STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL
April 21, 2026
2:00 p.m. 
Membership Committee Meeting
ZOOM

Members Attending: Committee Chair Ryan Witterschein, Andrew Harmon, and Rob Kallin
Staff: Jennifer Beaulieu (SILC Assistant) 
Guests: Jenny LaSalle and Michael Negrete (Applicants)

The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Ryan Witterschein at 2:03pm.

Discussion on Succession Planning 
Ryan Witterschein mentioned that we will skip this item for now. 

Approval of February’s Meeting Minutes
Ryan Witterschein asked if anyone would like to make a motion with those modifications. 
*Andrew Harmon made that motion. 
Second:  Rob Kallin
Discussion: Andrew Harmon mentioned that he made some last-minute edits and when they were applied, it created new errors. The first error was a missing space between two names, and the other error is a misspelled name. 
All in Favor: Yes			Abstention: None
Motion Carried.

Approval of January’s Meeting Minutes
*Andrew Harmon made a motion to approve the January minutes.  
Second:  Rob Kallin
Discussion: None
All in Favor: Yes			Abstention: None
Motion Carried.

Introduction and Discussion on Applicants; Jenny LaSalle and Michael Negrete
Ryan Witterschein introduced Jenny LaSalle and Michael Negrete as prospective NH SILC members. He asked if everyone had reviewed their application materials. Andrew Harmon noted that Michael Negrete’s résumé references LinkedIn for a detailed job history, but his LinkedIn profile did not contain additional information. Michael Negrete agreed to send a PDF with a fuller work history, explaining that his background is extensive and he had condensed it for his application and résumé. Andrew Harmon asked about Michael Negrete’s current company. Michael Negrete explained he owns Web DNA, which provides graphic design services, and that he also works part‑time at GSIL as a peer‑support coordinator. He listed his personal and business contact information because he wasn’t sure whether GSIL would want another representative, given two of their employees sit on the council. He stated he would best serve as a consumer member based on his experience as a quadriplegic. Jennifer Beaulieu noted his web‑development experience. Michael Negrete clarified he does a bit of web design work, but he primarily does graphic design. When Andrew Harmon asked about accessibility overlays, Michael Negrete said he does not currently use accessibility tools but knows resources exist. The committee briefly discussed website accessibility.

Jenny LaSalle mentioned that she was referred to the NH SILC by Danielle Murphy who she used to work with at WellSense Health Plan. She worked at WellSense Health Plan since the first year when NH Medicaid switched to the MCO (Managed Care Organization) model which was in 2014. For the past seven months, she has gone back to directly working with patients and clients. Right now, she works at DaVita Dialysis in Nashua, making sure that their patients can be independent in the community. She has a lot of experience working with Medicaid waivers. Before that she spent 10 years working in residential treatment with students and families. She also did consultant work in public schools with children on 504 or IEP plans. Rob Kallin mentioned that he noticed that she has a lot of experience in transition of care in her job history. He noted the patch work creation of care networks in our state and its gaps. He noted that one of our tasks is to make policy recommendations to the Governor. He asked what policy recommendation she would make and about her experience navigating the transition from system to system. She mentioned how one of the things that is lacking is system to system transition. It results in people getting lost in the shuffle which is unfortunate because those individuals are often the most vulnerable. She noted that when she was working in residential treatment, one of the things they worked on was to get a transitional living program available so when their residents are ages 18 to 22, they have a little bit more time to stay at the residential facility before they are out on their own and into the adult system. Discussion ensued on system-to-system transition. In terms of policy writing, she never did anything with writing policies. Rob Kallin mentioned that the first step is identifying where the gaps are and she has been living in the gaps. She mentioned how she has done some writing for RFP requests. In living in the gaps, one of the things she found is that the gaps lay in between waivered systems and the mental health system. Rob Kallin commented that you must be a perfectly healthy mental health patient to receive care or have no mental health needs to receive physical health services. Discussion ensued on how often to receive assistance you must fit into a narrow box, but the problem is that humans don’t fit into narrow boxes.  

Ryan Witterschein mentioned how every three years, the SILC develops a plan on how they will utilize the federal funds they were given. This plan is called the Statewide Plan for Independent Living and contains goals that the SILC  is going to target for the next three years. He noted that with the next SPIL, there are a few areas he wants to target and wanted their thoughts on it. The target areas would be mental health and transitional services. Jenny LaSalle mentioned that she thinks it’s a great goal and the state really needs it. She has seen people sitting in emergency departments because they can’t get the mental health they need. She noted that in her 20 years in this field, she has seen different facilities close for different reasons, particularly for children and adolescents who were dual- diagnosed and nothing comprehensive has taken its place. Michael Negrete noted that regarding Ryan’s questions, he does feel strongly about the mental health aspect and has an extensive history with that in his work with veterans and in his personal life. He mentioned how NH has a huge capacity issue regarding providing those services. He noted how there are a very limited number of providers out there to provide those services. He mentioned how passionate he is about equal and dignified access to the same services as everyone else because he personally experienced those deficits and the indignities trying to gain that access. 

Andrew Harmon asked if they had a chance to look at the standing committees. Michael Negrete mentioned that he has looked at that and there are a few committees he is interested in. He thinks he has some background that would be beneficial to the Advocacy Committee. He noted how over the past 15 to 20 years, he got to know a lot of our state legislators personally. Jenny LaSalle mentioned that she would be happy with wherever it would be most helpful. Michael Negrete mentioned that he would be okay with wherever his background and voice is most needed.  

Ryan Witterschein asked if they had any questions for the committee. Michael Negrete mentioned that there seems to be a challenge to the recruitment aspect of members to participate in the variety of aspects of the SILC. Is that a matter of finding qualified people or simply finding people who are interested? Ryan Witterschein noted that it is more that it used to be a challenge, we are packed with members. Rob Kallin noted that they are also becoming more sophisticated with our use of the regulations and rules [that govern our SILC]. Rob Kallin mentioned that regarding membership we are in a good place, even with a couple of members on temporary absence. He mentioned the difficulties with the governor appointment process and how it seems she only appoints individuals to be members once a year. Ryan Witterschein  noted that the next step for the two applicants would be to go before the Council during a Full SILC meeting. This will be an opportunity for members to ask questions about the two applicants. A vote will take place after the council asks their questions and the two applicants leave the room. Once the vote is over, the applicants will be notified of the vote of the council. He asked them to be patient with the process and mentioned that they can still participate in Full SILC and committee meetings as members of the public. 

Andrew Harmon asked when the two individuals would fill out the skills matrix. Ryan Witterschein mentioned once they are appointed. 

Recruitment and Outreach Initiatives
Ryan Witterschein reported that we are doing well with word of mouth and everyone reaching out to people. Andrew Harmon mentioned that he is continuing to have a discussion with Lilly Wellington at a couple of events. There was a transportation event related to the assessment of needs, and she is still interested in coming to a Full SILC meeting, but he thinks that there have been time conflicts due to her meetings with her organization. 

Member Orientation and Development
Jennifer Beaulieu will send both of them the orientation packet. 

Adjournment of Meeting
*Rob Kallin motioned to adjourn. 
Second: Andrew Harmon
Discussion: None
All in Favor: Yes	Abstention: None
Motion Carried.

Meeting adjourned at 2:34pm.