Governor’s Council on Disability (GCD) Volume 3, Number 5, October 2017 Inside this Issue Page 1: GCD Director’s Report Page 2: GCD provides Circuit Court Training Meet MO-YLF alumna Madelyn Hubbs Page 3: Meet Council Member Joan Bergstrom GCD seeks nominations for Annual Awards October is Disability History and Awareness Month Page 4: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Upcoming Events GCD Director’s Report by Amy Bledsoe October is “National Disability Employment Awareness Month.” Governor Greitens signed a proclamation recognizing the event in Missouri. Claudia Browner has put together a nice display for the event on the second floor of the Truman Building. As we promote awareness and rights of those living with disabilities, we like to remind everyone we all have purpose. Some of us find purpose in our family and friends, our community, our faith, and in our employment or volunteer work. We know that no two stories are the same and we all bring value to the conversation. So although October is a month in which we highlight disability employment, we know we are able to advocate and promote awareness of disability rights for all disabilities every day of the year. GCD staff have been very busy in the last two months. We have attended various conferences, meetings, and work groups. Laura Mueth, Wendy Molitor, and I all took part in providing training for the Kansas City 16th Circuit Court employees and received very good feedback. We plan to use this training to springboard into other circuits and expand our training to the law enforcement and first responder communities. We have also attended a grant writing workshop which will be followed by an advanced training so Wendy can focus on writing grants to fund the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (MO-YLF) and Alumni continued training and events. I will focus on obtaining federal funding and additional grants for GCD as we continue to expand our services with a focus on training and outreach. Wendy and Claudia participated in the annual MPACT Transition Summit in the Truman building and GCD was represented at the Kirksville 9th Annual Disability Awareness Day at Truman University. Laura continues to provide training to the Highway Patrol’s Driver Examiners. I am now attending meetings for the Safety Coordinators in the Truman building and we will make plans for proper evacuations and procedures to follow for weather, fire, and intruder situations including persons with disabilities in all state buildings. As GCD staff travel throughout the state, we also make a point of stopping in to see the Independent Living Centers and schools to inform them of opportunities with GCD and MO-YLF. Our Annual Legislative Priorities Poll remains open through November 26th. We currently have more than 500 responses. Please encourage everyone to complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BVB5MRJ. Links for a printable version are available on the Disability Portal https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/legislative_priorities_poll.htm, and the Governor’s Council on Disability and Missouri Youth Leadership Forum Facebook pages, as well as on Twitter. A report will be complied following the close of the survey and will be available on our website and personally delivered to the Governor and all members of the General Assembly, as well as our U.S. Representative and Senators. They need to hear from you. Please see more information in this issue on GCD’s Annual Awards programs. Please share the information on the awards program and nominate a youth leader, a Missouri resident, organization or business that illustrates excellence in leadership for best inclusion practices, and/or a Missouri non-profit organization, business or local government that provides the most outstanding and accessible website. The nomination forms are available on the GCD website at https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/files/2017Nomination_Information.pdf Page 2 GCD provides Circuit Court Training by Laura Mueth GCD executive director Amy Bledsoe and disability program specialists Wendy Molitor and Laura Mueth provided disability awareness training to staff of the 16th Circuit Court in Kansas City for the first time this fall. Trainings occurred September 12 through 14 and October 18 and 19. A total of 145 individuals attended the training. Topics covered included the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act, person first language, etiquette, guidance for interactions, invisible and invisible disabilities, mental health disabilities, and providing accommodations to employees and visitors. A list of websites which attendees can use as resources was also included. The training was well received by those who attended. It provided several individuals with their first exposure to disability related information. The majority of those who completed an evaluation of the training indicated their knowledge increased as a result of the training and that they will use it in their work at the Court. (Photo shows Laura Mueth presents to a group of court employees) Meet MO-YLF Alumna Madelyn Hubbs by Wendy Molitor One of the Governor’s Council on Disability’s programs is the annual Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (MO-YLF) for students with disabilities. Since inception of this 5-day leadership and transition training program in 2001, 297 delegates have graduated from the MO-YLF. This month’s MO-YLF spotlight is on Madelyn Hubbs. Madelyn graduated from the MO-YLF program this past summer and brought a tremendous amount of leadership skills already in place. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Board Student Administration Action Committee, Pattonville United, Girls as Leaders not as Captains, Pattonville High School (PHS) Varsity Swim and Dive, PHS Junior Varsity Water Polo, Disability Athletic Sports Association Swim, Bridgeton Swim and Dive Team, Shriners Hospitals for Children Patient Ambassador, and Disability Athletic Sports Association Camp Counselor. Madelyn lives in the St Louis area in Bridgeton and is very involved with the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Madelyn’s story has been featured on Shriner’s website (https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/news/StL-MadelynHubbs). Madelyn plans to attend college after she graduates high school to obtain a degree in Occupational Therapy so that she can help others reach their full potential and live independently. Madelyn is already a leader in her community and sees herself as continuing this leadership by making a difference in her community in many different ways. She plans to continue to talk to schools and large groups about disabilities and differences and how to embrace