FULL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
January 27, 2014 - 1:30 PM
STATE COUNCIL FOR PERSONS WTH DISABILITIES
Appoquinimink State Service Center, Middletown, DE
PRESENT
Daniese McMullin-Powell, Chair; Jamie Wolfe, Vice-Chair;Deborah Bradl, DOL/DVR; Tony Horstman, Parent;John McNeal, ADA-DelDOT;Dale Matusevich, DOE; Dan Muterspaw, AAB;Bob Osgood, Parent;Steve Perales, DSCYF/DPBHS; Susan Cycyk, DSCYF/DPBHS; Loretta Sarro, DOL/DVR DODHH & CODHHE; Liz Schantz, Consumer;Kristen Cosden (for Wendy Strauss-GACEC); Lisa Furber, State Rehabilitation Council; Bonnie Hitch, DART; Ann Phillips, Family Voices/Parent;Christine Long, DHSS/DDDS, Via Phone; Jim Miller, EDTAC and Post-Polio Support Group, Via Phone; Kim Marsh, UHC, Via Phone; Lloyd Schmitz, Council on the Blind, Via Phone;Kyle Hodges, Staff; and Jo Singles, Support Staff.
ABSENT
Patsy Bennett-Brown, Amputee Support Group of Del.; Deborah Bradi, DOL/DVR; Ray Brouillette, Easter Seals; Anthony Carter, JEVS; Nick Fina, Advocate; Brian Hartman, DLP/DDC; Linda Heller, Advocate; Jody Hougentogler, Consumer/Parent; Dale Matusevich, DOE; William Payne, AAPD; Daniel Madrid, DHSS/DVI; Wendy Strauss, GACEC; Debra Veenema, National MS Society/DE Chapter; Ernest Cole, FCIL;Milton Daves, Consumer; Connie Hughes, DelARF; Kathy McCool, Consumer; Karen McGloughlin, DPH;J. Kevin Massey, DPH.
Interpreters: Lois Steele and Jennifer Harley
GUESTS
Richard Paprcka, Acting CEO/DART
Pat Maichle, DDC
Bonnie Millman, DelDOT
Teresa Avery, Autism Delaware
Terri Hancharick
Bridgette Hancharick
Chris Prater, A.I. duPont
Melissa Pinnick, SEIU
Moni Edgar, CAP Director
Kathleen McCool, EDTAC
Lisa Bond, DSAAPD
Gary Cassedy, Easter Seals
Bill Love, DHSS/DPBHS
CALL TO ORDER
Daniese called the meeting to order at 1:37 pm. Everyone introduced themselves.
ADDITION OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA
There were no additions or deletions to the agenda.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made and seconded to approve the November 18, 2013 minutes as submitted.
BUSINESS
SEIU (Service Employees International Union) Presentation
Daniese welcomedMelissa Pinnick from SEIU to the meeting.
SCPD and DHSS have worked closely for several years on the development of theattendant services program,which was started by SCPD working with Legislators in 2001. Legislation wascreated and the Attendant Services Program has grown to be very popular in helping people stay in their own homes and has been proven to be very effective as a needed resource in getting people out of nursing homes. There have been concernsregarding the pay of the work force which provides services that are needed for the participants. Council members provided areview of the history of this legislation.
Melissa gave a brief overview stating SEIU represents about 1.2 million workers across the country, the largest health care union and represents about 500,000 home care workers across the country as well as state workers, security guards, etc. With the growing movement of home and community- based services of the disability rights movement,individuals were able to live at home and access the services. As there was a growing need for services, there came a growing need for a workforce.
Melissa asked if Delaware legislation had participant directed services; a person has the right to hire/fire, supervise, train, etc. Delaware does have reference to consumer direction in the legislation. Melissa said Delaware was better off than most other states,which do not have participant directed services in law - it is actually only in policy not in statute. Kyle said they are working on regulations.
With the growth of the “baby boomers”, there will be more individuals using the services. Jamie said with more people using Medicaid,individuals will be given the opportunity for self-choice and options,therefore the numbers will grow. We will want to make sure there is a stable workforce (friends, family members, community members, public looking for work) to be able available to pull from. One of problems is the cost of low wages, so a person will often leave to work for a Home Health Agency to receive more income and benefits. Ann pointed out that regulations are better with attendant care because if you need someone to drive your car to the drug store, etc., they can, where a home health aide cannot. John said the difference of looking at an attendant as opposed to a home health assistant with an agency, is that an attendant is a personal extension of one’s self, doing the things that you need to do but cannot. Kyle stated that the lack of a career ladder is another challenge. Melissa said that SEIU has worked with many states and the states have set the training on what it looks like. Some states there may be voluntary training, other states have mandatory training but it is up to the state.
Council members provided many examples of what they experience on a daily basis and what their concerns were including training, “mistrust” due to past SEIU actions and that unionizing will negatively affect consumer direction.
