Wednesday June 10, 2009 4:00pm

Budget Crisis Update

Some Cuts Restored!

Some good news……..but a long way to go. Here is what was voted on in the House today.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

• LME System Management Funds-4M Restored

• CAP/MR-DD State Supplement-8M Restored

• MH/DD/SA State Funded Services-full 50M Restored

• Medicaid Provider Rate Cut was 5.5 percent cut…….now 3.3 percent cut

• Voc Rehab Case Services-fully Restored

• Voc Rehab Funds for Independent Living-fully Restored

• PT and OT and Speech and Medicaid Funding-fully Restored

• Orthotics and Prosthetics Coverage-fully Restored

• Adult Optical-fully Restored

• Dental and Medicaid Coverage-fully Restored

• Dental Policy Adjustments-fully Restored

• In Home Personal Care-was cut 49M now 34M cut

EDUCATION FUNDING

• Restored for Fiscal Year 09, 2010355,000,000

• Restored for Fiscal Year 10, 2011416,000,000

• At Risk Student Services-Fully Restored

• Low Wealth Supplemental Funding-Fully Restored Instructional Support-

• Fully Restored K to 3 Class Size-Restored to 08 09 school yr level

Wednesday June 10, 2009 8:00am

Budget Crisis Update

Last night-(June 9) at 11:00pm the House Appropriations committee passed it’s version of the budget without new revenue.

Earlier in the evening the Finance Committee passed a revenue package with slightly less than 800 million dollars in tax increases.

Today the Appropriations subcommittee restored some of the worst cuts in MH/DD/SA and Medicaid but know that it doesn’t go far enough.

Your calls are still important for the House process. Please keep the calls coming. The legislative process still has a long way to go including a conference with the Senate so although this is not the outcome we want, we are making progress.

Our voice is the only thing that will change this. Look for updates on the budget and actions needed. If you have questions please feel free to call the office 800-662-8706 and ask to speak with Dave, Ellen or Linda. Keep up the good work!

Action Alert

Phone Calls Needed!

June 8, 2009

Budget Cuts Proposed by House will Destroy North Carolina!

There is no way to overstate the dire nature of the proposed House budget cuts:

• People will die

• Tens of thousands of North Carolinians will lose their jobs

• Our education and human service system will be destroyed

On Thursday, June 4th, the House Appropriations Subcommittee forwarded “their recommendations” to the full Appropriations Committee. Their recommendations come with no vote or real support. Many House members now state publicly that a “revenue” (tax) package is needed to offset these cuts.

In Health and Human Services alone, the proposed cuts, when federal matching dollars are taken into account, will equal over three billion dollars!

These HHS cuts would most likely result in:

• An actual reduction of services to people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse of close to one billion dollars

• Homelessness

• Family and individual crisis

• Jeopardizing the health and safety of tens of thousands of people

• Job losses for 50-90 thousand North Carolinians

In education, the cuts will:

•  Increase class size

• Eliminate thousands of teaching positions, and most support services

• We believe these cuts will end all inclusion programs and enhanced services for students with disabilities.

These cuts will destabilize our social service network with unintended consequences too horrific to imagine!

Action Needed!

 Because of the huge public outcry last week, House members are beginning to think twice about their actions, but without continued calls, they will proceed with these cuts.

The week, we need you, your friends, family and neighbors to: CALL THE CHAIRS OF THE FULL HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE.

House Appropriations Chairs:

Rep. Henry Michaux, Jr. 919.715.2528

Rep. Alma Adams 919.733.5902

Rep. Martha  Alexander 919.733.5807

Rep. James Crawford, Jr. 919.733.5824

Rep. R. Phillip Haire 919.715.3005

Rep. Maggie Jeffus 919.733.5191

Rep. Joe Tolson 919.715.3024

Rep. Douglas Yongue 919.733.5821

Office of the Governor:

Gov. Bev Perdue 919.733.4240

The message is simple: Stop these horrific cuts – raise taxes to avoid destroying North Carolina.

