Community Conversations

Department of Community Health
Office of Health Improvement
Georgia Health Equity Initiative

2008 Georgia Health Disparities Report
Community Conversations

What are the OHI Community Conversations?
The Community Conversations is a series of meetings that will be held in various cities throughout Georgia to share information and obtain feedback about the 2008 Health Disparities Report that was released on April 18, 2008. This inaugural report was developed and presented by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), Office of Health Improvement and its Minority Health Advisory Council (MHAC).

The report, Health Disparities Report 2008: A County-Level Look at Health Outcomes for Minorities in Georgia, is an account of the health status of Georgia’s minority populations by county. It aims to identify inequality in health care and outcomes, and to encourage action towards health equality for all Georgia.

The report may be accessed at www.dch.georgia.gov. Or you may email: gahealthequity@dch.ga.gov to request a copy.

Who are we talking to?
- Local Government Leaders
- Health Care Providers/Professionals
- Community Organizations
- Chamber Officials
- Business Leaders
- Concerned Citizens
- Others

What are the objectives for the conversations?
1. Does your county understand the issue of health disparities and how it affects the community?
2. What do people think about their county scores and how they fared?
3. Are there reasons for success or failures in their various communities?
4. In what ways can communities address the reduction and elimination of health disparities? Are they interested in forming local health equity coalitions?
5. How can we engage non-healthcare advocates on the issue?

Community Conversations Locations and Dates:
Augusta
May 28
1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Good Shepard Baptist Church

Columbus
May 29
1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Columbus University

Cordele
June 3
1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Cordele Community Club

Albany
June 4
10:00 a.m. – 12:00p.m.
Phoebe NW

Waycross
June 5
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
TBD

Brunswick
June 6
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Southeast GA Health Systems

Fort Valley
June 11
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
FVS- The Pettigrew Center

Athens
June 12
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
TBD

Valdosta
June 19
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Gainesville
June 24
1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
DHR-Thompson Bridge Office

Atlanta
TBD
Morehouse NCPC

Educational Conference Sunday, August 3 at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta

Interfaith Disability Connection (IDC), Shepherd Center and First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta will present That All May Worship: Beyond the Ramp on Sunday, August 3 from 12:30-6:00 at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. This one-day event will focus on how religious communities can make their services and programs fully accessible to those with disabilities.

The day will begin with lunch and conclude with an interfaith service. Topics will go beyond eliminating physical barriers and discuss creating services and programs in which all members can easily participate. Attendees will be inspired by the keynote speakers, educated by panelists, and motivated to take the message and lessons of the day back to their communities.

Register now by clicking here

For more information, click here: Interfaith Disability Connection or email: idc@bobbydodd.org

Advocacy Alert: Protecting Your Rights to Medical Equipment

Your Representative Has One Day Left to Sign One-Year Delay Letter.

A letter urging members of Congress to sign on to the delay letter was sent to all members of the House. The letter was authored by Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.), David Hobson (R-Ohio), and Jason Altmire (D-Pa.).

SO FAR Representatives Bishop, Gingrey, Johnson, Price and Scott of Georgia have signed this bipartisan letter.

The DEADLINE is today Thursday, May 22, for your U.S. Representative to sign this letter.

Click here for a copy of the letter.

Click here for contact information for Georgia's Congressional Delegation.

Click here for Related information.

Recruiting Advisory Members to the GCDD

The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities is accepting applications from individuals with developmental disabilities and family members to become Advisory Members to the GCDD. Advisory members are not appointed by the Governor to the GCDD but have the same roles and responsibilities as those appointed except they cannot vote on issues presented to the GCDD. Advisory members are valuable to the GCDD in understanding the needs and issues in Georgia. After having served a two-year term, Advisory members are recommended to the Governor to serve as full GCDD members as openings became available. Like appointed members, Advisory members are expected to attend GCDD and committee meetings, take responsibility and follow through on assignments, and open doors to communities that they participate in. Applications are due into the GCDD offices by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday July 1, 2008.

