MPAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ANNUAL MEETING
September 15, 2015
Present: Kate Woters, Tom Landry, John McCulloch, Pam Bellamy, Doug Olsen, Terri Land, Selena Schmidt, Stoney Polman, Kathy McGeathy, Paul Palmer, Hansen Clarke
Via phone:Alethia Brinkerhoff, Jane Shank, Mark Lezotte, Veda Sharp
Staff: Elmer Cerano, Camilia XXX, Michele XXX, Michelle XXX, Lori XXX, ErinXXX, Mark XXX, Mark XXX
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by President, Kate Pew Wolters
II. Introductions
Introductions weremade.
III. Agenda
The agenda was presented for approval with the caveat that when our special guests arrive we have recognitions to present to our outgoing members.
MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA WITH THE CAVEAT BY Paul Palmer. SECOND BY Pamela Bellamy. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
IV. Minutes
The minutes of May 19, 2015 meeting were presented for approval.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES BY Stoney Polman. SECOND BY Pamela Bellamy. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
V. President’s Report
Kate Wolters gave reflection on her two years as board chair. Ms. Wolters noted that it has been an incredible opportunity to represent MPAS in Washington and with visits on the Hill and at the Detroit Chamber Policy Conference on Mackinac Island. The organization has a lot of respect and is glad to be a part of an organization that has the respect and gets things done. Ms. Wolters thanked Tom Landry for being her eyes and ears when she had to conduct business by phone.
Ms. Wolters reflected on the Mackinac Conference- the conference was overwhelming with lots of movers and shakers. Ms. Wolters thanked the agency for the experience and said it is important for MPAS' name to be out there and recognized as a part of the advocacy agency of the state.
Retirements
Ms. Wolters reported there are two board members retiring, Stoney Polman and Kathy McGeathy. Both of whom have a 16 year tenure.
Representative Tom Leonardgave comments and presented Stoney Polman with a tribute from the State of Michigan.
KateWolters noted that Ms. Polman has brought a different perspective to the board in many different ways. With her work in the native population, her work in the independent living movement, and her connections in D.C. have been important to MPAS and we wouldn't have done without Stoney.
Stoney Polman shared that it has been her pleasure and honor to be on the board for so long. It has been a joy to be able to bring native issues, woman issues and veteran's issues to the board.Ms. Polman has enjoyed time in Washingtonand on the national board and the opportunity to be involved.
Eric Porter on behalf of Senator Horn and Representative Graves presented Kathy McGeathy with a tribute from the State of Michigan.
Kate Wolters thanked Kathy McGeathy for her involvement in the independent movement and her board leadership as chair in the past. They have all been helpful to MPAS. If there are any issues that we have not identified to please call on MPAS.
Kathy McGeathy stated that she started as chair of the PADD Advisory Councils and then asked to be on the board which she is grateful to have served.
Elmer Cerano presented Kathy and Stoney with a plaque from the agency.
Kate Wolters gave her perspective on the future,on everything that has been accomplished this year, and that anything is possible. Did we ever think that there was going to be a legislative mandate against sheltered workshops and congregate institutional settings? We need to remember that we have accomplished a lot so that says anything is possible.
Some opportunities for MPAS may be to think of new and innovative ways of doing what we have always done but in a different way, whether looking for private support, write grants or fundraise. Think of what is not covered from our public grants and what gives us flexibility.
VI. Executive Director’s Report
Elmer Cerano thanked Kate Wolters for her leadership and it has been a pleasure of working with her as board chair for the past two years.
Elmer Cerano reflected on Kate’s words about the future. Cerano reported on the Mackinac Conference and how helpful it was to have Kate Wolters present. The agency received lots of recognition and met folks who,without Kate,would not have met.
Home and Community Based Waivers
Elmer Cerano reported on the HCBS. Cerano noted that you cannot use federal dollars to segregate individuals. You can do so with private but not federal dollars. The federal government gave the states five years to write a plan and comply with their plan. Michigan had four years with three and a half years to implement the plan.
Mi Health Link
The state funding for the community mental health systems is becoming problematic.The dual eligibility - Mi Health Link -is for individuals who are Medicare and Medicaid eligible. They are trying to blend the behavioral health and the physical health services. The CMH system is getting squeezed with their budget because the state is only allowing a certain amount of dollars. The counties will eventually have to cut services for individuals.
Mark XXX stated every CMH is coming up with different approaches to cutting services. The agency is looking for cases from Western Michigan and Midland that we can hold the community mental health systems accountable for delivering the services according to the person centered plan and the state be required to enforce their contracts with the community mental health systems.