If you need talking points, a few things to mention:

• Cutting Medicaid Personal Care by half forces people into institutions

• Cutting state funded developmental disability services eliminates crises and safety net services

• Eliminating PT/OT and ST for Medicaid is cruel and will result in wasted lives

• Freezing the CAP-MR/DD program destroys hope

Not only do these cuts destroy our Human Service system, they also send the economy into a deeper recession because of job losses.

Act this week – your call will make a difference. Every single call makes a difference!

Check this page for additional talking points throughout the week.

Come to Raleigh on June 17th to join others to lobby your legislators on these issues! More details will follow but for now hold that date.

Also be sure to  read the latest edition of The Arc Works! our electronic newsletter.

Thank you for your advocacy! Please make the calls. Every single call makes a difference.

Budget Crisis Update

June 5, 2009

Last night, with a packed committee room the HHS Appropriations committee forwarded its budget without prejudice to the full appropriations committee. In the weird world of legislative politics this is a major victory!

At the end of the meeting, almost every legislator from both parties stated they could not live with the cuts that are proposed.

In other committee rooms where legislators debated budgets for other parts of the budget (including education), similar debates took place. The most important part of this week's activity is that now there is a rapidly growing number of legislators recognizing that they cannot pass a budget that looks like this one.

What we know is that your advocacy through your thousands upon thousands of calls and e-mails is making a difference! What we also know is that if you had been silent this budget would have been on a fast track to pass!

We need you to continue to drive community support for opposing these cuts.

• Write letters to the editor of your newspaper

• Respond to news articles on news websites

• Have conversations with your neighbors, friends, and family.

All of these activities will all have an impact!

Highlight the impact these cuts will have on you, AND be sure to state that you want the legislators to raise taxes.

We plan to hold a lobby day with other disability organizations on Wednesday June 17. More details will follow but please hold the day.

Remember you are making a real difference and without you we cannot prevail!

We will send out more information next week.

Thanks for your advocacy, we have only just begun!

June 4, 2009

Budget Update

The House HHS Appropriation Subcommittee will vote on their proposed budget immediately following the House session, on Thursday June 4. The meeting will be in room 643 of the Legislative Office Building and will begin sometime after 1:00 pm.

This budget will devastate community based health services. This budget will put real people at risk. It will cause significant and wide spread job loss in our state. This budget will put families in crisis.

People filling up the room will make a difference. Come if you can!

Driving directions can be found at: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/help/directions.html

June 2, 2009

Budget Update

Today in the HHS budget subcommittee meeting, the Chairs proposed an additional 250 million dollars in cuts to meet the fiscal targets. The cuts were in two primary areas adding an additional 1.5% cut in rates for Medicaid providers and a 10 million dollar cut in Personal Care in Group Homes and rest homes. They also eliminate Medicaid funding for PT, OT and Speech therapy. These cuts continue the trend of cutting services to NC citizens and driving our state further into recession. Despite these additional cuts, we do know your calls are having an impact. In today’s meeting, several legislators did state they could not vote for a budget with this degree of cuts.

We need you to continue the calls that you are making to the leadership! For them the message that a tax increase is preferable to these cuts is critical.

For those of you who have a legislator on the HHS appropriations Subcommittee, we need to have calls to these members asking them to vote against these proposals and support a tax increase to offset these cuts! The members of the committee are listed below. These folks need calls from their community!

On Thursday the committee is scheduled to vote. It would be great if we had the room full of families and people with disabilities. If the committee is to vote yes on this, they need to see the people they will affect. The committee is scheduled to meet after session which we think will be around mid-day.

Subcommittee on Health and Human Services

Representative Verla Insko-Orange County Phone: 919-733-7208 

Representative Beverly Earle-Mecklenburg County Phone: 919-715-2530

Representative Bob England-Rutherford County Phone: 919-733-5749

Representative Jeff Barnhart-Cabarrus County Phone: 919-715-2009

Representative William D. Brisson-Bladen and Cumberland County Phone: 919-733-5772

Representative Justin Burr – Stanly County Phone: 919-733-5908 

Representative Pearl Burris-Floyd –Gaston County Phone: 919-715-2002

Representative Nelson Dollar – Wake County Phone: 919-715-0795

Representative Wil Neumann – Gaston County Phone: 919-733-5868

Representative Jean Farmer-Butterfield-Wilson County Phone: 919-733-5898

Representative Randy Stewart Phone: 919-733-5802

Action Needed!

