Thursday, March 29, 2007

SB 10 -Still Alive and Kicking

Today's House Education Committee meeting was once again full of debate and questions on SB 10. There were several Senate bills up for discussion but Chairman Brooks Coleman made it clear they would not be taking a vote on any bills today in full committee. New amendments to the SB 10 were made before the meeting, and it is likely more amendments will be made before the bill goes to a vote. The vote on SB 10 in committee will be either April 11 or 12. From there it goes to the House floor for a final vote.

To introduce the discussion on SB 10,Patricia Levess, Executive Director of the The Foundation for Florida's Future , gave a short presentation on the McKay scholarship and answered questions from legislators for about 45 minutes. Senator Eric Johnson and Representative David Casas took questions for another 30 minutes. Questions from legislators were thoughtful and addressed issues like tracking academic progress in private schools, the need for re-evaluation, keeping the choice to private schools within the state only, how this effects homeschoolers and children already in private schools, and teacher certification.

Representative Casas said that the GA DOE and the Georgia Association of Superintendents gave input for the new changes to the bill. Those changes include increasing the time that is required for residency to participate and a pre and post assessment for each child . If passed,SB 10 would go into effect for the 07-08 school year, and if your child is already in private school you would have to re-enroll in public school for one semester and have a valid IEP done to be able to take advantage of the program. I will keep you updated as we get news of newer ammendments.

When asked about if this could possibly lead to a larger voucher program in the future, Senator Johnson said, " I do not believe there is support in the Georgia legislature any time soon for a statewide voucher system."

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

An alert I recieved from a friend on PeachCare

On to the Senate to protect children’s PeachCare coverage and services!

Yesterday’s House vote on HB 340 was disappointing, although it was not entirely unexpected. The House voted 101-63 for HB 340, with 16 people not voting. We needed 11 more no votes or non-votes to defeat the bill. (A bill requires 91 affirmative votes to pass). Because Speaker Richardson was the sponsor of HB 340, many legislators said they feared the consequences for them if they did not vote for it. Some told advocates and other legislators that they felt sick about their votes.

The Lt. Governor and the Senate can still save PeachCare, and indications are they may show more concern for children and working families. See HB 340 talking points below:

What you need to do now:
Ask your own Senator to stand up for children and hard-working, tax-paying families by voting against HB 340 if it comes up. Click here for Senate contact information.

Ask Lt. Governor Casey Cagle to stop HB 340. Let him know Georgia’s children and hard-working, tax-paying families are counting on him to stand up for them.
TEL: (404) 656-5030, FAX: (404) 656-6739, Email:

Then,

Let your House member know how you feel about his or her vote on HB 340 yesterday (March 27th). If your representative voted no, please express appreciation. If your representative voted yes, though, please express your disappointment. It is very important that House members hear from their constituents about this vote- it lets them know that you are paying attention and care about their actions on behalf of Georgia’s children. If they do not hear from us, they think their constituents don’t know or don’t care about the issue! Also, there could be another opportunity for your representative to vote if the Senate changes the bill and sends it back. We will let you know if that happens. We need to make sure they vote right the next time. To see the vote on HB 340, click here.

For House contact information, go to the following link and click on “Fact Sheet”

Thank you for all you are doing! We still have a chance to protect health coverage for children in one of Georgia’s most effective and popular programs.

Talking Points on HB 340
  • HB 340 jeopardizes Georgia’s strides in ensuring our children have health care coverage. Georgians believe all children should have health coverage. PeachCare provides essential support to children from low-income working families who otherwise would be without access to private insurance. HB 340 proposes far-ranging and radical changes to Georgia’s very successful, cost-effective and efficient PeachCare program. HB 340 would have bad consequences for children, for Georgia’s healthcare system and for all of us.

  • Children throughout Georgia rely on PeachCare. Every tenth Georgia child has PeachCare coverage. Look at the map at this link to see how your area compares to the rest of the state in percentage of children covered. In some areas, PeachCare covers one in six or even one in four children.