Click here for the application.

Governor Perdue Signs $21.1 Billion Fiscal Year 2009 Budget

Office of the Governor

Governor Sonny Perdue today signed into law HB 990 which authorizes Georgia’s $21.1 billion Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) Budget. The FY09 budget year begins July 1, 2008.

“Georgia is a growing, thriving state and this budget provides a sound fiscal plan to sustain that growth over the next year and into the future,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “The FY09 budget strikes an important balance between wise investments and prudent cost-saving measures.”

The budget includes funding for several of Governor Perdue’s priorities for the coming year, while maintaining the fiscal discipline necessary given the recent slowing of the growth in the state’s revenue collections. On March 10, 2008, Governor Perdue reduced the FY09 revenue estimate by $245 million in light of slowing revenue projections...

...The FY09 budget also funds measures necessary to allow Georgians to maintain a robust healthcare system. $39.6 million will go towards increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospitals, ambulance services and other healthcare providers. 500 more mental retardation and development disability waiver slots will be available through a $6.2 million appropriation. Nursing homes will receive $17.6 million in reimbursements for capital upgrades. An additional $31.3 million is appropriated to upgrade the state’s mental health facilities and community mental health system...

To read the full press release, click here.

Accepting Applications!

We are accepting applications for
2008 - 2009 Partners In Policymaking.

Click here for more information.

Click here for the application.

If you have any questions, please email Rita.

Hurricaine Katrina and People with Disabilities

Please note this is an e-mail received from the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council:

Dear Friends,
I would normally never ask for your advocacy assistance on something for my home state, but I could really use your help. We have been working on an appropriation for Permanent Supportive Housing for people with disabilities displaced by the hurricanes for two years and we're about to lose it. This action will only take 2 - 3 minutes of your time.

A spending bill in the U.S. House of Representatives has omitted critically needed funding for people with disabilities and the elderly who are victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This bill is now expected to come to a vote of the full House this Thursday, May 15. Our coalition leaders are asking people to call Rep. David Obey, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Rep. James Clyburn - the three key national Congressional leaders on this issue -- and urge them to include funding for 3000 Permanent Supportive Housing rent vouchers for people with disabilities affected by the hurricanes in Louisiana! It's quick and easy - one minute per call -- just leave your message; you will not be asked any questions; but your call will have a real impact!

Message
"Please consider including funding for 3000 Permanent Supportive Housing rent vouchers for people with disabilities affected by the hurricanes in Louisiana in the Supplemental Appropriations Bill. They can't wait any longer. Please also consider providing housing funds for Mississippi. Thank you very much."

Here are their phone numbers:
The Hon. David Obey (chair of House Appropriations Committee):
(202)225-3365

The Hon. Nancy Pelosi (House Speaker):
(202) 225-4965

The Hon. James Clyburn (Majority Whip):
(202) 225-3315

If you choose to make the calls, please email me to let me know at swinchel@dhh.la.gov so we can have an idea of how many people are responding.

Thanks so much!!

Sandee Winchell
Executive Director
La. Developmental Disabilities Council
(225) 342-6804
swinchel@dhh.la.gov

Governor Perdue Announces April Revenue Figures

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that net revenue collections for the month of April 2008 (FY08) totaled $1,761,180,000 compared to $1,309,159,000 for April 2007 (FY07), an increase of $452,021,000 or 34.5 percent.

The percentage increase year-to-date for FY08 compared to FY07 is 4.7 percent.

“The dramatic rise in revenues this month is primarily the result of process improvements made by the Department of Revenue, including hiring an outside vendor to help process hundreds of thousands of additional payments when compared to this time last year,” Governor Perdue said. “While this looks like great news for the month of April, we anticipate revenues in the coming months will slow and balance this one month spike.”

Click here for the full report.

Congratulations to the class of 2008!