Make 3 phone calls today!

June 1, 2009

DO NOT WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO CALL;

EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAS TO MAKE THESE CALLS! ACT NOW!!

The House Budget Threatens Our Lives

The House's proposed budget will destroy the economic fabric of our state. (If you would like to read the proposed budget go to our action alert page at: http://72.167.22.100/action_alert/index.shtml . Click on the link for the House Budget Proposal)

Our service system will be set back 40 years.  The House's proposed budget cuts to Health and Human Services and Medicaid will have a total impact of close to $3.5 billion. 

The entire service system will be destroyed.  Individuals and families will lose their services.  It's not even a matter of trying to send people with developmental disabilities back to institutions - there won’t be institutions and there won't be community supports.

A few of the worst cuts are:

• Reducing the budget for state-funded services by over $150,000,000

• Cuts all Medicaid service rates by 4% causing salary reductions and layoffs

• Cuts Medicaid Personal Care Services by over $50,000,000...reducing the services by over half. This is the only direct service other than case management that is a Medicaid entitlement for people with developmental disabilities

• Eliminates continuation increases in Medicaid of over $500,000,000.  This cut means serious reductions because any increases in CAP plans implemented during the last fiscal year will be eliminated

• Cuts case management services by over $50,000,000 by "consolidation"

• Eliminates the Medicaid service called Community Support which is the one Medicaid service that is designed to support people with mental illness in the community. 

The House's budget will cause a depression in North Carolina.  The massive reduction in jobs in health and human services and education, as well as in other areas, will result in a lower tax base, which in turn will necessitate further budget cuts and more losses in services.  It’s a vicious, downward spiraling cycle.

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!  We must all unite to fight the House's proposed budget, and we have no time to waste.  The House may vote on the budget as early as June 8. 

No one can afford to sit back and watch this budget debacle play out.  The lives of people with disabilities, their families and the entire state of North Carolina depend on everyone getting involved.  Don't think someone else will make the calls. YOU must make the calls!

The Arc of NC has a strategic advocacy plan. Today, tomorrow and Wednesday the leadership of the House must hear from you. We will send out an e-alert when it is time for the next steps, but today, you need to make three calls:

Speaker Hackney 919-733-3451

Majority Leader Holliman 919-715-0873

Minority Leader Stam 919-733-2962

Tell them:

The proposed cuts in HHS and education will destroy our state, risking the lives of people with disabilities, our children’s future, cost thousands of jobs and drive our state into a depression! Raise taxes in order to avoid this disaster! We hold the House accountable!

These representatives must receive thousands of phone calls in the next two days.

To follow The Arc of North Carolina's activities on the House budget, read our blog at: www.thearcnc.blogspot.com.

We’ve got a tough fight ahead of us, but we can make a difference if we all work together to defeat the House's proposed budget.

Dave Richard

Executive Director

The Arc of North Carolina

Action Alert

Action Needed!!!

May 19, 2009

YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COALITION RALLY TOMORROW!

Wednesday May 20.

DISABILITY SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE ON THE LINE!

The Budget Picture Worsens Even More...... Talk of 1.6 Billion dollars of cuts from Dept. Of Health and Human Services (DHHS)!

People who are waiting for or using supports and services need YOU to show up.

Self-advocates, advocates, family members...YOU need to be there.

The weather is going to be 75 and sunny. This will be the perfect day to let our legislators see and hear how many of their constituents rely on disability supports and services.

The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to meet and discuss DD/MH/SAS services at 8:30 tomorrow morning. We have to pack that Committee room. The legislators must see the people who will be affected by the cuts. This is critical!