  • HB 340 would leave more children uninsured. It would lower the income eligibility ceiling to 200% of the federal poverty level. Children in a family of three with income over $34,320 would not be able to get PeachCare, down from the current $40,350. With that ceiling, 3,000 to 5,000 children each year will be denied coverage. Georgia children are already more likely than children in most other state to be uninsured. We need coverage for more children, not fewer.

  • Cutting PeachCare eligibility would save very little in state dollars and would shift higher costs to all of us. The “savings” in state funds for cutting eligibility would be minimal- between $1.2 and 2.4 million per year, but cutting PeachCare would shift higher costs elsewhere. Children will go to emergency rooms for care, and some local governments will pick up the tab. Every Georgia family with private insurance already pays about $750 per year extra to cover uninsured people. When parents have to stay out of work with sick children (more likely with children are uninsured) employers pay costs.

  • HB 340 would cut PeachCare service coverage for currently enrolled children. It would make dental and vision services optional at an additional premium. Vision and dental benefits are standard in SCHIP plans in 49 of 50 states. Tooth decay is the single most chronic health disease of childhood. It is five times more common than asthma. A child who cannot see well cannot learn and will quickly fall behind in schools.

  • Congress in not forcing Georgia to cut PeachCare eligibility. In fact, Congress is expected to expand the State Child Health Insurance Program that funds PeachCare. On March 22nd, the Senate soundly defeated an amendment to limit SCHIP to children at or below 200% of poverty. Leaders in both houses of Congress are seeking funds to cover many more children as part of SCHIP reauthorization, not fewer. Also, six members of Georgia Congressional delegation have introduced legislation to reimburse the state for filling the current federal funding shortfall, without requiring PeachCare to lower eligibility requirements.

Dr. David Satcher comes to Atlanta to discuss effective educational and policy initiatives

REMINDER: EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MARCH 30th! “Priming for Prevention: An Ecological Approach to Research, Education and Policy”

The Collaborative on Health and the Environment’s Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative
May 10-11, 2007
Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
Dr. David Satcher, former US Surgeon General, among many other distinguished speakers will provide the latest research on multiple factors influencing child development and how that research is being translated into effective educational and policy initiatives. We will also be honoring Dr. Herbert Needleman with our “Children’s Health Pioneer Award.”

Georgia News Roundup

Final dash for legislative bills
Atlanta Journal Constitution - Johnny Grant (R-Milledgeville), the legislation's sponsor, predicted Georgia's population will zoom to. 11 million by 2015, leaving many municipalities ...

People are running like rabbits,
Atlanta Journal Constitution - Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) rose to complain about Democrats who fled the floor.

PeachCare, HOPE Chest pass
Savannah Morning News - The 162-0 vote came after sharp words from House Appropriations Committee Chairman Ben Harbin, R-Evans.

Bickering about budget persists
Macon Telegraph - The Georgia House of Representatives again passed the state's 2007 amended budget Tuesday, sending it to the Senate with some pointed words.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Georgia News Roundup

Jerry Keen: Budget confrontation is bad for the public...
Atlanta Journal Constitution (subscription) - Atlanta,GA,USA
Keen was accompanied by both House Speaker pro tem Mark Burkhalter of Alpharetta, and House Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin of Evans.

Do-or-die time for many bills
Macon Telegraph - Macon,GA,USA
The Crossover Day rule doesn't apply to the budgetary process, Keen and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Ben Harbin said.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Monday Resources

Autism Information CenterThis Center provides information on autism from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The site includes an overview of Autism, Frequently Asked Questions, and resources for a wide array of audiences including practitioners, families, educators, and researchers.

LD.org now features new material on Transitioning to College
The transition from high school to college and the workplace can pose special challenges for students with learning disabilities. Careful planning and cooperation among parents, educators and students with LD is essential to overcome the many barriers that arise when these students leave high school for post-secondary education, vocational training, and other options as young adults in society. NCLD can help navigate the sometimes rough waters surrounding the transition to college or the workplace for teens and young adults with learning disabilities. On this section of the website, you can find recommendations and strategies for students and parents; the NCLD Parent Advocacy Brief on strategic planning; the Planning for Transition checklist, and other resources.

