NYSILC Full Council Meeting

February 13, 2004

Attendees: Doug Hovey, Chair, Mel Tanzman, Vice-Chair; Mike Godino, Treasurer; Alexander Wood, Secretary; Sharon Shapiro-Lacks, Member-at-Large; Judy Avner, Randy Black-Schantz, Dennis Boyd, Joe Bravo, Michael Burgess, Maria Dibble, Marguerite Haring, Mark Hernandez, Michael Kink, Amy LaShomb, Steve Lovi, Pratik Patel, Maya Quinn, Bassman; Sharon Flom; Bob Gumson, Greg Jones, Brad Williams, Stephanie Slater.

Absent: Iris Bannister [Medical], Eugene Hughes [Medical], RoseMarie McCaffery, Michael Zich, Sharon Bradbury.

Guests: Lucy Birbiglia, Denise Figueroa, Jennifer Donahue, Carl Slater.

Open Forum: Doug Hovey opened the meeting by welcoming the new Council members, Maya Quinn, Pratik Patel and Gene Hughes. Doug Hovey and Brad Williams thanked the SPIL Committee for the work they've put into developing this plan, conducting and coordinating the forums around the State to garner input from CIL staffs, board members and consumers.

State Plan for Independent Living 2005-2007:

• SPIL will be reviewed section by section prior to approval.
• Concentration will be given to the sections were responses are given, however, the boilerplate sections will be reviewed.
• Sections 1 and 2 are boilerplate sections. The signatories at NYSILC, VESID and CVBH were identified.
• Sections 3.1 and 3.2 are boilerplate. Section 3.3 Public Hearings was reviewed and the process NYSILC used identified in detail as response was read word for word. The remainder of Section 3 is a boilerplate.

Motion by Mel Tanzman, second by Maria Dibble, to approve Sections 1-3 of the SPIL with the correction of typos. Motion passed unanimously.

• Section 4.1 was reviewed as to the composition of the Council. Section 4.2 was reviewed and stated that NYSILC is a non-profit corporation that operates separately from any NYS agency. The State 2004 Fiscal year contract with NYSED/VESID has been approved so that NYSILC can conduct its activities and State business per the SPIL. Section 4.3 refers to Attachment 2 in which a description of the SILC budget for the 3 years covered by the SPIL is given in detail.
• Section 5 identifies VESID and CBVH as the other two partners who develop the SPIL with NYSILC.
• Section 6 goes into staff and staff development, boilerplate, no response needed.
• Section 7 discusses the financial administration of the SPIL; no response needed.
• Section 8 State Administration of Part C program, this section does not apply to NYS because it is a 722 state. RSA administers this Title VII, Part C program.
• Section 9 gets into Information on Use of Title VII, Part B funds which primarily are resource in nature. Details will be reviewed in Attachment 1.
• Section 10 Outreach, Attachment 1 describes the steps that will be taken to define and prioritize outreach to populations that are unserved and underserved by the program funded under Chapter 1.
• Section 11 Extent and Scope of IL Services describes all IL services to be provided under the SPIL to meet the objectives in Section 10. The four core services were identified. The individual additional services 1 through 21 were reviewed and identified as to which were checked yes and which were not checked at all. It was explained that the language in items 1 through 21 is the Federal language; we cannot change the language, only whether we check yes or not.

Lengthy discussion was had regarding checking service 1 "counseling services, including psychological, psychotherapeutic, and related services." It was recalled that in the last two SPILs the plan was submitted without this item being checked and that the Feds required it to be checked. Additional clarification regarding this service will be obtained from RSA.

• Section 12 Eligibility, Records, IL Plans, and Notice of Client Assistance Program is a boilerplate section; no responses were needed in this section.
• Section 13 Statewide Network of CILs, Attachment 1 describes for the establishment of a statewide network and the order of priorities for the establishment of new CILs. This attachment includes plans for expansion of the network to serve populations that are currently unserved or underserved. After more than 20 years of growth as a network, NYSILC believes that it is time to invest in a statewide unserved and underserved needs assessment. NY is a very diverse state. The Council must find a more comprehensive way to guide its decisions in this area.
• Section 14 Communication, Cooperation and Coordination which is statewide with DSUs and Council members who represent other statewide networks.
• Section 15 Evaluation Plan for the SPIL which is an attachment.
• Attachment 1 Mission, Goals and Objectives. This section was reviewed in detail. The stated missions of NYSILC, VESID and CBVH were read.
• Mandatory Area 1: Extent and Scope of IL Services. This area gives more detail and helps to define how the Federal and State services work together, as well as some of the contractual services and concerns that might have to be considered. Services are listed and explained. CILs are required to pursue systems advocacy that results in systemic change. The services to meet this requirement are listed and explained.
• Mandatory Area 2: Cooperation, Coordination and Working Relationships. This area is to make sure that the SPIL partners (NYSILC, VESID, CBVH, etc.) work together. Listed numerous instances of different degrees of cooperation and coordination. Objective 1: At no cost, maximize cooperation, coordination, and working relationships among CILs, NYAIL, other State agencies, councils, public and private entities that address the needs of specific disability populations and issues through September 30, 2007.
• Mandatory Area 3: Outreach. Explained the outreach that has been done in the past in establishing satellites to outreach to specific populations, i.e., NAILS, Minority Outreach Project, Deaf Culture, Migrant Workers. Rural satellites were established in Chemung, Lewis and Sullivan counties. Targeted outreach projects were conducted that included Hassidic, Asian, and Hispanic communities. Outreach continues through promotion of training, technical assistance and support activities that enhance outreach to minority groups. At the annual conference here in September, there were breakout sessions that supported culture brokering, outreach to Chinese Americans, rural outreach, AIDS in Prison populations, Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual and Transgender population. NYS is looking to do a needs assessment in the next SPIL to further identify unserved and underserved populations.
• Objective 1: Statewide Network of CILs. Network Design. The Federal Government wants us to acknowledge what comprises the existing network of CILs. They are listed with location and dollar amounts. The current SPIL shows inequities in funding among the existing network of CILs. Our goal has been to get every location up to a funding level of $200,000. Another 8 CILs will reach that level. In the past 5 years the national Title VII, Part C money has increased from $42 million to $79 million. Part C there is approximately $3.9 million that comes into NYS in contracts. COLAs typically happen each year. Additional monies have been applied to decrease the inequities in the funding. The "Plan for the Existing Federally Funded Network" gets into how there are many levels of funding, Federal only, Federal and State, etc. Any new opportunity we want funded at least at $200,000. Proposed in Year 1, one more year to reach the goal of having the existing network at the $200,000 level. In Years 2 and 3, put additional monies out for new center competitions. In Year 2, if at least $200,000 comes in, there would be a new center competition for a location or region that has a population of 1 million or above. In Year 3, it would be a location with a population of 1 million or less.

