NYSACRA

May 31, 2006 - News from the OPTS Administration Unit

NYS OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE THROUGH SERVICES update as of May 31, 2006 NYS OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE THROUGH SERVICES May 31, 2006 News from the OPTS Administration Unit (05-2006) 1. OPTS Questions 2. Proposal Status Report as of 5/31/06 3. OPTS News – Not Issued In April 2006 4. OPTS Administration Unit Changes Coming 5. Web-based Services Recording Application for OPTS 6. “How To” Guidebook For Families and General Brochure – Now Available 7. Thoughts About OPTS from The Self-Advocacy (SA) Association of New York State 8. Brief Description of Recently Approved Proposal(s) 9. DDSO OPTS Liaison Contacts 10. Information Sharing 11. Why You May Receive Multiple Copies of this Message 1. OPTS Questions The phone number for the OPTS Admin Unit is (518) 408-2744. E-mail addresses are: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it – rotation of intern OPTS questions can be sent via e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Visit the OPTS information on the web via: www.nysopts.com OPTS proposals must be now be submitted electronically through the OMRDD Secure Messaging Center to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 2. Proposal Status Report as of May 31, 2006 Proposals Received 339 Proposals Complete 300 Health Checks Complete 284 Consumer Verifications Complete 248 Team Review Meetings Held/Scheduled 248 Awaiting Scheduling of Team Review Meeting 3 Proposals Approved 91 Implemented 52 * At least 1 proposal has now been approved in each OMRDD district. ** Proposals approved includes 4 State (DDSO) Operated OPTS proposals Number of Proposals “On Hold” 27 Number of Proposals “Not OPTS” 29 3. OPTS News – Not Issued In April 2006 There was no issue of the OPTS News in April 2006. 4. OPTS Administration Unit Changes Coming OMRDD recently announced that Karla Smith will be transitioning to Central Operations Unit and Sue Ann Hart will be transitioning to the OPTS Administration Unit. The staff transitions are expected to be complete in July 2006. 5. Web-based Services Recording Application for OPTS Non-profit providers who have OPTS Agreements, or will have OPTS Agreements effective June 1, 2006 or July 1, 2006, have been contacted regarding training that is being offered in June 2006 on OMRDD’s Web-based Services Recording Application for OPTS. Two types of training are being offered, video conference training for providers who currently use OMRDD’s Services Recording for Respite Services and hands-on training for providers who do not currently use OMRDD’s Services Recording for Respite Services. Providers who receive the video conference training will also be offered the opportunity to attend hands-on training. As future OPTS Agreements are developed, training will be offered depending on the effective date of the provider’s OPTS Agreement. 6. “How To” Guidebook For Families and General Brochure – Now Available A “How To” Guidebook For Families and a General Brochure are now available through the OMRDD website (www.omr.state.ny.us ). 7. Thoughts About OPTS from The Self-Advocacy (SA) Association of New York State Many of the best ideas for OPTS proposals will come directly from the people, and their families, who currently receive supports or are requesting supports from providers. People should be encouraged to dream about the types of supports they would like to receive and propose their ideas to providers for consideration. Providers need to be open to possibilities and guide people in developing proposals that are reasonable. People may need some help understanding their options – SA is developing a presentation called “You’ve Got Choices” and is willing to work with providers in advising people about their choices. While people should be encouraged to present their own ideas, providers can also propose ideas to people and their families. Some very good ideas may be generated by providers, but the ideas should then be developed with the people and their families. Here are some thoughts SA has on how providers can work with people – Person size, don’t downsize – If you hope to develop more individualized supports in a group home or day service and decide to change the number of people supported at a location, don’t prejudge the number of living situations or sites that you need. Talk with people and family members. Explain the options available. Once people know their options, work with them, and their families, to