The ides of March are upon us and CDRC is heavy into the Legislature and other policy work. In this edition of CDRC’s newsletter we will be giving you an update that we have been following. We will also be discussing other topics.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

CDRC would like to CONGRATULATE CDRC members John Sorensen and Sarah Basehart for taking the roll / walk down the aisle to marriage. Here is a piece of advice for the newlyweds, NEVER go to bed angry at each other!!!!!!!

Legislation

HB 218 - Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Living at Home Waiver Program

This bill renames the Community Attendant Services and Support Program to be the Living at Home Waiver Program-which happened six years ago; transferring the authority for administering the Program from the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH)- which happened two years ago. The original law was a bill called CASSA that the disability community and advocates worked very hard on with Del. Hubbard in 2001. CDRC supported the bill but asked for amendments to put the advisory committee into law and to raise the age limit for enrollment from age 60 to age 65. We won the age amendment which means an expansion for this program. It has passed out of the House.

HB 512 / SB 302 Maryland Affordable Housing Investment Fund

This bill would establish the Maryland Affordable Housing Investment Fund and the Maryland Affordable Housing Investment Fund Board that would require the Fund to be used in specified ways to support, foster, and promote affordable housing. It requires that Board annually give out money from the Fund to specified local governments and to the Department of Housing and Community Development in a specified manner.
CDRC asked for 15% of the units generated by this Fund target the population who are in the 0-30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) so it will give the people with disabilities and people with extremely low incomes more of an opportunity to locate a place to live that they can afford. People on SSI have about 8% of the AMI. CDRC supported this bill with amendments.

HB 783 Community Attendant Services and Supports Program - Personal Assistants - Requirements for Family Members

Sometimes CDRC wins just by showing up with what we know. So many people and organizations signed up to oppose this bill that the sponsor withdrew it to work on one later that can get more support. This bill referred to the Living at Home Waiver by the old name and required a family members who participate in the LAH Program to submit specified evidence to the DHR. Family members who are now paid staff for individuals in LAHW would not be able to receive medical assistance payments for services. Many of CDRC’s members are nursing facility survivors and have found their freedom and safety in the community with the consumer direction features in LAHW. True consumer self-direction is one of the most important keys to quality and safety in the community. CDRC opposed this bill and counts another victory for self-determination and consumer direction.

HB 1234 State Residential Centers and State Facilities - Study - Services for Developmentally Disabled Individuals

This bill requires the (DHMH) to appoint an independent consultant to study and make recommendations on issues related to the provision of services for developmentally disabled individuals in State Residential Centers and State facilities. Why should we have a study on services for persons with developmental disabilities in State Residential Centers? (SRC’s) We need to have an institution free Maryland .

HB 785 Rosewood Center - Closure - Transfer to State Park System

It would require the DHMH to transfer the property known as the Rosewood Center to the Park System. We like parks, but we think that the property can earn more money for people waiting for services if it is sold to a good buyer. The bill hearing was March 6^th, CDRC testified in support with amendments. CDRC and other advocates want a study done for the Rosewood property to see what would be the best thing to do with it.

Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Grant-update

MFP is chugging along in Maryland . This is the grant that will give enhanced federal matching money for 250 people who transition out of SRCs and 1,500 people out of nursing facilities and other institutions. For a few months, the progress has been tied up in the procurement. DDA is hiring three new people to work just on these transitions, including Rosewood. Word this month is that the official “go ahead” from the federal government is in the mail!

No one has to wait for the MFP process to get rolling to leave a facility, but Maryland won’t get the extra money unless the person signs the consent to be in the demonstration, like the consent for a waiver, and has a pre-transition “Quality of Life” survey by one who is trained to do it. Sounds simple but it isn’t that easy. CDRC members have been working with MFP to try to get this worked out.

DD DAY at the Legislature

DD Day at the Legislature was a BIG success this year. We had a HUGE turnout. Governor O’Malley attended and was honored, along with DHMH Secretary John Colmers, DOD Secretary Cathy Raggio, Senator Delores Kelley, and Delegate James Hubbard. We had former residents of the Rosewood Center present the Governor, Secretaries and the two legislators with yellow roses to thank them for their leadership and decision to close Rosewood. Yellow roses symbolize friendship, happiness, and freedom. What better way to honor these leaders than with a yellow rose that represents FREEDOM. CDRC has heard that the Governor and administrators were very moved by this thank you presentation and have been working hard to move forward.

Guest speakers

CDRC would like to thank Nancy Pineles from MDLC and Catriona Johnson for taking their time on a Sunday to be CDRC’s guest speakers about the Community Pathways (CPW) and New Directions (ND) waiver renewals this year. Here are a few things CDRC members asked to have changed in the future:

People who are in the CPW should be informed that they are in CPW and what services are available in CPW and Medicaid. People should be provided their budgets and what they need to do to get different services, especially if they need more help if they get sick or injured and need more help in their home to stay out of a nursing home.
People should be supported to understand when a request is denied and how to appeal. People in the CPW should never be told that there is no funding for something that they need.
Transition services should include transitions from nursing homes and big group homes and have some funding for community staff to start to work with the person before the actual move.

DDA is working very hard to make sure the renewed CPW works for the people enrolled. You can write to Catriona at catrionaj@dhmh.state.md.us or call her if you have ideas. The renewal application is going in April 1^st,no foolin’!

CDRC Meeting and Training

CDRC is combining its monthly membership meeting with a training. The training will be “how to manage your Personal Care Attendant”. How to be an effective boss, how to act with employees and how to hire and fire. Lori Baskette from Making Choices for Independent Living (MCIL) will be training CDRC members. MCIL hosted a well received training two years ago and we have decided to offer this again as a refresher and for those who missed it before.

When: Sunday, March 30th, 2008 from 1:00 p.m.— 4:30 p.m.

Where: Baltimore Library, Catonsville Branch:

1100 Frederick Road