Conference minutes,
September 21-23, 2005,
Washington, DC
Members Present
* Open, Welcome and Agenda Review
* National Conference 2006 Update
* Planning the NC-SOCRC National Training Conference 2006
* NC-SOCRC Role with Disaster Victims with Disabilities- Hurricane Katrina
* Business Lunch- CERMUSA/NTSS Presentation of Guidebook entitled "Strategies for Incident Preparedness: National Model for Rehabilitation Centers"
* Phone Call to Dr. Pacinelli
* Strategic Plan Updates
* Individual Center Review- NC-SOCRC Round Table Update
* Business Meeting
* Next Meeting
David Holmes(TN), Donald Dew (GWU), Dennis Hart (MI), Richard Luck (VA), Richard
Sizemore (VA), Jean Jackson (MD), Barbara Lewis (AR), Barry Newill (KY), Donna
Ashworth (WV), Don Rullman (PA), and David Parmer (GA)
Chairman Holmes extended greetings and welcome to all in attendance
along with special recognition and introductions of Barbara Lewis, new center director in Arkansas, and interim
director David Parmer in Georgia.
David also reviewed the meeting agenda with the group.
Dr. Dew reported that RSA is focusing on restructuring. Therefore, it is very difficult to obtain
any definite information or definite commitment of funding for the 2006 conference. Past inquiries have
been positive however. Dr. Dew believes that we will be approved for funding, however all grants are
being reviewed much more extensively.
After discussion, the Consortium determined that the 2006 National Training Forum would be held in September of
2006 in the greater metropolitan Baltimore area.
David remarked that the “2004 Training Conference received the highest evaluation scores that we have ever had
because of effective early planning and the input from our staff members.” Good planning information was also
provided through the “training needs assessment survey” form from said conference.
David then asked the group to brain storm ideas for topics for the 2006 conference which are as follows:
- Organizational culture positives and negatives
- Funding stream (revenues) opportunities including grants
- Accreditation/certification
- Program staff focus groups (interactive sessions at the conference and/or quarterly meetings)
- Innovative interventive service strategies
- Emergency management opportunities and crisis management
- Role of comprehensive centers in the future
Dick Luck suggested that we use the training needs assessment survey results to do a questionnaire to send to all
center staff to secure input regarding the most important areas on which to
focus our efforts for the 2006 training forum.
Following the discussion on Dick’s suggestion, David asked Dick to develop and refine
an information needs assessment survey into a staff survey instrument by the
next meeting. Center Directors would then solicit responses from their
staff and return the information to Dick for codification and use in planning
the 2006 training forum.
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The consortium members described and discussed each of their
center’s activities regarding assistance to those persons with disabilities
in those states that were ravaged by the hurricane known as Katrina.
As a result of the discussion, the following recommendations were made
as items to consider in preparation for any future disaster that may be
realized:
- Completion
of an inventory of staff skills by each center to include skills,
services, equipment, and personnel. This
component should be added to the
NC-SOCRC’s manual entitled “Strategies for Incident Preparedness: A
National Model for Rehabilitation Centers.”
- A
letter from Chairman Holmes should be drafted and sent to FEMA indicating
our resources, capabilities and capacities to assist persons with
disabilities. Send a copy of
this letter to John Hagar after getting authorization from our individual
state directors.
- A
description of what each Center has done in response to Katrina should be
posted on the consortium web site
- Consider
this topic for our national training conference in 2006
- Each
center should contact the Red Cross and get staff trained/certified by the
Red Cross in disaster relief
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Jay Roberts, Eric Muncert, and Barbara Demuth from CERMUSA/NTSS
presented the members of the consortium with copies of the aforementioned
document and thanked them for their work and contributions in creating said
document. They also identified
and recommended a a new web site for additional information, known as www.cimerc.org/sip
and then click on forum. This is
a real time incidence preparedness simulator.
Mr. Muncert encouraged all
centers to visit this web site and provide feedback to NTSS and CERMUSA.
Mr. Roberts NTSS/CERMUSA now has the capacity to train in
MicroSoft software products and encouraged the center directors to take
advantage of this capability if needed. He
further indicated that NTSS wants to continue its relationship with NC-SOCRC.
