Family Care Council

District 12

February 8th, 2007                  

MEMBERS PRESENT:                                            STAFF & GUESTS PRESENT:

 

Ray Sylvestre, Treasurer                                             Sandra Mills, APD

Phil Pearson, Chair                                                     Shawna Retallack, FCC Secretary

                                                                                    Joan Mannix, ARC of Volusia, Inc.

                                                                                    Anita Martin, parent advocate

                                                                                    Buzz Wallins, parent advocate

MEMBERS ABSENT:                                            

 

Edith Kegle, Vice-Chair

Linda Peterson

                                                                                                                                 

I. ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTIONS:

The meeting was called to order at 3:06 PM. Roll call established a quorum.     

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

The minutes from the meeting on January 11th, 2007 meeting were reviewed and discussed by members and guests present.  Member Sylvestre made a motion to accept the minutes of the January 11th, 2007 meeting.  Motion seconded by Chairperson Pearson.  Motion carried. 

III. OLD BUSINESS:

Chairperson Pearson initiated discussion regarding the FCC plan for 2007.  He gave an overview of the proposed mission statement and values of the council that he presented at last month’s meeting.  He also presented the goals for the Council for 2007.  He explained that he is aware that some of these goals may not be achieved this year.  But, that the Council has the potential to reach these goals in the future.  The goals include:

1.     To increase awareness of developmental disabilities to the general population in order to educate and promote a better understanding and genuine acceptance within our community.

2.     To influence legislation and funding pertinent to persons with developmental disabilities.

3.     To understand and influence APD policies and procedures regarding persons with developmental disabilities.

4.     To advocate for, educate and help empower individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to the best of their ability.

5.     To be effective representatives to the FCCF.

6.     To provide financial help to developmentally disabled families.

7.     To increase our membership.

To increase awareness of developmental disabilities Chairperson Pearson would like to work with the County libraries to establish and support a developmental disabilities resource center.  To educate families he would like to develop a training course.  Sandra Mills mentioned that she and her co-worker Melissa Brooks could bring training materials regarding the subjects chosen for the training to be held at a FCC12 meeting.  This training could be advertised to attract new members to the meeting.   Chairperson Pearson referred to this proposed plan as a “living document” that can continually reviewed and revised.  Joan Mannix suggested a quarterly review for accountability purposes.  A master copy of this proposed plan which includes ideas on how to achieve these goals can be found with the master copy of the minutes.

Chairperson Pearson asked Sandra Mills about the status of the outstanding bill FCC12 has to Easter Seals.  Payment has been withheld by APD since July of 2006 because the new service agreement between FCC12 and Easter Seals had not been signed by Easter Seals or FCC12.  Chairperson Pearson was under the impression that since the new agreement had been signed the payment would be made.  According to information given to Sandra Mills from Ed DeBardeleben this is not true.  Per Ed the current service agreement needs to be changed to a lease agreement because the FCC 12 meets at Easter Seals on a monthly basis.  Secretary Retallack asked Sandra if this past due balance would be paid once the new lease agreement was signed.  She was not sure and could not give an answer as to when the bill will be paid.

IV. APD UPDATE:

Sandra reported that the Transition Fair that was held at Deltona High School had a great turnout.  Five to ten families were interested in getting information about the APD.  The Transition Fair at the Palm Coast High School did not have as good of a turnout because many providers did not come.  Time of day and week that the Fair was held was a factor regarding the success of the Fair.

V. NEW BUSINESS:

Chairperson Pearson went to the last FCCF meeting.  At that meeting a new more streamlines orientation handbook and a CMS grant were discussed.  FCCF also shared information regarding the non-profit organization they created.  This organization is the Florida Institute of Community and Disability (FICD).  Chairperson Pearson thinks this is great idea for FCC12 to create a non-profit organization.  Any funds raised by FCC12 would go to the non-profit organization.  Money from the FCC12 budget provided by APD could also be transferred to the non-profit organization.  Chairperson Pearson further explained that a 5013c is not needed for this non-profit organization.

