Developmental Disabilities Newsletter
July 2005; Volume 8; Issue 4
If you watch a game, it's fun. If you play at it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's golf. ~ Bob Hope (1903 - 2003)
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RecreationAccording to a survey conducted by the National Organization on Disability (2004), individuals with disabilities felt 27% less satisfied with life than individuals without disabilities. Multiple factors affect our feelings toward life satisfaction such as family, community, school and work roles. When individuals do not feel levels of motivation to participate and contribute in these areas also decrease. General feelings of poor health may also be a consequence. Individuals with disabilities participate less often in leisure and recreation opportunities. Leisure is a major contributor to feelings of health, wellness and high quality of life. Many individuals with disabilities aren’t given freedom regarding their leisure or recreation activities. Many individuals without disabilities have developed a passion for a particular leisure activity; individuals with disabilities should have the same opportunity to form such feelings. When individuals with or without disabilities lack the autonomy or freedom to participate in leisure activities, quality of life and degree of wellness begins to diminish. Participation in what the individual perceives as a meaningful experience or activity can contribute to feelings of wellness. For additional leisure opportunities within communities or nationally, read “What to Know Before You Go: The Big Questions to Ask Before Arriving at Your “Accessible” Recreation Destination” at www.ncaonline.org/monotraphs/13questions.shtml. Taken From: Living Well in 2005! The Benefits of Leisure for People with Disabilities, www.indiana.edu/~nca/monographs Medicare Modernization ActBeginning January 1, 2006, new Medicare prescription drug plans will be available to people with Medicare. Insurance companies and other private companies will work with Medicare to offer these drug plans and will negotiate discounts on drug prices. These plans are different from the Medicare-approved drug discount cards, which will phase out by May 15, 2006, or when an individual’s enrollment in a Medicare prescription drug plan takes effect, if earlier. Medicare prescription drug plans provide insurance coverage for prescription drugs. Like other insurance, if you join you will pay a monthly premium (generally around $35 in 2006) and pay a share of the cost of your prescriptions. Costs will vary depending on the drug plan you choose. If you currently have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and/or Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), you can join a Medicare prescription drug plan between November 15, 2005 and May 15, 2006. If you join by December 31, 2005, your Medicare prescription drug plan coverage will begin on January 1, 2006. If you join after that, your coverage will be effective the first day of the month after the month you join. In general, you can join or change plans once each year between November 15 and December 31. Some people with an income at or below a set amount and with limited assets (including savings and stocks, but not counting your home) will qualify for extra help. The exact income amounts will be set in early 2005. People who qualify will get help paying for their drug plan’s monthly premium, and/or for some of the cost they would normally have to pay for their prescriptions. The type of extra help will be based on your income and assets. Throughout 2005, Medicare will provide you more information about Medicare prescription drug plans, including how to choose and join a drug plan that best meets your needs. In the fall of 2005, the “Medicare & You 2006” handbook will list the Medicare prescription drug plans available in your area. In mid-2005, the Social Security Administration will send information about how to apply for extra help paying their prescription drug costs to people within specified income boundaries. In the fall of 2005:
Taken From: The Facts About Medicare Prescription Drug Plans $2.2 Million to Promote Innovation and Improve Head StartThe Department of Health & Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families announced on July 21, 2005, Head Start Innovation and Improvement Project awards totaling $2,199,912. These grants are designed to address President Bush’s Good Start, Grow Smart early childhood initiative, which aims to close educational gaps between low-income children and their peers. The grants include:
The awards are part of the Bush Administration’s efforts to strengthen Head Start. The Head Start program is due for reauthorization for another five year period. Bills have been introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Taken From: HHS News - June 21, 2005 Campaign on Human TraffickingThe Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families has been honored with a Silver Anvil award for its campaign to rescue and restore victims of human trafficking. The campaign entitled “Look Beneath the Surface: Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking”, began in April 2004 under a contract with Ketchum, Inc., along with Capital City Partners. Its goal is to identify victims of human trafficking across America and restore victims to safety. The Silver Anvil, awarded by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), is one of the most respected awards in the public relations industry. It symbolizes the forging of public opinion through public relations and is given to programs that incorporate sound research, planning, execution and evaluation into public initiatives. Approximately 78 million media impressions have been created by the project so far and over 500 community organizations nationwide have become active in the effort. In the year the campaign has been active, the number of victims identified has doubled over the preceding year. The campaign’s informational and referral hotline is 1-888-373-7888. As of April 30th, the hotline received 2,150 calls, resulting in more than 500 referrals of potential victims to