Goal 2 Teleconference
February 19, 2015
Attendees: Joshua Kaufman, Rene Cummins, Sierra Royster, Gloria Bellamy, Sandy Hicks, Deidre Dockery, and Will Miller
Convened at 4:38
Gloria Bellamy: Requested that Will take minutes.
The purpose of today’s teleconference: to discuss the funding increase requested by YLF.
The committee has requested the YLF contract for this year, as well as budget documents from last year. Is it possible to provide these?
Sierra Royster: Yes, but will take time to provide numbers from last year (bookkeeper will be back on Monday). This was also part of report sent in January for SILC meeting.
Gloria Bellamy: Committee looking into other ways to recommend for funding YLF, possibly within a lower budget. In addition to helping in 2015, this will be useful to explore for next SPIL.
Rene Cummins: Sierra, can you send figures from your presentation to the committee? I think it was already contained in your report to the SILC.
Gloria Bellamy: When considering the request for increased funding we have to consider the current funding situation. Our CILs are on track to lose a great deal of money in 2015 when ARRA funds expire. Deidre is on this teleconference to share ideas that she has to help with funding YLF.
Sierra Royster: The request was for $25,000 in addition to the $20,000 that has been allocated in the YLF contract for this year.
Rene Cummins: We have 91.5% of our budget of current year funds available now, so there is no shortage of funds. On October 1, 2015 we will have the remainder of 2015 funds available, in addition to our 2016 grant award.
Deidre Dockery: Has ideas for how DSB and DVR may be able to get involved and help with funding to help the program be more self-sufficient. Can also be a vehicle for folks who are not being served by DVR or DSB, the referral can be made. Their attendance can be paid by DVR / DSB at a rate of $1500 per attendee, which is a figure provided by Sierra. Attendance of peer mentors, as well as attendees, could also be paid. This would be a way for attendees to be paid for, without asking them to pay for it themselves.
Sierra Royster: I am drafting a letter to address this, asking if you are current client of DVR or DSB. I will then contact each counselor to coordinate payment from DVR or DSB. 
Last year we rose close to $15,000. One funder gave $1300, and will only give $600 this year. We have raised $600 this year, plus have $20,000 of Part B money. Costs are always a constant negotiation. The VR and DSB will require phone calls to coordinate with each counselor, which will require a lot of staff time. We already have a contract with NC State for this year in order to get on their calendar. Delegates will be selected no later than April 1.
I have heard of ideas to help fund a nurse.
Rene Cummins: sounds like contacting counselors for all the delegates will take a long time. Is that something you feel like you have time to do?
Sierra Royster: Needs to get everything set before YLF. 
Deidre Dockery: If the attendee is already working with the program, than approval will be much easier. If there are not in the system yet, than the process can be expedited, but it will be a lengthy process.
Sierra Royster: Does not understand the process for someone to get into VR and get set up in time for this payment to be made. Usually takes 3 to 6 months to get set up from her experience. Question: does this mean that we only serve clients of VR / DSB? This is probably not possible for everyone.
There will be a total of 24 attendees at YLF: 4 group leaders (mentors), 20 delegates. Looking into other possibilities to get mentors funded through First in Families Chapters.
Gloria Bellamy: With the issue of current year funds: has a lifeline been thrown to the CILs for when ARRA funding is lost? How does that calculate into the consideration of increasing funding for YLF?
Also, many of the folks who have applied may already be consumers of VR, correct?
Sierra Royster: Yes, that’s the hope. But we don’t have a full-time person to contact all of the coordinators.
Deidre Dockery: It is possible that the process could be expedited through transition counselors for transition-aged attendees. 
Rene Cummins: For six years these ideas have never come forward. Delighted that Deidre has brought these ideas forward. 
Will Miller: Can attendees be asked to approach counselors from DVR and DSB themselves? Perhaps be provided with a letter to their counselors with input from Deidre documenting YLF to support their request for funds to attend?
Gloria Bellamy: Good idea: would also encourage independence of attendees, to advocate for themselves. 
Sierra Royster: You mean another letter in addition to the one we have already drafted?
Deidre Dockery: A letter including more details to facilitate authorization from the counselors with necessary documentation may be helpful.
Sierra Royster: This could be great. Deidre, could you help to formulate this document? I want to make sure consumers don’t have the impression that we are asking them to pay; needs to be clear that we are pursuing funds from DVR / DSB. Timeline for this: March 12 is when delegates meet and is the latest that this document could be presented and approved.
Gloria Bellamy: Are there any ideas for funding a nurse?
Sierra Royster: Last year we brought a nurse in for a service that must be provided by RN. We hired one to come in for time necessary to perform that particular task. Another time, a delegate brought his own nurse, and they paid for time that his nurse was not there. The best way to do this is to hire a nurse overseer who can do all of these things and be the point person.
Rene Cummins: Would also help with medication management issues. 
Deidre Dockery: In the past I worked with UNCG to develop contract. People from RN and BSN program attended camp 24-hours per day for free in agreement. Our end of the agreement was to go and provide training to the nursing program every year about awareness and issues relevant to individuals with disabilities. This was for Camp Dogwood, because they have to find experiences for students in non-traditional settings. 
William Peace University is establishing an RN/BSN program to start this fall. There are also programs at community colleges, etc., who are training nurses and may be able to provide service.
Sierra Royster: rates quoted for nurses so far are $100 / hour, and another is $52 / hour. It would cost $52/hour for 24 hours over 6 days.
Deidre Dockery: an LPN may be another possibility.
Sierra Royster: Elon suggested using a nurse who is insured rather than an individual contractor. Another idea is a nurse from a hospital who can work YLF to complete community service hours.
Deidre Dockery: Do you have event insurance for YLF?
Rene Cummins: Yes, we have a general commercial liability insurance policy that covers this event.
Sandra Hooks: Used to work at Nash General Hospital. Has nursing friends who have retired. They suggested that a retired RN could be a good option for YLF. If the event is two or more days, then you would need at least two nurses. They also mentioned nursing students who need clinical hours.
Rene Cummins: Can you share contact from Nursing Association in Cameron Village?
Deidre Dockery: Yes, I think her name is Dr. Accion (pronounced Quin). This was the person we worked with; I think her first name was Julia.
Joshua Kaufman: At a rate of $1500, if half of the 24 attendees are VR / DSB clients, than that is $18,000, correct?
Sierra Royster: Not sure that half are VR or DSB clients. Does not think funds from delegates who are already VR or DSB clients currently would arrive in time for this year.
Gloria Bellamy: What is the interplay with the loss of ARRA funds?
Rene Cummins: This is not spelled out in the SPIL. There are meetings occurring now to address this. This will have to play out among the signatories of the SPIL. No word about how this will be handled. This is something that will have to be agreed upon among the parties.
Gloria Bellamy: We have heard ideas today of things that will help to fund this year’s YLF. Need to recommend the full picture before we recommend this to the full council. YLF is the crowned jewel of the SILC, so we want to support it how we can. Perhaps we can fundraise? We need to look into ways that we can help as a goal. We will look into the request for additional funds, and will make a recommendation to the full council. 
Rene Cummins: One idea: once a delegate is selected from an area that is represented by someone on the SILC, can that member go forward to community organizations to request funding to sponsor attendees from the community?
Gloria Bellamy: Yes, this is a good idea.
Will Miller: The SILC office has Sierra’s PowerPoint and can distribute.
Sierra Royster: will forward this year’s YLF budget. 
Gloria Bellamy: Please know that this committee is trying to support YLF and look into all options to help.
Meeting dismissed at 5:55