduced reliance on institutional care" and, "reimbursement reform," among other concepts. The Concept Paper states that "The 1115 waiver being proposed provides significant opportunities for New York State to turn the corner on a thirty year history in which it has made great advances in service delivery, but in so doing has become increasingly constrained by the limits of its current but outdated administrative, fiscal and quality management models."

 

In the coming months, OPWDD and the NYS Department of Health will be developing a collaborative waiver application process. The application process will be guided by an appointed Steering Committee made up of the "stakeholders and individual families who we serve." Please click the link below to review a list of the appointees to the Steering Committee:        

 

Read the full press release on the Steering Committee members 

 

Marc N. Brandt 

Executive Director, NYSARC, Inc. 

News from NYSARC
Call for Resources
Delmar - The beta testing period for the new NYSARC website wrapped up last week--thanks to all who participated! One of the features we are most excited about with the new website is the Resource Library, a comprehensive catalog of books, articles, websites, and videos related to our field.

In advance of this summer's launch of the new website, we are gathering resources to get our new library off to a strong start. If you have any suggestions for a book, website, article, or any other resource, please send them to Ryan Goodenough, Director of Communication. Together we can make the Resource Library an invaluable tool for the entire State. 
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Self-Advocate Corner
David LiscombAdministration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) Summit
New York, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, and Rhode Island participated in the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) Summit in Providence, Rhode Island from May 16-17. Commissioner Sharon Lewis was present on both days. The purpose of the summit was to let Commissioner Lewis know what self-advocates across the country want and need.

On the first day, each State presented their accomplishments, barriers, and challenges that get in the way of leading self-determined lives. Also, each stakeholder group met together. Self-advocates identified several areas to work on including better outreach across the country and ways to network with partners like
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE). Self-advocates talked about how they could learn from each other.

On the second day, each State team developed a new plan of action. Everyone then came back together to talk about a nationwide plan of action. Areas identified included: grassroots efforts, transition to adulthood, supporting people who are aging who have developmental disabilities, and a plan for sustainability.

There was also conversation around workshops. There was a consensus from New York that now would not be the time to close workshops and move people into day habilitation. What would happen to people if they are no longer working and making money, friendships, and connections?

An open mic session allowed attendees to provide feedback. The Commissioner then took questions and gave the closing keynote. Overall, I thought the summit was very good and productive. 

David Liscomb
Chairperson, NYSARC Self-Advocacy Advisory Committee
 

Self-Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS) Annual Conference

Join SANYS in celebrating 25 years of self-advocacy at their annual conference from September 8-10. The annual meeting will be held at the Albany Marriott at 189 Wolf Rd. For more information, see SANYS' website www.sanys.org starting the second week in June or call 518-382-1454.
Guardianship Matters
Andy Weickert Receives Annual Recognition and Service Award at Annual Guardianship Symposium
Andy Weickert accepts award from Katherine Wilson ConroyNYSARC, Inc. awarded the very first Annual Guardianship Recognition and Service Award to Andrew Weickert at the NYSARC Guardianship Training Symposium on the evening of May 18th, 2011 at a special dinner given by the State Guardianship Committee. Andy was selected by a panel of 5 esteemed judges from a number of wonderful candidates throughout the State serving as both volunteer Committee members and Guardianship staff, The award was given in celebration of a person's efforts, leadership, and contributions above and beyond their expected roles in the areas of advocacy, care delivery, volunteerism, innovation and teamwork on behalf of people participating in the NYSARC Guardianship Program.

Andy served as Guardianship Coordinator for the Nassau County Chapter, NYSARC, Inc. beginning in 1982. However, he also worked at the Chapter for a total of 43 years, including being employed as one of the agency's beloved and enduring clinical social workers. After 43 years of dedicated and honorable service with the Chapter, Andy retired in March 2011. During his tenure, Andy worked tirelessly to guide and administer the Guardianship Program with his Committee's oversight, and is well regarded in his field today. His unfailing good sense, along with his compassion and deep commitment to our citizens most in need of supports, helped him in working through the most challenging of human issues with dignity and respect.

In his first role as Director of Social Work, Andy took the opportunity to know many of the families from their initial introduction to the agency and he remained a source of support and guidance to them, when few resources existed. He knew many of the adults for whom NYSARC, Inc. is now Guardian, from the time they were children as well as their parents. These lifelong relationships provided a keen insight into what the families would want for their loved ones along with a lifetime of knowing the individuals personally. With an easy manner and a way of navigating through the most complex of issues, Andy's strength enabled people to work collaboratively by keeping the individuals' needs always at the center.

Andy Weickert SpeechAndy was a pioneer and an innovator in the field and he is credited with formalizing the Guardianship Program at the Nassau County Chapter. To ensure that the committee was apprised on protocols for Guardianship, he produced a complete Policy and Procedures Manual that is a blueprint for the program today, while also following the requirements set forth by the NYSARC, Inc. Corporate Guardianship Program. The manual is an invaluable resource to the Committee and the program, and is a testament to Andy's commitment to those we support. He served as a mentor for the members of the Guardianship Committee and showed them how to be a true advocate for people with disabilities.

During Erica Berman's 27-plus year tenure at NYSARC, Inc., she had the great privilege of getting to know Andy Weickert in his capacity as the Chapter's Guardianship Coordinator as well as clinical social worker. She found him to be a dedicated and tenacious advocate for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities and their families. Other Guardianship Coordinators and committee volunteers who knew Andy also learned a lot from the way he approached his work with straightforward honesty and ethical conduct, unwavering compassion, and a perspective that was fair, balanced and kind. We will miss him always but am reassured that his values, legacy and mentoring will live on in his prot�g�, Eileen Rooney.
NYSARC, Inc.
393 Delaware Ave
Delmar, NY 12054