Employment: Employer Resources: Employing People with Disabilities
Disability Resources
Discrimination-Disability
Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

Foundation Issues New Primer On Medicaid Programs
An overview of the basic components of the nation's largest health coverage program which covers 55 million low-income individuals (including families, people with disabilities and the elderly) and is the dominant source of the country's long-term care financing. The primer examines the structure of the program, who it covers, what services it provides, and spending. Because Medicaid is jointly financed by the federal and state governments and the states administer the program within broad federal guidelines, programs vary across states. Tables examining the state-to-state variation in eligibility, enrollment, and spending for Medicaid enrollees are included in the primer.

Reducing Nursing Home Utilization and Expenditures and Expanding Community-Based Options
Summary: This paper explores and analyzes selected state approaches to engage nursing facility operators to be part of systems change activities that offer individuals additional, less restrictive choices to live more independently with appropriate supports. The strategies described offer other states lessons learned that may be replicated as part of a broader approach to meet changing and growing demand for home and community-based services. Efforts in IN, IA, MI, MN, NE, ND, NY, and WI are described.

Georgia News Roundup

Status of key legislation heading into crossover day
Status of key legislation before the Georgia Legislature heading into Tuesday's "Crossover Day" - the final day when a bill must be passed in one chamber to be considered by the other by the end of the session:
PEACHCARE CHANGES: Fewer children would be eligible for the state's health insurance program for the working poor by lowering the program's income eligibility threshold from 235 percent of poverty to 200 percent of poverty.

POLITICAL INSIDER: Cagle isn't budging on budget
There are signs that this budget standoff between Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson could be more serious than it looks. Meltdowns over how to divvy up the millions and billions in budget bills are common, nearly annual events in the Legislature. Yet because they involve mere dollars, most of these disputes can be resolved with Solomon-like precision. Put the baby on the table and split the difference.

Supplemental budget pulled for reconsideration
The state’s supplemental budget for the remainder of fiscal year 2007 was adopted by the House of Representatives on March 20, but there was a motion later in the evening to reconsider, so the bill remains in the House due to a conflict with the Senate leadership.

Proposed Federal FY 2008 Budget Will Have Major Effects on Georgia

For Immediate Release
March 22, 2007
Contact: Alan Essig, Exec. Director
(404)-420-1324
http://www.gbpi.org

Proposed Federal FY 2008 Budget Will Have Major Effects on Georgia

Atlanta - The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI) today released an analysis of the President’s Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Budget Proposal. According to the GBPI analysis, cuts proposed in the federal budget would cost Georgia over $846 million in funding over the next five years for many vital services that rely on federal support.

Georgia receives approximately $11.1 billion in federal funds, which accounts for about 32% of the state budget. The list of programs supported with federal monies include Head Start, Medicaid and PeachCare, K-12 education support (Title I), and clean drinking water projects, in addition to several grants to address needs for public housing, child nutrition, childcare, low income energy assistance, criminal justice, homelessness, and the disabled.

“The impact of these cuts will force some very tough decisions on Georgia in the coming years,” said GBPI Executive Director Alan Essig. “If Congress approves the President’s budget as proposed, the state will either have to increase its own spending for many vital services or make its own cuts. The result would be drastic reductions in certain services and in some cases, complete elimination of them.”

The President’s projection for federal spending over the next five years begins with a budget for FY 2008 that totals $2.9 trillion. Funds for defense and homeland security will be increased, but spending for domestic discretionary spending is projected to drop by as much as $13 billion. Proposed cuts will affect federal funding for states to provide health care, food assistance, education, child care assistance, public housing, and environmental protection.

By 2012, Georgia will have lost over $846 million of the federal funds it would need to maintain the operation of more than a dozen services and block grant programs at 2007 funding levels.

