March 6, 2008 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

March 6, 2008 - Final

PPE Member Present Susan Gold Ronnie Bianco Shirley Kervin Chris Drummond Pam Hinterlong Ann Smith Susan Redmon Kathy Henderson Enrique Escallon Betsy Farmer Marc Tasse	Not Present Ernest Smith Idelio Valdes	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 Phyllis Sloyer Jacquelyn Needelman Judith Owen Bambi Lockman Karmel McCarthy Renee Valetutti Amber Luke Steve Howells Jane Johnson		Others Present Doreen Stewart Patty Hogan

Call to order

Dr. Susan Gold called to order the meeting of the PP&E Committee at 1:10pm and quorum was established. Introductions were made and Dr. Gold welcomed new visitors to the meeting.

Approval of minutes from 12-6-07

The 12-6-07 PPE minutes were reviewed. Christopher Drummond made a motion to approve the minutes, Kathy Henderson seconded the motion; the motion was carried.

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):

· The internal schedule for Obligation and Liquidation of 2008 and 2009 task force funds was reviewed. Fifty- percent (50%) of 2008 task force funds will be required to be obligated by December 2008 Council meeting and the remaining fifty-percent (50%)will be required to be obligated by the March 2009 Council meeting. The 2009 task force funds will follow the same principles for obligation as the 2008 task force funds.

New business

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 rough draft survey developed by staff. The survey was comprised of questions in the following areas:

Mission, Leadership Development, State Plan, System Advocacy, Public Awareness, Operational Process, Evaluation, Fiscal. The committee member recommended the following :

· Draft a questionnaire with 10 questions in a Likert Scale format; use survey monkey to analyze data

· Develop a qualitative questionnaire with 10 questions to elicit input from Council members in a focused discussion during PP&E

· Conduct ongoing assessment by periodically disseminate surveys after Council meetings, task force meetings, new member orientation, website, etc…

· Disseminate a brief survey to new Council members to evaluate New Council member orientation process

A draft self-assessment survey will be presented and discussed at the June 2008 Council meeting.

Task Force Quarterly Report to PP&E

Beginning at the June 2008 Council meeting, one task force will conduct a PowerPoint presentation relative to the work of the task force and its efforts to meet the state plan goals and its initiatives. In its presentation, the corresponding program manager will provide the following information:

· Background of Task Force initiatives (3-5 years)

· Focus of the task force

o State Plan Goals

o Corresponding objectives

· Current Task Force initiatives/projects

· Special Projects (if any)

· Legislative Actions

· Summary of what the Council has accomplished in the last year in relation to the targeted goals

· What has worked well?

· What are the challenges?

The Community Living/Service Coordination (CL/SC) task force will be the first task force to conduct the presentation to PP&E.

Projects:

Community Living/Service Coordination (CL/SC)

Project 1- Guardianship Training

Brief Description: This purpose of this project is to revise the Council’s original two Guardianship training curriculums (one for attorneys and the other for individuals with disabilities and family members), as well as provide four (4) two (2) day trainings to the targeted audiences.

The amount is $ 130,500 of task force funds

Recommendations:

· Collaborate with the Florida Bar to address guardianship training as part of their agenda

· Promote Pro-bono work with attorneys

· Training/curriculum to use People-First language

MOTION:

Kathy Henderson made a motion to approve the project and Christopher Drummond seconded the motion; motion carried.

Project 2- Transportation Feasibility Study

Brief Description:The primary purpose of this project is to develop a comprehensive written feasibility study report that analyzes the transportation industry for individuals with developmental disabilities living in Florida. The study will include 1) identification of the current status of transportation for individuals with disabilities; 2) identification of specific problems related to providing quality reliable transportation services to individuals with disabilities; 3) identification of nationally recognized best practices in providing transportation services for people with disabilities; 4) information on the feasibility of implementing a transportation voucher pilot project in Florida. The study will also include recommendations on additional strategies the Council can undertake to increase and improve the quality and/or quantity of transportation for people with developmental disabilities in Florida.

The amount requested for this project is $84,358 of task force funds

Recommendations:

· Inform the Governors Commission on Disability of this initiative

· Inform the Governors Commission on Disability of the outcomes of this initiative

MOTION:

Kathy Henderson made a motion to approve the project and Christopher Drummond seconded the motion; motion carried.

