From The Desk of Pamela Bisceglia
The Arcs in Colorado, have always been and will continue to be civil and human rights organizations. We are pained and heartbroken by the acts of violence and racial injustice impacting our black and brown neighbors, friends and community.
[Read more…] about Black Lives MatterMental Health Crisis: Part 3, Services and Programming for Children
From The Desk of Pamela Bisceglia
[Read more…] about Mental Health Crisis: Part 3, Services and Programming for ChildrenMental Health Crisis: Part 2, Long Term Competency
From The Desk of Pamela Bisceglia
“Jane Doe” had charges brought against her January 2016 and June 2017. She was released on bail. A competency evaluation was ordered and in December 2017, it was determined she was not competent. She was ordered to participate in a competency restoration program. Competency restoration is the process used when an individual is found by a court to be incompetent to stand trial. Simply put, “Jane Doe” must be restored to competency before the legal process can continue. In November 2018, it was determined that competency could not be restored. “Jane Doe” is labeled as having a dual diagnosis: an intellectual and developmental disability and mental health issues. On July 9, 2019, “Jane Doe” was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. On day three of her incarceration, “Jane Doe” was arraigned. The judge was privy to: her history, the list of her past charges, her competency evaluations and her return to the community. Now, because she is charged with aggravated assault, the court will no longer entertain her return to the community.
[Read more…] about Mental Health Crisis: Part 2, Long Term CompetencyMental Health Crisis: Part 1, Framing The Issues
From The Desk of Pamela Bisceglia
While some maintain Denver Public Schools (DPS) offers students “equitable” opportunities, others assert the school-to-prison pipeline is alive and well in DPS. The partnership between DPS, Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and what was the Division of Youth Corrections (currently known as the Division of Youth Services) provides new meaning to the school-to-prison pipeline. DPS charter school Rite of Passage is housed in youth correction facility in Watkins, Colorado. Thirty-five percent (or more) of the youth assigned to the facility are identified as having a disability (eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). Ridge View Academy is a boys’ correction facility located in a remote area surrounded by fields. Ridge View Academy does not have a barbed wire fence, rather the youth understand if they run they will be sent to a more secure correction facility. DPS’ Board of Education approved the Rite of Passage charter school in 2001.
[Read more…] about Mental Health Crisis: Part 1, Framing The IssuesLast Interview
From The Desk of Pamela Bisceglia
At different times, over the years, I had an opportunity to stand with Carrie Ann Lucas on issues important to the community of individuals with disabilities. I cannot report that we were Facebook friends, we did not meet for lunch or dinner or discuss our personal lives. I knew Carrie as a bright, firm, determined parent, attorney, advocate, and community leader. If there was a question in relation to the rights of parents with disabilities, Carrie was the expert.
[Read more…] about Last InterviewThe Gift of A Lifetime
An Interview with Catherine Strode
For nearly 50 years, Don Morales has given his time and talent to support the needs of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. At 84 years old, Don currently serves as the Treasurer on AdvocacyDenver’s Executive Board. However, his history of service does not begin there nor does it end there. He has logged countless hours of volunteer time over the decades in order to raise funds and improve services for our community.
Don says the greatest advancements he has seen over the years has been children having the right to attend public schools. His service has been based on his passion to help individuals like his own son Danny. He says Danny, now 56 years old, has been a gift to his entire family. ”
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
[Read more…] about The Future of Denver’s Mill Levy Revenue Distribution
Prison Pipeline
From The Desk of Pamela Bisceglia
Denver Public Schools, the Division of Youth Corrections and the Division of Human Services all own a piece of Ridge View Academy. Ridge View Academy is a youth correction facility located in Weld County. The correction facility is in a remote area and is surrounded by fields. The facility does not have a barbed wire fence, rather the youth understand if they run they will be sent to a more secure correction facility. Ridge View houses the Denver Public Schools charter school Rite of Passage. The charter school was approved by Denver Public Schools Board of Education over a decade ago. The partnership between Denver Public Schools and the Division of Youth Corrections provides new meaning to the school-to-prison pipeline.
Three Perspectives On Late Payments For Medicaid Providers
On March 1, 2017, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) launched a new fiscal agent and “The Colorado interChange”, a new Medicaid Management Information System for claims payment. HCPF says this new system replaced technology that had been in place for over two decades and will allow implementation of audit recommendations made over the past several years.
The system underwent several hours of testing. In fact, the Department reports there were, overall, more than 200,000 hours of system pilot testing. However, the testing did not apparently catch a list of issues. In many instances, claims are being denied due to system processing errors. Since The Colorado interChange launched, Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) providers have complained of reimbursement problems threatening their financial sustainability and services continuation. The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has instituted interim payments to providers who are facing financial difficulties.
[Read more…] about Three Perspectives On Late Payments For Medicaid Providers
AdvocacyDenver’s Advocates and Staff Look Forward To…
Looking forward towards 2018, AdvocacyDenver’s Advocates and Staff have their own individual goals of contribution as this new beginning of the organization unfolds. [Read more…] about AdvocacyDenver’s Advocates and Staff Look Forward To…