SILC Meeting
Thursday September 20, 2007
10:15AM- 4:20 PM
Present: Faith Gross, Kristie Braaten, David Foster, Brent Belisle, Patricia Yeager, Judy Neal, Amy Allred, Terrance Turner, Pat Going
Absent: Larry Williams (excused), Mike Rooney (excused), Georgeanna Chapman (excused), Carol Jean Reynolds (excused), Amy Jo Denning, Bill Aceves
Guests: Marla Decker (Director for the Southern Ute Reservation Tribal VR program
Larry Wales- representing the Southwest Center for Independence
Southwest Center for Independence Visit: Several of the SILC members were able to visit the Center prior to the beginning of the meeting.
Introductions and Welcome- Faith welcomed all of the members to the meeting. All members of the SILC introduced themselves to Marla Decker when she arrived.
Chairperson Remarks-
Faith explained that Larry is the elected chair to the SILC for this year however, he remains on extended medical leave and it is still undetermined how long he will need to be on leave. Faith explained that Larry has participated by phone for several executive committee meetings when he has been able. Faith will act as Chair until Larry is able to assume the duties of chair.
Faith also explained that it is her goal to have the SILC be productive and effective and there needs to be a focus on committees as that is where the work occurs.
Faith explained that as recruitment is being done there is an emphasis that this is a working council and there must be commitment to travel around the state. The recruitment brochure that has recently been developed for does explain the importance of a working SILC, commitment and travel.
Faith explained that the meeting is Durango today because the current SPIL ends at the end of September and there was a commitment in the SPIL to hold meetings in all cities where there is a CIL in the State and the last meeting that was scheduled in Durango in 2005 had been canceled.
Faith also requested that we all honor the ground rules that we will not talk about the past but will only move forward.
Call for changes to the agenda
Faith called for additions to the agenda
Terrance asked that Georgeanna Chapman’s term be reviewed as there had been some confusion about when her term expires– according to the roster her term expires 10/1/08 – Terrance agrees that is correct.
Pat Going- Said that the SILC bags are available for all members
Other additions requested for the agenda
Travel reimbursement
DVR meeting
NICL Board reception
AT partners strategic planning
SILC congress
Approve SILC minutes from June 2007
Kristie made a motion to approve the minutes from June 2007 and Amy seconded the motion. There were no comments regarding the minutes, and no changes. The minutes were approved unanimously
DVR report
CIL certification schedule and process- Judy reported that she has visited and certified all of the Western slope centers in September- Craig, Grand Junction and Durango.
Terrance asked how the Grand Junction Center was doing. Judy reported that the Grand Junction center is doing a very good job. They have a new board and a very dedicated staff. They bought a building and are in the process of making the second floor accessible. They are poised for growth. Linda Taylor is the Director and is the next Association of Colorado Centers for Independent Living (ACCIL) representative on the SILC.
Judy said that her plan is to certify the centers in the Front Range through the end of the year. And will probably visit 2 per month but does not have a set schedule yet. She may wait for Pueblo until Larry is back at work.
OIB update- Judy reported that the contracts for this federally funded program have been awarded to 7 CILS. There is an effort for statewide coverage so the contracts were awarded to Craig, Grand Junction, Durango, Boulder, Pueblo, Ft. Collins and Greeley. There were no contracted awarded in Denver as Denver is served by other programs.
Judy reports that there was a delay in getting the contracts in placed as one of the applicants who did not receive the award filed an appeal. The decision for the 7 centers outside of Denver was upheld.
CIL data collection update- Judy explained that in order for the state to pay for a data collection system all 10 centers would have to agree on a system. 5 CILS have chosen Independence on Line as a vendor and 2 centers have selected another vendor. Therefore at this time no funds from the state will be used. The cost for the system is $1300-2000 and then annual fees. The systems should be able to help the centers get their reports for VR easily. Faith also reported that the new SPIL is for the SILC to see numbers on a quarterly basis.