Staff
Elmer Cerano introduced Lori XXX, new Director of Information and Referral replacing Mark XXX. Lori Enos was a previous employee at MPAS from 87-92 and was a part of getting institutions closed.
Elmer Cerano noted that the board will be getting new conflict of interest forms at the December meeting.
Staff Reports
Mark XXX reported for the Legal Team. The Legal Team filed suit in Federal Court against the Flint Public Schools for delay in providing us education records that were needed to make a determination whether to represent an individual and what the issues were. The hearing went in MPAS' favor and currently are negotiating attorney fees.
In Federal Court, the state is moving to dismiss our lawsuit on behalf of inmates who are deaf. The team is working with the Covington Firm, out of Washington, to help with the hearing.
Community Rehab Organizations (CRO): The Legal Team and Employment Team have been out to 50 CROs in the last few months. The team is in the process of getting releases and retainer agreements from individuals.
Mark XXX introduced Erin XXX, the Skadden Fellow, who will be working with the agency for two years with a focus on special education.
VII. Public Comment
Kate Wolters noted that Sean Bennett submitted written public comment for distribution to the board.
VIII. PAIMI Advisory Council
Selena Schmidt reported for the Council. The Council worked on the priorities at their August meeting. The Council spent time discussing issues coming up in the community that we think in the next year will have a potential to be brought to the forefront of those with mental illness, such as home care based service waiver. A concern is that the homes do not have the licenses.
The Council discussed the mandated outpatient treatment. There are concerns that there are not enough providers in the community. A person should not be penalized if they can not follow-up with a mandated outpatient treatment plan if there are no providers to provide it within a reasonable amount of time.
Review of Agency Priorities
Elmer Cerano reportedthat every year the agency priorities are reviewed with a more thorough review every two years. The Council has had a chance to review the priorities and have made their recommendations.
Michelle XXX reviewed Attachment E of proposed priorities and objectives. Ms. XXXwent over the changes to the language. The word "with disability" was added to the objectives where it wasn't already identified by the managers.
The major change is under Priority 2. In the past it was "improve rights protection systems" which was when the agency focused on the recipient rights system. The agency proposed language is "Increase the protection of individual rights and personal autonomy." The Council suggested changing language to “Increase the protection of individual rights and personhood.”
Tom Landry asked what the agency's feeling is about the change from the PAIMI Council. Michelle XXX stated the agency is in agreement. It doesn't change what we want to accomplish under the priority.
Under Priority 4, the agency has the assistive technology grant and wanted to note that was one of the services that we are always advocating for individuals to receive. Assistive technology was expanded to 4a.
Kate Wolters asked how much input did the agency get from the community. Mark XXX noted that the agency reviewed all of the I&R calls and reviewed what topics we had throughout the year. The agency did specific outreach to advocacy group leaders and a review of literature on current topics.The agency sent out new priority survey cards with all closing letters and the survey was put on the agency website and Facebook page.The agency received 160 comments from the surveys in one month.
Tom Landry had concern on Priority 1C and the word "Unduly." The concept we are talking about is coercive treatment not in the best interest of the individual. That is softer than the word "Unduly" and asked that it be worded a little different. Mark XXXsupports leaving the word "unduly" out because we are not in the business of deciding whether the treatment was coercive or not. The agency role is to reflect the expressed wishes of the individual.
John McCulloch asked if we are limited to make changes to only once a year. Cerano stated that we can make changes, as long as we let the federal funders know. John McCulloch asked if we could leave the language as it is and have the staff work on it and bring back to the board if necessary. Elmer Cerano suggested we leave as is and we will work on it with a better structure.
Kate Wolters reviewed the suggested recommendations to the priorities.
The changes which involve adding "people with disabilities" we will keep.
Priority 1 we would keep in the old way.
Priority 2 will change to the new way that talks about personhood.
Objective 2A we will go with the recommendation on the right side.
Priority 3 Objective 3b we will go with the recommendation on the right sideand all of the other recommendations on the right side.
Kathy McGeathy is concerned of peoples understanding of the word personhood in Priority 2. Stoney Polman agreed that most will not understand the meaning when picking up a brochure.
Michelle XXX suggested it read "increase the protection of individual rights, independence and self-determination" for priority 2.
MOTION BY Paul Palmer TO APPROVE THE PRIORITIES WITH NOTED CHANGES. SECOND BY Stoney Polman. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
IX. Committee Reports
A. Board Development
Mark Lezotte reported for the Board Development Committee. The Committee met on August 11th.
