April 18, 2005

NYSRA ReSource

For Perspective and Analysis

The Source of information for providers of community-based services for people of differing abilities.

Final Budget is in Hand!

During the late evening hours last Tuesday night, the Legislature and Governor passed the final pieces of the $106.5 billion 2005-2006 State budget. Despite the Governor’s earlier protestations, the final budget deal spent more than $1 billion more than the Executive Budget – a number that the Governor had claimed the state could not sustain. In the end the Legislature faced the Governor down and rather than issue a stack of vetoes – which likely would have been overridden by the Legislature – the Governor made a deal with legislative leaders.

The revised budget includes about half of the Governor’s proposed $1 billion in Medicaid savings. Leaders agreed to a preferred drug list that is expected to save Medicaid about $200 million per year when fully implemented, an increase in the tax on nursing homes, ties Family Health Plus benefits to the benefit package provided to state workers and creates a commission to study hospital and nursing home closures.

Something that we will continue to watch is the plan for the state to absorb the entire local share of costs for Medicaid from the counties by 2008 in return for the counties surrendering their share of the local sales tax. This issue will continue to evolve and we will keep you informed.

On behalf of NYSRA and its membership we worked with Legislators and staff on a number of important issues. One of the many changes suggested by the Governor in his Executive Budget was moving the Welfare to Work program from the Department of Labor (DOL) to the Office of Temporary Disability Services. While we originally opposed this move we were able to get language in the budget that ensures program continuity and integrity as well as protecting existing contracts.

We also worked with DOL and the Legislature regarding the proposal to move VESID to the DOL. We opposed the move at this time. The Legislature ultimately rejected the Governor’s proposal.

NYSRA also opposed the proposal to move Intensive Supported Employment from VESID to OMRDD because of the potential for the state to lose the ability to leverage full federal 110 funding. This proposal was also rejected by the Legislature and was not enacted as part of the budget.

Funding to OMRDD is unchanged however initiatives around state aid savings in sheltered employment funding and cuts to Day Hab will move forward with NYSRA at the table with OMRDD and other trade groups advising and shaping the process. NYSRA also has information on the next steps for the process design under the work of the OMRDD Health Insurance Task Force.

A Final Budget Analysis document will be out next week to all members. These issues as well as new legislative and regulatory ones will be ongoing discussion for the Policy Divisions of NYSRA. As member agencies of NYSRA you have the ability to be INVOLVED in how this process works. Please participate in the policy process by having representation at the Divisions. The calendar is on our website www.nyrehab.org or you can e-mail Pat Dowse at pat@nyrehab.org for more information.

News from State Agencies/ NYSRA Advocacy

HUD 2005 “Super” NOFA

The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has recently announced the FFY 2005 “Super” Notice of Funding Availability (SuperNOFA), which included more than 30 housing program funding opportunities. For more detailed information, interested agencies should go to www.hud.gov, click HUD highlights, then click the statement that begins with “Jackson unveils $2.26 billion...”

This year, the process for applying for most HUD funds has changed considerably. Accordingly, we are providing a two-part notice to all providers that are interested in applying for a grant. This e-mail is the first step. A later e-mail or memorandum will provide guidance on the documentation and process to obtain the required letter of support from OMRDD for projects serving persons with developmental disabilities.

You should know that HUD is mandating that all applications be submitted electronically this year. In order to apply electronically, applicants must first complete a detailed registration process at http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted. The first-time registration process appears to be somewhat time-consuming, so agencies should get as early a start as possible.

We recommend provider agencies contact either the HUD NYC Office (Peggy Sheehan (212) 264-0777 extension 7723) or the HUD Buffalo Office (Tammy Bunnell (716) 551-5755 extension 5524) for more information.

Applications for the Section 811 Housing Program for Persons with Disabilities are due to HUD in electronic format by Tuesday May 24, 2005. The due date for applications for Section 202 Housing for the Elderly is Tuesday May 31, 2005.

As noted above, additional information and guidance regarding the OMRDD process will be available in upcoming days.

Senator Pat McGee Passes Away

State Senator Patricia McGee, who represented western New York’s largely rural 57th Senate District, died on April 2, 2005. She was 70.

Senate officials said McGee had been ill for several months with pneumonia and related conditions. Buffalo TV station WIVB reported the Senator had a rapidly progressing form of pulmonary fibrosis, a scarring of the lung tissue.

Governor George Pataki said McGee served her constituents with “honor and distinction.”

“Pat fought for the things she believed in,” said Pataki, who served with McGee in the state Assembly. “She will be remembered for her leadership on women’s issues, her strong support of higher education, and her tireless advocacy on behalf of New York’s farmers and rural communities.”

Our condolences to Senator McGee and her family.

Announcements/Opportunities

18^th Annual Workforce New York Spring Conference

The 18^th Annual Workforce New York Spring Conference will take place in Saratoga Springs, NY from May 25-26, 2005. Sponsored by the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals and the New York State Department of Labor and co-sponsored by State University of New York Center for Academic and Workforce Development, this conference will examine how workforce boards, one-stop partners, educators, training and service providers, business leaders, and community organizations can align their efforts to support the effective delivery of services to strengthen communities.

For further information, go to www.nyatep.org/springconf2005.asp.

Everyday Heroes Learning Initiative

The DDPC is announcing the availability of funding to support six community-based organizations, at approximately $20,000 per year, for each of two years, to establish an Everyday Heroes Learning Initiative. The intent of this Learning Initiative is to fully incorporate within an organization’s service culture the implementation of best practices for inclusion by their direct support professionals, and then to mentor other organizations regionally on adopting the Everyday Heroes inclusion model.