WE HAVE TO HAVE THOUSANDS DOWNTOWN TOMORROW FOR THE RALLY!

• Get to the rally early!

• Attend the Appropriations Meeting at 8:30.

• Show your commitment to disability supports and services!

• If you have never participated in a rally, this is the one.

DISABILITY SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE IN GREAT DANGER.

Details/Schedule/Talking Points/Parking information is below.

Attend the Coalition Rally

THE COALITION 2009 ADVOCACY DAY

Wednesday, May 20th 2009

The Coalition* Rally in support of saving services for people with Developmental Disabilities/Mental Health/Substance Abuse (DD/MH/SA) needs will take place on Wednesday May 20.

This week the House sub-committee on Health and Human Services (HHS) was informed it would have to cut 500 million dollars from last year's spending to deal with the state's budget crisis. Such a cut would require the committee to make serious reductions in supports for people with developmental disabilities.

The House will be working on this plan beginning this coming week so it is great timing for our rally.

Please make every effort to attend.......everyone person attending helps our efforts.

Below are talking points that we encourage you to use as you speak to your legislators. Following the talking points, you will find detailed information about the Rally schedule and parking information.

Talking Points for the Coalition Rally

• The National and State recession is already taking its toll on people with disabilities and addictive diseases through job losses, reductions in charitable and foundation giving, and reductions in local services. People supported through the DD/MH/SA system depend upon these services to survive.

• Reductions in funding for the supports people need to live in communities will only create more crises and destabilize a fragile system

• Temporary tax increases and restructuring the state's tax structure are much better options than massive service reductions. Administrative and non-service funding must be reduced prior to funding for services.

• Any reductions in funding for services must be temporary in nature, and be coupled with corresponding reductions in administrative cost.

• State funds that match or draw down federal or private service dollars must be protected.

• The General Assembly and Administration should work with The Coalition to identify solutions that protect individuals and provide relief for the state's fiscal crisis.

Rally Information

Registration will open at 8:00AM for participants to get information on the day's legislative committee meetings, the current budget proposal and begin visits with legislators.

Popcorn will be available on the portico during the day, and the Rally will start under the tent on the Legislative lawn at Noon.

As part of the advocacy day, Coalition advocates will be conducting short trainings on effective ways to communicate your message to Legislators. Trainings will take place at 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00 AM in the Legislative building auditorium (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.

The Arc encourages your participation in this event to advocate for funding for developmental disability, mental health, and addictive disease services. We need strong representation from the developmental disability community

Coalition Rally Day Parking

Free parking and transportation to the Coalition Rally is provided. On Rally Day May 20 please park in the Upper Bunn Field area of the NC State Fairgrounds, which is adjacent to the twin oak trees at Gate 9. Buses will run to and from the rally starting at 8:30 am and running until approximately 2:00 pm.

Directions to the Fairgrounds http://www.ncstatefair.org/directions.htm

If you plan to drive into downtown for the rally. Please follow the link below for directions and map. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/help/directions.html

Rally Schedule at a glance

 • 8:00 am-Registration opens Legislative Building Portico

• 8:30 am through the morning-Attend Legislative Committee Meetings. Information on meetings will be available the day of the Rally

• 9:00, 10:00, 1:00 am-Trainings on Effectively Communicating with Legislators 3rd floor Auditorium Legislative Building

• All morning-Visit with legislators in their offices, use the Coalition talking points you pick up at registration

• 11:00 am-Popcorn on the Portico of the Legislative Building

• 12:00 noon Coalition Rally under the tent on lawn behind Legislative Building

The Arc of North Carolina thanks you again for your advocacy.

The Arc of NC 343 East Six Forks Rd. Ste 320 Raleigh, NC 27609 1-800-662-8706 www.arcnc.org

*THE COALITION represents individuals and organizations statewide, that advocate for persons needing services and supports for developmental disabilities, mental health, 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 advocacy events to bring local advocates to Raleigh to speak with their state legislators.

THE COALITION 2009 ADVOCACY DAY

Wednesday, May 20th 2009

Please make plans to attend. Legislators need to hear from their constituents!

