STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL
November 14, 2018
11:30 – 2:30 pm
Walker Building 1st Floor
21 South Fruit Street, Concord, NH 
Present:  Jeff Dickinson, Andrew Harmon, Rose Prescott, Marcia Golembeski, Bill Finn, Jennifer Beaulieu, Shellie Lemelin, Tobey Parch-Davies, Peggy Teravainen, Gary Whitmarsh, Lorre Ripley, Dorine Pelletier, Carrie Dudley
Absent: Christopher Emerson, Erin Hall, Joan Marcoux, Deborah Naumann-Lindsey, Susan Wolfe-Downes
The SPIL Work Groups began work at 11:30.
The full SILC meeting was called to order by Chair Jeff Dickinson at 1:04 PM. Attendance was taken via introductions. 
Approval of Full SILC Minutes
Due to the lack of a Quorum the review and approval of September minutes was deferred to the next meeting. Jeff asked if anyone had any comments or edits they would like to make to the minutes. Andrew mentioned that Bill’s title should include Commissioner Representative under the Transportation Task Force report. 

SPIL Task Forces Updates
Goal 1: IL Services Expansion 
Dorine reported that objective 1 item C will be placed on-hold until the Executive Committee comes on board, and extended the timeframe to September 2019. It was recommended that the task of creating a transportation position paper be given to the Transportation Task Force (which later accepted the recommendation). Tobey noted that Objective 2, item A was moved up to objective 1, item D.
The second item that was discussed was that the task force discussed bringing people in from Sight Services for Independent Living, GSIL, or/and HUD to have them present for the new members to bring them up to speed. The task force also reported that they will have monthly meetings and are looking for new people to join the task force. It was noted by Tobey that AD HOC key informants who will work with the task force should also be placed into the SPIL.
Peggy noted that the task force discussed including community participation under independent living such as recreational, leisure, social, and faith-based activities.
The last item that was touched on was how the IL task force would like a vision statement around IL to be mission-aligned. Discussion began with Gary mentioning that the old mission statement was on the SILC Facebook page. Jeff mentioned that at the Executive Committee meeting there was discussion of using the first hour of a future full SILC meeting that normally is used for task force meetings, to instead brainstorm as a group about the SILC’s vision and mission. Other ideas about creating the mission/vision statement were discussed such as having a suggestion box, having the task forces create their own then combining them all together, or having an email suggestion box. It was bought up that maybe an email can be sent out asking people to think about the mission/vison and documents can be included on how to craft a mission/vision statement. It then can be discussed at a full SILC meeting during the hour before lunch. 
Goal 2: Transportation
Andrew reported that some of the goals are being worked on while some are stagnant. They have been updating the dates on the SPIL and have an active presence on the SCC. They also have a presence on regional councils. The SCC is planning another “unconference”, giving time to regional councils to discuss transportation issues. 

The next item discussed was working with other organizations. Andrew reported they are making some progress on trying to reach out to other organizations. Jeff mentioned that one of their objectives is to work with managed care organizations to see how they are meeting their consumers’ transportation needs. Andrew had a meeting with New Hampshire Healthy Families and they continue to work with Well-Sense. Jeff noted that the completion dates for these objectives have been changed to June of 2019.

Andrew noted that he is currently researching what other states are doing with transportation to see if they have any ideas or best practices that could work for New Hampshire. 

Jeff mentioned that he recently got an email from the SILC in Georgia looking to study transportation in NH and vice-versa. He hopes that it may lead to information exchanges with other SILCs as well. 

The next item that was discussed was that one of the objectives is to provide the SILC with a brief presentation about the 10-Year Transportation Plan explaining what it is, what’s in it, and how it relates to what we’re working on with the SILC. The task force decided to set the timeframe for completion for this to February 2019 when the presentation will be given at the full SILC meeting.

The last item that was discussed was exploring advocacy avenues for enhancing general fund spending on transportation. Discussion ensued with people mentioning how transportation providers only receive federal funds for transportation, how it’s a challenge to get funding from community and other organizations, and maybe putting in legislation or the state budget more funding for transportation. Jeff noted that he feels it is going to be a tough budget year and that funding for transportation will have a hard time competing with DD services, mental health services, and substance abuse services, so it may not be the best time to ask for more funding for transportation services.  Jeff mentioned that with the leadership change in the legislature, they may be more willing to add more funds for transportation services.  Andrew reported that the National Federation for the Blind will be having a Washington seminar where he could bring a letter to and present it to our Federal Representatives and Senators. 