AADD is proud to present the 2008 class of Partners in Policymaking. Graduation was held at the Doubletree Club Hotel on Saturday, May 3rd with over 120 guests in attendance.Special thanks to Dottie Adams, Stacey Ramirez, Linda Blackwell, and Ameenah Rasool. Each Partner spoke to the audience on how they will take their Partners experience and help others. This is a class full of pure energy!

The graduates and their specialties or areas of interest are:

Adrianne McCullom, Douglasville: Educator, network builder.
Angie Saylors, Marietta: Passionate; not afraid to ask difficult questions.
Audrey Smith, Flowery Branch: Expert in education law; woman of style.
Ayoca Freeman, Hartwell: Author; supports families getting support.
B.J. Kelley, Lithonia: Realtor; interest in social and recreation opportunities for adults.
Carolyn Wall, Lilburn: Support coordinator; deep caring for others.
Cathy Fletcher, Marietta: Engineer; expert in cochlear implants; self advocate.
Charles "Ray" Washington, Stockbridge: Realtor; interest in lobbying.
Cynthia Branch, Lawrenceville: Member, Gwinnett Navigator Team; works for social justice.
Dave Zilles, Sandy Springs: Award winning advocate; works well with legislators.
Deborah Malone, Rome: Legislative advocacy; worked on HB 540 this session.
Debra Gibson, Snellville: Business owner; interested in learning more about GA budget.
Dianne Edwards-Andrews, Savannah: Connector; runs Navigator Team in Chatham County.
Dorothea D. Cadet, Union City: Heart for ministry; works for Chick-Fil-A.
Elizabeth S. Goodrich, Decatur: Expert in Olmstead; self advocate; works well with facts and stats.
Heather Murray, Augusta: Optimist; strategist; helps with IEP's.
John Edward Dallas, Decatur: Seeking inclusion through bridge building and diversity; GCDD staff.
Judith Steuber, Kennesaw: Mentor, Cobb County; hard working grandmother.
Julie A. Beem, Marietta: Writer; adoption; communication director.
Karen Cook, Rome: Business owner; Navigator Team, Floyd county.
Kathy Harwell, Rome: Retired special education teacher; Navigator Team, Floyd county.
Katrina Watson Washington, Stockbridge: Works for CNN; has fierce determination.
Lisa M. Robinson, Marietta: Job coach; employment is her specialty.
Melinda Smith-Pace, Columbus: Grant writer; Navigator Team leader.
Nancy E.W. Sellers, Atlanta: Dignified; has contacts within civil rights.
Patricia A. Wilson, Hiram: Trainer for nuclear industry; sibling.
Raissa Chandler, Fayetteville: Trainer; wants to be the Clark Howard for disabilities; DMA-6 expert.
Sampaguita Tate, Atlanta: SB10 leader; works well with those in power.
Sandra Humphreys, Rome: Parent to Parent; PLC North GA coordinator.
Sharon Capers, Grayson: ER nurse, expert in DD and Mental Health.
Stephanie Shapiro, Tucker: Works for Focus; believes institutions are not for anyone!

To email a graduate, click on their name. If you wish to contact any of the class members, they ask that you put "Partners" in the subject line so your message will not be filtered out as spam.

More Stories from Central State

Central State Hospital Tour April 14, 2008
Lisa Robinson, (Mother)

When my classmates and I first entered onto the grounds of Central State, I thought wow this is very huge, so many buildings mostly white in color and houses scatter about the campus grounds.

During this visit I believe it was very well organized and almost like a set to be filmed, with all the right props and rehearsed scenes to be recorded and filmed.

We toured the Allen Building, which house about 170 residents (in all there is about 5000 at the entire facility); all of them require skilled Nursing staff. Each of these residents was diagnosed with Profound/ Severe Mental Retardation and other disability issues. I met several young men and women their ages ranged from six year old to 22 years old…. Joseph who is 22 years old was totally bedridden and required care around the clock and then I met Marcellious who shares a room with John. Marcellious is 16 years old and has cerebral palsy and is severely contracted, he did appear to understand us when we spoke to him, but he did not acknowledge us. I talk about Marcellious because he had a impact on me immediately because I have a son name Marcellious also who is 17 years old and have cerebral palsy and severe mental retardation, you see this could be my son who has be institutionalized for reasons unknown. This made me feel sadden and it also made me want to do something, what I don’t know exactly but for sure I will get a living will so that my son will not have to go to a place like Central Hospital. You see when we use the word hospital it represents a place to make you well and heal you from what is ailing you then you go home to a loving and caring family who will continue to support your every need. This environment was not a nurturing and loving homelike environment, yes there was nursing staff but anything from a loving and caring family member.

