July 7, 2008

School Violence Prevention Act

 Please Take Action - Call Your North Carolina State Senator Today!

Ask Them To Appoint Conferees for House Bill 1366 School Violence Prevention Act- The Bullying Bill.

Background: House Bill 1366, The Bullying Bill passed the House last year with a list of enumerated categories.  The categories include race, religion, gender, and disabilities.  The categories were included in this legislation to address the groups of students who are most vulnerable to bullying.  The list reflects the findings of national reports on bullying.

The Senate passed a similar bill last session but without the categories.

Last week the House voted 60 to 56 to not concur with the Senate bill.  The bills must now go to conference.

Tell Them:

• This legislation needs to go to a conference committee.
• Ask them to speak to Senate leadership and request that conferees be appointed to discuss this bill.
• Research has demonstrated that including enumerated categories makes students feel safer, and makes teachers and school staff more likely to intervene.

How to find your Senator: http://www.ncleg.net/GIS/Representation/Who_Represents_Me/Who_Represents_Me.html

Or call 919-733-7928 

Thank you for your advocacy!

 

Julia Leggett, Policy Coordinator

The Arc of NC

jleggett@arcnc.org

 

July 1, 2008

Action Needed

School Violence Prevention Act

 

Take Action - Please Call or E-mail Your Representative Today House Bill 1366 - School Violence Prevention Act

Background: The North Carolina House will hold a critical vote on House Bill 1366, the School Violence Prevention Act, as early as this Wednesday, July 2. As you may remember, last year the House passed this important bill to address bullying, but the Senate stripped out critical language that addresses bullying based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and other categories. We know this language is needed to make sure our most vulnerable students are fully protected.

This week the House will be voting on whether to accept or reject the Senate's weakened version of this legislation.

We need your help to ensure that House votes NOT to concur with the Senate so a conference committee can work to pass the strongest possible bill. Please, take a moment right now to e-mail your legislator. Take Action! E-mail or Call Your Representative Today. Here is how to find your Representative http://www.ncleg.net/GIS/Representation/Who_Represents_Me/Who_Represents_Me.html

Tell Them: To vote NOT to concur with the Senate version of HB 1366: School Violence Prevention Act so that a conference committee can ensure that we have the strongest possible law to address the epidemic of bullying in our schools.

Research has demonstrated that including this language makes students feel safer, and makes teachers and school staff more likely to intervene.

Why Enumeration (listing) of Categories is important to Students with Disabilities: Seventy-eight students with disabilities, who gathered in Raleigh during the summer of 2006, discussed their experiences dealing with bullying and harassment while attending school. These young leaders recognized the importance of creating legislation that would create a protected category for students with disabilities. This legislation will support students with disabilities by utilizing the protected categories as a self-advocacy tool. Students with disabilities will be able to look to this legislation as their right to be protected from bullying and harassment. Enumeration of protected categories is a clear sign that all students, regardless of differences in characteristics, appearance, or ability are valued and deserve protection.

Just to remind you how important this legislation is we are sharing this reflection from a North Carolina Youth Leadership Network member and advocate: "Being a person living a life with a disability can be difficult especially if the disability is visible. A person who does not walk straight or does not speak clearly is a target for bullies in the education system. As a student in their junior year of high school, people would think there would be an understanding and the teasing would decease but that is not the situation."

Please take the time to call or e-mail your representative today. Students with disabilities should be protected from bullying!

Thank you for your advocacy!

Julia Leggett, Policy Coordinator The Arc of NC

 

 

May 29, 2008

NC Legislative Update: The Budget

 

At the General Assembly today,  the House Appropriation Subcommittee on Health and Human Services and the House Appropriation Subcommittee on Education voted on their final budget requests for fiscal year 2008-2009.

 

The House Health and Human Services Appropriation Subcommittee and the House Education Appropriation Subcommittee met today and voted unanimously to approve their final budgets.

There were a few adjustments in the Health and Human Services budget, specifically in Community Supports. 

 

Here is a breakdown of the approved budget requests from these two committees.

Health and Human Services

CAP/MR-DD Tiered Waiver Slots              
$8,232,411      Recurring
This funding will provide for additional Community Alternatives Waiver Program slots for people with developmental disabilities.

 

START Crisis Model for Developmental Disabilities        
$3,239,688 Recurring and $204, 459 Non Recurring
This funding will provide for 9 Developmental Disabilities Systemic Therapeutic Assessment, Respite, and Treatment Crisis Model teams. 

 

Respite Beds for Developmental Disabilities
$903, 375 Recurring and $177,617 Non Recurring
This funding will provide for start-up and ongoing support of 12 respite beds for individuals with developmental disabilities across the state.

 

Housing 400 Initiative-Housing Trust Fund
$7,000,000  Non Recurring
The funding for the Housing 400 Initiative increased in the final budget from $4,000,000.  This funding provides for the financing of additional independent and supportive living apartments for people with disabilities. $2,000,000 of this funding is redirected from the Mental Health Trust Fund.