Substantial discussion regarding the funding levels and what the framework should be going forward was had.

Motion by Mel Tanzman, seconded by Randy Black-Schantz, to page 34 under Year 2 section 2.A, strike the first two sentences. "A new center competition will not occur unless it can be funded with the minimum amount of $200,000. Funding new centers at an arbitrary amount is what created the inequity in the federally funded network." Modified sentences to: "If the funding available for a new center competition is less than $200,000 but greater than $75,000 it will be left to the discretion of the NYSILC Executive Committee to determine priorities for its use."

Further discussion was had regarding this recommended change. The likelihood of this scenario occurrence is slim. Add language to read "In any succeeding year that this option is adopted to use the money for another center, that the first priority be, with additional funds above COLA, to bring that center to $200,000."

Mel Tanzman accepted the above recommendation as a "friendly" modification to his proposed motion.

Motion restated to have Section Year 2 (FFY 2006) 2.A. read "If the funding available, beyond a COLA, less than $200,000 but greater than $75,000 it will be left to the discretion of the NYSILC Full Council to determine priorities for its use. If a new center is funded at this level, then in subsequent years of the current SPIL our priority, once we've applied a COLA, would be to bring that center to the $200,000 level along with the existing Federally funded centers. If the amount is than $75,000 then the funds will be distributed according to the plan for Year 1 (FFY 2005)." Change Section 2 to read "The overall priority will be to use any increase above the mandatory COLA to hold a new center competition funded at $200,000 for a CIL in an area with a population of 1 million or more residents."

Motion passed with 16 in favor, 1 opposition, no abstentions. Motion passed.

Plan for the Development of New CILS and Identification of Unserved/Underserved Need: A statewide needs assessment will be conducted to further identify and prioritize the populations and geographic areas for consideration.

Use of Title VII, Part B, Chapter 1 Funds: This funding will be used to fund the resource plan for the SILC - staff, office space, support for council meetings, travel budgets, training budgets, etc. Additional funding may come into NYSILC for specific projects. CBVH plans to use $218,000 to offer IL direct services on a fee-for-service basis. Ways to expand and improve IL services - continue the SSA network; develop and implement a strategic statewide fund development plan; support an IL training academy; develop a housing institute to increase the availability of affordable, accessible and integrated housing options; Year 2 best practice conference; develop and implement a statewide Voter Pledge database and education project; and in Year 3 support a Statewide Disability Caucus. Also, in Years 1 and 3 conduct a statewide consumer satisfaction survey; in Year 2 conduct a statewide needs assessment; and in Year 3 conduct an IL statewide technology needs assessment.

Each of the above items was assigned an objective number, a dollar amount, and a completion date.

Objective 2 regarding the SSA network was discussed as to the proposed funding level changes. VESID will develop and distribute an RFP for this. Expected rollout is April 2004, with the money available October - December 2004. The $1.9 million is for 3 years.

Sharon Flom requested the last paragraph on page 40, first sentence change "CBVH" to "NYSILC."

Motion by Maria Dibble, seconded by Dennis Boyd, to accept Sections 4 through 10 and attachments. Motion passed with 15 in favor, no opposition, 1 abstention.

Motion by Mel Tanzman, seconded by Mike Godino, to accept Sections 11 through 15 and attachments. [Rick Anderson was unavailable for clarification.] Motion passed 16 in favor, 1 opposed, no abstentions.

Minutes: Motion by Amy LaShomb, seconded by Marguerite Haring, to approve the Minutes of September 12, 2003 as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

Motion by Marguerite Haring, second by Mike Godino, to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed unanimously.