DHR Budget Requests

Senator Jack Hill - (R-Reidsville) sends out by email his thoughts on the upcoming conversation on Georgia's state budget. His most recent email covered the funding for disability services come under the Departments of Community Health and Human Resources. I thought you might like to see it...I've highlighted his comments on our issue. You can email him your thoughts at jack.hill@senate.ga.gov.

The FY2008 budget cycle is in full swing with the Senate beginning to look at what agencies are recommending. Senator Hill comments on Olmstead and Unlock in today's release.

December 29, 2006
Agencies Submit Budget Requests
This week we will review the formal requests and offline requests from the Department of Human Resources within the scope of the Senate Human Development Subcommittee of Appropriations, Chaired by Senator Renee Unterman.

Department of Human Resources (DHR) - FY 2008 Budget Requests
The Department of Human Resources, with over twenty thousand employees, is responsible for the delivery of many critical health and social services throughout our state. Investigating abuse allegations, assisting needy families, providing mental health services, and monitoring health epidemics are a few of the many services that this agency provides. The total FY2007 budget request for the Department of Human Resources is $3,065,066,483 ($1,403,343,099 state general funds).

DHR - Division of Family and Children Services
The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) goals are to investigate possible child abuse and locate foster homes for abused and neglected children. DHR is requesting $1.3 million in federal funds to expand their "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" program. Many times it is beneficial for a grandparent to take care of a child if the parent cannot. This will allow financial support and services to aid that care.

Another item that will impact DFCS in the coming years is the settlement agreement reached in the lawsuit Kenny A. vs. Perdue. This case involved Children's Right's Inc., a child advocacy group, who filed suit in June of 2002 charging that DFCS in DeKalb and Fulton Counties were overburdened and in crisis. A settlement agreement was reached in July of 2005 that would require caseload limits, foster care payment increases, and a reform of the placement process of foster children.

DHR-Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases
The Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases (MHDDAD) provides treatment and support services to people with mental illnesses and addictive diseases. Support services are also provided to people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities.

The Supreme Court decision, Olmstead v. L.C. ruled that unnecessary segregation of individuals with disabilities in institutions may constitute discrimination based on disability. The Supreme Court also ordered the state to look at community based services rather than institutional placements for individual with disabilities. To comply with the Olmstead decision, MHDDAD is seeking to expand the availability for community service placements. Last year, the General Assembly expanded access by 1500 slots. The division wants to further this expansion by at least 1000 slots in FY2008.

DHR is also responsible for the care of those in the criminal justice system who need screening and treatment for mental health issues. Local sheriffs are currently obligated to drive these prisoners to the nearest DHR facility for intake and evaluation. This is very burdensome for those sheriffs located far from a DHR facility. DHR is proposing a pilot so that evaluations can be done via video conferencing. If successful, it can be expanded statewide. This pilot program will cost about $100,000.

DHR- Division of Aging Services and Division of Public Health
The Division of Aging Services in DHR seeks to support and assist Georgia's senior citizens. In the FY2008 budget, the Department will seek to serve an additional 500 elderly clients through its Community Care Services Program (CCSP). CCSP provides services that will keep these elderly clients out of nursing homes and in the community as long as possible.

The Division of Public Health is responsible for monitoring and preserving the health status of Georgians. The Division is asking for approximately $15 million state dollars to purchase 1 million flu shots to prevent an influenza outbreak. DHR is also requesting that the new cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, be put on the vaccine formulary for 11 year old girls. To cover the cost of immunizing children who cannot afford this costly vaccine (approximately $300/child) DHR is asking for $4.3 million.

Students with Developmental Disabilities want to work when High School Ends...

The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is over 70%, and yet when asked people with developmental disabilities want to work. made that that case today. Laura Diamond's "Students STRIVE to join workforce" in the AJC today made that case...

But Bonita Phillips, the cafeteria manager at Radloff Middle, said she was worried at first that students wouldn't work out. "I wondered if they would really be able to do this job and whether I would have to spend too much time supervising them," Phillips said. "But then after watching them work, I realized how ridiculous my worries were..."They can do the job. They are dependable, hard-working and they want to do the job. They're everything an employer wants in an employee."

There are over 700 students graduating each year that need the kind of help that Chip Underwood has offered these ladies so that they can be as successful. Without this help, many young adults with developmental disabilities will sit at home watching television instead of living out their dreams to contribute.

Go to the Unlock the Waiting Lists website to see what you can do to help.

Republicans may shun aggressive legislative agenda

DOUG GROSS with the Associated Press wrote an interesting piece that quoted Rep. Ben Harbin (R-Martinez) as saying that "it'll be a real quiet session, but that's so tough to predict. There will probably not be an overly aggressive package this first year, but we will begin laying out our long-term vision and taking the initial steps that will get us to where we feel like we need to be."

See the complete article in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

Announcing the new 2007 Employment Workshop Series

Announcing the new 2007 Employment Workshop Series

Employment in Your Community: Effective Tools, Collaboration, and Outcomes for People with Disabilities

Sponsored by Employment First Georgia (EFG)

Employment First Georgia is a newly established, statewide technical assistance, training, and consulting center, promoting innovative customized employment practice. EFG is supported by a collaborative of state and federal agencies, including start-up funds from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Attend all four workshops in the series, and receive technical assistance and consultation as an extra bonus ! (please register early as there is limited availability.)

Mark your calendar! The 1st seminar in the series...

Employment for People with Disabilities Best Practices to Career Success

Seating is limited. For more information and registration, see the Employment First Registration Form to register.

The same story in Virginia...families face horrible choices for their loved ones.

In Georgia, we have over 700 students leaving high school, 6,441 people waiting for help, and over 17,000 individuals with developmental disabilities living with caregivers over the age of 60. Last year we celebrated the largest increase in home and community based supports for people with disabilities in the history of our state. We are both making progress and have a long way to go. In July 2006, the waiting list was 7,100 people - as of November 2006 it was 6,441! Yes, our service system is experience the pains of getting stronger - but lets make sure Georgia continues moving in the right direction! Help us, go to www.unlockthewaitinglists.com.

A Painful Choice Over the Mentally Disabled
Dearth of Group Homes Leads Dozens Of Families in Northern Va. to Send Their Loved Ones Far Away for Care

It was a decision that Peggy Kube thought she would never have to make: Her brother, Terry Leatch, a 50-year-old with severe mental retardation, needed a new group home with more supervision. He wanted to stay near his sister because their parents, who doted on him for years, were dead.

But there was no place for him near her Spotsylvania County home -- not in Fairfax, not in Loudoun, not in Prince William. So she did the once unthinkable and had him moved 200 miles from his sister "Peg" to a group home outside Lynchburg, Va...Nearly 1,400 Northern Virginians with mental disabilities get a Medicaid-funded waiver to receive services -- largely group home beds -- in the community in lieu of being placed in institutions. But because of funding shortages, nearly as many are on years-long waiting lists to receive this community care, which is cheaper than placing the mentally disabled in the large facilities downstate.

Jim Wooten writes piece in support of vouchers for students with disabilities

This opinion piece alludes to a number of the important questions this bill forces.
Will this approach:

• deplete resources from public education?
• only be a win for public schools, who no longer have to "deal" with students with disabilities?
• offer real opportunities for meaningful inclusion in private schools, or will private schools be unequipped or unwilling to offer the supports needed for inclusion of students with disabilities? Will enough money be transferred with the child so that real inclusion can be supported
• encourage funding to move from public schools where protections under IDEA applies to segregated school settings where there are less protections for students and their parents? (see: And the program “shall not be construed to expand the regulatory authority of the state, its officers, or any public school system to impose any additional regulation of nonpublic schools beyond those reasonably necessary to enforcement of the requirements of this article.”)

This bill is a great opportunity to educate legislators on what you expect for your children in school and why it is so important to prepare them for employment and a meaningful, autonomous adult life...