Ms. Demuth indicated that planning for FY2007 has begun and
encouraged the consortium to submit research ideas/proposals to them for their
consideration through Eric Muncert.
Mr. Roberts also announced that a Technology Expo was
planned to be held on November 16 in Johnstown, PA and invited all to attend.
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A conference call was placed to Dr. Ralph Pacinelli.
On behalf of the consortium, David Holmes thanked Dr. Pacinelli for his
friendship, guidance and support during his tenure as the NC-SOCRC’s liaison
with the RSA Office and wished him well in his pending retirement.
Dr. Pacinelli voiced his appreciation and then reviewed the history of
the comprehensive center development and movement within RSA.
Each member of the
consortium provided an activity update on each of their respective components of
the strategic plan.
Goal I:
Develop a consortium training academy through a collaborative network of staff
development and training:
Barry
Newill and David Holmes – Behavior Education
training program is completed, but the video component needs to be
retaped due to poor quality of the sound. This
will be planned and accomplished in the near future.
Following this modification, the materials will be ready for inclusion in
the training academy’s compendium of resources.
Additional
training academy components were discussed and suggested for consideration along
with the identified center who will develop the topic:
-
Disaster
planning-incident preparedness (Cimerc/NTSdocument)
-
Wound
care (TN and WVA)
-
Diabetic
wound care (GA)
-
Reading
Programs for the learning disabled (MI)
-
Ethical
standards for SOCRC staff members – relationships, financial, favoritism
(MD)
-
Disability
awareness and related variances
-
Autism/Asbergers
disease
-
Seating/Mobility
(GA)
-
Mentoring/Coaching
(MD and KY)
-
Behavioral
Education (TN and KY)
Goal II:
Create and implement a research agenda within the consortium:
Goal
III: Create an environment within rehabilitation
centers to attract and retain employees:
-
Don
Rullman – Staff assessment and training tool initiative goal is
completed.
-
Donna
Ashworth – Development of cultural needs
assessment has not been completed and is no longer feasible.
-
Dick
Luck – reported that the ‘renewal process” continues at the WWRC and WWRC
will send copies of videos resulting from this effort to all center directors in
the near future.
Goal IV:
Broaden and strengthen the leadership capacity within rehabilitation
centers:
Donna
Ashworth – developed and handed out a draft of a new center director
orientation manual to center directors
She also asked that each director review and update their respective
center’s directory of staff information and submit it to her for updating
purposes.
David Holmes – leadership development and succession planning in still
in the process of being developed and finalized in Tennessee.
David
also reported that the NC-SOCRC web page needs to be updated and asked that each
director review their center’s information to make sure that the information
is current and correct. Please
provide any changes to Barry Newill in an electronic format and he will see that
the information is provided to the web master.
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Pennsylvania:
- Census is increasing
- Major renovations to facility in the amount of $4.2 million
- Produced an annual report for last year
- New staff hired have been stimulating to the faculty
Arkansas:
- New director, Barbara Lewis, started on July 1, 2005
- Turnover of staff in past few months
- Currently securing staff input into strategies for the future
- Starting to take private paying patients in the center’s hospital program
- Restructuring to enhance programs to secure employment for the consumers served
- Census is up
- A vocational training program advisory board will be established soon
- A recreational program for assisting students in using their free time has been established
- Expanding the student orientation program
- Initiating a new field counselor orientation training program about the center
- Expanding the use of volunteers
Michigan:
- Achieved NCAA accreditation
- Involved in training program improvement planning
- Implemented an electronic referral process from the field program vis-à-vis the Alliance case management system
- Looking at reducing the length of time of training programs
- Completed a small number of capital projects
Georgia:
- Produced a copy of the regular house organ recently
- Shared a number of publications with the NC-SOCRC
- Described the center budget in terms of state and federal funding
- Medical services are transitioning to serve more medically needy clients
- New director of vocational training services hired – Elizabeth McKinney
- Opening a new pain management clinic
Tennessee:
- Served more clients than ever last year
- Starting a “hospitality worker” training program
- Developed a “stock clerk” training program
