The Arc of the United States is actively opposing the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. It is rare for the national Arc to oppose judicial nominations. The last time the United States Arc opposed a judicial nomination was more than 30 years ago.
Its Chief Executive Officer, Peter Berns, says Judge Kavanaugh represents values and a philosophy that are regressive for individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities. He is urging Arc chapters across the country to speak out against the Kavanaugh nomination to their U.S. Senators, asking them for a “NO” vote on his Supreme Court nomination.
In this interview with Catherine Strode, Peter Berns cites specific decisions written by Judge Kavanaugh that are found to be offensive by the national Arc. Berns says these decisions in the areas of health care, education, and employment threaten the independence and well-being of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
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Call For Electronic Visit Verification Delay Grows Strong Nationwide
The Washington DC House of Representatives successfully passed H.R. 6042 that would delay by one year the implementation of Electronic Visit Verification. Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) is a tracking system that requires electronic verification of when a person receives Medicaid funded personal care or home health services. The bill that has passed the House extends the deadline to January 1, 2020 for implementing EVV for personal care services. A Senate vote on the bill is expected in July
Nicole Jorwic, Director of Rights Policy at The Arc of the United States, calls the delay of EVV a ‘civil rights issue.’ She says the delay is important because it will give stakeholders the opportunity to work out the challenges of privacy protection.
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State Prepares for Electronic Visit Verification Rollout
Over 30,000 Coloradans receiving Home and Community Based Services through the state will be impacted by the federal mandate of electronic visit verification (EVV.) The federal mandate goes into effect on the first day of January 2019. The verification system must be in place in order to continue to receive a 50 percent match from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Stakeholder groups are meeting with representatives from the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing throughout the state to become educated about the verification system requirements.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, the state’s Director of Benefits and Services explains Electronic Visit Verification (EVV), how the state will implement it and what concerns are being expressed by clients and providers. In Part One of this interview, Colin Laughlin explains how Colorado will do a “soft rollout” of the Electronic Visit Verification with the formost concern being protection of privacy. [Read more…] about State Prepares for Electronic Visit Verification Rollout
Arc of Colorado Executive Director Hails Wins of 2018 Sessions
Seven months ago, Christiano Sosa took over the helm of the Arc of Colorado. During that time, he united the state’s 14 Chapters around the 2018 legislative agenda. That agenda produced five prioritized bills that all successfully passed.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Christiano reflects on this legislative progress and offers his vision moving forward. Part of that vision includes a statewide listening tour he will kick off this June.
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The Future of Denver’s Mill Levy Revenue Distribution
The revenue from Denver’s mill levy in 2018 is expected to be more than 17 million dollars. Rocky Mountain Human Services (RMHS) is currently under contract for distributing the mill levy monies. That contract is set to expire this summer on June 30. Any contract over $500,000 requires the approval of the City Council.
Denver Human Services (DHS) has been conducting a needs assessment survey to decide how to spend the mill levy revenue and what agency to contract with for implementing those decisions. DHS will be holding a public meeting on June 11th to share the results of the needs assessment survey.
In this EVOICE, AdvocacyDenver takes an in-depth look at the mill levy decision process with four different perspectives from decision makers, stakeholders, clients, and parents impacted by the outcome. Mill Levy Program Manager, Justin Sykes, says DHS has received over 250 survey responses. He emphasizes that DHS is supporting an open process for obtaining information from public output.
Interviews Conducted By Catherine Strode
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School Stability To Improve Foster Youth Graduation Rates
An Interview with Catherine Strode
The high school graduation rates in Colorado of foster youth trend significantly lower than those of the general population. A bill has passed the House that would permit students in out-of-home placement to stay in their school of origin instead of moving to a different school when placed outside of the home. House Bill 18-1306 is sponsored by State Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Representative Michaelson Jenet says the bill addresses what has been identified as the most challenging issue facing foster youth: their high dropout and low graduation rate. The bill she has sponsored is designed to improve these rates by keeping foster youth in stable educational environments.
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Food and Drug Administration Approved Cannabis in State Pharmacies
An Interview with Catherine Strode
One of the state’s most vocal political opponents of legalized marijuana has helped pass a bill to allow pharmacies to dispense pharmaceutical marijuana. State Senator John Cooke, a retired sheriff from Weld County, pulls no punches in saying he believes marijuana to be a ‘scourge’ on the state. However, he has cosponsored and helped pass House Bill 18-1187 that makes a technical fix to Colorado pharmacy law that prevents pharmacies from dispensing drug products that contain marijuana or marijuana concentrate.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Senator Cooke says his sponsorship of HB18-1187 is an attempt to aid children suffering from severe forms of epilepsy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing a drug containing cannabidiol (CBD) to treat a rare form of resistant pediatric epilepsy called Epidiolex. With the passage of HB18-1187, Colorado parents can obtain cannabidiol to treat the disease if approved by the FDA.
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Center’s Shutdown for Underfed, Abused Kids Results in Bill
An Interview with Catherine Strode
State Representative Jonathan Singer (House District 11) is sponsoring a bill to investigate allegations of abuse of children/youth in out-of-home placement and under the continuing jurisdiction of the court. House Bill 18-1346 offers protections for youth under the age of 21 from institutional child abuse. The bill is a direct outcome of the state’s 2017 shutdown of El Pueblo, a treatment center for youth. Children at the Center gave reports of being starved and abused.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Representative Singer who is a former social worker says he is committed to making sure all youth in Colorado’s systems are treated fairly. This, he says, is not a partisan issue.
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Legislators Tackle Fire Safety in Host Homes
An Interview with Catherine Strode
State Senator Irene Aguilar and State Representative Dan Pabon are co-sponsoring a bill to implement a fire safety oversight system for individual residential services. House Bill 18-1376 is a response to the tragic host home fire which resulted in fatalities nearly two years ago. The bill has passed the House Public Health Care and Human Services Committee and has been referred to Appropriations.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Senator Aguilar says the bill supports providers for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities by creating awareness of the need to set safety standards for vulnerable populations who receive services from the state.
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Employment First: Yes!
An Interview with Catherine Strode
It’s estimated that 85 percent of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities are unemployed or underemployed. The state legislature is in the process of passing a bill (Senate Bill 18-145) to address that problem and lower that rate in Colorado. The bill implements three main recommendations of a five-year strategic plan created by a State Advisory Partnership. The bill’s sponsor, State Senator John Kefalas (Senate District 14) says the bill also supports a culture shift.
In an interview with Catherine Strode, Senator Kefalas says the bill supports the concept of ‘Employment First’. The concept is based on developing a culture of meaningful employment for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities which moves them out of sheltered workshops and into community-based jobs.