June 30, 2008

The sun is still shining on the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC)

At its June 23rd meeting, the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission (SAC) issued a unanimous recommendation to continue the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation for six more years. The 12-member Sunset panel also recommended increasing the size of the TSAHC board from five to seven members. One new board member will represent the interests of families served through the agency’s single-family programs, and the other will represent nonprofit housing organizations.

TSAHC is a self-funded, nonprofit organization that helps Texas better meet the needs of low-income families who need affordable housing. While originally created to perform activities the State could not, the Corporation’s key activities now revolve around issuing a portion of the State’s private activity bond allocation. As a nonprofit, the corporation can also seek grants and private donations to support housing initiatives statewide.

During its study, the SAC evaluated whether it’s necessary for TSAHC to maintain a nonprofit structure. In the end, commission members agreed that Texas can benefit from the nonprofit’s ability to raise and leverage private funds to help meet the state’s significant needs for affordable housing.

The SAC is charged by the legislature to identify and eliminate waste, duplication and inefficiency in more than 150 Texas government agencies. State agencies usually come up for review once every 12 years, giving the review panel an opportunity to identify duplicative services or programs, as well as suggest innovative changes to improve operations.

 

MFP Demonstration Project seeks community-minded providers

The Department of Aging and Disability Services is on the lookout for private service providers who are willing to close their large intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation (ICFs/MR) in favor of supporting people in community settings. Through the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration Project, DADS is accepting applications from providers who currently operate ICFs/MR for nine or more residents, with priority given to larger facilities with 14 or more beds. The state agency will work with selected providers to transition from facility-based to community-based services.

Under the demonstration project guidelines, providers may create one or more small group homes (four to six people), but the total number of residents can’t exceed 25 percent of the number of people originally served by the large ICF/MR. At least 75 percent of the original facility’s residents will get services through the Home and Community-based Services (HCS) or Community Living and Support Services (CLASS) Medicaid waiver programs. Consumers will get to choose where they want to live and who provides services, and are not required to stay with the ICF/MR provider.

For example, if a provider agrees to close a 100-bed ICF/MR, at least 75 people will transition to services through the HCS or CLASS Medicaid waiver programs. The provider may create small group homes (four to six people each) for no more than 25 people.

The percentages coincide with DADS’ experience on where people prefer to live. The agency estimates that more than 75 percent of people living in large facilities would rather be in small group homes. According to DADS, the increased cost of providing services in the smaller settings has “been an obstacle for some providers who want to downsize or close their facilities” to become HCS providers. Under the demonstration, DADS will make use of enhanced matching funds to help providers make the transition.

The MFP Demonstration Project is a five-year federal grant to help build Medicaid long-term care programs that move people out of institutions and into communities. For more information, contact: Marc Gold, manager, Promoting Independence, 512-438-2260, or send e-mail to MFP-Project@dads.state.tx.us.

The full MFP plan -- The Texas Money Follows the Person Demonstration Operational Protocol -- is available on the DADS web site.

 

TAMU studies recovery issues for hurricane survivors with intellectual disabilities

Researchers at the Center for Disability and Development at Texas A&M University, a DPC member organization, are studying issues around the long-term recovery of people with intellectual disabilities (mental retardation) who evacuated after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. They are looking for people with intellectual disabilities affected by the hurricane to take part in an interview, focus group or telephone survey. The researchers will pay up to $50 to people who are willing to share the story about their lives before, during and after the storm.

For more information or to sign up for the study, call 1-866-578-4366 (toll free). Or, send e-mail to Aaron Resch at jaresch@neo.tamu.edu.

 

How’s this for nifty? Goodwill is 50!!

Congratulations to DPC local member Goodwill of Central Texas, celebrating its 50th birthday this year. The agency has come a long way from the days when its first headquarters opened near downtown Austin in 1958. Goodwill served 69 that first year of operation.

Now, Goodwill assists more than 450 Central Texans with employment programs and other services every day. Last year, Goodwill of Central Texas helped almost 10,000 people in find jobs. It’s the 29th largest employer in Central Texas.

While a lot of people are familiar with Goodwill’s donation centers and retail stores, they may be less familiar with the agency’s good work on behalf of people who experience various barriers to employment. Thousands of people gain experience and skills through jobs that Goodwill helped them prepare for and find. With steady work, many of these people are able to become independent and self-sufficient.

For more information about Goodwill of Central Texas, check out their web site: http://www.austingoodwill.org/

 

DPC Member Spotlight: National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter

Contact Person: Shannon Brooks, Public Affairs Director
Address: Stonebridge Plaza, 9600 N. Mopac, Suite 150, Austin, Texas 78759
Phone: 512-340-2700
E-mail: sbrooks@nmsslonestar.org

Overview: The National MS Society is a collective of passionate individuals who want to do something about MS now—to move together toward a world free of multiple sclerosis. The mission of the National MS Society is to end the devastating effect of MS.

• We are moving research forward by relentlessly pursuing prevention, treatment and cure.
• We are moving to reach out and respond to individuals, families and communities living with multiple sclerosis.
• We are moving politicians and legislation to champion the needs of people with MS through activism, advocacy and influence.
• We are moving to mobilize the millions of people who want to do something about MS now.

Multiple Sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. MS stops people from moving; we exist to make sure it doesn't.

Organizational structure and service area: The Lone Star Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society was founded in 1955 with a mission to provide direct services to people affected by MS and to fund research in an effort to find a cure for the devastating effects of MS. The Lone Star Chapter serves 174 counties and more than 20,000 Texans affected by multiple sclerosis. We do this through our home office and our 50-state network of chapters by funding MS research, providing services to people with MS, offering professional education, and furthering advocacy efforts.

The Lone Star has offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Fort Worth, Texas. There are over 60 staff persons as well as 48 Board of Trustees, and 25 Medical Advisors. Members can join by making a contribution of $25.00 or more which supports research, programs and services for people affected by MS, advocacy efforts, and funds public education. For more information please visit: http://txh.nationalmssociety.org/

What were your three best achievements in the past year?

• Along with the T3 (Two Years, Too Long, To Wait) Coalition group, passed the 24-Month Medicare Wait resolution (HCR 35) signed by Governor Rick Perry. Lobbied for resolution to be selected as federal National MS Society priority issue.
• Lobbied for legislature to restore funding to the state's electricity assistance fund at $200 million dollars for the next two years.
• Recipient of the National MS Society’s prestige “Cabello” Award recognized for nation’s top advocacy programs.

If your organization could change one public policy right this minute, what would it be?

Make the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool more affordable! The Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool (THIRP) was created to make sure that individuals, who would otherwise be considered uninsurable because of a pre-existing medical condition, have a means to purchase health insurance. The Risk Pool helps reduce the number of uninsured by providing an important insurance option for Texans with multiple sclerosis and other health conditions that do not have employer sponsored health insurance. In fact, it is the ONLY option these individuals have for health insurance other than Medicare or Medicaid. Many middle income Texans are on the verge of losing their health care coverage because the cost of the Risk Pool is out of their reach, and many more are prevented from ever enrolling for the same reason. The cost of the premium is set in Texas statute at twice the cost of the average premium in the individual market — and that does not take into account deductibles and co- payments. Texas is one of only 3 states with the premium rate set this high — 31 other states have set a lower premium cap.

How long has your organization belonged to the Disability Policy Consortium? How has your organization benefited from being part of the DPC?

Since 2000 we have been members of the Disability Policy Consortium. The National MS Society has benefited from being about of the DPC by joining forces with a diverse group of organizations and promoting public policy that champion the rights of people with disabilities and their families.

 

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