I continued the tour with many thoughts on my mind; we were then taken to another unit where residents who have been deemed ready to transition back into the community. There were several different workshops areas where you could learn and perform different work duties. Each work site the resident can earn wages and learn skills that can be used when they re-enter the community. I thought it was a nice facility and area for the residents however it was very structured also with a guard present at all times.

Then there was the Boling Building and the Phoenix Building where the higher functioning people reside. We were informed that the staff ratio is six to one, which is in my opinion that is not adequate staff for folks with different levels of needs and concern.

In one building the rooms were decorated from Bed Bath and beyond or Martha Stewart Home Stores, with all bedding and accessories matching, nice beds and furniture and each room had televisions and other entertainment. Then it was the other unit that I believe that we were not suppose to visit, this unit was unclean, not furnished well, beds looked like children beds (adult men) slept in. They did not have the nice recreation rooms with different games and things to chose, in fact the only entertainment unit did not have any games in it and it was broken. I was very disappointed in this and felt bad for the men. We were told that it was due to funding that this unit did not have the same luxuries and quality that the other unit has, the men shared one shower area and one bath area.

My experience at Central State hospital is that for people who have been lost in the system with no other place to go, it should be a temporary solution. I do understand that children who are medically fragile need medical care, but lets fix this and find a way to get real loving, caring homes for our children, lets stop spending money on buildings and enlarging hospitals like Central to house more people, let us knock down the barriers that is preventing real solutions to this very real issue.

What Is Really Going On At Central State Hospital?
By Cynthia Branch

Milledgeville, GA - Sometimes parents are faced with many emotions including feelings of sadness, not knowing what to do, lost, guilt and insecurity when making life changing decisions. The stress, finances including emotional connotations of what to consider for a love one and a child, has forced many families to face placing their love ones in a group home, assistant living centers, other facilities, institutions for reasons unknown and for reasons involving the health concerns of the caregiver, aging parents or family members. The need for continuous support and services is very evident when the caregiver is no longer able to provide for their love one.

Understanding that some of the decisions may or may not be associated with many choices or options since one of the main driving factor equates to the mighty dollar of what will be spent towards the level of care, accommodations, placement, support and treatment in many cases that involve our love ones...which is really sad and yet very true.

First before sharing what was revealed through close observation, per what was understood after listening to others employed at Central State Hospital and as a concerned mother of a child with multiple disabilities Central State Hospital never be an option in planning for my angel's long term future.

Ahhh...Ahhh..., Central State Hospital and Facilities located in Milledgeville GA is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes from Atlanta GA. Close observation revealed that on Central State Hospital's mass campus like grounds within some of the facilities/buildings concerns were revealed as follows:

Medically Fragile Facility - Hospital Setting

Adults ranging from 19 to 70+ years old were observed in this hospital section. As you walked through this area, you would see some of the walls and rooms decorated with stars, clouds, bears and etc. which is usually seen in a newborns room or nursery.
Concern... assuming many of the individuals in this area may have cognitive concerns, appear non- verbal and my possibility be visual learners if they are only see this type of newborn environment day after day, year after year without any change, it does not appear their minds will be allowed to grow and develop.

Further observation in this entire section revealed there were no cameras, no monitoring systems anywhere including where the staff or nurses station is. Individuals in this area appeared to have multiply disabilities inclusive of having a tracheotomy, breathing tubes, feeding tubes and remember many of them appeared to be non verbal and non mobile.

