Free Thanksgiving Meal and Community Building: Saturday Nov 19th, 2011

Building Relationships Through Giving Thanks!

The Mallory Avenue Church of Christ, Piedmont Church of Christ and Agape Church of Christ are reaching out to the community and invites you to come and have a meal with them! They are offering a free traditional Thanksgiving meal this Saturday at 1pm and  are eager to get to know you, talk about your concerns and pray for a change and healing.

Join them at the Mallory Avenue Church of Christ – 3908 NE Mallory Avenue in Portland, Oregon. (Located at the corner of NE Mallory Ave.& Failing St. across from the Mallory Court Apartments)

Saturday, November 19th from 1pm – 4pm
Free dinner, prayer and fellowship

Questions? Contact Frederick or Tresa Berry at 503.285.5195.

Thanks to INW’s own Tresa Berry for this resource.

Winter Shelters and Homeless Families Emergency Services in Multnomah County

The City of Portland and Multnomah County fund year-round, winter, and severe weather emergency shelter. There are also privately-funded organizations that provide shelter services. There are 640 emergency shelter beds and 27 family spaces available year-round.

Winter shelter is available from November 1-March 31, unless otherwise indicated below. An additional 291 beds are available during the winter season, which includes winter shelter for men (146 beds), women (85 beds), and families (60 beds).

Severe weather emergency shelter is also available when the City declares a Severe Weather Notice, based on temperatures at 25 degrees Fahrenheit or below for several nights in a row, or other life-threatening weather conditions. When severe weather is declared, up to 250 additional beds may be made available for homeless persons.
Click either link below for additional shelter information:

Thanks to Natasha Roe at Multnomah County for this important set of resources.

SAVE THE DATE: 11.22.11 Portland Public Schools Adult Transition Resource Fair

SAVE THE DATE: 11/22/11. Announcing the 2nd Annual Portland Public Schools Transition Resource Fair. Please join us as we partner with dozens of organizations to help bring you a resource fair for transition-aged individuals and their families. Please pass this on to your networks. We look forward to seeing you at the fair!

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
12 noon to 7pm

Community Transition Center at Green Thumb

6801 SE 60th Avenue (just south of Duke)

Travel Tip: Bus #19 runs on Duke Street

The resource fair is for transition aged youth (14 – 21), families, special educators, professionals and transition specialists in Multnomah County. You’ll learn about resources and services available throughout the community. It’s an opportunity to make connections, ask questions and explore opportunities.

Exhibitors and Speakers include:

ADVOCACY:
Oregon RISE
211 Info
IEP Partners
Safety Zone
SPEAC Advisory Council
Oregon First
Disability Compass
Disability Rights Oregon
Autism Society of Oregon
SEPTAP (Special Education PTA of Portland)

BENEFITS:
Brokerages (Independence Northwest, Community Pathways, UCP Connections, Inclusion Inc., Mentor Oregon)
Multnomah County Aging and Disability Services
Social Security Administration
Multnomah County Housing

EDUCATION:
Portland Community College: Culinary Program
Portland Community College: Skills Center
Portland Community College: Disability Services
Incight

RECREATION:
Trips Inc.
Portland Parks and Rec
Vibe Dance Troupe
Off the Couch
Club Impact

EMPLOYMENT:
Ticket to Work Program
Vocational Rehabilitation
Portland Habilitation Center (PHC)
CTP Vocational Training
DePaul Project Search

SERVICE PROVIDERS:
Full Life
RideWise
Art from the Heart
Project Grow (info only)
On the Move Community Integration
Independent Living Program (The Inn)

20 – 30 MINUTE PRESENTATIONS ON:

– Community Transition Program
– Transition Requirements
– Aging and Disability Services
– Social Security Benefits
– Brokerage Basics
– Parent Panel
– Student Panel
– Work Incentives

Please join us! And pass this on to anyone you believe might be interested. We look forward to seeing you at the fair.

Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=228585253874771

Materials for Print/Sharing:

Russian Transition Fair Flyer 
English Transition Fair Flyer
Vietnamese Transition Fair Flyer
Spanish Transition Fair Flyer

DHS Releases Proposed Budget Cut List – Brokerages in Crosshairs Again

Just five weeks ago, about 700 people were exited from brokerage services due to budget cuts. Once again, Support Services Brokerages are showing up on a reduction option list for additional cuts. Proposed cuts would make significant reductions to brokerage operations and would slash the amount of money brokerage customers have available to them in their Individual Support Plans. A message from Erinn Kelly-Siel, the Director of the Department of Human Services was just released (see below.)

Please spend some time reviewing the letter and the accompanying links. Our state is in a very difficult space and many difficult decisions must be made. DHS is asking for comments and alternative reduction suggestions no later than THIS FRIDAY. Please let your voice be heard so we can preserve these essential services.  Please forward this along to your networks.

Message from Erinn Kelley-Siel, DHS Director
As a result of the ongoing economic weakness facing the state, and the potential for additional projected revenue declines in future forecasts, Oregon’s Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO) requested the submission of reduction options from all state agencies. LFO requested agencies to develop a total of 10.5% in reduction options, based on 2011-13 legislatively adopted budget level, including the 3.5% supplemental ending balance adjustment amount.  This list is due to LFO by November 14, 2011. To reach that target, the total level of reduction for the Department of Human Services is $210-220 million general fund.

REQUEST FOR COMMENT: DHS is seeking feedback on the attached reduction options [ see links below] prior to their submission to the Legislative Fiscal Office.  Feedback should be submitted no later than 12:00 noon on November 11, 2011. Feedback should concentrate on alternative reductions that would help the agency achieve its savings target and/or on recommendations regarding the prioritization of the reductions on the list.  Ultimately, decisions about any proposed reductions will be vetted through the legislative process.

Please note that these reduction options are not intended to reflect the policy or program recommendations of the agency. DHS is acutely aware that the reduction options on this list have significant consequences for Oregonians and the communities in which they live.

Department of Human Services Reduction Options
The list is posted on the DHS website at http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/aboutdhs/budget/2011-2013/index.shtml

Here is the DIRECT LINK to the list: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/aboutdhs/budget/2011-2013/reductions/stakeholder-input2011-1108.pdf

Reduction Option List Format
Please note the following as you review and comment on the reduction options:

  • The list is organized by major program area. Within each program area, the reduction options have been prioritized – but DHS has not yet prioritized the reduction options across the department.
  • At the top of each list (in grey shading) are the reductions that the Legislature has already taken in each program in the 2011-13 budget. Some of those reductions have not yet been fully implemented. However, the savings associated with those reductions have already been included in the 2011-13 DHS Legislatively Adopted Budget.
  • The list in total equates to $210-220 million in General Fund savings, the 10.5% target set by LFO. The entire list of reduction options would need to be taken in order for DHS to achieve the full savings target.
  • The list is currently focused on program reduction options. Additional reductions to program delivery infrastructure and administration are still under review by DHS and Oregon Health Authority leadership.

Next Steps: If you would like to offer comment on the proposed reduction options, please send your comments to gene.evans@state.or.us. Please send comments NO LATER than 12:00 noon, November 11, 2011. DHS Leadership will review and consider all comments prior to submitting the list to LFO on November 14, 2011.

Conclusion
These are difficult times for Oregonians and for our state. DHS takes very seriously its obligation to the people it serves, our partners in that service, and to the taxpayers of Oregon. Thank you in advance for your understanding with regard to the difficulty of this task and all it entails. Your feedback is invaluable to our ability to do the best work we can with the resources we have.

Fall Parent Social at On The Move November 30th, 2011

Open to all community members! Announcing the Fall Parent Social put on by On-the-Move Community Integration. Meet and socialize with other parents and caregivers who are caring for an adult with developmental disabilities. Wine & appetizers will be served.

Wednesday, November 30th 2011 6:00 -7:30pm On-the-Move Community Integration, located at 4187 SE Division in Portland, Oregon.

Please RSVP to Deborah Waggoner, Community Inclusion Specialist

deborah@onethemoveonline.org

503.287.0346