The federal cuts involve a broad roster of programs in Georgia that serve millions of people. Proposed cuts in the federal budgets that follow FY 2008 will become progressively deeper, causing progressively more serious funding shortfalls for the programs in Georgia. The list below cites just a few of the programs affected, and it indicates how much deeper those cuts are projected to become over the next five years:
Vocational and Adult Education: $23.3 million in 2008; $127.1 million in 2012
Elementary and Secondary Education: $169.5 million in 2012
Head Start: $5.7 million in 2008; $62.0 million in 2012
Childcare and Development Block Grant: $1.5 million in 2008; $17.5 million in 2012
Low Income Energy Assistance Program: $4.6 million in 2008; $26.2 million in 2012 Criminal Justice Grant Programs: $15.9 million in 2008; $82.6 million in 2012
Community Services Block Grant: $17.2 million in 2008; $89.1 million in 2012
Women, Infant, and Children Nutrition (WIC) program: $20.6 million in 2012
The President’s proposed budget also includes changes to Medicaid that could result in additional losses of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. The federal government proposes to obtain these savings by pushing for greater efficiencies in the purchasing of services for recipients and by limiting the state medical expenditures it is willing to match, thereby shifting the costs to states.

Although the President’s budget proposal claims to balance the budget by 2012, the reality is that the budget will be balanced on paper only. The President’s budget omits well over $100 billion in costs for 2012 and projects optimistic revenue collections.

“Federal spending reductions alone cannot resolve the federal deficit,” Essig said. “Rather than shifting costs onto Georgia state and local governments and potentially damaging essential service provision, the federal government should offer a budget package that includes both revenue increases and targeted spending reductions resulting in true deficit reduction, an honest federal budget, and a minimal impact on Georgia state government.”

Mr. Essig is available to answer questions regarding the GBPI analysis and can be reached at 404-420-1324.

All of GBPI’s research reports are available on its web site at www.gbpi.org.

ABOUT GBPI
The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI) is the state’s leading independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization engaged in research and education on the fiscal and economic health of the state of Georgia. The Institute provides reliable and timely analysis of Georgia’s budget and tax policies and promotes greater state government fiscal accountability, improved services and enhanced quality of life for all Georgians.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Budget includes $81 million extra for PeachCare

A good summary of the latest for PeachCare from Tom Crawford.
The House of Representatives is moving ahead with a state budget that would add $81 million to keep the PeachCare health insurance program for low-income and working-class children from shutting down later this month.

The House Appropriations Committee unanimously approved Monday morning a revised budget for the current fiscal year that includes the extra funds for PeachCare. The spending plan is expected to be adopted on the House floor Tuesday, when it will move to the state Senate for consideration.

The House version of the budget moves around state money so that $73 million will be added to pay PeachCare expenses. The state expects to be reimbursed for this amount when Congress adopts a federal funding bill later this year.

“Hopefully that will be settled before we get out of here,” said Rep. Ben Harbin (R-Evans), chairman of the Appropriations Committee. “If not, we’ll have to address it in the ’08 budget.”

The revised budget also provides another $8 million to the Department of Community Health to pay for a spike in PeachCare enrollment that occurred in February and March, boosting the number of children covered by the program from 278,000 to more than 306,000.

After DCH officials announced last month that they would freeze PeachCare enrollment as of March 11 because of a shortfall in federal funding, thousands of families rushed to sign up their children for the program.

Lawmakers have been wrestling with the PeachCare problem for more than two months as they try to keep the program going despite a $131 million shortfall in federal funds.

After Congressional leaders said two weeks ago they would add money to an Iraq War funding bill to help the children’s health insurance programs in Georgia and several other states, Gov. Sonny Perdue finally agreed to borrow money from the Medicaid program and other areas for PeachCare, with the understanding that the funds would eventually be reimbursed by Congress.

In adding the extra money for PeachCare, state legislators have chopped millions of dollars out of proposals Perdue made when he first submitted his budget to the General Assembly in January.

The supplemental budget whacks $8 million from the $13 million the governor wanted to spend on his “Go Fish” initiative that would build boat docks and other facilities for bass fishing tournaments.

“We’re scaling it back, so to speak,” Harbin quipped.

The spending plan also reduces the $50 million that Perdue originally put in the budget to pay for the acquisition and conservation of wildlife habitats to $34 million. Harbin said the General Assembly expects local governments to provide matching grants for at least one-third of the cost of preserving these natural areas. (Steve and I knew the budget the legislature was $50 million short of what the Governor proposed, but we couldn't find where it came from. Here's the answer to that.)