local service providers and 100 tips forwarded to Federal law enforcement. For more information about the campaign to rescue and restore victims of human trafficking, go to http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/index.html. Taken From: HHS News (June 16, 2005) Child Support DemonstrationsOn June 14, 2005, $1,990,000 in Federal funding was awarded for two demonstration projects in the state of Washington to promote improvements in child support enforcement efforts. The awards include $990,000 for a project in the city of Yakima and $1 million for a project in Lakewood. The grants are awarded under the authority of Section 1115 of the Social Security Act and require that each project be designed to improve the financial well-being of children or otherwise improve the operation of the child support enforcement program. Section 1115 authorizes states to conduct experimental, pilot or demonstration projects likely to assist in promoting the objectives of the Social Security Act. The goals of the demonstration projects include improving the establishment of paternity and increasing financial support for children as well as improving fathers’ relationships with both their children and mothers of their children. The projects also include efforts to improve couple relationships and reduce the potential for domestic violence. The projects are required to screen participants for domestic violence and refer appropriate individuals for services. The projects will each last five years and will be supplemented by private funding. The grants represent additional funding to the state and will not affect the amount of Federal funds available to administer the Child Support Program. Taken From: HHS News, June 14, 2005 16th Annual Family Preservation Conference September 7 - 9, 2005 For information and registration: http://fpi.nmsu.edu and fpi@nmsu.edu A highlight of this conference is the workshop series on IDEA “It’s a Great Idea!” presented by Susan Rogers, noted trainer/consultant/parent, on the rights of children with disabilities in the public schools. The four session workshop provides 6 hours of engaging, interactive training on the topics of “Surviving the Special Education Process”, “Help, the Principal Just Called”, “Bullying and Preventive Disability Harassment”, and “What More Do I Need to Know?” CEU’s are available. Family Violence DroppedOn June 12, 2005, the Office of Justice Program stated that the rate of family violence fell by more than one-half between 1993 and 2002, from an estimated 5.4 victims to 2.1 victims per 1,000 U.S. residents 12 years old and older, reflecting the general decline in crimes against people during the same period, the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) announced. Family violence accounted for 11 percent of all reported and unreported violence between 1998 and 2002. Of these offenses against family members, 49 percent was a crime against a spouse, 11 percent a parent attacking a child, and 41 percent an offense against another family member. Seventy-three percent of family violence victims were female and 76 percent of persons who committed family violence were male. Simple assault was the most frequent type of family violence. Drugs and alcohol were involved in 39 percent of family violence victimizations. In 20 percent of family violence incidents, the offender had a weapon. Following publication, the report “Family Violence Statistics (NCJ-207846) can be accessed at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.dov/bjs/abstract/fvs.htm. Taken From: Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Women with Disabilities Employers DatabaseA free database that identifies 1,913 qualified college students and recent graduates with disabilities who seek summer and fulltime employment is available for the tenth year to public and private sector employers to help them meet their staffing needs. The program also fulfills President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative pledge to promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities throughout the nation. The department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is offering the WRP database of job seekers with disabilities in cooperation with the Department of Defense. Through ODEP’s complimentary CD-ROM database, employers can search from a pool of pre-screened applicants who have skills in disciplines ranging from computer sciences and business to communications, engineering, office administration and more. Searches generate candidate profiles, academic and demographic data, and contact information for students from more than 200 colleges and universities in over 45 states and territories. The CD-ROM and additional information are available from www.wrpjobs.com, via email at wrp@dol.gov, or by phone at (202) 693-7880. ODEP’s portfolio of assets for employers also includes the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) and Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN). JAN is a toll-free information and referral service on job accommodations, self-employment and small business opportunities for people with disabilities and can be reached at 1-800-526-7234 or at www.jan.wvu.edu. EARN, a national toll-free telephone and electronic information referral service, helps employers who have job vacancies to find and recruit qualified workers with disabilities in their locations. EARN can be reached at 1-866-Earn Now (1-866-327-6669) or via its website (www.earnworks.com). ODEP’s website is available to employers and employees at www.dol.gov/odep, as is www.DisabilityInfo.Gov, a cross-government portal on disability-related information. Taken From: News Release, March 16, 2005 Health for MinoritiesIn May 2005, $95 million in grants to develop a new program that will reduce the number of cancer deaths in minority and poor populations. The new initiative, called the Community Networks Program (CNP), wad developed by HHS’ National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. Its aim is to reduce cancer disparities through community participation in education, research and training. Up to 25 grantees will develop programs to increase