Statewide Parent Coalition 2016 Legislative Priorities

Washington Statewide Parent Coalition 
2016 Legislative Priorities
                          

           Priorities

• Workforce Shortage:

Individual providers and other professional; there are not enough workforce willing to be individual providers.  Parents and individuals cannot find or retain providers, particularly part-time respite providers who are faced with unreasonable, time-consuming training requirements. This leads to crisis and emergency room use. The recent Department of Labor ruling on eliminating overtime will exacerbate the workforce problem.  Recruitment and incentives to increase the provider workforce is needed, to prevent more people from going into crisis. 

Efficiencies

• 0-3 Administrative Hold-Back for School Districts:

School districts throughout the state receive state money for 0-3 early intervention services. Districts decides how much they will take for administrative cost, ranging from 10%-50%.  High admin hold-backs deprive children of the early intervention services they need to succeed in school.  Department of Early Learning estimates that 29% of children who receive early intervention services do not need Special Education in school.  Saving the state and school districts $6.8 million per year on going.

• Residential Provider Wages / Minimum Wage increases:

In spite of a wage increase in 2015, DDA residential providers are going out of business and unable to take new clients because of the already low wages and minimum wage increases ahead for King Co.  Lack of residential supports creates crisis and risk of homelessness. When DDA cannot place people in community residential, more emergency placements in DDA institutions occur at a much higher rate and cost.  Currently WA institutions are facing federal audits and stop placement orders.

• Consistent Statewide Positive Behavioral Supports

Schoolwide training in social emotional learning, positive behavior supports and trauma informed practices are needed for everyone that works with children in schools.  Establishing a positive school climate sets a strong foundation and proactively addresses challenges around behavior, reduces removal from the classroom, isolation, restraints, and improves students’ readiness to learn.

	These priorities are supported by Parent Coalitions of the following Counties Grant, Adams, Lincoln, Benton, Franklin, Pierce, Snohomish, Kittitas, Clark, Kitsap, King,

 

The Parent Coalitions represent thousands of families in Washington State. We strive to identify the needs of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families and work toward solutions to meet those needs.

Advocacy Days 2016

January 11th - First day of legislative session

January 20th - Legislative Briefing/Reception

A folder of one-page information sheets on pertinent issues for the 2016 legislative session, along with charts and data from the Developmental Disabilities Administration, will be reviewed. (Held at The United Churches 2:00 – 4:00 pm) The annual Legislative Reception will be held in the Columbia Room from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.

January 27th - Community Residential Services (Rally)

Self- adv0cates, supported living providers as well as family members and others join to let legislators know how important living in the community is and ask them to ensure that providers of these supports are paid a fair living wage. We will meet at The United Churches at 10 am, then head over to the capitol for a rally. (More details to come)

February 3rd - Budget Overview 

Creating a supplemental budget is the one thing legislators are required to do during this legislative session. Learn what services and supports are proposed for cuts or increases and what you can do to help. (Held at The United Churches)

February 10th - Promoting Independence

Self-advocates will lead the way on issues for the 2016 session that help them live in their community as independently as possible.  (Held at The United Churches)

February 17th - Building Up Families

Our state has created a new Individual and Family Services Waiver (IFS) to provide respite and other services to 4,000 additional families in our state. Learn about this new waiver and how to access it. The Community First Choice (CFC) program has now replaced Medicaid Personal Care. Parent to Parent, local chapters of The Arc and Parent Coalitions will share what this means to you. We encourage parents to come to this meeting and bring your children with you. Make your needs known to legislators and help them to understand the reality of family situations and why supports and services need their funding. We can help you prepare, contact us for assistance. (Held at the General Administration Building)

February 24th - Civil Rights

We have the right to demand the end to unnecessary toxic chemicals invading our homes, our environment, almost every aspect of our lives. Harmful flame retardants are in furniture and children's products, but don't prevent or slow down fires. They do, however, cause harm to our children, our pets, our firefighters and ourselves. In addition, we will look at pending legislation on other civil rights issues such as isolation of people with disabilities, guardianship and more. (Held at the General Administration Building)

March 2nd - Employment for All (Rally)

Everyone has the right to live, work and play in their local community. Having a job means that individuals with developmental disabilities can be productive citizens, contributing to our economy by paying taxes while providing valued services. Join self-advocates, families and employment service providers from Community Employment Alliance (CEA) as we ensure that supports are available to all those who need them. (Held in the Columbia Room with a rally afterwards, more details to come)