By Jim Wooten Saturday, December 16, 2006, 07:02 PM
Click here for the full article in the AJC

The most important education reform bill proposed here in decades, one that would give scholarships to special-needs children, has been introduced by state Sen. Eric Johnson of Savannah, the Senate’s President Pro Tem — a position second in power to the lieutenant governor.

Watch for the defenders of the status quo, the more-money it’s-not-our-fault crowd that resists anything that doesn’t boil down to more revenues and less accountability, to rise up in an effort to smite down this reform-minded heretic and his mold-shattering legislation.

Truth is, in the world of education reform, Johnson’s Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act is not revolutionary. It is, in fact, downright mainstream. Florida does it, and has for six years. The number of students with disabilities whose parents opt for the scholarship that allows them to buy education services from any private school has grown from 970 to 17,300...

...As it exists in Florida, the John M. McKay scholarship program offers parents of children with a disability who are enrolled in public schools the opportunity to transfer to another public school, or to get scholarship aid to enroll in a private school. The scholarships range from $4,800 to $20,700. Parents love it.

Qualifying students in Georgia, according to the legislation, are those who suffer one or more defined disabilities, who spent the prior year in one of the state’s public schools, and who are required by state and federal law to have had an Individualized Education Program (IEP) written for them. That’s 186,272 students.

As proposed by Johnson, the maximum scholarship would be a sum equal to the state and federal money spent on them in public school. That sum — and not any locally generated revenues — would be granted to parents to buy from the private sector the education services they wanted for their child. The sum could be less, since parents could get no more than an eligible school’s tuition and fees.

Johnson has built in some important principles. The money goes to parents, not private schools. Parents designate where they want the money sent. Another important consideration is that no private school is required to admit anybody. And the program “shall not be construed to expand the regulatory authority of the state, its officers, or any public school system to impose any additional regulation of nonpublic schools beyond those reasonably necessary to enforcement of the requirements of this article.”

The early indication is that opposition will come from the education workplace unions and from the organizations that represent superintendents and school boards, as well as traditional voucher opponents, Johnson said last week. Supporters will be free-market conservatives and parents of special-needs children, who in Florida have overwhelmingly expressed their satisfaction with the McKay scholarships.

Some school officials are likely to object because most of the money being spent on a special-needs child will move with him to the private school. The local system should come out ahead, however, because it’s being freed of the obligation to serve a child with special needs, and class sizes should drop as a result. The systems keep their local money, plus the funds that would be spent to transport the children with disabilities...

...Some groups, like the education workplace unions, are just flat-out opposed to anything that smacks of vouchers. But “the dirty little secret is that we already have vouchers,” said Johnson. The HOPE scholarship is a voucher program. So too is the pre-k program, which sends public money to private pre-kindergarten programs.

Johnson said his bill “does not attempt to blame teachers, administrators or parents. It simply says that parents of special-needs children can choose the school that their children will attend. If they believe their needs are being fulfilled in public school, they are free to stay.” But if not they would have the option to go. Who could possibly object to giving parents that choice?

Governor Perdue Reaffirms Call for Tax Cut on Retirement Income

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that his 2007 legislative package will include eliminating state income tax on retirement income, a promise he made to Georgians while on the campaign trail this fall.

“I’m proud of the fact that we ran on a platform limited to promises that we could keep and that would have a positive impact on our economy for the future,” Governor Perdue said to attendees at today’s annual state Economic Outlook Luncheon. “We will keep our promise to eliminate taxes on senior citizens. This will prove to be a positive factor in Georgia’s long-term vitality.”

The tax cut will completely eliminate state income tax on retirement income, such as pensions or certain interest income, for Georgians 65 and older. This $142 million a year in tax relief will add to the more than $2 billion in tax relief that Governor Perdue has delivered since taking office in 2003.

Because of Governor Perdue’s tax relief, Georgia taxpayers currently have one of the lowest state tax burdens in the nation. Based on 2005 data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia has the 9th lowest per capita tax burden of any state in the nation – an improvement from 13th when Governor Perdue took office. This positive business environment has resulted in Georgia having one of the best economic outlooks in the nation.