Employment contracts- Judy explained that there are 6 employment contracts in place and Grand Junction is in negotiations. Since this program is not a pilot a sole source justification had to be created. DVR can refer to CILs for employment and core services.
Reimbursement forms- Judy handed out reimbursement forms. At this time a travel expenses must be submitted with original receipts for meals. But Kristie explained that in the future it may be possible that original receipts will not be needed. Judy explained that the per diem rate for Durango is $49, $10 for breakfast, $14 for lunch and $25 for dinner and at this time without original receipts you can only get ½ of the per diem rate. All originals with and reimbursement form must be sent to:
Joyce Edwards
DVR
1575 Sherman 4th Floor
Denver, Co 80203
Judy also reminded all members that if they have not completed the W-9 it must be done.
Judy also explained that the travel reimbursement is 39cents per mile.
Summary from meeting between SILC members and DVR
Faith reported that we set a positive tone at the meetings and that we want to develop a true partnership and be effective in collaboration. The past problems were probably more related to poor communication related to rules about state funds. One of the examples is that SILC had repeatedly requested travel advances and had been denied. This practice cannot occur due to state rules.
This meeting was an opportunity to open good channels of communication and we all agreed that we are working towards the same goals.
Faith reminded us that we can get some things paid ahead of time so there is limited out of pocket expense expected from SILC members- such as air travel and hotel expenses.
Sandy Pratt is the CFO at DVR and she is willing to work with us to accomplish the tasks while staying within the rules.
Judy reports that feed back from DVR is that they were very pleased with the outcome of the meeting.
Financial Report
Kristie reported that end of FY 07 we were $4500 under budget but we still have outstanding expenses that need to be paid- approximately $3000- Amy Allred and DCIL have submitted their expense reports. We were actually approx. $1500 under budget.
Judy reports that there was a former employee at DVR did not post some of the SILCs expenses to the SILC spread sheet so when Joyce was ready to pay she took what was in the budget to cover payables. Therefore on paper it will look as if the SILC over spent their budget.
There is no financial report to approve at this time but Kristie will send the final report to all SILC members when she receives it.
Kristie reports that Year to Date we have spent $1400 primarily for conference calls, the job fair booth and NCIL travel.
Committee Reports
Resource Development committee meeting
Kristie handed out the minutes from the last meeting. The discussion regarding support of a software package for all CILs was tabled and will only be discussed again if all of the CILs agree on a software package.
An ad hoc committee is being developed to work on bylaws and policies. Kristie and Evelyn (Director for Center for Independence in Craig) have requested that 1-2 additional members work with them.
They will also set up an ongoing schedule for by law review.
Patricia recommended that other state SILCs have bylaws on line and they would be a good resource.
Faith also recommended that after bylaws are updated that we develop an operating manual. Examples to address in bylaws and the operating manual would be electronic voting and how travel is approved for conference outside of the state plan.
Target date for bylaw review is January 2008 meeting.
State Plan
Judy reported that there has been a call Rehabilitation Services Association (RSA) and they are requesting additional detail in the state plan. Plan is to get the updated SPIL back to RSA by September 26. 2007.
Patricia reports that they are expecting outcomes and measurements. Pat will be able to add this to the SPIL
Judy explained that Steve Zwilinger is the RSA staff working on the State Plan with us.
Judy, Patricia and Faith will get a copy of the updated SPIL to the committee when the final product is completed.
Advocacy committee
Brent reports that there are 6 centers certified for Nursing Home transitions. Judy explained that now there is some financial reimbursement to get people out of nursing homes. It was explained that with the pilot done in Colorado, that Kristie was very instrumental in completing, showed how much money was saved in serving people in the community rather than in nursing homes
Terrance reported that the barrier to this program is housing for those people getting out of the nursing home. And there continues to be work with Section 8 housing for more supportive housing.
Under the new state plan this committee will be the Public Policy Committee. Patricia Yeager may chair this Public Policy Committee if it is OK with Faith.