1. Eligible board members
MOTION BY Terri Lynn Land TO RE-ELECT JOHN MCCULLOCH TO A THIRD YEAR TERM. SECOND BY Doug Olsen. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
2. Slate of Officers
Mark Lezotte reviewed the slate of officers for Fiscal Year 2016.Kate will rotate off and become Immediate Past President. The Committee recommending the following is elected as officers:
President - Tom Landry
1st Vice President - John McCulloch
2nd Vice President - Veda Sharp
Secretary - Terri Lynn Land
Treasurer - Jane Shank
Immediate Past President - Kate Wolters
THE COMMITTEE BRINGS FORWARD THE MOTION OF THE SLATE OF OFFICERS. SECOND BY Kathy McGeathy. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. New Board Members
The Committee nominates two new individuals to board, Michael Stephenson and Travar Petway to the Class of 2018.
Mr. Pettway is from Canton and was a previous client of the agency with recommendation from Mark XXX. With his experience, back ground and perspective he has much to bring to the board.
MOTION TO ELECT TRAVAR PETTWAY TO THE BOARD. SUPPORT BY Tom Landry. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mark Lezotte and Elmer Cerano met with Michael Stephenson who is a high school counselor from Troy and a parent of a child with cerebral palsy and visual impairment.Mr. Stephenson has the educational experience as a parent and his perspective as an educator as a school counselor. Mr. Stephenson is an advocate in the school where he teaches for the inclusion of kids with disabilities.
MOTION TO ELECT MICHAEL STEPHENSON TO THE BOARD. SECOND BY Paul Palmer. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Stoney Polman stated the need to reach out to a person from the U.P. Ms. Polman asked that those in the U.P office make it an issue to searchout individuals from the U.P. Also, we should reach out to the military and get an individual in that area. Mark Lezotte stated the committee has identified those areas and we are also looking for representation from the Arabic and Hispanic community.
Paul Palmer noted that when he was on the board before and on the PADD Council as chair, he used to live in the U.P.
B. Budget and Finance Committee
Mark Lezotte reported for the Committee. The Committee met and noted the two items on the agenda.
1. Financial Statements as of 6/30/15, fiscal 3rd quarter.
2. Approval of the proposed budget for FY 2016.
Mark Lezotte reported that there are no surprises in the budget. The total revenue is based on a conservative estimate of the carry over and assuming some reduction of about 2% of federal grants. There is additional money to complete IT upgrades and equipment. The HAVA monies would be one that would increase with next year being a voting year.
Michele noted on Page 2 of green memo shows a grid of each grant of what it was and what needs to be changed.
MOTION BY Mark Lezotte TO APPROVE THE BUDGET FOR FY 2016. SECOND BY Tom Landry.MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOTION TO RECIEVE AND FILE THE 3RD QUARTER FINANCIAL REPORTS ENDING 6/30/15. SECOND BY John McCulloch. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
C. Public Policy Committee
The Committee met via teleconference and Mark XXX reviewed the issues. Ininterest of time Mr. XXXreferred to page 12 of the board packet.
Mark XXXhighlighted Objective 1a. Restraint and Seclusion. The Lt. Governor has released the results of his survey and identified restraint and seclusion as one of the five issues he wanted to address. The survey received 2000 responses. From the survey results, 24% of respondents indicated that their child had been subjected to restrained or seclusion.The Lt. Governor wants legislation to follow the current state board policy under restraint and seclusion.
Objective 2a, HB4764 sponsored by Rep Leonard, is a bill which will expand the current Kevin's Law expanding the definitions of a person in need of treatment and will also make some changes in how services are ordered. The agency has expressed concerns in writing about the expanding definition of a person requiring treatment.A workgroup has been created to expand Kevin’s Law further to expand the authority of guardians to order treatment.MPAS has been invited to participate.
Objective 4a, Mi Health Link. Informal numbers are that 42,000 people have enrolled with potential of 77,000 people that could be enrolled in the program. There are opportunities in veteran's advocacy; the CAIR team has been making connections with veteran's groups.
Objective 5b, pending letter from US Department of Education, we got it and they agreed with our position. It was found that the State Department of Education was improperly implementing the law and enforcing behavior plans and IEPs. They were ordered to change their policy and comply.
XI. New Business
Tom Landry on behalf of board presented Kate Wolters with a plaque in appreciation of her two years as Board President. Mr. Landry thanked Kate for leading us for the past two years.
X. Old Business
None
XII. MOTION TO ADJOURN AT 12:13 PM
Minutes prepared by:
Camilia XXX, Executive Secretary
Minutes approved by:
Jane Shank, Secretary