The RFP has been posted to the DDPC website at www.ddpc.state.ny.us. Additional information on Everyday Heroes may be obtained by going to the OMRDD website at www.omr.state.ny.us or contacting Denise Pensky at denise.pensky@omr.state.ny.us.

Notice of Funding Availability – New York State Funds

Program Description: Access to Home

The Housing Trust Fund Corporation announces the availability of funding for the Access to Home program. The Access to Home program will provide up to $10 million to not-for-profit organizations to administer local programs to make the homes and apartments of low and moderate income New Yorkers with disabilities more Accessible. The application deadline is Monday, May 2, 2005. For more information, please go to www.dhcr.state.ny.us.

Volunteer Opportunities for Adults and Children with Disabilities

The Executive Director of the Jamaica Bay Watershed Alliance, Mike Steffens has announced that they have extremely successful programs available for adults and children with disabilities to become involved with in Brooklyn, Queens and a part of Nassau County. These programs are a part of the Keep America Beautiful program that he coordinates. Several options are available for an organization to participate. They supply all the materials needed for each of the programs.

Program 1: Gateway Greenhouse

Joint operators of a community greenhouse located on Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, right over the Gil Hodges Bridge, growing thousands of trees that are given to the community when they grow large enough. The facility consists of a greenhouse, 3 acre nursery, classrooms, cafeteria and bathrooms in a heated building. There are also picnic grounds available as well as nature trails to add a recreational aspect to the program. In this program there are two options

A. An occasional visit scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance. Participants will participate in an activity that is skill appropriate to the level of physical and mental capacity. Minimal supervision is provided to encourage participants to develop a strong sense of accomplishment although our staff is nearby to handle questions as needed.

B. An ongoing visit to the site (usually 1 or 2 times a week) year round, where people will again participate in an appropriate activity.

Program 2: Natural Area Clean Ups
Available March to November

Participants meet Program staff at a nearby public area (beach or park) and conduct a clean up. This can be done on an occasional basis or on a weekly basis. Cleanup are usually conducted using litter grabbers not the old poke poles.

Program 3: Ongoing Community Clean Up
Available March to November

The program provides the agency participating with rolling trash cans,bags, gloves, brooms and lobby pans (dust pans with long handles). Each group selects a short route in the immediate area of the facility and participants walk that route cleaning up any trash they encounter and drop the full bags on designated street corners. This program has flexibility being time and weather flexible and can be done on a daily, weekly or other schedule.

Mr. Steffens can be reached at (646) 256-1941 to discuss the programs further. Tours are available.

Job Opportunities

Director of Administrative Services is sought for Community Services, a strong & growing non-profit agency. Provides leadership, management & direction to the agency’s administrative services including Human Resources, Community Relations, Facility Management, Purchasing, MIS &Transportation. Experience in Human Resource Management preferred. Qualified candidates will have a Master’s Degree & 5 yrs of experience including 1 yr of supervisory experience OR Bachelor’s Degree & 7 yrs of experience including 1 yr supervisory experience. Essential skills include leadership, organization, management & interpersonal skills. Excellent benefits including 401K. $45,011/yr.

Please send resume to:

Patricia Judge, CSDD, 452 Delaware Avenue

Buffalo 14202

www.csdd.info

EOE/Drug Free/Valuing Differences

NYSRA and RRTI Calendar

April 19–20

RRCEP II Seminar, Orientation to Supported Employment, Albany

April 20

RRTI Seminar, Consumer Funds Seminar with DDAWNY, Buffalo

April 26

Deaf/HOH Division Meeting, Albany

April 27

OPTS conference call, 3:00pm - 4:30pm

April 27

Workcenter Services Committee Meeting, Albany (AM)

Community Employment Committee Meeting, Albany(PM)

April 28

RRTI Seminar, Nuts & Bolts of Transition Services, Southern Tier

May 3

RRTI Seminar, Implementing Creative Practices to Meet the Employment Challenges of Individuals who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Hard of Hearing of Late Deafened, Albany

May 4

RRTI Seminar, Nuts & Bolts of Transition Services, NYC

DD Division Meeting, Albany

May 5

RRTI Seminar, Marketing & Funding Transition Services, Albany

May 6

Fingerprint Law Conference Call, 1:00pm

May 12

NYSRA Board Meeting, Albany

May 16

VOC Division Meeting, Manhattan VESID

May 18–19

Vision Rehabilitation and Employment Institute 2005

May 24–25

RRCEP II Seminar, Job Coach I, Albany

May 26th

MH Division

June 7

Executive Management Institute, Saratoga Springs

RRTI Board Meeting, Saratoga Springs

June 8

Executive Management Institute, Saratoga Springs

NYSRA Board Meeting, Saratoga Springs

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
”LEADERSHIP IN ACTION”

JUNE 7-8, 2005

Gideon Putnam Hotel, Saratoga Springs

NYSRA, in cooperation with NYSID, is proud to present an intensive management institute for CEOs and their senior management teams.

Day 1: Non-Profit Stewardship: A Better Way to Lead Your Mission-Based Organization

Day 2: Federal and State Medicaid Reform Initiatives featuring Al Kaplan, DOB,

Jeff Crowley, Georgetown University and other leading Medicaid experts!

Make your hotel reservations today at the Gideon Putnam!

Call (518) 584-3000 or 1-800-732-1560

Single Package Rate: $194

Double Package Rate: $240 for two people

Reservation Cut-Off Date: May 14, 2005