the use of cancer interventions in undeserved communities. Interventions will include proven approaches including smoking cessations, increasing healthy eating and physical activity, and early detection and treatment of breast, cervical and colorectal cancers. Programs will be designed to reach communities and populations experiencing a disproportionate share of the cancer burden, and will address African Americans, American Indans/Alaska Natives, Hawaiian Natives and other Pacific islanders, Asians, Hispanics/Latinos, and rural underserved populations. Each CNP will put together an advisory group that will serve as the “voice of the community.” These advisory groups will work with local community members to gather information and then deliver back results. For additional information about the Community Network Program and grantees, go to: http://crchd.nci.nih.gov. For more information about cancer, visit the NCI Web site at: http://www.cancer.gov or call NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-422-6237. Taken From: HHS News Release, April 13, 2005 Health Care & Biotechnology Training ProjectsU.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced on June 8, 2005, a grant of $846,325 to the United Regional Health Care System. The grantee is one of the 12 winners selected from nearly 230 applicants competing for funding under the President’s High Growth Job Training Initiative. More than $12 million is being awarded nationwide to address opportunities to build a world-class health care and biotechnology workforce. With the grant, United Regional will generate a pipeline of new workers for the healthcare industry through targeted recruiting of veterans, dislocated workers, minorities and non-traditional workers. Additionally, United Regional will provide entry-level training for new hospital workers and specialty skills training for incumbent workers through the Career Mobility Initiative, a model that supports healthcare workers’ careers. Of the 12 grants awarded as a result of a Sept. 17, 2004, Department of Labor Solicitation for Grant Applications, four will fund biotechnology industry training, six will fund health care industry training and two will provide cross-industry training. Funds will advance projects in Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin. Taken From: News Release, June 8, 2005 Summer CampA publication of the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities has issued their publication on Summer Camps for Children with Disabilities 2005. The guide contains some of the directories and listings of summer camps. Half of these resources identify camps specifically intended for children who have disabilities. The other half is simply directories listing camp opportunities available to all children. Information can be found at www.resourcesnyc.org. National Adoption Directory SearchThe National Adoption Directory Search includes state-by-state contact information for a variety of adoption-related organizations and services including public and licensed private adoption agencies, support groups, State reunion registries and more. These listings are provided as a public service and should not be construed as a Clearinghouse or Children’s Bureau endorsement or recommendation of any one agency or organization. The National Adoption Directory Search can be found at http://naic.acf.hhs.gov/general/nad/index.cfm. Friendly ReminderTo: State Councils on Re: State Plan Amendments Please remember that your State Plan Amendments are due to the Regional Office via EDS by August 15, 2005. Grants to Reduce Infant MortalityOn June 22, 2005, 77 grants totaling $80.5 million were announced to improve health care for pregnant women and reduce higher-than-average infant mortality rates in targeted communities as part of the Healthy Start, Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health Program. Poor access to prenatal care for pregnant women often results in higher infant mortality rates among certain U.S. minority groups. The preliminary national infant mortality rate in 2003 was 6.9 per 1,000 live births; mortality rates that year were 14.1 for African-Americans, 5.9 for Hispanics, and 5.8 for whites. In 2002, the infant mortality rate was 8.6 per 1,000 births for American Indians/Alaskan Natives and 4.8 for Asians or Pacific Islanders. Healthy Start helps break down barriers to care by running accessible, culturally competent, and in some communities, mobile clinics. Sites meet clients’ basic health as well as prenatal care needs and make referrals for depression and substance abuse screenings. Through Healthy Start, women learn to improve their overall health by not smoking or drinking before or after, not just during pregnancy. Healthy Start also works within communities by providing resources, such as job employment services to assist families in finding employment. Administered through Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the Healthy Start program began in 1991 and now reaches into 96 communities in 36 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. A table of Region VI grantees follow:
Taken From: HHS Press Release, June 23, 2005 Grants to Improve MCH ServicesAwards totaling $23.1 million to expand services at hemophilia treatment centers, improve care for infants with or at risk for sickle cell disease, and support a broad range of maternal and child health (MCH) services. The awards were made through HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). HRSA’s Hemophilia Treatment Centers program, which made 12 awards worth $5.3 million, supports comprehensive care, including genetic and other counseling, for people with hemophilia and their families. Services are provided through regional networks of centers that specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of hemophilia and related bleeding disorders. Hemophilia is characterized by delayed clotting of the blood that can result in difficulty controlling bleeding after even minor injuries.
The Region VI grantees are listed below:
The Region VI Developmental Disabilities Newsletter is issued 6
times a year by the
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