 

Housing 400 Initiative-Operating Cost Subsidy      
$1,000,000 Recurring
This funding provides the operating cost for the independent-and supportive living apartments.  It provides for the deep affordability that is needed for people with disabilities receiving Supplement Security Incomes.

 

Early Intervention for Autism          
$1,300,000 Non Recurring
This appropriation is a reduction from the original $2,000,000.  This funding supports three model programs of early intervention for autism across the state. These programs serve children with autism from birth through age 10.

 

Supportive Services for HUD 811 Projects             
$129,331 Recurring and $155,000 Non Recurring
This funding will provide on-going operation and start-up expenses to support 6 two-bedroom and 19 one-bedroom apartments financed through HUD.  These units are located in Wake County, Mecklenburg County, Rowan County and Buncombe County.  Direct services dollars are the key to a successful transition to independent living options for the residents of these units.

 

Traumatic Brain Injury Services                  
$1,000,000  Recurring
This funding is directed to TBI services.

 

Beyond Academics: Intellectual Disability Transition Program 
$200,000 Non Recurring
This funding will provide support to Beyond Academics, a non-degree university-based program for students with developmental disabilities. 

 

Medically Fragile Children's Program                    
$70,000 Non Recurring
Funding of this program provides services for the child care component of pediatric day treatment center for medically fragile children.  In addition this program will receive an additional $290,000 from the SSBG Block Grant.  This was a new appropriation that had not been funded in the previous draft proposal.

 

Education

Children with Disabilities                 
$6,200,000 Recurring
This funding will be allotted to LEAs (school districts) to support special education and related services for students with identified disabilities.  This funding will increase the per student funded rate to $3,386.84 per student.

 

Dropout Prevention Grants              
$15,000,000 Non Recurring
This funding will provide for a second year of grants to drop out prevention programs.

More at Four             
$23,000,000 Non Recurring
This funding will expand the More at Four program by 4,184 slots in 2008-2009 and increase the average per slot amount by 3%.  This was a new addition in this final budget. 

 

More from the Budget

 

In addition to the budget there were a few specific Special Provisions that we should highlight.

 

First in Health and Human Services, it looks like our state may finally implement the long awaited Ticket to Work Program.  Thanks to advocates across the disability spectrum, a significant change was made to the Special Provision regarding Ticket To Work.  In the first draft we were looking at maybe up to a year or more delay to implementation.  As of this approved budget, implementation of Ticket to Work Program is set for July 1, 2008, "whether or not the new MMIS is operational.”

 

Second, we would like to update you on progress regarding dropout rates and students with disabilities.  This year in North Carolina 4,050 students with disabilities dropped out of high schools.  In the final Education budget there is a special provision that begins the process of addressing what is happening in high school to children with disabilities.  The provision requires the Department of Public Instruction to analyze the participation rates of students with disabilities in Learn and Earn Early College High Schools, Redesigned High Schools, the North Carolina Virtual Public School, and North Carolina public high schools that are on block schedules.  In the analysis the Department is being requested to consider enrollment, graduation, and dropout rates for students with disabilities in these different programs.

 

What Is Next?

The budget will now head to the full House Appropriations on Tuesday.  We expect to see the House vote on the final budget on Wednesday. The Senate will receive the budget by the end of the week and begin a review.  We expect the Senate to work as quickly as the House did.

 

Future Legislative Action Alerts

Right now we are not asking for calls or emails to be sent to legislators.  We will be contacting you within the week to advise on future legislative calls and emails.

 

The Arc of North Carolina and advocates across our State applaud the leadership of these two committees and the leadership of the House Appropriations Committee on addressing the needs of people and children with developmental disabilities by funding initiatives in health care, housing and education. 

 

 Thank you again for all of your advocacy and as always, feel free to call The Arc of NC with any questions at 1-800-662-8706

 

 

May 23, 2008

NC Legislative Update: The Budget

 

This week the House Appropriation Subcommittees rolled out their budget requests. The final House budget is due this coming week. Here is the breakdown of the money report from the House Appropriation Subcommittee on Health and Human Services and Education.

 Health and Human Services

 Local Crisis System Response System: This will include the Governor's recommendation for funding for the START Model.  

 $30,334,290 Recurring,  $5,904,459 459 Non Recurring

 

Housing 400 Initiative: Housing 400 Initiative-Operating Cost Subsidy  $1,000,000 Recurring

Housing 400 Initiative-Housing Trust Fund $4,000,000 Non Recurring

 

CAP-MR/DD Waiver Tiered Slots $8,232,411  Recurring

 

Early Intervention for Autism $2,000,000  Recurring

 

Supportive Services for HUD 811 Projects 

$129,311 Recurring 

$155,000  Non Recurring

 

Traumatic Brain Injury Services $1,000,000  Recurring

 

Beyond Academics: Intellectual Disability Transition Program $200,000 Recurring

 

Education

 

Children With Disabilities/Increase to LEAs (Raises funding to $3,386.50 per student) $6,200,000 Recurring

 

Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Funding  $5,000,000  Recurring

 

Dropout Prevention Grants  $10,000,000  Non Recurring

 

 

This is a really good start for this session. On Monday, we anticipate learning more on how these proposals are received in the full House of Representatives. For now we are not asking for additional calls or e-mails. Expect a new alert from us on Tuesday or Wednesday with recommendations on future actions.