those differences proudly. She also plans to continue educating others on the importance of disability awareness and respect. More than anything Madelyn just wants to make a positive difference and have an impact wherever she goes. (Photo of Madelyn Hubbs, seated in a lifeguard chair by a swimming pool) Page 3 Meet Council Member Joan Bergstrom Joan E. Bergstrom has been serving on the Governor’s Council on Disability since 2008. Her professional teaching career began at the State School for Severely Handicapped in Jefferson City and spanned over 33 years experiencing a wide variety of public education service. She has been a classroom teacher of special education students with Learning Disabilities, Autism, Emotional Disorders, Orthopedically Disabled, and Intellectual Disabilities; district administrator of special education services; assistant principal at Jefferson City High School and a college level director of a program for students with disabilities (ABLE) at Metropolitan Community College: Longview. Dr. Bergstrom was and continues to be very involved in professional organizations in leadership positions. She has been professionally recognized by her peers and her students with awards such as: “Who’s Who in America’s Teachers”, “Student Advocate of the Year”, “Outstanding Contribution to Life and Learning”, to name a few. Dr. Bergstrom also continues to serve on the Missouri Advisory Council to the Commission on Civil Rights. (Photo of Council Member Joan Bergstrom) GCD seeks Nominations for Annual Awards By Claudia Browner For more than 25 years, the Governor’s Council on Disability (GCD)’s Inclusion Award has showcased individuals or organizations that have demonstrated best practices in inclusion of people with disabilities. A few years ago, GCD added two award categories: the Youth Leadership Award recognizing emerging leaders in the disability community, and the Website/IT Award honoring Missouri non-profit organizations that offer accessible and user-friendly websites. A panel of judges selects the winners for each award category and the winners receive their awards at the Power Up Assistive Technology conference. If you know of any individuals or organizations who deserve to be recognized for their accomplishments, please submit a nomination for one (or more) of these prestigious awards! The nomination forms can be found and completed online at https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/files/2017Nomination_Information.pdf October is Disability History and Awareness Month By Claudia Browner Nationwide, October is celebrated as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. In Missouri, legislation was passed in 2011 designating October as Disability History and Awareness Month. The Governor’s Council on Disability celebrates these events by hosting a Disability History and Awareness, and Employment display in the Truman State Office Building during the month of October. To learn more about disability history and find great resources on how to promote and celebrate Disability History Month, download the Disability History and Awareness: A Resource Guide for Missouri or visit http://disability.mo.gov and click on Educational Resources. Page 4 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics By Brooke Dawson In October, 2015, Missouri was one of 24 states that received a Planning Grant from the federal Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to prepare for implementing a federal demonstration project designed to pilot implementation of a Medicaid prospective payment system for community behavioral health services provided by organizations meeting new national standards for community behavioral healthcare. In October 2016, Missouri was one of only eight (8) states selected by SAMHSA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to actually pilot the prospective payment system. During the planning process, the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) determined that 19 community behavioral healthcare organizations serving 25 of the state’s 28 behavioral health service areas were in substantial compliance with the new federal standards for “Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics" (CCBHCs), and that they were eligible to participate in the Demonstration Project.  CCBHCs are required to provide: Crisis Mental Health Services Screening, Assessment and Diagnosis Patient-centered Treatment Planning Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services Screening and Monitoring of Health Risks and Status Targeted Case Management Psychiatric Rehabilitation Peer and Family Support Services The populations of focus for the Demonstration Project in Missouri include: Adults with serious mental illness Children and adolescents with serious emotional disorders Children, adolescents and adults with moderate to severe substance use disorders Children and adolescents in state custody who have behavioral health issues Young adults with mental illness or substance use disorders identified as in need of treatment by the courts, law enforcement, or hospital emergency rooms. CCBHCs are required to provide services to members of the armed forces and veterans consistent with guidelines set forth by the Veterans Administration. The Demonstration Project (which began on July 1, 2017, and runs through June 30, 2019) is designed to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of converting Medicaid reimbursement for community behavioral health services from a fee-for-service reimbursement system to a prospective payment system while improving the availability, accessibility, and quality of community behavioral healthcare.  An independent contractor has been selected by SAMHSA to conduct a national evaluation of the Demonstration Project across the eight (8) participating states. For additional information go to: http://dmh.mo.gov/CertifiedCommunityBehavioralHealthClinics.htm Article provided by Brooke Dawson, Division of Behavioral Health, Department of Mental Health Upcoming Events The Missouri Advocacy Summit scheduled for November 18, 2017 has been canceled and will be rescheduled for a later date. Missouri Governor’s Council on Disability Members Yvonne Wright, Chair, New Bloomfield Joan Bergstrom, Ed. D, Lee’s Summit Charles Comstock, Kirksville Betty Davidson, Ph.D., St. Louis Ronald Hack, St. Louis Chip Hailey, Joplin Mary Ann Harter, St. Louis Rosemary Hendon, West Plains Katie Jones, St. Peters Todd Mayfield, Jefferson City DeAnna Noriega, Columbia Susan Orton, Creve Coeur James Trout, St. Louis Robert Wallace, St. Louis Missouri Governor’s Council on Disability Staff Members Amy Bledsoe, Executive Director Claudia Browner, Office Manager Wendy Molitor, MO-YLF Coordinator Laura Mueth, Legislative Coordinator