decide what is appropriate. This is “person sizing” and this is what SA believes OPTS is and should be about. Person Centered Planning Works – Invest in person centered planning techniques to support people and their families to find out what is important to the people and their families, and the supports they need. Seize the opportunity – OPTS equals opportunity for people and organizations to develop truly individualized and person centered supports. Go the distance with the process and invest the time to do it right. This is how we can create the future. For more information about SA and OPTS, contact Steve Holmes at (518) 382-1454 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . 8. Brief Description of Recently Approved Proposal(s) Ulster-Greene ARC (Taconic DDSO, OPTS #202) 2 Individuals Target Implementation – Spring 2007 OPTS Service(s) – Supervised IRA This proposal will establish an IRA for 2 women who are physically challenged. The purpose of the proposal is to fulfill the lifelong dream of one individual to have her own home, while also increasing the opportunity for independence for both individuals. This IRA will include adaptations of the physical plant to address the physical challenges of the women, as well as increased direct support staff to assist them with their daily needs. Hudson Valley Cerebral Palsy Association (Taconic DDSO, OPTS #310) 5 Individuals Target Implementation – To Be Determined OPTS Service(s) – Supervised IRA This proposal will offer residential opportunities for five individuals who experience Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), a rare neurobehavioral genetic disorder characterized by significant obesity, hypotonia, and typically mild mental retardation. In order to meet the challenges presented by this population, the service delivery system will be enhanced to meet the objective of maximizing autonomy by systematically encouraging, developing, and helping individuals to maintain self-regulation to the greatest extent possible. NYSARC, Inc., Cattaraugus County Chapter (“The Rehabilitation Center”) (Western New York DDSO, OPTS #238) 13 Individuals Target Implementation – Est. August 2006 OPTS Service(s) – Supervised IRA This proposal involves the construction of two new IRAs and will allow the agency to offer residential opportunities for 13 individuals. This proposal will provide placement for nine individuals whose Individual Residential Alternative is being closed, due to loss of a leased site. In addition, two individuals awaiting service on the NYS-CARES waitlist will be served; and two individuals who have chosen to move from one residential alternative to another based upon their changing needs will be served. Hamaspik of Rockland County, Inc. (Hudson Valley DDSO, OPTS #180) 1 Individual Target Implementation – Est. August 2006 OPTS Service(s) – Individual Day Habilitation This proposal will offer an individualized day program for an individual with cerebral palsy, who is also quadriplegic and lives in a Supervised IRA. This individual suffers from different physical disabilities including problems with vision and difficulty with speech. The proposal includes staffing and assistance to provide her with day services that will enhance her quality of life. The Center for Family Support, Inc. (Metro New York DDSO, OPTS #149) 15 Individuals Target Implementation – To Be Determined OPTS Service(s) – Supervised IRA Residential Habilitation This proposal will provide the downsizing and reconfiguration of a cluster of six IRA apartments that serve 15 individuals. The current six IRAs, located on three floors of an apartment building in the Bronx, will be restructured into three IRAs that serve nine of the individuals. Additionally, a new IRA for the remaining six individuals will be developed. All individuals present a dual diagnosis of mental retardation and mental illness, and severe behavioral challenges that require an intensive clinical and residential habilitation staffing. The services requested provide enhanced staff support and training to help the individuals improve their behavioral management skills, achieve their valued outcomes, and assure their consistent medical care. Association for the Advancement of Blind and Retarded, Inc. [AABR] (Bernard Fineson DDSO, OPTS #88) 100 Individuals Target Implementation – Est. June 2006 OPTS Service(s) – Blended Day Habilitation and Pre-Vocational Services The referenced proposal’s intent is for the provider to improve its day services by offering a