8 am: Registration opens Legislative Building Portico

8:30 am through the morning: Attend Legislative Committee Meetings (Info on meetings will be available day of the Rally)

9, 10, & 11 am: Trainings on Effectively Communicating with Legislators (3rd floor Auditorium Legislative Building)

All morning: Visit with legislators in their offices – use the Coalition talking points you pick up at registration

11 am: Popcorn on the Portico of the Legislative Building

12 noon: Coalition Rally under the tent on lawn behind Legislative Building

Coalition Rally Day Parking

Free parking & transportation to the Coalition Rally is provided. On Rally Day (May 20^th) please park in the Upper Bunn Field area of the NC State Fairgrounds, which is adjacent to the twin oak trees at Gate 9. Buses will run to & from the rally starting at 8:30 am and running until approximately 2 pm.

Directions to the Fairgrounds:  

http://www.ncstatefair.org/directions.htm

Map of Fairgrounds:  

http://www.ncstatefair.org/map_popup.htm

If you plan to drive into downtown for the rally. Please follow the link below for directions and map.

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/help/directions.html

May 5, 2009

Action Alert on Bullying Bill

NC ACTION ALERT: URGENT ACTION REQUESTED. PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW!

TODAY the NC Senate Votes on Senate Bill 526: School Violence Prevention.

We need you to TAKE ACTION. Call your Senator today.

Senate Bill 526: School Violence Prevention Act, passed the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Youth Services last evening. Today it will be on the Senate floor for a vote and we still have work to do! This legislation is important to the children with developmental disabilities in North Carolina.

Here is a brief message from one of North Carolina’s youth leaders: "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."

ACTION TO BE TAKEN: EMAIL or CALL your Senator NOW. TELL THEM:

Vote YES for the bill!

• SB 526 enumerates (lists) protected categories to protect children most vulnerable to bullying and harassment. This legislation addresses the needs of students with disabilities.
• To SUPPORT the bill with the enumeration that is currently in this important legislation.
• 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.

Find Your Senator:

http://www.ncleg.net/GIS/Representation/Who_Represents_Me/Who_Represents_Me.html

Read the Bill: An Act to enact the school violence prevention act.

http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/PDF/S526v1.pdf

Senate Bill 526: School Violence Prevention Act.

Sponsors: Senator Boseman.

Co-Sponsors: Senator Charles W. Albertson, Senator Bob Atwater, Senator Daniel G. Clodfelter, Senator Charlie Dannelly, Senator Katie G. Dorsett, Senator Linda Garrou, Senator Clark Jenkins, Senator Eleanor Kinnaird, Senator Vernon Malone, Senator Floyd B. McKissick Jr., Senator William R. Purcell, Senator Larry Shaw, Senator Josh Stein, Senator David F. Weinstein.

If you have any questions please contact Julia Leggett, Policy Coordinator The Arc of North Carolina. jleggett@arcnc.org

Thank you for your advocacy!

Julia Leggett, Policy Coordinator

The Arc of North Carolina

4/8/09

Action Needed! Calls Needed this Morning

HB 672 and 673 will be heard in the House MH Reform committee today. We believe that HB 673, the DD Support Bill

that directs the division to create a waiting list, lessens the burden of authorizations for state funding, and creates more

flexible service definitions will face little opposition.

HB 672 however is facing significant opposition from the LME membership association. We have tried to work with the

group to create language that would be acceptable but yesterday they rejected the compromise and will push for a study

bill. We believe the provisions as originally listed are fair and the compromise offered addressed all of their concerns.

It is critical that this bill be passed through this committee.

We need people to call members of the committee expressing support for both bills and to specifically reference the need

 for the protections afforded in HB 672. This bill would require LME's to meet minimum standards and hold a public

hearing if they planned to move money from one disability category to another under the single stream provisions.

It also does the same for HUD projects.

If you have a member on this committee please call and ask for support.

The committee meets this morning so calls before 12 are critical!!!

