ACTION ALERT: URGE CONGRESS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR FAMILY SUPPORT

Summary:

Beginning right now and throughout the summer, Congress will be deciding how much money federal programs will receive for the coming year. There are several key programs that provide family supports (see below) but they are seriously underfunded. We need your help to educate Members of Congress about why it is important to provide more money for family support programs.

Action:

Contact members of the House and Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittees. Urge them to provide additional funding for family support programs at the levels recommended below, which are consistent with recommendations from the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).

Click for:
Members of Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee
Members of House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee
You can contact members of Congress by calling the Capitol switchboard:
(202) 224-3124.
You can also click here to send your members of Congress a prepared e-mail message.

Background:

*While over 80% of all long-term services and supports are delivered informally, little funding is provided to support family and other informal caregivers.

*Investing in family support is fiscally wise:

-The economic value of informal caregiving is over $350 billion a year.
-American businesses lose between $17.1 and $33.6 billion annually in lost productivity costs due to family members providing informal supports.
-Respite and other supports contribute to the well-being of caregivers and can reduce undesirable, costly placements in nursing homes and other institutions.

*Funding for key family support programs has not kept pace with growing demands and pressures on families. Three important programs are:

1.National Family Caregiver Support Program:
The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) is authorized under Older Americans Act. It is intended to provide a variety of supports to caregivers of older individuals and older caregivers of children and adults with disabilities. Funding for the NFCSP has not kept pace with an aging population and actually received a slight cut last year. It is currently funded at $153.4 million; it is recommended that Congress increase funding to $250 million for FY 09.

2.Lifespan Respite Care Act:

The Lifespan Respite Care Act was signed into law on December 21, 2006.
It is intended to provide competitive grants to assist states in developing statewide respite systems to make quality respite available to family caregivers regardless of age or disability. However, it has not yet received any funding to be implemented. It is recommended that Congress provide funding at the full authorization level of $53.3 million for FY 09.

3.Family Support Program:

Title II of the Developmental Disabilities Act authorizes the Family Support Program to promote and strengthen systems of family support services to families with relatives with developmental disabilities.
Currently, only 21 states receive grants and funding is provided through a different section of the Act. It is recommended that funding for family support be increased from approximately $7.2 million to $17 million for FY09 to allow every state and US territory to receive grants. It is also recommended that this funding be provided through Title II without negatively impacting funding for other initiatives within Projects of National Significance.

YOUR OPINION COUNTS!!

NOTICE OF PUBLIC FORUM AT THE GAO

PLEASE MAKE PLANS TO COMMENT ON THE PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS PROGRAM OF THE GEORGIA ADVOCACY OFFICE, INC.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2008
3:00 – 4:00 PM

Georgia Advocacy Office
Conference Room
150 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 430
Decatur, GA 30030

This Public Forum is being hosted in conjunction with a federal site visit by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration U.S. Department of Mental Health and Human Services.

Each person will have three (3) minutes to present his or her comments.

If you need accommodations due to a disability to participate in the public forum please contact Donna Champion at 404.885.1234, 800.537.2329, or dchampion@thegao. org by June 10th.

If you cannot attend the forum in person, you can provide your comments:
1) by calling in during the forum – 404.885.1234 or 800.537.2329, voice or TDD;
2) by writing to the Georgia Advocacy Office – via email (info@thegao. org) or US Mail (Georgia Advocacy Office, 150 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 430, Decatur, GA 30030) to be received by June 17th;
3) by writing directly to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – via email (Karen.Armstrong@ samhsa.hhs. gov) or US Mail (Karen Armstrong, SAMHSA – Division of Grants Management, Room 7-1091, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20857) to be
received by June 17th.

The GAO looks forward to hearing your comments on the work of the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Program.

Now Taking Applications

Partners in Policymaking is an innovative leadership training opportunity designed to involve and empower people with developmental disabilities, parents of young children with disabilities and other family members. The Partners program is the most comprehensive educational program on disability issues in Georgia.

How You Will Benefit:
Understand best practices
Connect with national experts
Network with other advocates
Be a part of creating positive change

What You Will Cover:
Community Organizing
Inclusive Education
State/Federal Government
Employment
Housing
History of Disability
Community Building

Who Should apply:
People with developmental disabilities, and parents of children with developmental disabilities, and family members are the primary target groups of the Partners program. We are looking for individuals who are seriously interested in developing their advocacy skills for the benefit of strengthening their families and being a part of local and statewide advocacy efforts.

For more information or to apply online, go to aadd.org contact Rita Young 404-881-9777 ext 220 or rita@aadd.org. The deadline for Applications is July 7, 2008.

To apply online, click below:
http://www.aadd.org/2008/newsite/programs/partners.html

To request a hardcopy of the application or to schedule a phone interview to assist in completing the application, call 404-881-9777 x 220.

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