Melissa asked that Council have open minds and work together with SEIU so that as services continue to grow there will be a stable workforce that has wages they can live on, benefits, training and a voice within their job.
Melissa said she would like to keep the dialogue moving with the Council and provided a brochure and business card for Council and asked for members to meet and engage in dialogue with her in the future and work on drafting legislation for workers to have bargaining rights.
Kyle asked Bill what was the Department’s perspective. Bill said that there is draft legislation and the legislation is required to give the workforce in this area the legal right to organize. A council typeentitywill be created to include DHSS and state representatives and organized workforces. Items to be addressed will be training, what the organizing rights of the workforce are and why this needs to be developed. Bill said Secretary Landgraf is very concerned with the growingneeds, community based workforce and compensation within the workforce. She also knows for any of this to be successful and meet everyone’s needs, it will need broad based consumer support and legislators will need to hear from consumers and the work force. Some of the Council members were concerned with why they were not asked to be a part of the drafting of the legislation from the beginning of the process. Melissa said she would like for Council would like to be included in the drafting of the legislation.
If this is to move forward, Kyle believedthat individual meetings with people already approached are not necessary. Councilneeds to be able to review any draft legislation and work with the Department and SEIU.
DSAAPD Streamlining of Respite, Personal Care & Housekeeping Services
Lisa Bond from DSAAPD said her agency is looking at a lot services that are not Medicaid funded, but services funded through the Older Americans Act or Social Services Block Grant or State Funds. The agency is working on the consolidation of personal care and housekeeping services because they are similar and can be made simpler for the people who use the services, service providers and staff. Lisa provided the attached handout.
There are three current consolidation projects underway; Respite, Adult Day Services and Personal CareHousekeeping. Lisa said the department has multiple Respite and Adult Day Services only because of how the programs are funded. Therefore, consolidating services will be administrative friendly and the streamlining allows for one contract with a home health agency for three respite services that are really just the same services. DSAAPD expects to have this finalized by April 1st. Part of the streamlining will be that all individuals getting respite programs coming into Aging and Disabilities resource center will be accessed by a case manager or nurse and will be linked with service providers.
Personal care and housekeeping specifications will be merged as one. T-he consolidation of personal care and housekeeping will not cause a reduction of services to the consumers. The consolidation will not disqualify any current services providers, if an individual is currently getting services and are happy with their providers, their personal care, etc. there will be no change if they do not want under this consolidation. The consolidation is expected to reduce time spent in the service procurement and contract management process. This consolidation also gives more consumers power on how their needs are to addressed for the day.
Lisa said this service is specific to the Title III Block Grant and the non-Medicaid consumers. There is not a reduction in current providers with the consolidation.
Transportation Redesign Update
Rich Paprcka, Acting CEO/DART provided Council handouts and an overview of the Transit Redesign Plan and noted after reviewing public feedback from public hearings, and personal testimonies, changes were modified and approved.
Fixed route service expansions and changes become effective Sunday, February 9, 2014 and the Paratransit, ADA and Non-ADA fare increase will become effective July 1, 2014.
Bonnie clarified that ADA Paratransit service will be provided to individuals whose beginning and ending is within a ¾ mile radius of where a fixed route is, individuals who have been determined as ADA Unconditional or Conditional, and ADA Visitor Status. Non-ADA service isfor individuals that reside or travel outside the ¾ mile of the fixed services or individuals that live within the ADA service but have been certified under a category other than ADA, such as Dialysis Only or Elderly Only will still be provided trips but at a higher rate.
Fares will increase on July 1, 2014; ADA Paratransit services will increase from $2.00 to $3.00, Non-ADA service, $4.00, and for trips connecting between counties will be $3.00.
Bonnie provided an overview from the handout on changes that will be implemented in September 2014. (Attached handout is attached with minutes). Work and Medical trips will have a high priority. Medical trips are defined as individuals needing to go to medical center, physician offices, medical related day services, dental, eye, or medical device fixed. Work trips have not yet been defined but the agency may investigate to clarify.
Rich said in the coming months DART will be discussing with agencies and consumers and getting input on programs, such as Flex Route Pilot in Sussex County, fall of 2014 to be open to all riders. Areas include Millsboro to Georgetown and Seaford to Laurel. A Flex route is a bus on a schedule that makes fixed stops, and if you are not a Paratransit rider who can get to the stops, you can call a number and the bus is within a certain radius, the bus will pick the person up at their home.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ANNOUCEMENTS
There were no announcements.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:27pm. The next meeting will be held on February 17, 2014 at 1:30 pm, at the Felton-Farmington Conference Room, DelDOT Administration Building, Dover, Delaware.
Respectfully submitted,
Jo Singles
Administrative Specialist
SCPD/minJan14
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