Committee List:

Rep. Martha B. Alexander Mecklenburg

Rep. Jeff Barnhart Cabarrus

Rep. Curtis Blackwood Union County

Rep. R. Van Braxton Greene, Lenoir, Wayne

Rep. William D. Brisson Bladen, Cumberland

Rep. James Crawford, Jr. Granville, Vance Counties

Rep. Beverly M. Earle Mecklenburg

Rep. Bob England, MD Cleveland, Rutherford Counties

Rep. Rick Glazier Cumberland County

Rep. Pat Hurley Randolph County

Rep. Verla Insko Orange County

Rep. Carolyn Justus Henderson County

Rep. James Langdon, Jr. Johnston, Sampson Counties

Rep. William "Bill" McGee Forsyth County

Rep. Marian McLawhorn Pitt County

Rep. Will Neumann Gaston County

Rep. Earline Parmon Forsyth County

Rep. Shirley Randleman Wilkes County

Rep. Laura Wiley Guilford County

All representatives can be reached from the switchboard number of 919-733-7928

Action Alert on People First Language

 

Action Alert Please Take Action Today!

Call Your North Carolina State Senators Today! 

Tell them to vote YES for the Senate Bill 208:  People First.

Update: Today, April 1, 2009 Senate Bill 208: People First passed the Senate Health Committee.  The full Senate 

will vote on this bill possibly today or tomorrow. We need you to call your Senator today!

What the Bill Does: This bill directs the legislative drafting office and state agencies to use certain respectful

reference to people with disabilities in the preparation of legislation and rules.

This legislation does not invalidate any state statute, resolution, or rule because it does not comply with this bill. 

This legislation does not require the state to change any existing statutes unless they are opened for amendment.

Legislation similar to this bill has been passed in New York, Nevada, District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, 

and Minnesota.  Several additional states have removed the term "mental retardation" from their Department 

and Division names.

What is People First Language?
The People First Language movement was born out of the Disability Rights Movement. 
People with disabilities are the largest minority group in our nation. It encompasses people of all ages, genders, 

religions, ethnicities and socioeconomic levels.

People First Language puts the person before the disability.  

People First Language describes what a person has, not who a person is. 

Call Your Senator Tell Them: 

        perpetuate negative stereotypes and create societal and attitudinal barriers.  

and social barriers that exist in our nation. This bill is an important first step toward recognizing in our state legislation 

the inherent worth and contributions of our states 1.8 million North Carolinians with disabilities.

To read Senate Bill 208 People First-Bill Sponsor Senator Katie Dorsett: 
http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=S208

To Find Your Senator: http://www.ncleg.net/GIS/RandR07/Home.html
 

Thank you for your advocacy!
Julia Leggett, Policy Coordinator, The Arc of NC jleggett@arcnc.org 

August 13, 2008

Help Stop the Negative and Hurtful Portrayal of People with Disabilities!

The Arc of North Carolina, along with local chapters of The Arc in NC, and The Arc of The United States are standing up against the movie "Tropic Thunder" because of their discriminatory depiction of people with disabilities and frequent use of the "R-word". We believe the distasteful and discriminating portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities should not be condoned or supported by the public. The film's frequent use of the "R-word" and references to people with intellectual disabilities being stupid only promotes discriminatory perspectives and encourages the stigmatization of people with developmental disabilities.

We hope that individuals will consider the impact this movie will have on promoting stereotypes that are demeaning and disrespectful to people with intellectual impairments. We work diligently everyday to ensure that people with disabilities are recognized for their abilities and are provided with equal opportunities to experience meaningful and satisfying lives by pursuing their goals, building social networks, and being actively involved in our communities. This film demoralizes children and adults with disabilities and we hope that you will be an advocate for social change by boycotting this film and working to lessen the negative impact by educating others about the harmful implications of the "R-word".

Read the press release issued by Special Olympics NC and The Arc of NC

Follow this link to join or donate to The Arc

Please check out the links below for additional information:

R-Word Flyer         www.thearc.org         CNN Coverage    

New York Times Article                          Advocacy Groups Protest

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