Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc.
CD/ED Task Force
Meeting Notes

January 23, 2009

Members Present:
Enrique Escallon Judy Owen Michele Polland Jacky Needelman
Jacky Needelman Kathy Henderson Renee Valletutti Selina O’Shannon
Jill McElyea Lillian Sigler Sandra Osborn Susan Gold

Members Absent:
None

Staff Present:
Allison Cruz-Mitchell

I. CALL TO ORDER & WELCOME
Quorum was established and Kathy Henderson called the meeting to order at approximately 10:10 a.m.

II. MINUTES
The 10/15/08, CD/ED Task Force meeting notes and the 11/21/08, conference call notes were reviewed.

MOTION: Jacky Needelman motioned to approve the task force meeting notes from 10/15/08 and the conference call notes from 11/21/08, with the following corrections:
(e.g.: spelling of Renee Valletutti’s name on each of the above referenced meeting notes; on the 10/15/08, remove Jacky Needelman’s name from “members present”, Jacky was absent from the meeting and it is indicated in the “members absent” section; remove the name of Amy Van Bergen from the 10/15/08 meeting notes; from the handwritten notes of Allison Cruz-Mitchell, identify who seconded the motion for approval of task force travel funds, and replace the name in the meeting notes accordingly. [Amy Van Bergen was previously a resource member]). Enrique Escallon seconded the motion. Motion carried.

III. BUDGET REVIEW
Allison Cruz-Mitchell provided an overview of the task force budget. The task force member
had a discussion regarding the funds approved for task force meeting and related activities
travel expenses. Members wanted to ensure sufficient funding was available for such activities.
MOTION: Enrique Escallon motioned to approve $50,000 for travel. Sandy Osborn seconded
the motion. Motion carried.

IV. (Agency for Workforce Innovation)- AWI- Partners in Planning Meeting
Jill McElyea represents CD/ED on the Partners in Planning Meeting. Ms. McElyea reported that over fifty (50) stakeholders from various agencies (e.g.: Department of Education, Early Steps, Department of Health, etc) met to develop an Early Childhood Framework for the future of Florida’s Children. In the First meeting (Fall 2008), the stakeholders identified goals and four categories (e.g.: Healthy Children, Children Ready to Succeed/ECE, Stable and Nurturing Families and Safe and Supported Communities).

At the Second meeting (12/2008), the stakeholders identified indicators to support goal areas. The next meeting is intended to develop strategies to support goal areas. Task force members requested from Ms. McElyea to bring to the task force’s attention strategies that have been identified from this 3rd (or future ) meetings that will bring an opportunity for the task force to collaborate on an initiative that also aligns with the Council’s 5 year state plan.

V. Project Discover- Presentation-
Peggy Mannering and Willa Tyler, project directors, made a presentation on Project Discover. The PowerPoint of this presentation is attached as part of this set of minutes. After the presentation, the task force members discussed with Ms. Mannering and Ms. Tyler, the possibility of funding project Discover for a year 3. Both Ms. Mannering and Ms. Tyler indicated they would prepare a proposal for the task force’s consideration to fund the project an additional year.

They also shared that on Monday, February 23, 2009; a one-day training on the Discovery process will be held in Stuart, Florida, facilitated by: Tonya Green, Special Education Director Jackson County School District, Jackson, Mississippi. The task force members requested for the project monitor, Michele Polland, and Ms. Cruz-Mitchell to attend the training and have met with project staff on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, to discuss the continuation proposal and to build in components to expand the project to other districts while maintaining the stability and sustainability in Martin County.

VI. Legislative Priorities-
Margaret Hooper, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, joined the task force via conference call. Ms. Hooper provided an update on the Child Development/Education public policy issues. Ms. Hooper discussed the following topics, the hand-outs for this discussion are also included as an attachment to this set of minutes.
• ESE Guaranteed Allocation
o Keep the Exceptional Student Education Guaranteed Allocation for the students who need these services to succeed in the classroom.
• John M McKay Scholarship
o Support medically necessary flexible schooling hours for children with disabilities through the McKay Scholarship.
• Safe Guidelines for Restraint of Children and Eliminate Seclusion and Prone Restraint as a Form of Discipline
o The Council strongly supports the development and implementation of statutory authority that will provide for the safety of students with developmental disabilities with simultaneously offering school personnel clear and unambiguous regulations on the use of restraint and seclusion.
• Standards for the Use of Reasonable Force
o Draft of the Rule is attached to this set of minutes. Ms. Hooper reported that the strategy to be used is to deal with physical restraint for students with disabilities separate from the bill on Reasonable Force. Members of the task force agreed.
Relative to the discussion of the legislative priorities, the following questions was asked:
• What does Guaranteed Student Allocation mean for ESE students?
o Funding is set aside for students in categories I, II, & III (Old Matrix Levels- 251-253); Student in categories IV & V (Old Matrix Levels- 254-255) receive other level of funding
VII. Current CD/ED Projects
Members reviewed the following information included in the meeting binder:
• Chart outlining the status of current task force projects.
• Notes and recommended changes to the Special Diploma-
o Task force members requested that at the next task force meeting (4/2009) a discussion be held to identify a sub-group to analyze the notes and prepare comments, in time for public comment period.
• State Plan Update
o State Plan Tracking Form
o State Plan Implementation Chart
• Council Projects Approved at December 08 Council Meeting
o Universal Education- Statement of Work
o Special Education & Advocacy Workshops