Chairperson Pearson would like to run an ad in the newspaper in an effort to increase FCC12 membership.  Everyone present received a copy of the proposed ad.  With this ad Chairman Pearson wants to “scare” people.  Chairman is not certain where he will place the ad.  He would like to run the ad in the News-Journal.  Secretary Retallack agreed that advertising in the News-Journal would be very beneficial.  However, News-Journal does not donate ads and they are very expensive.  Secretary Retallack suggested advertising in the Pennysaver, which is owned by the News-Journal, because it is free to run ads there.  Chairperson Pearson made a motion to allocate $250 for a News-Journal ad.  Member Sylvestre seconded.  Motion carried.   

Chairman Pearson is very concerned that families are not aware that their children will no longer receive services when they turn 22.  Currently 1,700 people from Volusia and Flagler counties are on the waiting list and are receiving services.  Chairman said that the FCC12 needs to motivate people to write letters and send emails to Florida legislatures.  The developmentally disabled population does not have a strong lobby group like the population of blind individuals.  A strong lobby group is necessary so that the developmentally disabled are treated fairly.  Chairman reported a recent decision from legislation regarding foster children.  The legislature unanimously agreed to move foster children to the head of the waiting list which moved many developmentally disabled further down the list.  The developmentally disabled need a strong voice to influence legislation so situations like this don’t happen again.  Buzz Wallins, parent advocate, doesn’t think the money is going to be there when he needs it so he doesn’t see the point in getting on the waiting list.  Buzz was encouraged by everyone present to get on the waiting list immediately because things could change and it possible that the money will be there.

Chairman Pearson suggested meeting at a different location for the next FCC12 meeting to be held on March 8th.  He would like to meet at the Bunnell City Hall from 7 to 9 PM.  Secretary Retallack mentioned that this meeting is during Bike Week, which is a very large tourist attraction for Volusia and Flagler counties.  Last year the meeting that was to be held in March was cancelled because traffic made it impossible for most people to attend.  Even having the meeting in Bunnell would not solve the traffic issue because traffic is heavy everywhere during that week.  Secretary Retallack also mentioned that her mileage to Bunnell would also have to be reimbursed.  Another issue is advertising this location change.  Chairman Pearson would like Secretary Retallack to prepare a mailing to the 1,700 persons on the waiting list.  This mailing would have to be finished and delivered to the APD office well before March 8th so it could get mailed out on time.  Secretary Retallack mentioned that she will be unavailable to work on the mailing from February 23rd through March 4th.  This time constraint would make it very difficult to create the flyer, prepare it and mail it out in time for the meeting.  After this discussion it was decided between the members of the Council that having the meeting in Bunnell for the April 12th meeting is more feasible.  Members and guests discussed having the meeting at a location other than Easter Seals once a quarter in the north, south, east and west regions of Area 12.  Sandra Mills also suggested including future meeting dates in the mailing.  Joan Mannix suggested having David Cassidy, an intake specialist from the APD, as a guest speaker at a FCC12 meeting.  Any scheduled guest speakers could be advertised on the mailing.

Chairman Pearson has had recent contact with the Flagler County Library.  They have a Disability Center that they are interested in stocking with books and tapes for the developmentally disabled.  Chairman would like to purchase these materials and give them to the library as a donation.  Parent advocate, Anita Martin, is willing to ask the City Island Library in Daytona Beach if they are interested in having a developmental disabilities resource center.  Members and guests discussed that it may be a better decision to loan the tapes and books to the library so that the Council has the freedom to move them to another library or location whenever they choose.  Also, the Council could ask the libraries if they are willing to purchase the materials with their own funds.  Chairman is not sure that they would be willing to do this and he believes that it would be much faster if the FCC12 just purchased the materials and donated it to the libraries.

Chairman Pearson would like to go ahead a give the FCCF $500 from their budget.  This is usually done at a later time but he would like to take care of it today.  Chairperson Pearson made a motion to transfer $500 to the Family Care Council Florida.  Member Sylvestre seconded.  Motion carried. 

OPEN DISCUSSION:

Chairman Pearson brought a video that he purchased from Stanfield as an example of what could be donated to the county libraries.  Members and guests watched the video.  Chairman brought the catalog for everyone to see what kinds of resources are out there for the developmentally disabled.  They can be visited online at www.stanfield.com

V. ADJOURN:

With no further business to come before the Council the meeting adjourned at 5:01 PM.