comprehensive program maximizing the consumers’ participation in the local community through work, using volunteerism and community service, operating agency sponsored stores and participation in community shopping and inclusion. At the same time the provider will offer an in-house program of continued academics, self-care, physical fitness, and vocational training, social and leisure activities. This will be accomplished by developing a continuum of services for an initial 100 adults progressing through four stages of development in several locations. People, Inc. (Western New York DDSO, OPTS #238) 5 Individuals Target Implementation – To Be Determined OPTS Service(s) – Supervised IRA Residential Habilitation This IRA will provide a living arrangement for five women where their culture is paramount and the house will be wheelchair accessible and have other adaptive equipment available due to their high medical and physical disability requirements. Families and the individuals involved will assist in hiring the staff for the home, setting up house rules when appropriate, and will participate in ongoing evaluation of the proposal. Independent Living Association, Inc. (Metro New York DDSO, OPTS #205) 1 Individual Target Implementation – Est. July 2006 OPTS Service(s) – Individual Day Habilitation This Individual Day Habilitation service will provide day services to one individual with an emphasis on intensive behavioral supports designed to assist him to resume his former activities outside of his residence. Unlike traditional day services, this program will revolve around the clinical intervention, systematic desensitization, which will address his most compelling need (agoraphobia). On Your Mark, Inc. (Staten Island DDSO, OPTS #115) 6 Individuals Target Implementation – To Be Determined OPTS Service(s) – Supervised IRA Residential Habilitation This proposal is focused on insuring that a person-centered residential alternative to nursing home care is available for medically frail individuals. A higher level of medical care will be provided to the individuals who currently live in the home. With the additional medical care available in the home, one individual who lived in the home and has recently been in a nursing home will be able to return to her home. With support for their medical needs, this pilot will allow the individuals to continue their inclusion in community activities of choice. 9. DDSO OPTS Liaison Contacts Bernard Fineson - Ronald Kassover (718) 217-5894 Bernard Fineson - Sheila Green-Gholson (718) 217-6117 Bernard Fineson – Carolyn Adams (718) 217-5596 Brooklyn – Michael Gilbert (718) 642-8546 Brooklyn - Donna Limiti (718) 642-8584 Brooklyn – Janet Strauss (718) 642-8629 Broome - Sandra Beach (607) 770-0248 Broome – Joe Mahon (607) 770-0232 Capital District - Donald Going (518) 486-1313 Central New York - Judith Luyben (315) 473-6654 Finger Lakes - Patricia Barry (585) 461-8826 Hudson Valley - Virginia Leone (845) 947-6333 Hudson Valley – Eileen Wood (845) 344-6530 Hudson Valley – Ira Rothenstein (914) 332-8957 Long Island - Lois Kilkenny (631) 493-1745 Long Island - Deborah Hammargren (631) 493-1812 Metro New York (Metro) – Lisa Persante (718) 430-0474 Metro New York (Bronx) – Patricia Schuckle (718) 430-0847 Metro New York (Manhattan) - Janet Zampella (212) 229-3215 Staten Island - Richard Monck (718) 983-5232 Staten Island - Barbara Schubert (718) 982-1904 Sunmount - Paul Chartier (518) 359-2962 Sunmount - Jacci Gardner (518) 359-2962 Taconic - Robert Slawinski (845) 473-5050 x 151 Taconic - Gabrielle Canino (845) 473-5050 x 129 Western New York - JoAnn Niebel (716) 517-3636 Western New York – Richard Mahaney (716) 517-2144 10. Information Sharing We encourage you to share the information in this message with individuals who are interested in knowing more about recent activities associated with the NYS OPTS initiative. 11. Why You May Receive Multiple Copies of this Message This message is being sent to individuals on several distribution lists. If you appear on more than one of the distribution lists being used, you will receive multiple copies of this message. This message is being distributed to: OPTS Steering Committee OPTS Consumer and Family Subcommittee OPTS Implementation Subcommittee OPTS Provider Subcommittee FSS Statewide Advisory Committee Provider Associations Provider Council Parent-to-Parent Liaison Self Advocate Liaison Multicultural Providers DDSO Directors Central Office Leadership Team DDSO and Central Office OPTS Point People/Liaisons