Monday, March 19, 2007

Creating a brighter future with MAPS (Making Action Plans) and PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope)

The Division of MHDDAD Office of Developmental Disabilities is excited to provide a special training opportunity for those interested in learning skills as a facilitator of two Person Centered Planning Approaches: MAPS (Making Action Plans) and PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope). Jack Pearpoint and Lynda Kahn of Inclusion Press, Toronto, will train forty-five people in the art of using MAPS and PATH to facilitate person-centered plans.

This training is open to a variety of individuals, including:
Support coordinators
Parent mentors
Partners in Policy-making
Parent to Parent
Self-Advocates
Regional Coordinators
I&E Managers
Family Members
State Office staff

One of the books to be given at the training:
Person-Centered Planning with MAPS and PATH - A Workbook for Facilitators. by John O'Brien & Jack Pearpoint
Available at Inclusion Press or call 416-658-5363


The attached announcement explains this unique three-day training opportunity that will be taking place April 30 - May 2, 2007. Please note that there is a two-part registration process involving online registration plus answering several questions about why you would like to participate in this training. Please see the announcement for details.

The announcement will be posted on the Division's website where it can be printed or downloaded. All Division of MHDDAD training events are posted at this website.

Note to Regional Offices regarding distribution: Please share with the groups noted above. If you have any questions about this announcement, please contact Stacey Ramirez in the Office of DD at saramirez@dhr.state.ga.us.

Happenings in and out of Georgia

New Casey Foundation Website in the Works
Annie E. Casey Foundation
The Annie E. Casey Foundation is launching a new website in 2007 which will provide up-to-date information on how Casey is working to help vulnerable kids and families across the country. The redesigned website will provide informative resources in the new Knowledge Center section as well as the Casey Places interactive map, which will highlight major initiatives at work in each state. Visit the website listed above for a sneak preview of the new site.

Conference Addresses Nonprofit Development Issues
Georgia Nonprofit Summit 2007
The Georgia Nonprofit Summit is the Southeast's largest gathering of nonprofit executives, board members, foundation staff, government decision-makers, and corporate leaders. Experienced practitioners and seasoned leaders will present a variety of thought-provoking workshops to address individual professional development at both the beginning and advanced levels. Participants will be able to develop or expand a nonprofit peer network by interacting with more than 700 civic leaders. The conference will be held May 16-17, 2007, in College Park, GA. Visit the website listed above for more information.

The Arc's 56th National Convention
October 11-13, 2007
Hyatt Regency, Dallas, Texas

The United Healthcare Children's Foundation
The United Healthcare Children's Foundation is offering support to meet the needs of children nationwide with assistance grants for medical services not fully covered by health insurance.

Parents and caretakers across the country will be eligible to apply for grants of up to $5,000.00 for health-care services that will help improve their children's health and quality of life. Examples of the types of medical services covered by the foundation grants include speech therapy; physical therapy and psychotherapy sessions; medical equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, hearing aids and eye-glasses, and orthodontic and dental treatments.

"The United Healthcare Children's Foundation has already helped more than 375 families and provided nearly $1 million in financial assistance ", said Foundation President Matt Peterson. "We are excited about the expansion of the program and look forward to the opportunity to help many more children have access to healthcare services that will enhance their health and quality of life."

To be eligible for the grants, children must be 16 years old or younger. Families must meet economic guidelines, live in the U.S. and be covered by a commercial health insurance plan.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Aging Out of Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT): Issues for Young Adults with Disabilities

Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) coverage offered through the Medicaid program has played an important and unique role for low-income children with disabilities, and maintaining this support is a key concern. This issue brief discusses the challenges and implications for young people with disabilities when they become adults and lose their EPSDT benefits and how recent changes to the Deficit Reduction Act give states an opportunity to increase the availability of services that allow disabled individuals to lead as normal a life as possible as they move into adulthood.

