by independencenw | Jan 15, 2012 | customers
Brokerage services are at serious risk, topping the Department of Human Services’ proposed cut list for the upcoming legislative session. Over the last year and a half, Oregonians with developmental disabilities have experienced serious cuts to services. In the brokerage system alone, the following cuts have occurred in just the past eighteen months:
In addition to these cuts, there have been discussions about cutting 15% of customer plan dollars. Brokerages statewide have already increased caseloads, reduced positions, reduced/frozen wages and benefits, reduced mileage reimbursement, added furlough days, reorganized and eliminated positions, reduced or eliminated training dollars and cut levels of service and supplies. Where does this next set of cuts take the brokerage system?
How You Can Help
The short legislative session is upon us, lasting just 35 days. During this critical period, legislators will make decisions about which proposed cuts occur. Let your voice be heard by telling your legislator that the DD community fought for years to create these services and will fight hard to keep them!
Starting Tuesday January 17th, 2012 through Friday January 27th, 2012, stop by the Independence Northwest office and we will assist you with:
- Determining who your legislators are
- Writing a letter to your legislators, including a photo of you and your story
- Writing and sending emails to your legislators
- Making phone calls to your legislators
- If you like, we will post your stories and your letters on our website and on Facebook! Check out The Dear Legislator Project website for sample letters and templates, links to contacting your legislators and more. Just one hour of your day can and will make a difference. The more participants, the louder our voice.We will have staff available to you from 9 to 5 each working day. We are located at 541 NE 20th Avenue Suite 103 in Portland.
Who Should Participate?
- People with developmental disabilities
- Family members of people with developmental disabilities
- Support staff
- Professionals (case managers, personal agents, teachers, administrators, independent contractors)
- Advocates
- Anyone who is concerned about Oregonians with developmental disabilities and their services!
Questions?
Email Larry Deal or Erin Graff at Independence Northwest at larry(at)independencenw.org or erin(at)independencenw.org You can send your video links, personal stories, pictures, etc. to these email addresses as well. Thanks for participating. Your efforts will make a big difference.
Learn more at The Dear Legislator Project: www.dearlegislator.org
by independencenw | Jan 7, 2012 | domestic employees, independent contractors, provider organizations, providers
A Message for Independent Contractors and Provider Organizations Qualified with Independence Northwest:
It is the policy of Independence Northwest to pay all invoices on a net 30 basis. (This means that we will disburse funds within 30 days of receiving an invoice from a provider.) As a result of this policy we do not adhere to particular invoice due dates or pay dates. However, for independent contractors and provider agencies to be paid in the first cycle of checks each month, we recommend they have their invoices to our office by noon on the following dates in 2012.
Friday, January 6th
Tuesday, February 7th
Tuesday, March 6th
Friday, April 6th
Monday, May 7th
Wednesday, June 6th
Friday, July 6th
Tuesday, August 7th
Thursday, September 6th
Friday, October 5th
Tuesday, November 6th
Thursday, December 6th
A note about postal delivery and direct deposit: We have been offering direct deposit to the entire provider community since August of 2010 and it’s been a great success. It helps us process payments faster and ensures your money lands in your bank account sooner. But now there’s a new reason to consider direct deposit: As you may have read in the news, budgetary cuts to the US Postal Service are expected to result in a significant slowdown of domestic mail. Local mail that previously arrived in one day may soon take three to four days to arrive. In anticipation of this change Independence Northwest is strongly urging all providers to sign up for direct deposit. All providers are being mailed a copy of this letter along with a direct deposit form.
Thank you all for your service to our community. Here’s hoping for a productive and
rewarding 2012.
Ron Spence
Operations Director
rspence(at)independencenw.org
by independencenw | Jan 7, 2012 | community connections, multnomah county, provider organizations, resource
Another great resource from our friends at On The Move Community Integration!
Socializing Colorfully: A Group For Adults with Developmental Disabilities who are Persons of Color
Starts January 27 (REGISTER BY JANUARY 20th!)
WHAT:
Socializing Colorfully is open to all community members of varied ethnicities with diagnosed developmental disabilities who wish to expand their support network and gain a greater sense of cultural pride. Through friendship-building community activities and social opportunities, the program will help to alleviate the social isolation and discrimination experienced by persons of color who have developmental disabilities. The group invites the participation of families and caregivers.
Socializing Colorfully is led by Deborah Waggoner, Community Support Specialist for On-the-Move. Ms. Waggoner is the parent of an African-American woman with Down’s Syndrome, and knows first-hand the real life challenges associated with being a person of color who must navigate disability social services. As a long-time advocate in our community, she has the knowledge, sensitivity and experience to help group members forge a deeper sense of cultural pride, improve support networks and become better informed citizens!
WHERE:
On-the-Move Community Integration
4187 SE Division Street
Portland, Oregon 97202
Contact: On-the-Move Community Integration
503.287.0346
info@onthemoveonline.org
WHEN:
Sessions take place the last Friday of each month
Registration Deadline for the First Session: January 20, Space is Limited
Presented by: On-the-Move Community Integration
Supporting adults with special needs in accessing healthful, meaningful,
and environmentally responsible activities in their community.
More info here: http://onthemoveonline.wordpress.com/2011/11/23/get-ready-for-2012-reading-program-and-socializing-colorfully-start-the-new-year-off-right/
by independencenw | Jan 5, 2012 | literacy, resource
On The Move Community Integration presents a
Free Reading Program For Adults with Developmental Disabilities 2 Sessions Available!
WHEN
January 19 – March 22 (First 10-week session)
April 2 – June 7 (Second 10-week session)
Thursdays from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Registration Deadline for the First Session: January 13, Space is Limited
WHERE
On-the-Move Community Integration
4187 SE Division Street
Portland, Oregon 97202
Contact: On-the-Move Community Integration
503.287.0346
info@onthemoveonline.org
WHO
The class is open to all adults with a diagnosed disability, age 18 and over, who want to improve their reading skills. All levels are welcome to participate, from beginning to more advanced readers. Many adults of all ages are motivated to increase independence through improving their reading!
Classes will be taught by Executive Director Molly Mayo and two-time Portland Public Schools Teacher of the Year, Meghann Kabza, who both hold Master’s Degrees in Special Education.
A combination of group lessons and one on one tutoring will make this class interesting and fun.
Call or email for more information or to register for one of the sessions.
by independencenw | Jan 2, 2012 | advocacy, parenting
Announcing the Parent to Parent of Oregon Mentor Training. Parent to Parent of Oregon’s mission is to offer high quality statewide parent to parent connections for families who have children with long-term health, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions.
Parent to Parent of Oregon
Mentor Training
When: Saturday, February 18, 2012; 9:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
Where: East Rose Unitarian Church
1133 NE 181st
Portland, OR
Please call 503 706-0744 or
email p2poregon@gmail.com to register.
Pre-registration required
Lunch Provided. There is no cost for this training. Donations accepted.
Thanks, Evelyn Lowry, for the tip.
In addition to these cuts, there have been discussions about cutting 15% of customer plan dollars. Brokerages statewide have already increased caseloads, reduced positions, reduced/frozen wages and benefits, reduced mileage reimbursement, added furlough days, reorganized and eliminated positions, reduced or eliminated training dollars and cut levels of service and supplies. Where does this next set of cuts take the brokerage system?