Homecare alert: Upcoming CD-CAN tele-meetings Tue, Jan 12 & Wed, Jan 13

Lifted right out of the CD-CAN email newsletter.

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TOWNHALL TELEMEETINGS WITH STATE OFFICIALS

FOCUS ON GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PROPOSALS

Jan 12th - IHSS & Other Social Service Programs

Jan 13th - Regional Centers & Developmental Centers

Free CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings Accessible By Any Phone Line – People With Disabilities, Mental Health Needs, the Blind, Seniors, Families, Community Providers & Workers Who Provide Supports and Services Can Participate & Ask Questions

Two free public forums, called “CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings” are scheduled for January 12th (Tuesday) and January 13th (Wednesday) that bring together – via toll free phone lines – senior Schwarzenegger Administration officials and hundreds of people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors, their families, community organizations, facilities and workers who provide supports and services, and other advocates, to hear and ask questions on the Governor’s latest budget proposals.

The focus of the January 12th townhall telemeeting is on the Governor’s proposal dealing with In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), and other services under the Department of Social Services.  The focus of the January 13th telemeeting is on budget proposals impacting developmental services including community based services funded through the 21 non-profit regional centers, and services provided by the state owned and operated developmental centers and 2 smaller facilities.

Governor Expected to Propose Major New Spending Cuts on Friday

The Governor is expected to propose major new spending reductions that impact health and human services when he releases his proposed State budget for 2010-2011 on Friday (January 8th).

In addition, the Governor is also expected to propose major mid-year spending cuts in order to address the shortfall growing in the current State budget for 2009-2010 (the current State budget year ends June 30, 2010).

Telemeetings Open To Everyone

CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings are open to everyone and meant to bring public policymaking to those who have historically been shut out and others across the state, including people in nursing or other facilities, group homes, or in day or other site based programs.   Thousands have participated in these free townhalls since early 2003.

All townhalls are recorded and the recordings are usually available within 24 hours or less for downloading on the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us

Persons who cannot participate in this townhall telemeeting but would like a question asked to the director (or other department official) can send their question (via email) to Marty Omoto at martyomoto@rcip.com   Your question will be asked for you – and you can hear the audio recording of the townhall telemeeting later in the day at the CDCAN website.

Additional Telemeetings To Be Scheduled On Medi-Cal & Other Issues

Additional telemeetings, depending on resources and funding, will be scheduled on an on-going basis as they have since early 2003, and will include a focus on Medi-Cal, special education, accessible housing and transportation, mental health, and other issues critical to people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, people with traumatic brain and other injuries, people with MS, Alzheimer’s and other disorders, seniors, their families, community organizations, facilities and workers who provide supports and services across the State.

CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING SCHEDULED (TO DATE)

General format of CDCAN townhall telemeetings opens with introduction of speakers, followed by updates from the speaker. The townhall telemeeting is then opened up to questions from the hundreds of people who call in across the State.

JANUARY 12, 2010 – TUESDAY

1:00 to 2:30 PM

FEATURING:

· John Wagner, Director, California Department of Social Services

· Eva Lopez, Deputy Director – Adult Programs Division

FOCUS:

Governor’s budget proposals impacting In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment grant program), community care licensing, and also updates on impact to adoption assistance/foster care programs and CalWORKS, the state’s “welfare to work” program  (all three programs impact many families with children and parents with special needs and disabilities)

JANUARY 13, 2010 – WEDNESDAY

1:00 to 2:45 PM

FEATURING:

· Terri Delgadillo, Director – Department of Developmental Services
· Mark Hutchinson, Chief Deputy Director
· Julia Mullen, Deputy Director
· Rita Walker, Deputy Director

FOCUS:

Governor’s budget proposals (and status of previous budget proposals enacted) impacting regional centers who coordinate community-based funded services and supports to over 240,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities, including thousands of infants and toddlers in the California Early Start program (California’s early intervention program).  Officials will also provide updates on Governor’s proposals impacting the 4 remaining state owned and operated developmental centers and 2 smaller health facilities (one of which is scheduled for closure February 2010).

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN BOTH TOWNHALLS:

The instructions to participate in either CDCAN Townhall Telemeeting is the same below:

STEP 1: Dial toll-free number:  877-551-8082  (there is no passcode)

STEP 2: Wait for operator – who will ask for your name and the city you are from

Note: to protect people’s privacy, only the first name and the city location will be announced on the townhall for anyone wanting to ask a question

STEP 3: Anyone can ask a question (or make brief comment) – wait for instructions that will be announced during the townhall telemeeting.

Please Note:

· Absolute zero tolerance for anyone who is rude or disrespectful (the audience or speakers)

· People Should Speak Simply - With a large and diverse audience of hundreds  of people, including those with all types of physical and developmental disabilities, language and cultural backgrounds, persons (both speakers and people asking questions) should speak simply and not use insider government or program terms or abbreviations.  This is important because of people’s backgrounds, experience and disabilities, but also because CDCAN is working to provide  real time language translations.  

· Pending Lawsuits - Officials from either department (or any state, federal or county government agency) cannot comment on specific issues subject to a pending lawsuit.  Officials may be able to provide general status information on those specific cases where the State has already released information on how it is implementing a court order – meaning a previously or soon to be released All County Letter, Notice or other instructions sent out to the public.  However they will not be able to comment or provide details beyond what has already been publicly released.