For Immediate Release Contact: Office of Communications
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Sonny Perdue
GOVERNOR

Changing hearts, one at a time

Gracie Bonds Staples has written a number of wonderful articles in the AJC about disability issues. This article about Cynthia Patterson is a nice story about one of the career specialists at Briggs and Associates...

Associates, she helps others with disabilities find employment. In her spare time, she speaks to youth groups at churches and schools, encouraging them to embrace who they are, to treat others as they want to be treated.

She finds teaching moments — small opportunities to change the way those around her think about people with disabilities.

It happens when children gossip loudly to their parents that she has no hands; at fast-food drive-throughs or in line at the grocery store. She explains she was born that way, instructs that she can handle her own loose change from store clerks and invites onlookers to touch the place where her hands should be.

Senator proposes scholarships for disabled students

By JEREMY REDMON
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 12/12/06

ATHENS — A Republican state lawmaker filed legislation Monday that would grant scholarships for disabled children to attend public or private schools of their choice.

"I want the state to give scholarships to any disabled student, whose parents are dissatisfied with their assigned public school, the ability to attend the public or private school that best fits their needs," Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) said in a prepared statement.

Modeled on Florida's McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program, the scholarships would be equal to the cost for children to attend their assigned public schools or the private schools they want to attend, whichever is less. To qualify, students must have an Individualized Education Program.

Florida's scholarship program helped 17,300 students attend private school there during the 2005-2006 school year, according to a Florida Department of Education Web site. And the average scholarship was $6,927 for that year, with 751 private schools participating in the program.

"In a recent study of Florida's scholarship program," Johnson said, "findings show that parents are pleased, class sizes are smaller, the children are victimized less and there are fewer behavior problems."

Go to our legislative section to see the full text of this bill.

Study Finds Barriers in Rural Healthcare for People with Disabilities

A study has emerged highlighting the obstacles people with disabilities who live in rural areas face when searching for primary care physicians. Researchers interviewed residents with varying disabilities in rural Massachusetts and Virginia. They found that, in addition to the challenges already present with healthcare in rural America, people with disabilities face further obstacles. These include difficulties in finding doctors who understood the unique needs of people with disabilities and the necessity to travel large distances to get to medical centers.

Lisa I. Iezzoni, Mary B. Killeen, & Bonnie L. O'Day, Rural Residents with Disabilities Confront Substantial Barriers to Obtaining Primary Care. Health Services Research, August 2006, pp. 1258-1275.

For free abstract or full text purchase: Click Here.

Request for Comments on the Proposed Comprehensive Plan for IDEA Part D National Activities

Source: Federal Register - November 27, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 227) The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services invites comments and recommendations from the public prior to finalizing the comprehensive plan for national activities authorized under subparts 2 and 3, part D of IDEA (Comprehensive Plan or Plan). DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 11, 2007.

For complete information go to the Federal Register.

Governor Perdue Announces November Revenue Figures

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that net revenue collections for the month of November 2006 (FY07) totaled $1,278,047,000 compared to $1,208,629,000 for November 2005 (FY06), an increase of $69,418,000 or 5.7 percent. The percentage increase year-to-date for FY07 compared to FY06 is 5.6 percent.

Senate Republicans launch website for public comments

The Walker County Messenger reported today about a new website developed by Senate republicans to make it easier for the public to suggest ideas...

Republican leaders in the state Senate announced a new initiative called “Georgia Speaks” — a program and Web site that lets citizens present their ideas for new legislation. Majority Leader Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) and Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) made the announcement during a press conference at the State Capitol on Monday.

“We are looking to give our constituents more input into the legislative process,” Williams said. “We are looking for ideas that will adhere to Georgia’s conservative principals.”

Some of the criteria the Senators will use when deciding whether to consider the potential legislation will include:

Will it reduce the size of government?
Will it strengthen our traditional family structure?
Will it reduce the tax burden for our citizens?
Will it increase personal responsibility?