If complications should arise during sleeping hours there is a serious level of concern of how lives are saved if the staff is not in the immediate area with the individual or awake...survival appears slim to none because there is no monitoring system.

In the same adult section for the medically fragile there was (1) girl who had been in this area at for an approximately (3) years. She was 6 years old, cute as a button, had the biggest brown eyes, she appeared non verbal, did not giggle, did not smile, had a tracheotomy and AFO's on with no shoes. This adult hospital environment was inappropriate for a child this young, there were no other age appropriate children and no area for children to have fun.

All Men's Adult Facility

The all men's adult facility (dorm setting/building 5 floors) for approximately 60 men with disabilities that were Mild, Moderate and Mild/Moderate Autism.

Observation revealed that the limited staff was mostly women working and caring for this group of men - the ratio was 2 women assigned to approximately 6 to 10 men at a time.

Concerns - no cameras including monitors anywhere, most of the men had their own room if they did not have a roommate. You could if an individual had limited resources and received a little support from a family member , because the location of their room was noticeably different. The rooms did not lock and anyone could enter at any time. 24/7 Interaction with only men....what about those hormones with the number of women their caring for those individuals?

Understanding that many individuals may have been placed at Central State as young as 2 months, became adults there, lived out there lives and with approximately 4000 buried there.... is this another form of being sentence to life on death row without ever being able to smell the roses?

Georgia's aim should be regarding moving children and adults forward.....

1. Moving individuals out of the institutions. Preparing them for the transition which is inclusive of training, daily living skills and providing some form of resources for 3 months that will assist and prepare them upfront.

2. Educating individuals...in school the goal of education for any student is preparation for adult life and for adults preparing them to live on their own with hopes that they will become a contributor to society.

3. Rehabilitation for all individuals should be on the assumption that they can learn and must have the opportunity to do so through training, retraining, supports and assistance that is tailored to the individual involving the appropriate accommodations needed.

4. Unlock the Waiting Lists with more openings. Increase the number of waivers including the supports that is needed for so many individuals and their families.

5. Providing affordable health and dental insurance for caregivers.

6. Allocating the money to families through direct services....allowing families to control the money since many family member are already doing a better job of taking care of their love ones.

DISABILITY MOVEMENT....Georgians must continue to increase awareness, keep paving the way for so many deserving individuals and let life begin for so many outside of isolation.

April 16, 2008

Central State Hospital
Milledgeville, Georgia

As a member of a leadership program called Partners in Policymaking, I was recently given the opportunity to tour Central State Hospital in Milledgeville Georgia. I was very uneasy and scared at first about the decision I had made to attend Central State Hospital because of the things I had heard about the hospital as I was growing up, but then I decided I needed to know exactly what it was like for myself.

I will start by saying, I have a five year old little girl with the diagnosis of Down syndrome who absolutely means the world to me. Besides my relationship with God, she is the reason why I choose to get out of the bed in the morning and start a brand new day. She is the joy and love of my life, and her disability has truly changed me and opened my eyes to a whole new world. I am very grateful God chose me to be her mommy, and she is blessed to have such great families. We have so many hopes and dreams for her and step by step we are achieving them. I am so thankful because Central State Hospital will never be the future plans for my little girl. In fact, Central State Hospital opened my eyes to a world that I couldn’t envision for anyone.

I had no idea so many people whether young or old were abandoned. I thought moms and dads should love unconditionally, care inspite of good and bad times. Next to one of the beds of a young girl, her mother had left a note saying that she wanted to take her daughter’s pain away. I still wonder if it really the parent who was in pain because she did not understand her child was a very special person, and she did not know how to deal with her child’s disability. I feel blessed to understand that we are all equal under God, all having imperfections, but also perfect in his eyes.

After this haunting experience, I want people to know that if my mother had never had faith in me, or believed in me, I wouldn’t be the mother I am today. This belief stands true for all people. We need our families or people that love us in our lives. Since leaving Central State Hospital it has renewed my resolve to be a better listener, to help more people with or without disabilities, and to just try to make this world a better and safer place for all people.