Youth Committee
David Foster reported that the committee has met and Sue Schierkolk (DVR rep for youth services) the committee is working on a questionnaire for all centers to identify someone to work with related to youth services. It was also recommended that the SILC website include a blog.
It was recommended that Sue be invited to the Denver meeting and she is working on a Federal Grant for SILC and centers to collaborate for youth. Judy will invite Sue to the Next SILC meeting in Denver.
Brent reported that he went to IM net training and there is an effort to get youth more involved with CILs.
Faith asked Brent to be a part of the youth committee, Brent agreed.
It was also discussed that the new SPIL supports more involvement with youth.
Terrance explained that Dawn Russell Dawn@Atlantis.com is the contact at Atlantis for youth issues.
During Lunch Larry Wales from Southwest Center for Independence joined us. He explained that the CILs appreciate the effort the SILC has made to get to the communities where CILs are.
After lunch Faith presented a certification of appreciation to two members whose terms are complete at the end of this meeting:
Brent who has completed his second full term and Carol Jean Reynolds.
When the meeting was reconvened the meeting was open for public comment- an interpreter was present. Faith had not been advised of any requests for public comment.
Membership committee
Michael Rooney was unable to attend the meeting, Patricia and Judy gave the report.
The committee had 3 goals, 1) brochure, 2) recruitment plan, 3) interview questions
The recruitment brochure is complete and was passed out to the committee. Also the committee is refining the recruitment process and including action steps in the plan.
It was reported that RSA required the majority of the members to be people with disabilities who do not work for the state or for a CIL.
3 applications were distributed. The committee was asked to review the applications and get back to Mike Rooney regarding any concerns.
The SILC members all agreed that we can have more members from Denver since there are several members who have resigned or whose terms have ended. But that it should be a focus to include the entire state when looking for members.
One of the Grand Junction board members disclosed that she was a consumer and had sent in an application to serve on the SILC and never heard anything. She lives in Delta and is still interested in serving on the SILC- her name is Judy Martinez. She ahs sent in her application to Boards and Commissions. Will come to the November meeting with Linda.
Faith reported that there was a good meeting with Boards and commissions, and applications should be acted on sooner than they have been in the past.
Faith reported that Clarence Miller has resigned.
Faith would like to grow the SILC membership to 19.
We also need a deaf SILC member and Jennifer Fell (chair of Colorado Assoc. for the Deaf) is helping to recruit a deaf person for the SILC.
There have been others around the state who have been encouraged to apply.
There was a discussion about the process for recruitment. It was agreed that we need to follow a process for recruitment in order to maintain integrity in the recruitment process.
Faith explained that any member who misses 3 meetings in a year will be contacted and the will be asked to resign. Faith will contact Amy Jo Denning and Bill Aceves.
There was a consensus form the team to follow the following process at this time for the new applications. Membership committee will review and interview (could be phone or email interview) the applicants and make recommendations to the executive committee and a recommendation will then be made by the executive committee to boards and commissions. The goal will be to have new members appointed by the November meeting. Since the committee is meeting once per month this should be a reasonable goal to achieve. A vote can be held via e-mail since the Bylaws are silent on the subject.
There was also a concern that potential new members cannot get financial reimbursement to attend meetings. It was agreed that there may be special occasions when this happens but it will not be a usual practice.
OLD BUSINESS
Review 2004-2007 state plan objectives- Patricia will review the current SPIL and objectives. She will send out an e-mail to the committee with her review.
Report on National Council on IL conference- Carol Jean provided a written report with the information she learned from the NICL conference passed out to all SILC members- it was agreed that we would accept the report. David Foster also gave his report from the NICL conference (attached).
Terrance reports that SEIU funded 3 adapt members to go to Chicago. Faith reports that SEIU is becoming more of an Ali now
NEW BUSINESS
Presentation on Colorado Tribal VR programs.