Information provided by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
Publication Number: 7491
Publish Date: 2007-01-18

Monday, March 12, 2007

House and Senate Calendar confirmed

Yesterday the House and Senate passed HR 473, setting the calendar until April 17th.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that, unless otherwise provided by subsequent resolution of the General Assembly, the meeting dates and dates of adjournment for the 2007 regular session of the General Assembly for the period of March 1, 2007, through April 17, 2007, shall be as follows:
March 1, legislative day 27
March 2 through March 18, in adjournment
March 19, legislative day 28
March 20, legislative day 29
March 21 through March 26, in adjournment
March 27, legislative day 30
March 28, legislative day 31
March 29, legislative day 32
March 30, legislative day 33
March 31 through April 9, in adjournment
April 10, legislative day 34
April 11, legislative day 35
April 12, legislative day 36
April 13 through April 16, in adjournment
April 17, legislative day 37

IDEA Supreme Court Update

On February 26, National Council on Disability (NCD) chairperson John R. Vaughn released a statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court oral argument, which was heard on February 27, on whether parents may, without a lawyer (pro se), file a lawsuit to enforce their child's rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The case of Winkleman v. Parma City School District (No. 05-983) addresses a split among circuit courts, one circuit deciding that there are no limitations on the parents' ability to prosecute pro se an IDEA case in federal court, several circuits ruling that under IDEA parents can only represent pro se their own interests and not those of their child, and the Sixth Circuit saying in Winkleman that parents cannot represent themselves or their kids in court under IDEA.

As an independent federal agency that is statutorily charged with the responsibility of promoting disability laws and programs, NCD is concerned about maintaining the ability of parents to obtain the rights and benefits guaranteed to their children under IDEA.

Chairperson Vaughn concluded by urging that the resolution of the Winkleman case give full effect to the educational guarantees of IDEA by supporting the rights of parents to pursue the interests of their children regardless of whether they have a lawyer to assist them.

The entire statement with links to related NCD publications is available.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Disability

The Health and Human Services Office on Disability was created in October 2002 in response to President Bush's New Freedom Initiative (NFI). The office oversees the implementation and coordination of disability programs, policies and special initiatives pertaining to the over 54 million persons with disabilities in the United States. The New Freedom Initiative established seven distinct domains in the area of disability: community integration, education, employment, health, housing, technology, and transportation. The Office on Disability focuses its efforts on these seven domains.


Under the section Disability Topics, you can access links to the following areas:
Advocacy
Community Integration
Education
Employment
Health and Human Services
Health and Wellness
Medicare/Medicaid Services
Housing
Information Technology
Transportation

Harkin Introduces Bill to Support Community-Based Services

Legislation Would Increase Access for People with Disabilities and Older Americans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2007

Contact: Maureen Knightly / Tom Reynolds 202-224-3254

Washington, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced the Community Choice Act of 2007, bill number S.799. The legislation, co sponsored by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), would increase access to community-based services and other supports for Americans with disabilities and older Americans.

"I strongly believe that it is important to level the playing field and give eligible individuals equal access to community-based services and supports," Harkin said. "This legislation is needed to truly bring people with disabilities into the mainstream of society and provide equal opportunity or employment and community activities."

Specifically, the Community Choice Act of 2007 gives individuals who are eligible for nursing home services or other institutional care equal access to community-based services and supports. The legislation also provides enhanced federal matching funds to help states develop their long-term care infrastructure and grant funds to help states increase their ability to provide home and community-based services. Finally, this bill creates a demonstration project to evaluate service coordination and cost sharing approaches for those eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare services.

"This vital legislation will open the door to full participation by people with disabilities in our neighborhoods, workplaces, economy, and our American Dream," Harkin said.

The following Senators co-sponsored the Harkin-Specter legislation: Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Joseph Biden (D-DE), Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Christopher Dodd (D-CT).

Source: Senator Tom Harkin - Iowa

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Governor Perdue Announces February Revenue Figures

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that net revenue collections for the month of February 2007 (FY07) totaled $961,225,000 compared to $886,113,000 for February 2006 (FY06), an increase of $75,112,000 or 8.5 percent.

The percentage increase year-to-date for FY07 compared to FY06 is 6.7 percent.

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Partners and Voices - March 2006

Graduates:

February was a real whirlwind of advocacy activity here in Atlanta and around the state.
Our first Legislative Day at the Capitol on the 7th was a great success with over 40 advocates and 45 8th grade girls from the Atlanta Girl's School working the Capitol for Unlock the Waiting Lists. Since this was our first year holding this event, we wanted to keep it small in order to be able to support advocates. We hope to grow this event next year to include all advocates that want to attend.


