Family Care Council Meeting

4/10/08 - 7 pm

Flagler Hospital in Palm Coast

Meeting called to order on April 10, 2008 at 7:15 PM

Members / Guest Present:

Members	Guests	APD staff
Phil Pearson	Rosemary Revoir	Ed DeBardeleben
Susan Tanner	Jimmy Perrin
Irene Gallo
Linda Peterson

No one called in on the conference line.

Approval of Minutes:

o Rosemary Revoir motioned to approve the March 13, 2008 minutes, seconded by member Linda Peterson. The motion passed.

Old Business:

o Copy of March 2008 Newsletter was provided to members present

o The newsletter has been mailed to families residing in Area 12

o Next Newsletter is scheduled to be mailed in June. The Fall newsletter will be mailed in September with a special election edition to be published in October.

Recommendations for Libraries:

o Chair Pearson asked for a motion to approve the purchase of two books entitled, The Special Needs Planning to be donated to the Flagler and Volusia County Libraries. The cost per book is about $29.95 each. The book is a planning guide geared for families. Member Iren Gallo motioned to purchase two books at $29.95 each to be donated to the Flagler and Volusia County Libraries. Member Susan Tanner second the motion. Motion carried. The order form will be provided to Shirley Bostick at APD to make the purchase.

o Discussion arose on the need to assess if people are checking out the donated books from the libraries. Member Tanner and Rosemary Revoir agreed to go to the Volusia and Flagler Libraries respectively to confirm that (1) books are marked as being donated by the Family Care Council and (2) if the books have been checked out. They will provide a report at the next meeting.

o Chair Pearson distributed resource magazines for members to review and provide recommendations on books, videos, etc. for the Family Care Council to purchase and give to the Flagler and Volusia County libraries. Rosemary Revoir stated that she thought that a book on guardianship should be sought and purchased. Member Irene Gallo stated that members should investigate what resource materials the Family Care Council should purchase and provide recommendations at the next meeting. Members agreed and will provide recommendations at the next scheduled meeting.

Membership:

o The New Family Care Council Membership Training is postponed to next month’s meeting. Members present discussed being able to have the training provided one-on-one if needed. Ed De Bardeleben, APD Area Administrator, will ask Sandra Mills, Area 12 Family Care Council Liaison, to see if this can be arranged.

o Discussion was held on the importance of getting new members. In addition to the newsletters, members discussed placing meeting announcements at the various schools. Member Irene Gallo stated that she will meet with the Flagler County School Board to see about being able to have meeting announcements posted for families.

Budget:

o Chair Pearson presented the Monthly Expenditure Report ending March 31, 2008. The balance of that date was $5,671.73. Based upon anticipated expenditures for the remainder of the fiscal year, ending June 31 2008, the Area 12 Family Care Council will have $1,688.70 remaining in its budget. Chair Pearson stated that Area 12 is doing a better job of spending its money compared to many other area Family Care Councils.

New Business:

o Chair Pearson discussed the importance of family members contacting their elected officials to have their voices heard about their waiting for help to receive funded services. He emphasized the importance of families meeting with elected official face-to-face. Discussion arose on the importance of not only providing personal testimonies, but to provide data to show the growing needs of individuals and families. Members expressed the need to have training on how to talk with their elected officials. Chair Pearson stated that he will contact some individuals that may be able to come and present trainings on ways to communicate to elected officials. Also, Chair Pearson will also talk with the statewide Family Care Council on any available training to share with local members.

o Members talked about having a legislative forum for families to come to talk about their elected official. Various dates were discussed. It was felt that a planning group needed to be formed to provide recommendations to the Family Care Council members on how to best proceed. Mr. De Bardeleben reminded the members of the importance to having the meeting posted to keep within the Sunshine Law. Chair Pearson will form a planning group with members Irene Gallo and Rosemary Revoir to meet and provide recommendations for members to decide on as to the best way to proceed with having a legislative forum.

Agency for Persons with Disabilities Update:

o Mr. De Bardeleben, Area Administrator, gave an update of the legislative session. The session is to end on May 3^rd. He encouraged members to go to the APD web site (specifically, the Home Page to the tab entitled, “In the Spot Light…”) to read the “APD Legislative Digest.” APD provides weekly updates of the legislative session. The April 4, 2008 provides a comparison of the House and Senate Bills and proposed budgets. The House and Senate are to meet in Conference to work out the differences of their respective proposed bills.

o Mr. De Bardeleben also gave a status report on the Area Office conducting its Need Assessments in using the Questionnaire for Situational Information (QSI). He noted that the three Need Assessors hired are on target for the number of assessments they are to do each month. Mr. De Bardeleben also spoke about the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approving the two additional Medicaid Waiver (Tiers) with caps.

Adjournment:

o With no further business, Chair Pearson asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Linda Peterson motioned to adjourn that was seconded by Member Tanner. Motion carried. Meeting ended at 8:30 PM.