December 6, 2007 Minutes

FLORIDA DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COUNCIL, INC.

124 Marriott Drive, Suite 203, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-2981

(850) 488-4180, FAX (850) 922-6702, TDD (888) 488-8633

PPE COMMITTEE MEETING NOTES- Final

December 6, 2007

PPE Member Present Susan Gold Ronnie Bianco Shirley Kervin Chris Drummond Pam Hinterlong Ann Smith Susan Redmon Kathy Henderson Idelio Valdes Ernest Smith Enrique Escallon	Not Present Marc Tasse Betsy Farmer	Staff Present Debra Dowds Lisa Taylor Allison Cruz-Mitchell Latarsha Williams Adam Miller Mandy Pinkston Cindy Tan Dennie Hill Antoinette Williams Debra Richards Shanette Peters
Visiting Council Members Casey Stewart Jacky Needelman Phyllis Sloyer Karyn Kander Judith Owen		Others Present Doreen Stewart

Karmel McCarthy

Renee Valetutti

Amber Luke

Judith Owen

I. Call to order

Dr. Susan Gold called to order the meeting of the PP&E Committee at 12:10pm and quorum was established. Introductions were made and Dr. Gold welcomed new Council members to the meeting.

II. Approval of minutes from 9-20-07

The 9-20-07 PPE minutes were reviewed. Kathy Henderson made a motion to approve the minutes, Christopher Drummond seconded the motion; the motion was carried.

III. FINANCE REPORT – Lisa Taylor, CPA, CFO

Lisa Taylor gave a brief description of the budget, Finance and Budget Ad Hoc committee action items.

The following are some of the action items pertinent to PP&E (Additional information is available in the Finance Committee meeting minutes):

Recommendations from the Budget Ad-Hoc Committee:

1. Amend the 2008 budget by abolishing the 2008 Line Item Budgets ($505,000); $140,000 will be transferred into Leadership Committee for the following:

a. Youth Leadership Forum ($40,000)

b. Training Conference RFP-100 ($50,000)

c. Family/Consumer Leadership Development Funds ($50,000)

The balance of the funds ($365,000) will be divided equally among the 4 task forces. Each task force will receive $91,250

2. Eliminate Unmet Needs in a staged process by creating a Programmatic Reserve (beginning with the 2009 budget) in an amount equal to 5% of the total grant award.

Finance Committee:

The Task Forces are behind schedule in obligating 2007 funds. Federal obligation deadline is September 30, 2008. Internal guideline was August 2007. The Task Forces have been granted an extension of time to obligate 2007 funds to (no later than) June 2008. The Task Force s must bring a plan to obligate 2007 funds to the Finance Committee in March 2008.

IV. New business

Overview of PP&E

New members were appointed to the Council in late November 2007. Dr. Gold provided an overview of the role of PP&E and review the responsibilities of the committee as stated in the Council’s by-laws.

Review of Projects

Dr. Gold informed the committee members of how the committee has historically reviewed new projects and engaged the members in a discussion centered around:

“Should we change PP&E’s current methodology of focusing the review of projects based on the content (and duplicating the efforts of the task forces) to a methodology of reviewing projects strategically in how the overall initiatives of the Council are helping to address the state plan.” The committee members considered whether it would be beneficial to contract with a facilitator and a program evaluator to engage in the following activities: Facilitator

· Review State Plan and review previous and current projects under the current state plan

· Outline how the Council is currently targeting each goal and objective (linking projects to state plan goals)

· Outline how the projects link to the federal mandate (advocacy, capacity building and systems change)

· Recommendations on how the Council could strategically plan to move the state plan forward and meet the federal mandate.

Program Evaluator

· Review the report and recommendations from the facilitator

· Identify how the Council can “realistically” evaluate projects

· Identify core components of project evaluation

· Identify components to evaluate different types of projects (research study, conference, training, demonstration pilot project, etc.)

· Indicate how grantees /providers can evaluate their project

· Should the grantee/provider evaluate their project or should it be an independent evaluation, or a combination of both?

The Council’s Annual Self-Evaluation

The By-Laws indicate that the Council will participate in a self-evaluation annually. In order to engage in such an activity, the PP&E members reviewed a survey from NACDD (National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities)as a proto-type; the survey provided both a quantitative and qualitative evaluation. The survey format contained a likert scale and open ended questions.

The members discussed having the survey available in the following formats: hard copy, electronically, and possibly available on line. A rough draft of the survey will be drafted by staff and presented to PP&E at 3/08 meeting. It is anticipated that the survey will be disseminated in 9/08.

Focus Group Report

Background: The Developmental Disabilities Act of 2000 requires state councils to develop a process for identifying and reporting progress achieved through advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities in the areas of emphasis (Consumer Satisfaction Framework and Protocol for State Councils, 2007). The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC or the Council) chose as part of its process to use a focus group format to obtain stakeholder input to determine the Council’s systemic impact. Three focus groups were held between September 2007, and November 2007, to obtain input from stakeholders representing self-advocacy organizations, state advocacy organizations, provider organizations, state agencies, individuals with developmental disabilities, and family members.

