Meeting Minutes
Virginia State Rehabilitation Council
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Virginia State Rehabilitation Council
Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2010
A meeting of the Virginia State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) was held on January 25, 2010 at the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), Richmond, Virginia.
Members Present: Karen Baugh, Charles Benagh (teleconference), Gregory Coleman, Sandra Cook, Stephanie Colorado, Daniel DeBoer, Charles Downs, Donna Kay Graff, Shannon McManus Jones, Toney Lineberry, Kathleen Maybee, Marianne Moore, James Rothrock, Cherie Takemoto, Florence Watt, Karen Gregory-Williams
Members Absent: Matthew Deans, Sarah Liddle, Celia Yette
Others Present: Elizabeth Smith, Policy and Planning Director; Scott Fraley, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Quality Assurance Analyst; Vanessa Rakestraw, Policy Analyst; Rick Sizemore, Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) Director; Barbara Tyson, Staff Support; Ernie Steidle, Chief Operating Officer; Cat Clough and John Folker, Interpreters; Eleanor Fields, Personal Assistant, Michael Kasey, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) SRC Representative
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 11:30 a.m.
Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Cherie Takemoto, seconded, and passed by unanimous vote to approve the minutes of the November 17, 2009 meeting as amended. Ms. Watt announced that she had received a written request from Chuck Benagh to participate by teleconference because of a medical condition/disability that prevented his attendance.
Matters of Public Comment: There were no comments from the public.
Chairperson’s Report
• The SRC March 15, 2010 meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Valley View in Roanoke prior to the beginning of the Transition Conference. The meeting will begin at approximately 9:00 a.m. and end by 12:30 p.m. so members can be transported to the Hotel Roanoke. In partnership with DBVI, a public hearing will be held at approximately 4:30 p.m. also at the Hotel Roanoke. Additional information will be forthcoming.
• Due to time constraints for the March meeting, Roundtable Reports need to be submitted prior to the meeting so they can be distributed electronically to members.
Commissioner’s Report
• The Council members received a listing of Senate and House proposed legislation affecting DRS programs. Commissioner Rothrock suggested members pay close attention to the bills and if they have questions to contact Liz Smith.
• Governor Robert F. McDonnell issued Executive Order Number Two: Establishing the Governor's Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring. This directs all state employees to work towards effective and efficient measures in state government. Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center is already involved in efficiencies in stewardship.
• The Commissioner reviewed the budget reductions affecting long term employment supports, brain injury services and the Personal Assistance Services Program in Former-Governor Kaine’s proposed 2010-2012 budget. It is possible that there may be additional budget reductions due to the continuing fiscal situation of the Commonwealth. In light of the recent budget deficits, the Commissioner’s Stakeholder Advisory Group on Excellence (SAGE) may be reconvened. SAGE met during the summer of 2002 and approximately half of the meetings were devoted to a comprehensive overview of the agency, its mission, organization, programs, personnel, budget, management, and administration. The remaining meetings were used to generate critical concerns and issues from the advisory group. Members included representatives from the State Rehabilitation Council, Brain Injury Council, Statewide Independent Living Council, etc. The Commissioner asked Florence Watt to think about representation from the SRC if the SAGE is reconvened.
• Dr. William A. Hazel, Jr. has been appointed as the Secretary of Health and Human Resources.
• DRS is launching a new website which will be more accessible and consumer friendly.
• Frances Koehler has been hired to work with DRS clients on their SSI and SSDI benefits in relation to employment and benefits.
• The Council members received the performance report for the Field Services for FFY 2010, month ending December, 2010. The Commissioner is working with the Regional Directors on initiatives to address performance. These include instituting a “fast track” system to move VR consumers through the process in a more expeditious fashion, looking at policies that may be negatively affecting performance, and examining the institution of incentives for counselors to boost outcomes.
DRS Program Reports and Working Lunch
Rick Sizemore provided the following information regarding the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC):
• WWRC’s Blueprint for Direction is available electronically and was discussed and distributed.
• WWRC’s Annual report is available electronically and was discussed and distributed.
• On February 8, 2010, Rick Sizemore and Commissioner Rothrock will meet with representatives from the Veterans Administration to continue to discuss ways that WWRC can serve Wounded Warriors.
Ernie Steidle reported on the status of the budget for State Fiscal Year 2010. As of October 30, 2009, 52% of the budget remains. DRS has spent approximately $10 million in ARRA funds.
Council Roundtable
Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC): Ms. Liddle sent a written report that was distributed to the SRC members. The main objective of the January 21, 2010 meeting of the SILC was to continue the development of the 2011-2013 State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). A series of objectives was developed and approved to accompany the four SPIL Goals approved at the October 2009 meeting.
By direction of the SILC, this first draft document will continue to be developed by the SPIL sub-committee and will be distributed for a public comment process to be completed by the end of March 2010.
A second draft, responding to these public comments, will be presented to the full SILC at the April 22 quarterly meeting in Abingdon, Virginia.
The completed 2011-2013 SPIL document is to be submitted to the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) by July 1, 2010.
