Family Care Council

District 12

September 14, 2006

MEMBERS PRESENT:                                            STAFF & GUESTS PRESENT:

 

Ray Sylvestre, Co Vice-chair                                      Ed DeBardeleben, APD

Phil Pearson, Co Vice-chair                                         Shawna Retallack, FCC Secretary

                                                                                    Joan Mannix, ARC Volusia

MEMBERS ABSENT:                                            

 

Edith Kegle, Chair                                                                  

Linda Peterson                                                                                                         

I. ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTIONS:

The meeting was called to order at 3:08 PM. Roll call established a quorum.  It has been previously mentioned in past meetings that secretary Retallack would like to step down from her current position.  Another Easter Seals employee has agreed to take her place.  This individual was supposed to attend today’s meeting.  However, she was too sick to attend and secretary Retallack has prolonged her position and is here in her stead.  The new secretary will be introduced at the October 12th meeting.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

The minutes from the meeting on August 10th, 2006 meeting were reviewed and discussed by members and guests present.  Member Sylvestre made a motion to accept the minutes of the August 10, 2006 meeting as revised.  Motion seconded by member Pearson.  Motion carried. 

III. OLD BUSINESS:

At last month’s meeting Member Pearson proposed a change to the by-laws to add a treasurer position to the Family Care Council Area 12.  Member Pearson and member Sylvestre agree that adding the treasurer position is a good idea and would be helpful to the council.  Member Sylvestre made a motion to create a treasurer position and thereby changing the Family Care Council Area 12 bylaws.  Motion seconded by member Pearson.  Motion carried. 

IV. NEW BUSINESS:

Member Pearson reported that 1600 new FCC Area 12 brochures have been printed using the Area 12 printer, which is located at Member Pearson’s home.  Member Pearson stated that money from the Area 12 budget needs to be allocated for the cost of printing the brochures.  Member Sylvestre made a motion to allocate $650 from the Family Care Council Area 12 budget for expenses to print new Family Care Council Area 12 brochures.  Motion seconded by Member Pearson.  Motion carried.

Member Pearson wants to increase the budget for the FCC Area 12 website in order to add a bulletin board to post comments.  The bulletin board will serve as a consumer report and APD clients will be able to give feedback on providers, etc.  An additional $75 is needed to add the bulletin board.  Ed DeBardeleben and member Sylvestre both agree that a bulletin is a great idea.  Member Sylvestre made a motion to increase Family Care Council Area 12 website budget from $75 to $150 in order to add a bulletin board to the website.  Motion seconded by Member Pearson.  Motion carried.

Member Pearson reported that Chairperson Kegle will attend the Family Care Council Florida meeting in September but she will not stay overnight in a hotel.

V.  APD UPDATE:

Ed DeBardeleben from the APD reports that providers are getting a 2.8% increase.  At the local level this will be completed by November 1st,, 2006 and it will be completed statewide by December 1st, 2006.  The APD is issuing new service agreements with their providers.  The new service agreements include major changes that address the rates of payments.  All providers are currently being contacted and this should be completed by January 1st, 2006.

The APD is collaborating with the Volusia/ Flagler Community Transition team to host Provider Fairs.  School age persons and adults will have the opportunity to have direct contact with providers.  There will be no cost for providers to attend.  Providers will be organized by category and that will determine their location at the Fair.  The APD will send flyers to the 1,400 people on the MedWaiver waiting list.  The flyers will include all 3 dates of the Provider Fairs, which will be included in the FCC Area 12 mail out.    When the flyers are completed they will be delivered to secretary Retallack.  The mail out will also include a letter from Chairperson Kegle, which will also be delivered to secretary Retallack.  The final piece to be included in the mail out is the new FCC 12 brochures.  As mentioned earlier these brochures were printed at member Pearson’s home.  He has the brochures today and they will be locked in the FCC 12 office at Easter Seals until the APD flyer and the letter from chairperson Kegle have been completed.  When all pieces to be included in mail out are received either the current FCC secretary or the new secretary will stuff and seal the envelopes.  When the mail out is completed the APD office will be notified and someone from APD will pick up the envelopes.  At that time the envelopes will be mailed out according to zip code.  Ed reports that public schools are excited about the Provider Fairs.  Member Pearson asked Ed if the APD was going to explain provider services in the flyer.  Ed stated that there are 34 different types of waiver providers and member Pearson would like to know of they can be categorized in order to help persons on the waiting list and their family members understand what services each provider offers.  He provided example categories like behavioral services, employment assistance, respite care, housing assistance, etc.  Ed said that he would mention different types of providers in the flyer in an effort to inform the persons on the waiting list and their families that there will be an abundance of information available to them for their benefit.  He also mentioned that therapy is a covered waiver service and he hopes they will attend the fairs.  Support coordinators are provided with updated lists of certified providers.  At the October meeting Ed will give an update on provider involvement for the Fairs.  A public announcement of the Fairs is possible.  Member Pearson will obtain the specific information for the Fair from Ed so that the information can be available on the FCC Area 12 website.  The APD would like to have provider fairs 4 times per year based on geographic area.  He does recognize the problem of finding a venue large enough to accommodate these events.  The cost to host the fairs is also a factor.  The people on the waiting list can still have access to the 500 service providers in our area and if they wanted to pay out of pocket they could hire these providers for services.

The APD is undergoing a 5 year employment initiative.  Their goal is to have 183 employed by July 2009.  Currently 146 people are employed.  A.R.C. and Vocational Rehabilitation are entering contract to work together to get people employment.  Transportation, education, and benefit planning are still issues regarding supported employment. 

Ed mentioned that a new Service Agreement between FCC Area 12 and Easter Seals needs to be signed.  It was supposed to be signed last month due to the fiscal year ending.  The only difference between the last agreement and the new one is that the internet usage fee has been removed.  The Chairperson must sign the agreement.  Ed also mentioned that the Council needs to consider if they want to keep the office space they rent at Easter Seals.  The agreement is not a contract and can be changed at any time so Ed suggested that they accept the agreement as written.  Changes can be made later if necessary.  Member Pearson made a motion to accept the Service Agreement between Easter Seals and Family Care Council Area 12 as written.  Motion seconded by member Sylvestre.  Motion carried.

 VI. OPEN DISCUSSION:

Member Pearson mentioned that he would like to have guest speakers come to the FCC12 meetings to educate people.  He would post this information on the website in an effort to get higher attendance at the meetings.  Member Pearson would also like to know the A.P.D.’s budget breakdown in regard to overhead.  Ed stated that the state legislature appropriates money to operations, management, compliance, etc.  The legislature has considerably reduced the money given to the A.P.D.  Ed said he would bring more information regarding this at either the October or November meeting.  

During next month’s meeting nominations for new members/titles will need to be made.  The new officers will be voted on at the November meeting.

VII. ADJOURN:

With no further business to come before the Council the meeting adjourned at 4:20 PM.