We recruited for this event from the Town Hall Meetings around the state, and our goal is to double the amount of advocates attending next year.

February 14th was a celebration at the Capitol for House Resolution 144, a resolution honoring the work of caregivers, especially mothers, of children with disabilities and was supported by Representative Sharon Cooper. This was another first time event sponsored by the Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities. We hope this will be an annual event to celebrate all of the great advocacy work you all are doing across the state. If you have any thoughts on corporate sponsors that would be interested in underwriting a lunch for moms for next year, please email Rita.

February 20th was a Town Hall Meeting in Savannah organized by Mary Poncy, Vicki Sumner, and Johnnie Moore Douglas. Around 200 people attended the meeting in White Bluffs Elementary School, and it received both television and newspaper coverage. The meeting centered around the new waiver that Georgia has applied for and Unlock the Waiting Lists!
Thank you ladies for your hospitality!

Dave Blanchard is following the budget, focused on the Unlock the Waiting Lists agenda. Everything is stalled due to the uncertainty of PeachCare funding (see previous posts). The Governor has recommended 1,500 new services - with the multiple year funding plan calling for 2,000. Please make sure that you are calling your state legislators, letting them know how important this issue is to so many who are waiting for help.

I am continuing to follow SB10 on private school vouchers. Last week during the House subcommittee meeting, two Partners grads, Rachel Barron and Paula Krone, gave testimony. Representative David Casas and Senator Eric Johnson worked together to offer some changes to the bill. It looks like it will most likely pass out of committee and then be voted on the House floor before the end of the session.

Also, the Deaf community in Georgia is actively working with the current Georgia legislature to pass legislation recognizing American Sign Language (ASL) as one of the languages that can be used to fulfill the foreign language requirements of college students in Georgia through the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. One of our current Partners, Henrietta Bellows is involved in this effort. The bills are SB 206 and SB 170.

To submit ideas for future Partners/ Voices events, if you want to host an event in your area, or to give us an update on what advocacy you have been involved in lately, click here.

Babies Can't Wait is asking graduates to please fill out a survey on their services that will provide feedback needed to shape services in the future. The survey is 10 minutes and your responses are anonymous. http://surveybcw.caresolutions.com/
Disability Day on February 22 was a huge success! Please give the DD Council your feedback at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=181193386114

Be sure to sign up to receive the blog automatically by entering your email in the box on this page. Notice the information on our last Partners weekend with new resources on employment and housing along with the ability to order reference books through Amazon.com.
What are your recommendations for books that you found helpful in your advocacy work?
We will take your reviews and post them with the book and a link on how to purchase it.

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Recommended Reading

Often times, we run across books that you need in your library. Launched in 1996, Associates is Amazon.com's affiliate marketing program.



By linking to Amazon products and services we hope to add compelling and relevant content for your enjoyment and we will receive up to 10% in referral fees that will support the training of parents and individuals with developmental disabilities. While you read and learn, know that you made a difference in Georgia.

Partners in Policymaking Weekend: Sunday

One weekend out of each month, a group of amazing people get together to learn from each other about how to make a difference together. This weekend, we had the pleasure to hear Derrick Dufresne on Saturday and Cary Griffin on Sunday. During this weekend, there is so much that we walk away with...if you are interested in being a part of this wonderful experience send us an application.

During the day, a lot of resources were shared by the participants and by our speaker, Carey Griffin.

Look on the right column of the blog to see recommended books from the day. By purchasing the book through our referral, you are helping give families and individuals access to advocacy training to make a difference right here in Georgia!

Applications for membership on the State Advisory Panel (SAP) are available on the GaDOE website, Exceptional Students page. Panel membership is established in compliance with Federal and State regulations which mandate that, “Parents of children with disabilities and individuals with disabilities shall compose a majority of panel membership.” Other panel members are to include teachers, state and local education officials, special education administrators, and representatives of organizations and agencies involved with services for children with disabilities. Members should represent each congressional district and be representative of the State population. Please see complete details on the SAP webpage. Please pass this information on to anyone who might be interested in applying for membership on the Panel. Applications will be accepted until April 1, 2007. For further information contact Julie Moilanen at j.moilanen@grady.k12.ga.us or Ginny O’Connell at voconnel@doe.k12.ga.us.

