Parent Perspective: Voice from the Rally

The Coalition rally sponsored in part by The Arc of North Carolina was held in downtown Raleigh by the Legislative Building Tuesday, May 22, 2012. There was an impressive turn out considering what many of these parents and caregivers had to undertake just to travel to the State capital with their children in hopes their voices would be heard.

Pat, her daughter Casey and son Jason, and support friend Christy awoke at 4:45 am to travel to Raleigh, a round-trip mission of over 260 miles...

You may recognize Casey and Jason from this post.

P.S. Dearest Casey and Jason, It was SOOO nice to meet you both! Thank you Casey for the beautiful hug you gave me - you are sunshine! Love, Crystal

Arc NC Action Alert

From The Arc of North Carolina

Attend The Coalition Rally! Also, Calls & Emails Needed....

It’s crunch time. Legislators are considering changes to HB 916 this week, and we have an opportunity to suggest improvements to the 1915 b/c waiver. The Arc continues to work with legislators to create reasonable solutions to issues many of you are already experiencing with the implementation of the 1915 b/c waiver. Here’s what we’re working on:

First, restoring access to some form of independent case management for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is critical for the 1915 b/c waiver model to succeed. Second, individuals with CAP or Innovations slots need assurances that they can continue to use them regardless of where they live. Third, where a person originally received Medicaid should not be an impediment to receiving services today.

As we work on these issues, it is critical that legislators hear from you -- Nothing is more powerful than you telling your story.

Decisions on potential changes to HB 916 are being made this week. 

Please call & email:

• Your legislators
• Legislative leadership
• House DHHS appropriations sub-committee

Download my list with copy+paste contact info by Committee:

• Word Contact List
• PDF Contact List

Tell them:

• Restore Independent Case Management: People with I/DD need an independent case manager who works for them, not for the Managed Care Organization!
• Slow the pace of Managed Care – Get it right: There are many problems with the current managed care plan, as many of you can personally attest to. It is important that the pace of implementation be slowed so these problems can be addressed before they become an established part of the system.

The Coalition Rally (Tuesday, May 22)

If you can attend the Rally at the NC Legislative Building (16 W Jones Street) in Raleigh, please do so! Even if if you can only spare an hour …Call your legislator and ask to see them. It will make a difference. Registration Starts at 8:00 AM and the Rally itself is at noon. Details on the rally can be found here, including parking info.

The Arc will have staff avalible from 7:30 AM through the end of the day avalible to assist you in getting around. The Day of the event, please call 919.500.8382 if you have any questions or problems.

DHHS Waiver Advisory Committee Meeting (Tues, May 22, 1-3 PM)

If you can attend the DHHS Waiver Advisory Committee, please do so as well!! It will be meeting from 1:00 - 3:00 PM at the McKimmon Center (1101 Gorman Street) in Raleigh - a quick 10 minunte drive from where The Coalition Rally is taking place. There is plenty of free parking. Public Comments will be heard beginning at 2:30 PM. More information on the DWAC can be found here.

Again, if you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact Ben Akroyd at bakroyd@arcnc.org or 919.500.8382.

Child & Family Advocacy Day at the NCGA 5/17

“Much of the social change in America had its origin in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit lobbying is the right thing to do. It’s about empowering individuals to make their collective voices heard on a wide range of human concerns.”

--Bob Smucker, Founder

Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest

Child & Family Advocacy Day at the NC General Assembly

May 17, 2012

Register now and join forces with United Way's, volunteers, Action for Children, business leaders and agency partners to create real lasting change. The day will include training on key issues, special guest speakers and an opportunity to visit with legislators. Register Now. 

Registration closes Friday, May 11, 2012.

Overview of the Day:

• 10:00 a.m. Issue Briefing at the Museum of History
• 11:00 a.m. Rally Event
• Legislative Visits
• Afternoon: Gallery Recognition - House / Senate

Steps to Participation: 

1. Decide to participate and RSVP so that we know to expect you.
2. Invite your agency partners, business leaders, family members and volunteers to join you for a day of action and advocacy. And make sure they RSVP using the link above.
3. Contact your legislators using our template as a guide to request an appointment with them while you are in Raleigh on May 17.
4. Check out the United Way's Facebook page to see why United Way should come and advocate on May 17. Representative Rick Glazier says, “United Way advocates bring a lot to the legislature.” See Representative Glazier's short video.
5. Representative Diane Parfitt tells you how to prepare for a successful day at the legislature. 
6. Also see advocacy tips online on our Facebook page and on the registration site. 

RSVP Now

Questions, suggestions? Call, email etc.