• Project Monitors
o You Make a Difference- Jacky Needelman will serve as the project monitor; Enrique Escallon will serve on the advisory committee. Contract manager to work with the advisory committee on the marketing of this event.
o Inclusive Recreation- Selina O’Shannon will serve as the project monitor
o Post Secondary- Jill McElyea will serve as the project monitor; Ms. McElyea and Renee Valletutti will serve on the stakeholder’s group.
o Special Education & Advocacy workshops- Enrique Escallon will serve as project monitor.
o Universal Education Practices- Renee Valletutti will serve as project monitor. Renee Valletutti, Enrique Escallon, and, Lillian Sigler will serve on the advisory committee for this project.

VIII. New Project Ideas
Task force members reviewed and discussed the following concepts presented by Allison Cruz-Mitchell

Concept Overview A: Survey: Children with disabilities in early childhood settings
In 2000-2001 the Children’s Forum conducted a survey of both providers and families. The survey in part provided data on the number of children with disabilities in early childhood settings. The survey from the Children’s forum was provided in your meeting materials for your review.
For the task force consideration
1. Conduct the same survey?
2. Conduct a similar survey?

Options
1. To only gather data- Quotes
2. To gather data and analysis- RFP

Estimated Amount of time required: 12 months

Estimated Amount of Funding: Up to $30,000
The task force members identified a sub-committee to identify the questions on the survey and discuss how to disseminate, collect and analyze the data; sub-committee members include: Judy Owen, Sandy Osborn and Enrique Escallon. Allison Cruz-Mitchell will schedule a sub-committee conference call.
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Concept Overview B:
Early Childhood Development Awareness Forums

Five to Six workshops to be conducted in selected cities throughout the state to:
a) provide families of young children, guardians, and other interested persons with information and written materials concerning early childhood development (e.g.: social emotional, communication, motor development, cognitive);
b) provide information on indicators that a child may need supports and services;
c) provide information of the role and responsibility of the Part C system and the educational system;
d) provide information on opportunities for education in inclusive settings.
e) identify current barriers to successful inclusion in public and private early care and education settings;
f) provide strategies and recommendations on how to address such barriers and effectively advocate for children with disabilities.

The Council would release an RFP to identify a provider to gather and/or develop the training materials, plan, coordinate, and provide the trainings.

Estimated Amount of time required: 12 months

Estimated Amount of Funding: Up to $70,000 (similar level of funding for the current Special Education and Advocacy Workshops)

Task force members indicated that other entities may already be providing similar types of training and/or have training materials developed . It was requested for Allison Cruz-Mitchell to contact National Association for Council’s on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) to inquire of the existence of similar projects with other Council’s.

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Concept Overview C:
Social Emotional Development: Early Childhood Educator Training
Training, technical assistance, resources and supports will provide to early childhood educators and families on working with children with challenging behaviors (in targeted areas in the state). The provider will identify and provide evidenced-based trainings on social emotional development, behavioral intervention and supports for early childhood staff and families.

Technical assistance (including peer mentoring, on-site monitoring and supports, webinars, audio conferences, etc.) will be provided to targeted staff with implementation plans developed to ensure effective intervention.

The Council would release an RFP to identify a provider to gather and/or develop the training materials, plan, coordinate, and provide the trainings.

Estimated Amount of time required: 2-3 year project, funded at 1 yr intervals.

Estimated Amount of Funding: Up to $100,000

Task Force members indicated that there may be other statewide initiatives which are already providing the training and technical assistance to early childhood educators. Mrs. Cruz-Mitchell indicated that she would research for similar statewide initiatives and update the task force on the next conference call.

IX. State Plan Implementation Chart & State Plan Tracking Form
Allison Cruz-Mitchell provided an overview of the status of the State Plan Implementation Chart and its correlation to the State Plan Tracking form to the task force members. According to the state plan implementation chart, as of 1-23-09, CD/ED has begun to address 6 of the 10 state plan objectives.

X. CD/ED Resource Membership- Task force members identified their relative areas of
Interest/Knowledge. It was requested for Ms. Cruz-Mitchell to chart the information to discuss at the spring task force meeting, as current members consider the need for resource member candidates. (Note: The resulting knowledge/ interest chart is attached to this set of minutes). Members identified the following categories as sources for possible resource members; representatives from : Higher Education/Post- Secondary; Developmental Specialist; Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; Division of Juvenile Justice; and, representative from the Florida’s Foster Care System (e.g.: Community Care Based System via Florida Coalition for Children).

XI. Conference Call/Meeting Dates
Interim Conference Call `
The following CD/ED interim conference calls were scheduled all on Friday’s from 1:00pm-
3:00pm: 5/15/09; 8/21/09; 11/6/09.

Next Task Force Meeting
The 2009 CD/ED Task Force meeting were scheduled on Friday’s of the following dates: 4/3/09; 7/10/09; 10/9/09. All meetings will be held at the Marriot Hotel- Tampa Airport from
10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Without further business the meeting adjourned at 4:10 pm.