Family Care Council

                                                              District 12

    February 9, 2006

MEMBERS PRESENT:                                          STAFF & GUESTS PRESENT:

Edith Kegle, Chair                                                      Michele Beauregard, APD

Kamal Samar                                                               Regine Beauboeuf, WORC/UCPECF

MEMBERS ABSENT:                                            Shawna Retallack, FCC Secretary

Linda Peterson                                                            Ray Sylvestre

                                                                                    Phil Pearson

I. ROLL CALL:

The meeting was called to order at 3:09 PM. Roll call established a quorum.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

The minutes of the January 12, 2006 were not approved by the members present.  The Governor has not approved new members for any areas yet.  Therefore, the minutes are not official.  Subjects/agenda will be revisited at a later date.

III. AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES UPDATE:

Michele gave a detailed update concerning the APD which included 8 items.  In regards to the first item, the Bush/Jennings budget, member Samar voiced concern that the 10% increase in funds to Support Coordination would take funds away from developmentally disabled clients.  Michelle assured him that would not happen.  Member Samar also would like support coordinators to come to the Area 12 meetings.  In regards to the second item Michele reported that $2500 in non-reoccurring monies were offered to people on the waiting list for any services that the waiver provides.  Phil Pearson’s son is still on the waiting list and he inquired as to the status of that and if he could have access to those funds.  Michele informed Phil to contact Gail at the APD to find out his son’s status on the waiting list.  All of the APD presentation is recorded on 6 handouts and they are attached to the master copy of this month’s minutes.  Please refer to the master copy for a detailed description of the APD update.

Chair Kegle mentioned that she would like Area 12 to establish a relationship with Legal Aide.  Regine from WORC/CPECF suggested that the FCC focus on 5 families at a time.  Legal Aide is very busy and limiting it to 5 families would not overwhelm them as much as asking them to assist every client at the same time.  Member Samar suggested that a professional letter be submitted to illicit a better response from them.

Michele has been trained to conduct the New Member Orientation training for Family Care Council members.  The orientation will take place after Governor Bush has approved Area 12’s new members.

IV. OLD BUSINESS:

Chair Kegle reminded those present that FCC Area 12 is currently paying Easter Seals for internet access that they are not using.  Chair Kegle wants to cancel that service and in order to do so she was told by the Director of Operations at Easter Seals, Jane Bronkie, that she must submit a letter to the President of Easter Seals, Lynn Sinnott, detailing her request to cancel internet access at the Area 12 office located in the Easter Seals building.  Chair Kegle proceeded to write the letter and stated that she would deliver it in person to Lynn after the meeting adjourned.  Michele stated that she would need a copy of that letter.

Chair Kegle reviewed the service agreement between Area 12 and Easter Seals.  The agreement states that Easter Seals will provide a clerical support staff person and the duties expected of that person.  The agreement also details the charge for internet and office space usage.  Chair Kegle mentioned that the clerical support fees are expensive and Area 12 may consider transferring that responsibility to a volunteer or someone else that would be less expensive.  In regards to the budget Phil Pearson suggested that $1,000 dollars be allocated to conference fees.  He also suggested that part of the budget be used to help developmentally disabled persons and their families.  At the end of the fiscal year any unused funds from each of the Areas are sent back to Family Care Council Florida.  Phil would not like to spend all of the allocated funds.  Chair Kegle mentioned that she has gone to FCCF meetings and she recognizes the importance of proper stewardship of the budget and FCCF’s need for any unused funds to return to them in order to accomplish the goals of the organization. 

Chair Kegle has been working on a draft for Area 12 in regards to its mission and goals as well as the plan to accomplish those goals.  She stated that the goals must be measurable in order to determine the successful completion of the proposed goals.

V. NEW BUSINESS:

Chair Kegle gave everyone a copy of the informational brochure for the 8th Annual Family Café Conference that will take place during June 2nd through June 4th of 2006.  This annual governor’s summit on disabilities will be at the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando, Florida.  Chair Kegle would like for 2 or 3 Area 12 members to attend the conference and she stated that funds from the Area 12 budget would be used to send those members.  The brochure includes a message from Governor Bush which describes

that Family Café facilitates a relationship between families and government leaders to promote understanding and partnership.

Chair Kegle would like to have a contact list for the clients served by the APD.  At the present time member Kegle must submit any mailings for the FCC to the APD in order to maintain client confidentiality.  Chair Kegle would like to ask APD clients for permission to send mail to them directly.  As a result she would like to create a contact list of those clients for FCC mailing purposes.  Phil Pearson disagrees with the need for a duplicate list because of the upkeep that will be needed to maintain that list with accurate client contact information and protect client confidentiality.

Phil Pearson has been working on a website and a fact sheet for Area 12.  Chair Kegle conducts FCC business from her home office and funds from the budget pay for internet access.  She has selected Road Runner Lite and this package includes free website space.  The website will include our mission, information about the council, meeting minutes, budget, council members, projects and contact information.  Suggestions were made by those present to have a link to the APD website and to the 550 providers in Area 12.  “Upcoming events” was also mentioned as important to include.  The Fact Sheet Phil is developing will include demographics of the developmentally disabled and the support facilities in our area.   

Chair Kegle is concerned about the ability of persons with disabilities to contact the APD.  Currently, the APD listing in the phonebook is located under the heading of Department of Children and Families.  Chair Kegle would like for the APD listing to be located under a more appropriate listing for disability services in order to better service developmentally disabled persons that need their help.  Many individuals are unaware of the APD and the services they provide because of inadequate advertising in the phonebook.

VI. OPEN DISCUSSION:

Local steering committee members are continuing to develop a universal application for persons with disabilities to apply for all services available to them in the community.  Their last meeting was on January 27th and the next one will be on March 1st from 9 to 11 AM at WORC.

The next FCCF meeting be on March 17th -18th and their funding needs will be discussed. 

Chair Kegle mentioned that there will be a public hearing and board meeting at the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine on February 13th -14th.  Persons with disabilities and their family members are invited to share their issues and concerns with the ADA Working Group’s Board members.

VII. ADJOURN:

With no further business to come before the Council the meeting adjourned at 5:12 PM.