Jill K. Cox/ Government Relations and Communications Director United Way of North Carolina875 Walnut Street, STE 150B; Cary, North C 27511919-834-5200/ cell 919-215-4341/ jcox@unitedwaync.org

Advocay Day & Popcorn Rally; Raleigh

Download flier.

In text:

THE MHDDSAS COALITION OF NORTH CAROLINA INVITES YOU TO OUR ANNUAL ADVOCACY DAY & POPCORN RALLY

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

ADVOCATE FOR SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH,
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES & ADDICTIVE DISEASE

THE LEGISLATIVE BUILDING IN RALEIGH

16 WEST JONES STREET, RALEIGH, NC 27601

Registration will open at 8:00 am on the back portico of the Legislative Building. Participants can get information on the day’s legislative committee meetings, the current budget proposal and begin visits with legislators.

Advocacy Trainings will take place in the Legislative Building Auditorium (third floor). Beginning at 9:00 am, short trainings will be held on ways to effectively communicate your message to Legislators. Volunteers will be in the auditorium with tips & techniques for making the most of your legislative visit.

Popcorn will be available on the portico beginning at 11:00 am!

(Please note that lunch will NOT be provided.)

RALLY – at 12:00 pm on Bicentennial Mall on Jones Street, across from the Legislative Building.

PARKING: Passengers in vehicles of any kind must be dropped off at the LEGISLATIVE BUILDING and park in other locations. Directions & parking information can be found on the website for the General Assembly.

Visit www.thecoalitionnc.org for more information.

The Coalition encourages you to participate in this event as we advocate for funding for mental health, developmental disability, and addictive disease services!

Additional Message from the Arc NC

Earlier today, you should have received a Policy Partners email outlining why North Carolina Should Slow Down Managed Care Implementation. It will take the combined efforts of our members and allies to get the General Assembly and the Administration to listen. That's why we are asking you to:

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

We need you to tell your story to the decision makers in state government about how changing to a Managed Care system has affected you or will affect you, making sure to tell them:

• North Carolina needs to Slow Down Managed Care Implementation Until They Get It Right!
   
• Restore Case Management to People With Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities!
   
• Require that Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) prove that they are prepared to manage the new system effectively before they can move forward

Who Should I Contact, Where Should I Go?

Who to Contact:

• Your NC legislators (both your NC Senator & Representative) Click here to see who represents you, or contact Ben Akroyd at The Arc of NC for help (bakroyd@arcnc.org, 919.500.8382)
• Acting Secretary of DHHS Albert Delia (919.855.4800, al.delia@dhhs.nc.gov)
• Your friends, family, and neighbors! Ask them to reach out to NC's decision makers as well!

Events to Attend:

• Joint Legislative Oversight Committee for Health and Human Services

  Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 9:30 am
  Room 643 of the NC Legislative Office Building (Across from the Legislative Building)
  330 N Salisbury Street
  Raleigh, NC 27603

• The Coalition Rally at the NC Legislative Building (flyer posted here)
  

  Tuesday, May 22, 2012
  8:00 am - Registration on the back portico of the Legislative Building
  9:00 am - Advocacy Training in the Legislative Building Auditorium (third floor)
  12:00 noon - Rally at 12 noon on Bicentennial Mall on Jones Street, across from the Legislative Building 

• The DHHS Waiver Advisory Committee
  (Sign up to speak ahead of time by calling Kathy Nichols with DMA at 919-855-4289 or Ken Marsh with DMHDDSAS at 919-715-1294)

  May 22, 2012 from 1-3:00 pm
  NCSU McKimmon Center
  1101 Gorman Street
  Raleigh, NC 27603

Thank you for your continued advocacy! We are facing some of the biggest changes to the I/DD system in over forty years, and your help is needed now more than ever!

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact Ben Akroyd at bakroyd@arcnc.org or 919.500.8382.

Rally in Raleigh: 5/22 Mark Your Calendars!

The Arc of North Carolina 
07 May 2012

The Rally in Raleigh: The Coalition Advocacy Day

Managed Care Issues Make Rally Especially Important On Tuesday May 22, The Coaltion will have its Annual Advocacy Day & Popcorn Rally at the NC Legislative Building in Raleigh. The implications of the current Managed Care implementation schedule make it especially important for self-advocates and their families to attend! The Coalition is an alliance of over 40 Mental Health, Developmental Disability, and Substance Abuse organizations of which The Arc of NC has long been a part.  Details on the Rally coming soon. Sign up for The Arc of NC's newsletter. Policy Partners is The Arc of North Carolina's biweekly email newsletter. It covers developmental disability policy on the federal, state, and occasionally local level. Its also a great way to learn about events The Arc is having in your area!