The Committee reviewed the draft Focus Group Report. The highlights of the report were discussed including the areas of strengths and areas for improvement. Below is an excerpt from the report:

“IV. Highlights of Findings

A. Strengths

FDDC is very strong in its ability to positively impact the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families through their advocacy and legislative activities. Stakeholders in all three groups expressed a strong awareness of these activities and encouraged FDDC to continue to use these avenues for the benefit of individuals and families. They also encouraged FDDC to use individuals and families at a grassroots level to increase advocacy for the purpose of capacity building and systemic change. Graduates of the Partners in Policymaking Program requested more involvement and follow-up from the FDDC to be an active partner in these activities.

FDDC also has strength in its structure of taskforces that facilitates full life service development. Its ability to structure pilot projects and provide seed money is valuable in bringing innovative, cutting-edge programs to the state.

The Council is family-driven; as stated by one stakeholder,” I can’t think of any other organization that is more family driven in Florida than this Council.”

Finally, all three groups felt strongly that FDDC programs and projects promote self-determination and community participation for individuals with developmental disabilities. Even though some stakeholders were not aware that some programs of which they were taking advantage were Council sponsored, but once made aware, they strongly agreed that Council programs emphasize self-determination. One stakeholder stated, “There are no Council projects that don’t do that!”

B. Areas for Improvement

It became apparent that FDDC is the “best kept secret in the state” and needs to work on increasing its exposure to individuals and families at the regional and local levels. This was an opinion expressed in all three groups by internal and external stakeholders. The individuals and family members who have become aware of FDDC and have benefited from its programs stated that they want others to know about the availability of the programs and want them to know earlier, rather than later, in life.

A second area for consideration is how to communicate clear messages to legislators and policymakers. Questions were raised in Group A about what the messages should be and how to communicate so messages will be heard, understood, and taken into consideration when making legislative and policy decisions. It was also recommended that this should be considered when marketing to the community at large as well.

Both internal and external stakeholders recognized that FDDC works on the sustainability of projects; however, they encouraged the Council to increase its efforts in this area and to enlist the assistance of grassroots advocacy groups, individuals, and families for this purpose. It was the opinion of several stakeholders that so many of the projects sponsored by the FDDC are innovative and can make lasting systemic change if they are able to be sustained. However, true sustainability must be addressed from the beginning of the projects, with the support of communities at the regional and local levels.

Finally, all of the groups recognized a need to increase outreach and services to traditionally unserved and underserved populations. Group C expressed concern over a lack of FDDC presence in smaller counties throughout the state. They suggested the Council target organizations from smaller counties as participants or, possibly, as lead agencies in the pilot projects sponsored by the Council. The Council members recognized this an area with which it struggles and agreed that emphasis must be placed upon it in the coming year as projects are planned and outreach is made into the community.”

V. Projects:

Child Development and Education (CD/ED)

Project 1 – Planner for IDEA Workshops

Brief Description: The Council previously approved 4-5 IDEA workshops to be conducted in 2008 across the state. A planner will be needed to coordinate logistics of all workshops, including, but not limited to: arranging sites, negotiating contracts with applicable vendors, marketing the events, registration process for the events, registration confirmations, surveying individuals to obtain accommodations and/or modifications needed to participate in the workshops, ordering books and materials, etc. The planner will also work with the advisory committee to establish partnerships in the local community.

The requested amount is $10,000 of task force funds

MOTION:

Enrique Escallon made a motion to approve the project and Idelio Valdes seconded the motion; motion carried.

Health Care

Project 1 – Florida Office on Disability (FDOH) and Health Strategic Planning Meeting

Brief Description: The funding would allow FDOH to augment the existing CDC funding to allow an additional forty people to attend the meeting to gather input and recommendations from partners and other stakeholders on a draft strategic plan on addressing disability and health issues.

The requested amount is $7,545.60.

MOTION:

Pam Hinterlong made a motion to approve the project with the noted stipulations, Christopher Drummond seconded the motion; motion carried.

STIPULATIONS:

1. A specific number of slots to be set aside for DD Council and task force members to participate in the meeting.

2. Acknowledge Council on materials and include the DD logo.

Special Projects

Project 1 – Consumers & Families Leadership Development Assistance

Brief Description: This project focuses on providing financial assistance to individuals with developmental disabilities and family members to attend conferences, training opportunities, meetings, forums, and information sessions to enable them to become better self-advocates and enhance their quality of life through improved knowledge of many aspects of the disability system.

The requested amount is $50,000

MOTION:

Enrique Escallon made a motion to approve the project with the noted recommendations, Idelio Valdes seconded the motion; motion carried.

Special Projects

Project 2 – Florida Asset Development Project

Brief Description: The funding would allow for the continuation of the Florida Asset Development Projects. The project will include, but not be limited to:

· Provide technical assistance to the 4 communities selected in Yr2 to hold local Asset models

· Facilitate bi-monthly meetings with the Asset Development Steering Committee

· Provide information and back up support to the State Asset Development Workgroup

· Develop a methodology for selecting two local communities interested in replicating the local Asset Summit model and provide technical assistance to these sites.

The requested amount is $50,000

MOTION:

Idelio Valdes made a motion to approve the project; Christopher Drummond seconded the motion; motion carried.

State Plan Tracking Form

Allison Cruz-Mitchell provided an update state plan tracking form for the committee’s review.

VI. Adjournment

Christopher Drummondmade the motion to adjourn the meeting. Idelio Valdes seconded themotion. With no further business, the committee meeting adjourned at 2:50pm.