NOTES
DHS / DDS Waiting List Meeting
Thursday, June 14, 2018
1:30 PM
Working Application Date February 2006
Attendees: 73
Represented in attendance:
34 – Parent or Family Member
8 – Self-Advocate (person with a disability)
8 – DHS/DDS
2 – OHCA (Health Care Authority)
2 – State House of Representative
14 – Candidates for House and Senate & staff
5 – Community Partners
Representing those on the Waiting List – 32
First Time Attendees – 33
Candidates running for state office:
Sherrie Conley & Anthony Mackey (HD 20), Beverly Adams, Sarah Carnes & Lindsey (HD 47), Becki Maldonado (SD 16), Denise Crosswhite-Hader, Roxanne Pollard & Jennie Scott (HD 41), Andy Fugate (HD 94), Rashard Bickham (HD95), Robert McKinney (DS 28), Cyndi Munson (HD 85), Zack Taylor (HD 28)
Locations represented – Bartlesville, Muskogee, Tecumseh, Stillwater, Ada, Lawton, Enid, Sapulpa, McLoud, Collinsville, Newcastle, Noble, Yukon, Mustang, DelCity, Tulsa, Wellstone, Midwest City, OKC, Edmond, Norman
Community agencies, programs or organizations represented: Center for Learning and Leadership/OK UCEDD, Oklahoma Disability Law Center, Sooner SUCCESS, Oklahoma Family Network, Oklahoma Developmental Disability Council, Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, TARC, Wings, Oklahoma Community Based Providers
DHS Update including budget –
Mark Jones – With only 2 weeks left in this fiscal year we will focus this discussion on FY2019. We will focus on correcting bad decisions and move forward from previous cuts. Brief History – When DHS began cuts years ago we are still not back to when those cuts began but we are filling the hole. 2015 reduced rates by 3.5% we will now undo this and increase it by 3.5%. We have 2 Million to work the list, the number of people moved will be determined by the needs of the people on the list. 85% will fit the IHSW needs and 15% will be on Community based on previous data when working the list. We have never been given this much money to work the list before. THIS YEAR WE WILL NOT FUND OR USE ANY OF THIS MONEY TO MOVE ANY CHILDREN IN STATE CUSTODY. Other DHS funding will be used to restore foster and adoptive payments, restore state funded group home rates, state funded community rates and employment, child care subsidy rate, advantage waiver rates will increase to 7%, fill vacant case manager and nurse positions & establish a minimum level DHS staffing and staff rations can go, and $100,000 earmarked to create the respite waiver. There were some protests filed on new revenue so there is still a lot of unknown but we plan to move forward with all our plans.
A question was asked about Medicaid expansion and Mark said Medicaid expansion has no effect on the WL.
DDS Update –
Beth Scrutchins, newly appointed Director of Developmental Disability Services with Marie Moore, Deputy Director of DDS – This was Beth’s first WL meeting. Over 300 letters went out to people saying Congratulations you are off the Waiting List. Sad to say, we still probably won’t make it out of 2006 time frame. The list will likely move from Feb 2006 to June 2006, is Beth’s expectations.
We will be partnering with Child Welfare to develop a model waiver program to serve kids with higher needs including the development of group homes and crisis intervention in wraparound services. The Laura Dester shelter will be turned into an ICF/IID for kids in state custody. It will be a 12 bed facility. Mark Jones said these will be a “time limited stay” type facility. Two parents shared concerns that we are building more facilities when we just closed the last two state run ICF/IID facilities. There was some discussion about the challenge for supporting children in state custody who have significant behaviors and then how do we support their families with the hopes we prevent removal from the family home.
Beth – The staff will be trained at a very high level
One parent asked, How will you give ABA in the new waiver or the facilities when Soonercare refuses to cover ABA therapy?
Marie said inside a waiver there are several things that can be done.
A parent who is a BCBA wanted clarifications on exactly what the qualifications would be for the staff.
Marie said they are still working on that and waiting on policy changes from OHCA before continuing to move forward on waiver.
Another parent asked, will there be a plan in place upon admission to the facility for transition back to the family home?
Beth, that is our plan. We want them to have case management as soon as they enter. Beth stated that this is not a long-term care facility but rather a transitional support facility.
Marie Moore- Laura Dester will become a traditional intervention ICF/IID. Marie compared it to Greer. The kids in custody accessing this new facility will not jump ahead on the WL, this new waiver will be serving them.
Beth – All of the 2 million will be spent this year. We will see who we get from the 300 letters, do assessments and get services in place. There is a letter that went out to everyone asking for updated information. They shouldn’t be confused with the other letters because those say “Congratulations” on the top.
One parent mentioned that families are being told they can’t get on the list or DHS is not allowing them on without an IQ assessment.
Beth – Not true, they are trying to weed out people who will not qualify by asking some specific questions or wanting to see any evidence that your child would qualify once they reach the top.
Mark – Even with these weed out questions if the family still wants to be on the list the worker should put them on the list.
Marie – We would need about 500 Million to serve everyone in the entire WL.
Respite Waiver Update –
Marie – $100,000 for a new waiver. We will keep the current respite voucher in place. (currently respite voucher provides reimbursement for respite for families who make under $90,000) The new waiver would include state and federal dollars and could help with diapers, formula, Rx’s, along with respite and would include a case manager. A person can be on this Respite Waiver while you wait. But if your name comes to the top you cannot double dip into both waivers so the parent will have to choose. There will be no income cap on this new waiver. We will be holding focus groups hopefully by end of summer early fall across the state to see what needs people have an if they can be met and written into a waiver like this.
Waiting List Breakdown (Color Coded Sheet)
Wanda Felty provided an article from the Tulsa newspaper dated July 1995. This article was about the DDS Waiting List from back then and the challenges families have while waiting. At that time it was 1,268 waiting. Now it is 2018 and we have 7,669 waiting. We are changing the trajectory of peoples lives by having them wait in an endless line.
Wanda then explained the color coded Waiting List data sheet. She said “We may not know the people on it as individuals but we can see their story in the numbers.”
Then she asked all those attending to look at the black and white sheet, which is the breakdown of the waiting list by county.
Wanda then spoke directly to the candidates in room: The ONLY way you can change the way the state supports and honors people with developmental disabilities and their families is to know, and to act. The only way for families to have hope is by knowing you, the decision makers are learning and hearing us. She also asked that for those elected to please let your vote always reflect your commitment to those on the Waiting List and their families. She asked when they get elected to please join the Waiting List Caucus, too. We thank you for coming.
Next Meeting (March, June, September, December)
Thursday, September 6, 2018
1:30 pm
Sequoyah Building Room C-47
2400 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK