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC): Ms. Takemoto sent a written report that was distributed to the SRC members prior to the meeting. To respond to the calls PEATC is receiving and the responses to the parent involvement in transition survey, they plan to develop a series of bulletins specific to DRS. They will begin by culling information from the two information sheets that Erica Lovelace developed for PEATC. They would be delighted with opportunities for further collaboration with DRS and the SRC to develop pertinent DRS information into DRS Bulletins. PEATC could make this into a resource folder on their website with DRS information.
In addition to the information submitted, Ms. Takemoto also announced a new iPhone application called the IEP Checklist that is available for free download and is written in English and Spanish.
Department of Education (DOE): Ms. Moore sent a written report that was distributed to SRC members prior to the meeting.
Project Search: Richmond City Schools at MCV; new sites TBD
Post High Experience: Site TBD
Annual Performance Report and State Performance Plan: The VDOE will submit their APR/SPP on Feb 1, 2010. The language in some of the indicators has changed and VDOE will not report on those with changes for the 2008-2009 SY. Data will be reported for the 2009-2010 SY. Indicators 1 and 2 remain the same although all states will now use the definition of graduate and dropout used in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (NCLB definition).
If the SRC would like a more detailed report, one can be provided at the next council meeting.
Autism: VDOE has hired an ID and Autism specialist, Samantha Marsh. VDOE is working to develop best practice guidelines, helping to provide professional development and university coursework for educators, guidance materials, fact sheets and family resources to include a transition guide.
Race to the Top Grant: For a summary of the grant application go to:http://www.doe.virginia.gov/school_finance/arra/competitive/race_to_the_top_application_documents/summary_application.pdf
Academic and Career Plans: The State Board of Education approved ACPs and in SY 2010-2011 LEAs will begin to develop plans for all 7th graders. The plans will be completed in grade 8 and reviewed/updated during high school. VDOE will begin intensive training with LEA teams beginning in February. For more information visit: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/graduation/academic_career_plan.shtml
Technical Diplomas: To see the requirements visit: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/graduation/technical_diplomas.shtml
Virginia Transition Forum: 25th anniversary of a conference dealing with evaluation and transition issues. This year the Forum will be in Roanoke, Virginia. The theme is Virginia: The State of Transition. VDOE will host a Youth Summit as well as a Parent Summit. The speakers from Show Your Spark will be presenting and speaking on Tuesday.
DBVI SRC: Mr. DeBoer reported the following information regarding DBVI:
• Doug Powell was elected the 2009-2010 Chair of the DBVI SRC
• The SRC is researching the need for By-Laws
• With ARRA funds, all of DBVI’s Order of Selection categories have been opened
• In FFY 2009, DBVI served 921 consumers and there were 170 Status 26 closures with $14.47 in average hourly earnings
• The Virginia Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired is being renovated to provide accessibility
• DBVI has begun working on their next State Plan Triennial Needs Assessment
Committee Reports
Internal Affairs Committee
Karen Baugh, Chair, reported on the following:
The Committee is recommending, based on a proposal from Carla Sankey, DRS Internal Auditor, that no audit of the VR Consumer Satisfaction Survey occur in 2010 due to the previous excellent audit results. A motion was made by Karen Baugh, seconded and approved to waive a 2010 audit of the VR consumer satisfaction survey.
The Committee discussed the roles and responsibilities of subcommittees formed to address particular aspects of the Committee’s responsibilities. The subcommittees are as follows:
State Plan: Cherie Takemoto (Lead) and Sarah Liddle
Transition: Marianne Moore (Lead) and Cherie Takemoto
Consumer Satisfaction: Chuck Benagh (Lead) and Celia Yette
Fair Hearings: Toney Lineberry (Lead) and Matthew Deans
Service Providers: Matthew Deans (Lead) and Karen Baugh
Limited English Proficiency: Donna Kay Graff (Lead) and Marianne Moore
WWRC: Toney Lineberry (Lead) and Chuck Benagh
Each subcommittee will meet with the designated DRS staff person prior to the March 15, 2010 meeting in order to provide a brief report if time permits.
External Affairs Committee
Danny DeBoer, Chair, reported on the following:
A draft of Proposed Guidelines for Public Comment was distributed and edited to clarify that these guidelines apply to public comments at SRC meetings.
Robert J. Froehlich from The George Washington University Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Center reviewed the results from the SRC retreat with the Committee. He agreed to assist the Committee in accomplishing the Council goals established during the retreat. Mr. DeBoer indicated that the Committee members are to stay engaged in SRC work throughout the year. Individual members are to complete assigned projects that were discussed during the retreat and reiterated in External Affairs Committee meeting. The Committee is committed to increasing consumer participation at public hearings and members will be making contacts regarding this issue.
The Committee is working on improving the SRC website.
The Committee reviewed and approved the 2009 SRC Annual Report and recommended that SRC members distributed electronic versions of this report to their legislators. SRC members are encouraged to follow up distribution of the Annual Report by telephoning their representatives regarding this report.
Nominations for the Roy J. Ward SRC Employee Leadership Award are due by February 15, 2010. The Committee will review the nominations and make recommendations to the Council at the March meeting.
Unfinished Business
None
New Business
Mr. Downs requested that Commissioner Rothrock provide feedback from the Veteran’s Administration meeting that he and Mr. Sizemore will attend on February 8, 2010.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