- Developed a recreational program in concert with Middle Tennessee State University
- Developed a cooperative relationship with Vanderbilt University re: brain injury services
- Capital projects initiated totally $7.5 million dollars
- Currently cooling the center with rented chillers at $10,000 per month
- Completed a walking trail
- Developed an agreement with the metro transit system
- Additional (5) new Tennessee Community Rehabilitation Centers to come on line soon
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West Virginia:
- Currently having a cash flow problem due to the state’s fiscal problems
- Strengthening programs and relationships with communities
- Strengthening the student advisory council
Virginia:
- Organizational renewal process continues
- Client population is changing to younger and more complex individuals
- New program in life skills is starting in November
- Can’t be all things to all people
- Striving to be the best in the nation in one or two program areas
- Relationships with the field office staff have improved
- Hired a marketing director
- Center case managers follow discharged clients after they are discharged
Maryland:
- Student life is a concern at WTC
- Reviewing all of the old policies and procedures
- CAD program has been approved by local colleges for college credit
- Nursing staff in unstable
George Washington University:
- Voiced appreciation to the members of the consortium for the support to the learned optimism project to GWU
- Received a new grant to provide an on-line masters degree program
- Proposed the idea that a center offer a site for a “Pacinelli” Library
Kentucky:
- Rehabilitation Counselor classification upgrade state-wide
- $1.2 million new roof approved to be installed Spring or 2005
- Major revisions to the Work Adjustment Program
- Continue to experience a large number of retirements
- Approved to hire a Supervisor of nursing services
- Continue to maintain a very high level of client and sponsor satisfaction
- Completing a strategic planning effort by end of October
At the end of the roundtable portion of the meting, the
membership determined that future round tables should be initiated on the second
day of the three day meeting so as to give adequate time for covering all of the
information to be presented by the members.
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David Holmes called the business meeting to order at approximately 10:30 AM
on Friday September 23, 2005.
Secretary’s Report – Secretary Newill presented the minutes from the previous
meeting and asked for any corrections or additions. There being none, a motion for approval
by Dennis Hart, seconded by David Parmer, was approved.
Treasurer’s Report – Treasurer Hart presented the treasurer’s report. As of
May 25, 2005. the remaining balance in the treasury was $54,620.33. We have received $8,000 during
the period from 2-8-2005 through 3-31-2005 and had an expense of $2,172.43 on 7-20-05. The remaining balance is $52,447.90.
The treasurer’s report was approved by unanimous consent.
501 – C – 3 Recommendation – The Executive Committee
was charged by the membership to study and make a recommendation to the NC-SOCRC
regarding whether to pursue 501-C-3 status.
The Executive Committee recommended that the NC-SOCRC not pursue the
designation. The membership
adopted the recommendation by unanimous consent.
Relocation of the NC-SOCRC Treasury Funds – After
discussion, motion by Dennis Hart. seconded by Dick Luck to transfer the funds
from the WWRC Foundation to the Pine Lake Fund until all other options are
explored with the Executive Committee being charged to make the final decision
on the location of the funds. Motion approved by unanimous consent.
Utilization of NC-SOCRC Funds – Chairman Holmes discussed
the need for additional definition of how, when, where, etc. NC-SOCRC funds
should be expended be developed. The
membership charged the Executive Committee to develop a set of definitions and
present their recommendations to the membership, via conference call, prior to
the next meeting.
During a discussion of where and when the 2006 Training
Forum should be held, a motion by Jean Jackson, seconded by Don Dew, to secure
the services of a facilitator to assist the consortium to plan and develop the
Training Forum planned for September 2006.
Motion passed by unanimous consent.
The membership also agreed that the 2006 Training Forum be
held in the metropolitan Baltimore, MD area during September of 2006 dependent
on hotel availability.
Election of a Vice Chair – Following discussion, a motion
by Don Dew, seconded by Richard Luck to nominate to Barry Newill as Vice
President, Don Rullman as Treasurer, and Donna Ashworth as Secretary of the NC-SOCRC
passed by unanimous consent.
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______________________________________
The next meeting will be held in the greater Baltimore, MD area in January 2006.
Meeting adjourned at 12:00 Noon.
Respectfully submitted,
Barry H. Newill
Secretary