 

Thanks for all of your advocacy and we hope you have a nice holiday weekend.

 

The Arc of North Carolina

 

 

 

May 7, 2008

E-Alert

The Coalition Rally Day on May 21

Save the Date!

 

 

Please Make Plans to Attend The Coalition Legislative Advocacy Day & Popcorn Rally in Raleigh on May 21!

 

 

THE COALITION (formerly Coalition 2001) represents individuals and organizations statewide that advocate for people needing services and supports for mental health, developmental disabilities, and addictive diseases.

 

Since 1991, The Coalition has recommended a budget to the North Carolina General Assembly.  Each year during the Legislative session, The Coalition sponsors several advocacy events to bring local advocates to Raleigh to speak with their state legislators. We strongly encourage you to make appointments with your legislators well in advance of the day.

 

Advocate for better funding for developmental disability, mental health, and addictive disease services.

 

Registration will open at 8:00 AM on the portico of the Legislative Building.

• Participants can get information on the day's legislative committee meetings, the current budget proposal and begin visits with legislators.

• Short trainings will be held on effective ways to communicate your message to Legislators at 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 AM in the Legislative Building auditorium (on the third floor).

• Volunteers will also be on hand in the auditorium from 8:30 to 12:30 with tips and techniques for making the most of your legislative visit.

 

Rally at NOON in front of the Legislative Building, Jones St. 

 

Afternoon start of General Assembly Session: There will be introductions of Coalition members, participants can assemble in both the House and Senate galleries.

 

Popcorn will be available on the portico during the day!

 For Directions and a map of Raleigh, you can go to the The General Assembly webpage at:  www.ncga.state.nc.us/help/directions.html

The Coalition encourages your participation in this event to advocate for funding for mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services. For more information on the event, please contact Erin McLaughlin at 919-981-0740 ext. 507 or emclaughlin@mha-nc.org

 As always, feel free to contact The Arc of NC with any questions at:

1-800-662-8706 or e-mail  lguzman@arcnc.org.

 Thanks and we look forward to seeing you there!

 

April 25, 2008

MH/DD/SAS Updates

 

Read The Legislative Oversight Committee on MH/DD/SAS Report

 

 

April 21, 2008

MH/DD/SAS Updates

 

Read D. Benton's Recommendations

 

 

 

February 29, 2008

Breaking News!

New State MH/DD/SAS Leadership is Announced

 

New Leadership Team Set for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services

RALEIGH- N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dempsey Benton today announced a new leadership team for the N.C. Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS). The division will be led by two co-directors, one in charge of clinical activities and the other handling administrative duties.

Mike Lancaster, M.D., who has been DMH/DD/SAS clinical policy chief since June 2004, and Leza Wainwright, who has been DMH/DD/SAS deputy director since December 2003, will fill the new roles.

"This is a large division with a complex mission," said Benton. "It is clear that we need to have strong, focused leadership on both the clinical and the administrative sides of the operation. These two professionals are uniquely qualified to fill those roles. I don’t think any one individual would have the skill set to give both the clinical and administrative functions the attention they deserve at this time."

Dr. Lancaster will provide guidance on clinical policy throughout the entire public mental health, developmental disabilities, substance abuse services system. Lancaster, who has more than 25 years clinical experience as a Board-certified Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, will work with clinical staff to ensure that quality services are delivered consistently across the system.

Wainwright will focus her attention on day-to-day administrative operations of the division, including overseeing budgeting, personnel and relationships with the local management entities that manage community service delivery.

The N.C. Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services oversees delivery of services to over 315,000 people a year and has an annual budget of $2.3 billion. It is by far the largest division in DHHS, accounting for almost 12,000 of the department’s 19,000 employees. The Division also oversees four regional psychiatric hospitals, four developmental disabilities centers, three substance abuse treatment centers, a specialty nursing facility for consumers with mental illness, a specialty nursing facility for consumers with developmental disabilities and two residential facilities for children with emotional disturbances.   

              
Public Affairs Office
101 Blair Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603
(919)733-9190
FAX (919)733-7447      
Debbie Crane
Director  

  Keep up-to-date on issues important to the disability community on The Arc of NC's Blog: www.thearcnc.blogspot.com

 

 

February 22, 2008

Breaking News!

State MH/DD/SAS Director Retires

 

 

 On February 22, 2008 Mike Moseley, State MH/DD/SAS Director, announced his retirement.  Press Release