Benefits Navigator Program with the Shepherd Center houses the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA): a cooperative agreement between the Social Security Administration and Shepherd Center's WIPA Program to provide accurate work incentive information to people between the ages of 14 and 65 who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or both which is based on a medical condition.

Griffin's questions to discover your personal genius: List 2 things most people dont know about you? When and where are you at your best? Other than your immediate family, who knows you best? When and where do you have your highest support needs? What gets you out of bed in the morning, besides work?

Some people in Georgia who have a national reputation for thinking about job development: Patty Cassidy at the University of Georgia or Briggs and Associates.

Other web resources on employment recommended by Cary Griffin : www.griffinhammis.com
http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/transition
www.passplan.org
www.start-up-usa.biz
www.centerforsocialcapital.org (coming soon)

Saturday, March 03, 2007

Unlock the Waiting List Update

Over the past couple of weeks, advocates have been very busy, however legislators dealing with the budget are moving at a turtle's pace. Due to the uncertainty of the PeachCare, the schedule for the coming weeks will include weeks of recess moving the end of the session beyond April 17th.

The consistent response that we are hearing about our request for 2,000 new services for MRWP to unlock the waiting list is that because of the unknown impact of the deficit for Georgia due to PeachCare, they cannot make a commitment to adding an additional 500 services to the Governor's recommended budget.

We are hearing that the Georgia's Congressional delegation is working on this issue - not definitive news yet...stay tuned.

Partners in Policymaking Weekend: Saturday

One weekend out of each month, a group of amazing people get together to learn from each other about how to make a difference together. This weekend, we had the pleasure to hear Derrick Dufresne on Saturday and Cary Griffin on Sunday. During this weekend, there is so much that we walk away with...if you are interested in being a part of this wonderful experience send us an application.

Derrick made the points that three things affect price: "cost of property," "interest rate," and "existing subsidies." Some of the resources to address these three elements...

DCA's Dream Homeownership Program makes purchasing a home more affordable for low-to-moderate income families and individuals by offering fixed, low-interest rate mortgages loans. In addition, the Georgia Dream Homeownership Program offers down payment and closing costs assistance to eligible borrowers, which can greatly reduce the out of pocket expense to the buyer.

American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI): Program Contacts in Georgia - Funds made available under the ADDI statute have been allocated to State and local governments to assist families with incomes below 80 percent of the median income for their area and are first-time homebuyers.

USDA Rural Development for Georgia - USDA Rural Development invested over $184 million in Georgia's rural communities during Fiscal Year 2006. This investment has resulted in improved water and sewage services, new and improved community facilities, affordable rental housing for senior citizens and low-income families, homeownership for families, new jobs, new industries, and sustainable communities.

U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development information page for people with disabilities - Learn about renting, buying and making your home accessible, and about your Fair Housing rights.

HUD approved housing counseling agencies for Georgia - A list of counselors in Georgia that can help with finding housing within HUD.

HUD Home ownership information - Owning a home is a big part of the american dream. Here are some resources that can help you buy, maintain and keep your home.

AAIDD National Conference information...

Medicaid Estate Recovery - Estate recovery is a program, required by federal law, whereby Medicaid members with qualified assets reimburse the taxpayers for long term care and home and community-based services provided through Medicaid. Funds are recovered from the member’s estate, after death, for the cost of these services. Important: No action to recover assets (including homes or property) will be taken while the member, member’s spouse or qualified children are living in the home. Estates valued under $25,000 will not be subject to recovery. The Soft Second Loan Program is a joint initiative of the public and private sectors in the state of MA to increase affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income homebuyers.

Georgia Community Trust - The Georgia Community Trust was established to assist families in their planning to provide financial assistance to a family member with a disability. Individuals receiving SSI and Medicaid are limited as to the amount of income they may receive and the amount of assets they may own. Assets transferred to the Trust and earmarked for the intended beneficiary, are not considered assets of the beneficiary for the purposes of SSI and Medicaid.