Marla Decker presented an overview of the Native American population, and tribal VR. They have the highest rate of disabilities in the US. The three top disabilities are Diabetes, Substance abuse and Alcohol abuse. There are very few tribal VR programs right now. They are underserved. There are no CILs on reservation but there is a need for them.
The SILC members all agreed that we need training to be culturally competent in order to assist this population. It was also agreed that we need to recruit a representative from tribal VR as a SILC member.
Every 6 months Southern Utes hold a cultural diversity workshop open to anyone- Marla will get us the information.
It was agreed that Marla will do training for the SILC related to Tribal VR and cultural competence. We can probably hold a training session when Marla is in Denver and invite all SILC members and CILs. Faith will follow up.
Internet Access Committee- Patricia reports that she has purchased 3 domain names for the SILC website ColoradoSILC.net, ColoradoSILC.com and ColoradoSILC.org. Patricia and Pat are developing an ad hoc committee to determine the deliverables related to the website. May ask DVR to manage the RFP for us. Pat Going thought we might be able to manage the bid.
We need a logo- Debbie suggested we use a design class at a high school to have a contest in designing the logo. The team agreed this would be a good way to get the logo, Debbie will pursue options. As far as Judy knows there is no barrier to pursuing this option as far as the state goes. As far as Judy knows there is no logo that must be included as part of our logo.
We also need to make sure our website is accessible for those who are visually impaired. Pat G. is bringing the 508 expertise as the website is developed.
Plan to have website by end of 2007.
Low cost internet access- Patricia reported that there are barriers for those who are deaf and hard of hearing to get high speed internet access for those who are low income. Patricia is working with a group as the SILC representative to move forward with this project.
Faith also discussed the fact that TEDP fund should also be funding resource for communication devices.
SILC coordinator update
Faith reported that the applicant for the SILC coordinator position (Don Coloroso) was really looking more for a full time position and he has another job offer. Don has a good reputation. An option to resolve this would be for Connections to higher him full time and have him work part time for the CIL and part time for SILC. Larry Williams had expressed concern that someone also working for a CIL may not be the best option for the SILC coordinator. Patricia suggested that since this is an executive position the person should be able to coordinate time and prioritize tasks in order to get all of the jobs done.
It was also discussed that year 2 and 3 of the SPIL has planned for a full time coordinator, but we are in no position to promise $50,000 full time position until the Feds approve the SPIL. RSA questioned why $50,000 was the rate- Judy said that the average state employee salary is $51,000.
If the SILC does not want to have a shared position Patricia stated that she could continue until January if we accept the Connections BID and connections could continue to look for another candidate.
Pat. G made a motion to assign the decision regarding the SILC coordinator to the executive committee. The SILC committee was unanimously in favor of this motion.
Terrance did make the recommendation that the BID process should be started earlier to be able to get more bids, since there was only 1 bid.
NICL reception
The SILC co-sponsored a NICL reception for $200- Kristie, Brent and Faith attended. It was a good opportunity to network.
SILC congress
Judy has submitted a paper for training at the SILC congress in New Orleans in January 2008. The topic is “Crossing Over from IL to VR. Her topic will be presented twice at the congress. Faith will register as the attendant for Judy.
AT strategic Planning.
There is a strategic planning meeting on how to get funding for a loan closet available for adults. The meeting is 11/6/07 8:30-12 noon at 601 E. 18th Ave in Denver. Patricia plan on attending and all SILC members were encouraged to participate.
Free computers
Terrance has information about refurbished computers that are available for the community- he will get the information out to SILC members.
What process does DVR use when re-certifying a center?
Judy Neal presented the process DVR uses to recertify centers. Recertification has to occur every 3 years.
Judy is encouraging CILs to develop Independent Living Plans with consumers.
Faith Called for a motion to adjourn the meeting at 4:20 PM Pat Going made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Brent seconded the motion. There was a consensus that the meeting be adjourned.
Recorded by Debbie Petersen