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 and a planner. Bids were requested from four planners. Two proposals were received and the proposal with the lowest bid was selected. In order to solicit the services of the planner, additional funds are required. Once secured, the planner will 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 $3,255 of task force funds

Recommendations:

Conduct the workshops in 2 Urban areas and 2 Rural areas
Look at other Council initiatives (e.g.: PIT –TA; Consumers and Families Leadership Development Assistance) to promote opportunities to offer additional training opportunities

MOTION:

Ronnie Bianco made a motion to approve the project and Susan Redmond seconded the motion; motion carried.

Health Care/ Prevention

Project 1 – Dental Information/Training

Brief Description: The primary purpose of this project is to develop a comprehensive written feasibility study report that analyzes the transportation industry for individuals with developmental disabilities living in Florida. The study will include 1) identification of the current status of transportation for individuals with disabilities; 2) identification of specific problems related to providing quality reliable transportation services to individuals with disabilities; 3) identification of nationally recognized best practices in providing transportation services for people with disabilities; 4) information on the feasibility of implementing a transportation voucher pilot project in Florida. The study will also include recommendations on additional strategies the Council can undertake to increase and improve the quality and/or quantity of transportation for people with developmental disabilities in Florida.

The requested amount is $70,000 of task force funds

MOTION:

Pam Hinterlong made a motion to approve the project and Christopher Drummond seconded the motion; motion carried.

Projects Approved by Executive Committee

Health Care/ Prevention

Project 1 – APD Waitlist Survey

Brief Description: The Florida Office on Disability and Health proposes to conduct a survey on APD’s clients. The purpose of the survey is to gain a better understanding of the needs of APD’s clients who are waiting to receive services offered through APD. The results of this survey will be presented to legislators during the March 2008, session.

For information purposes only, Debbie Richards informed the committee of the APD Waitlist Survey initiative that was approved 1-28-08, by the Executive Committee. The purpose of this project is to identify what services are needed by individuals on the waiting list. This will assist the APD and FDDC to identify strategies to address critical unmet needs.

Projects Terminated

Antionette Williams, Employment Task Force program manager and Debbie Richards, Healthcare/Prevention program manager reported on respective projects that were terminated.

Employment Task Force

Project 1- Florida County Government Initiative

Project Description

The purpose of this project was to utilize and build on the research and findings of previous programs that initiated the employment of persons with developmental disabilities in the State of Florida. The project was to use this existing research to develop an action plan and assist the Council in building opportunities for the employment of persons with development disabilities.

Phase 1 utilize research, identified barriers, best practices and other information gathered through other projects and initiative to determine what course of action would be most effect to make access easier for individual with DD to become employment by county govern in Florida

Phase 2 Focus on the understanding of how county government work (ie. Hiring practices, requirements, vacancies)

Phase 3 indentify which county positions are vacant and the placement of individuals with developmental disabilities in these positions.

Project Termination Justification:

The Provider completed phase 1 & 2 of the contract. However, due to limitations such as legislative cuts which evolved in governmental hiring freezes prevented the hiring of individuals for vacant governmental positions. Given the Provider was unable produce the final project outcome, the Employment Task Force voted to terminate the contract.

What was learned?

Expect the unexpected. As best as possible identify possible factors that may hinder the project outcome and try to head them off by means of creative and innovative ideas.

Project 2- Employment Awareness Video

Project Description

This purpose of this project was to encompass the creation of two professional multimedia applications to dispel myths and stereo-types of hiring people with disabilities.

Project Termination Justification:

The provider had limited understanding of the project concept and lack of experience in the area of developmental disabilities. The Provider produced a rough cut that was not acceptable in quality and content. Therefore, the Taskforce voted to terminate the contract.

What was learned?

Be sure that the Provider has a clear technical understanding of the project. Be sure the Provider has sufficient amount of background experience in developmental disabilities. Depending on the level of background experience, perhaps consider soliciting the expertise of a developmental disabilities consultant to assist during the onset of the project.

Healthcare/Prevention

Project 1- Psychoactive medication project

Project Description

The purpose of this project was to develop a model for nurse case management that could improve quality of life outcomes for individuals with DD taking psychotropic medication.

Project Termination Justification

Problems enrolling participation due to consent issues, multiple problems recruiting staff as outlined in the proposal, and the original hypothesis was flawed in that the individuals enrolled were obtaining medication prescriptions primarily through psychiatrists. Obtaining data on information on prescribed medication became problematic too after Medicare-Part D was established and data runs could not identify all of the medication being prescribed for individuals who were dual eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. As such, the task force voted to terminate the project.

What was learned?

There was a lack of establishing a large enough network to develop the project - including not having experts from the state mental health office involved.

Adjournment

Pam Hinterlong made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Kathy Henderson seconded the motion. With no further business, the committee meeting adjourned at 3:05p