Goal 3: Transition
The transition task force report was deferred to the next meeting due to the members being absent. 
2020-2022 SPIL
Jeff noted that the ACL has said that the current SPIL can be extended by one more year or be amended. This is because the new SPIL instrument is delayed for about a year. We are weighing what we are going to do with this information. 

Jeff also mentioned that this changes the timeframe for the community forums for the 2020-2022 SPIL to later winter or early spring. This also leaves more time for development of the forums and the development of the SPIL. Tobey noted that the community forums will be a mix of Zoom and in-person; people will register for either the Zoom or in-person forum. The people on the Zoom will be able to watch and listen in to the forum. There will also be the ability to communicate via chat or text. Tobey also mentioned that we could piggyback on other events hosted by other agencies. She reported that she is figuring out how much the first event will cost and will send the information to Jeff and Bill once it’s figured out. There were some concerns over how it will run in rural places, if people can access it via their smart phones, and will there be a number to call in if you have neither a computer nor smartphone. Many people also discussed their positive experiences with Zoom. She asked the Council if it would be possible to have a trial run at a future SILC meeting to see how it works. The SILC agreed. 

Bill noted that significant changes to the current SPIL need to be reported to the ACL and will need to be discussed at the community forums. He mentioned that with technical changes, the only thing administrative you would have to do is deliver a written statement to the ACL via the state project officer.    

DSE Update
Bill reported that the contracts for Part B funds (Brian Injury Association, Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Granite State Independent Living) have all gone through the Governor and Council. The contract with the GCD to house the program assistant for the SILC went though. He mentioned in the past Chuck and he talked about bundling the funds for the support services that VR normally provides, into the GCD contract to streamline the process. It was later decided to plan for this in the next cycle due to all the current changes and challenges at VR.  

He also mentioned VR was still in an Order of Selection but they were able to take 100 people off of delayed status and provide services to these people. Lorrie from the GCD reported that there will be a meeting with the group called the Order-of-Selection management group to discuss topics such as what’s the next step, how do we do this, and how does VR serve people effectively.  Bill also noted that VR can help someone if they are in danger of losing their job but cannot provide services that aren’t directly related to saving their employment.

Bill announced that he will retire in January. 

GCD Update 
Lorrie mentioned that work is still being done on STABLE NH to get the word out to people, they have been busy with speaking and participating at conferences, and that the GAA (Governor’s Accessibility Awards) committee has been formed and will start looking for nominees in January.

She reported that as of now there are 145 STABLE NH accounts. Outreach has been done by social media and in-person. Jeff asked about the age limit of the STABLE and other ABLE programs. Lorrie mentioned that there was some discussion of raising the age limit of having a disability, currently at 26, to a higher limit such as 40 in the federal legislature for all ABLE programs. Lorrie mentioned that there isn’t state funding for advertising so they have to use social media and outreach to get the word out. They have applied for grants to cover some expenses such as the STABLE NH pens and other marketing materials. 
Collaborating with Other Agencies
Jen mentioned that in the past we talked about having more of a presence at conferences. We could piggyback off of the agencies that are SILC members. Ideas such as going to the disabilities support providers’ conference and job fairs were given. Jeff mentioned that we need materials such as a brochure to bring to the conferences. Tobey mentioned that they could make that a part of the SPIL. Carrie mentioned that social media was another way to outreach to people and that she knew someone who trained her for free on ways to boost social media. 

Jen mentioned that there should be documents for educating people who are new to the SILC as well.

Diversity
Jeff noted that the Executive Committee at its last meeting talked about racial and cultural diversity within the SILC and recruiting new members. Many different ideas were mentioned such as looking at Ascentria Care Alliance (which helps refugees), college cross cultural clubs and organizations, and the Governor’s Task Force on Inclusion and Diversity.

Andrew asked what types of qualifications we are looking for in members. Bill answered that the bylaws say 51% of the council needs to be people with disabilities and that it is specific on who is allowed to become a member. 
Adjournment
Peggy moved to adjourn, Andrew seconded. All were in favor. None opposed. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 2:29pm. 

NEXT SILC MEETING: Wednesday, February 20, 2019 . 

Recorded by Jennifer Beaulieu