“We want to see more Georgians get involved in the political process and share their ideas with us,” Williams said. “We are here to serve them and we hope they will use GeorgiaSpeaks as another way to communicate with us.”

Ethics and Intellectual Disabilities

The Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown was created with the support of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation. The Institute has worked for decades on Bioethics issues and has a strong interest in bioethics and people with intellectual disabilities. They have recently devoted a section of their website to such issues, including a periodic newsletter on Ethics and Intellectual Disabilities.

THE 2007 DISABILITY POLICY SEMINAR

SAVE THE DATE: MARCH 4 - 6

New Congress, New Opportunities, the theme for the 2007 Disability Policy Seminar, is a practical vision of the many new public policy opportunities for the millions of people with disabilities and their families nationwide once the 110th Congress commences. Everything from health care and family supports to civil rights and education could be on the table, and the disability community needs to be ready to press for a progressive disability policy agenda.

Democrats control the new Congress with only a slim majority, which will require working both sides of the aisle to achieve legislative successes. Bipartisanship, historically for the disability community, is a key ingredient to our successes on Capitol Hill. Together, The Arc of the United States, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD), AAMR/AAIDD and National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) will look to our extensive grassroots networks to advocate in a bipartisan manner for national public policies promoting the full inclusion of people with disabilities in our society.

On Sunday, March 4, at 9:30 a.m., participants will begin their two-days of in-depth, intense public policy discussions/presentations that end on March
5 at 6:00 p.m. And, on March 6, we will take our unified message to Capitol Hill.

What will we be talking about at the Seminar and lobbying on Capitol Hill?
We expect the following public policy issues will take center stage:

Developmental Disabilities Act
Family Support
Americans with Disabilities Act
Long-term Services and Supports
Education
Employment
Health
Housing
Budget and Appropriations
Social Security
Capitol Hill staff and our nation's leading public policy experts, disability advocates and association leaders will be on hand to address these and other issues.

SEMINAR & HOTEL REGISTRATION
OPENS ON NOVEMBER 30
COMING SOON - REGISTRATION DETAILS AND DEADLINES

November 2006 Partners in Policymaking Updates

I hope you all had a relaxing Thanksgiving with family last weekend and are looking forward to the holiday season.

By now, you all should have received a phone call from two Partners alums, Susan Farner or Vickie Martin, to update your information and to ask you a few questions about your Partners training and your leadership development needs for the future. Thank you for taking their calls and sharing your advocacy experiences with them. The information you gave them has been put into the Partners database and is extremely valuable as we plan and assess the needs of Partner graduates and their level of advocacy after graduation.

In the surveys we have administered to graduates in the past year, education is one of the top priorities and areas of advocacy of Partners alumni. In response to that, we will be including more information on how to get involved in state level advocacy on education.
There will be stakeholder meetings around the state to get input on state regulations on special education. These meetings will be held during the months of December and January. If you attend, please send me an email and let me know what the experience was like. We will post it in a future blog.

To access the state regulations and dates, look for state rules on the DOE website.

Partner alumni are continuing to bring families out for Unlock’s “Conversations that Matter” with Dr. Steve Hall, director of the Office of DD. Attendance at each event has been excellent. Our next event is December 5 in Roswell from 6:30pm -8:30pm at the Teaching Museum. Contact Jennifer Carroll for more details or to volunteer.

Other dates include:
Macon on January 23 contact: Nalini Isaac
Savannah – February 20 contact: Mary Poncy
The Albany event is being rescheduled for February. contact Rosalyn Horne

Partners Postings:
Don Pollard is looking for interested athletes for power wheelchair soccer in the Conyers area.
Dot Jones is looking to start a networking/social group for all graduates in Athens and surrounding counties. Email rita@aadd.org if you want to contact Dot.

The January session at the Capitol is just around the corner!
Upcoming Advocacy Dates:
February 7th- Advocates Legislative Day at the Capitol. This is a new first time event for disability advocates. Contact Sarah Pike for details and to RSVP.
February 22nd – Disability Day at the Capitol. It is strongly suggested that you register early this year!