What we sometimes fail to realize is we are all a day away from a car accident, or gun shot wound, or sickness. If God choses us to live and be paralyzed or to use a wheel chair, we will want to be treated with love, dignity and respect. It is the way we make each other feel connected to each other. As Maya Angelou said, “ I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

State shifting funds for disabled from institutions toward care within community

By Travis Fain
macon.com

MILLEDGEVILLE --There was clearly so much wrong with the young man.

The nurses at Central State Hospital said he was 16. He had a tube sticking out of his neck, and his arms were bent at unnatural angles.

And Lisa Robinson rushed to him because he reminded her of her son. They have the same name, and similar maladies ravage their bodies. Both can understand; neither one can speak.

Robinson and her friends cooed over the young man and his two roommates in a ward at Central State, complimenting them, eliciting smiles from trapped bodies. They understand what it's like when people look at you funny. Or when they don't know what to say and just withdraw. They're mothers of disabled children.

"It's automatic as a parent," said Robinson, whose own son is 17 and has cerebral palsy. "We can relate."

She and seven other mothers visited the state-run hospital a couple of weeks ago as part of a training program called Partners in Policymaking. They were learning what kind of care the government offers so they can be better patient advocates for their children or for others.

But they also were looking to answer a haunting question: What will happen to my child when I die?

Click here to read more.

An Evening With Kathie Snow

Hosted by The Georgia Advocacy Office and Citizen Advocacy of Atlanta & DeKalb

Disability is Natural

Please join us for a casual but exciting evening of conversation with Kathie Snow, who will lead us in a discussion about “Revolutionary Common Sense.”

Wednesday, May 7, 2008
7:00 until 8:30 PM

Kathie Snow has worked as a trainer and consultant on disability issues for 16 years and is the parent of two children, one of whom has a disability diagnosis. Kathie is an internationally recognized author of numerous books and articles that are used as university texts and training materials. She owns and hosts a website that provides free articles on approaches that promote positive images of disability. For additional information, please visit: www.disabilityisnatural.com

Clarkston Community Center
3701 College Avenue
Clarkston, GA 30021

(Behind the N. Indian Creek Library)
Directions: From I-285 take exit 40, Church Street/Ponce de Leon. Traveling toward Clarkston on either street turn right on N. Indian Creek. Turn left into the parking lot just beyond the library.

This is an Event for the Community.
Everyone is Welcome!
Clarkston Community Center is Totally Accessible.

Polk Schools Must Pay Family $720,000

Administrative judge says district failed to adequately educate autistic student.

Polk County schools failed to adequately educate an autistic student and now must pay up to $720,000 to give 22-year-old Andrew "Drew" Sammons a proper education, an administrative law judge has ruled.

Bill and Janie Sammons have fought the School District for four years, contending their son was allowed to graduate without receiving the academic instruction or training in developmental skills that the law requires disabled students be provided.

In a 20-page ruling, Judge William F. Quattlebaum in Tallahassee sided with the Lakeland family, saying Polk's failure to provide a proper education for Drew Sammons was not the "accidental result of inadequate educational planning."

"It is clear (the district) was either unable or unwilling to provide the appropriate services to which (Sammons) was entitled," Quattlebaum wrote.

"This case established that Polk County didn't have means to teach autistic kids," said the Sammons' lawyer, Timothy Weber, of St. Petersburg...

Click here for the complete article from The Ledger

Current Partners in Policymaking class members Mindy Smith Pace, Adrianne McCullom, Stephanie Shapiro, Karen Cook, Dave Zilles,and Raissa Chandler attended a "Train the Trainer" on April 29 for a series of "Conversations that Matter" that will be held in eight cities around the state. The purpose of the trainings will be to foster collaborations between individuals and professionals working on aging issues and developmental disabilities. Current Partners will hold mid- day training events using curriculum developed by Guy Caruso and Kathie Snow. Locations will include; Rome, Franklin, Augusta, Columbus, Albany, Brunswick and Waycross. For more information email Rita.