Members Not Present: Ellen Berman and Nunie Matta

In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Committee Meeting

December 14, 2011 Meeting Report

The Yolo County In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Committee met on the 14th day of December, 2011, in the Community Room of the Department of Employment and Social Services, at 25 North Cottonwood Street, Woodland, CA.

Members present: Winnie deAnda, Sheila Allen, Sherrie Ewing, Judith Givens, Frances Gracechild, Deliliah Jordan, and Johanne Lewis Members not present: Ellen Berman and Nunie Matta

Staff present: Frances Smith, PA Director and Evan Wyatt, PA Secretary Guests present: John Lewis and Mary Helen Uribe

Agenda Item No. 1 Call to Order/Welcome and Introductions Frances Gracechild called the meeting to order, welcomed all Advisory Committee members and guests, John Lewis, Johanne’s son, and Mary Helen Uribe, Johanne’s friend. Agenda Item No. 2 Roll Call Fran took roll. She announced that a quorum was present.

Agenda Item No. 3 Public Comment Mary Helen Uribe stated she and Johanne have been friends for several years and they work together at the Margaret McDowell Manor in West Sacramento. She added that she has been a caregiver since 1972 and is submitting an application to the Board of Supervisors for a position on the IHSS Advisory Committee.

John Lewis said he is happy to be in California right now and is interested in learning what the Advisory Committee does.

Agenda Item No. 4 Member Reports Johanne reported that she had been a home care provider for 30 years but when she was injured and needed a provider she really learned how important the job is.

1 Judith distributed a flier about a bike give-away at her church.

Frances G announced that Russell Rawlings, a man in Sacramento who uses a wheelchair, came to Resources for Independent Living a few years ago when he was homeless. She added that the Center assisted him in several areas of his life and she was surprised to see him featured on the front page of the “Express,” the Sacramento Community College magazine, for his participation in Occupy Sacramento. She stated that he was arrested but all charges were dropped and added that she was proud that he had joined others in “civil disobedience” in the fight for justice.

Winnie stated that she received a calendar featuring Schipperke dogs from Deborah Doctor, from Disability Rights of California. She added that she once bred Schipperkes and when Deborah set up Winnie’s interview with Chanel 13 they both discovered their shared love for the breed.

Sherrie said when she made her weekly trip to the farmer’s market, she discovered the market was packed full of tents from the occupy movement.

Frances G let everyone know that TIME magazine selected “The Protester” as the person of the year for 2011 in recognition of the changes made around the world by protests.

Deliliah reported that she thought it was terrible that the students at Davis were sprayed with pepper spray.

Agenda Item No. 5 Minutes of November 2, 2011 Meeting Fran distributed an updated copy of the November meeting minutes. She said that when Judith received the minutes she let Fran know of some corrections that needed to be made. Frances, Judith and Fran shared in reading the corrected minutes out loud. Sherrie moved, seconded by Johanne, to approve the minutes as read. The motion carried. Agenda Item No. 6 New Business AB 889 Domestic Bill of Rights, Amiano Frances G introduced the paper in support of the Domestic Bill of Rights and stated she was in support of the Bill. She added that IHSS workers were “carved out” of the bill but other domestic workers need pay for overtime, holidays and sick days. The Bill would also require a 21 day termination notice if the “consumer” decided to fire the worker, or severance pay if they did not give a 21 day notice. Fran 2 commented that several Public Authority directors who use attendant services were not in support of the AB 889 because the money for extra pay would come from their income and it would be very hard for them to do that. IHSS workers are not included in this bill because they are unionized and can bargain for their wages and benefits. Frances G urged everyone to think about being multi-disciplinary advocates and to support the causes of others instead of just focusing on our own personal issues. Fran was directed to check with the California Association of Public Authorities, Mariko Yamada and Lois Wolk. She was also asked to translate the issues into earth people talk. Discussion on this issue will be continued at the January AC meeting.

Community First Choice Options Fran reported that Community First Choice Options (CFCO) is a part of national health care reform and includes an increase of 6% in federal funding for IHSS wages and benefits. The California Department of Social Services was required to submit a State Plan Amendment (SPA) to include CFCO funds in IHSS and be able to draw down the extra funds. She added that before the state could submit the SPA they had to convene a true Stakeholder meeting, which they did in November. The Stakeholder group heard a summary of the plan and how the funds could be spent and voted to approve submission of the SPA. The state then submitted the plan to the federal Centers on Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) on December 1, 2011. If/when the SPA is eventually approved by CMS, the additional funds to California will be retroactive to December 1, 2011. County savings will be achieved by drop- ping the percentage they pay for IHSS wages and benefits from 17.5% to 15.4%.

Agenda Item No. 7 Old Business 20% Trigger Cuts Fran reported that a lawsuit filed by Disability Rights of California, four Public Authorities and several individual IHSS recipients was received in the 9th District Federal Court on December 1st. Later that same day, Judge Claudia Wilkins issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the state from implementing the 20% across the board trigger cuts. The state was given December 15th as the date they could file an appeal. On December 9th, Judge Wilkin issued a revised timeline for appeals and responses to appeals that would exempt the week between December 26th and 30th in order to give relief to the plaintiffs (IHSS recipients) during the holiday period.

Fran announced that Paul Calderon, SEIU-UHW representative, asked the Public Authority to reserve a room for a meeting the union wanted to have with IHSS providers. The purpose of the meeting was to give them information about how the person they care for could file for supplemental care, in case the TRO is reversed

3 and the 20% cuts are imposed. She said that a total of 54 providers attended meetings in West Sacramento and Woodland. In addition to hearing about what they could do about helping their consumer apply for supplemental care, they were asked to offer suggestions for what could be done to improve the IHSS system.

Deliliah commented that consumers lack knowledge about bureaucracy, politics, etc., and the providers must do what they can to fill the void of information. She said there is no clear and easy answer.

Sheila asked what tools we have to reach others regarding this issue. She stated her opinion that we need to ask consumers and providers how they want to receive information; text, e-mail, robo calls, mail, personal calls, etc. She added that we need to translate information out of political vernacular into every day terms.

Agenda Item No. 8 Announcements Fran announced that Laura Wayman provided training sessions on a Loving Approach to Dementia Care in November for providers, all of whom praised her for the explanation she gave for why people with dementia behave as they do and tips for how to deal with their “reality.” Fran was encouraged to invite the trainer to a future Advisory Committee.

Agenda Item 9 Adjournment Johanne moved, seconded by Deliliah, to adjourn the meeting. Motion Carried.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 4, 2012 1:30 0 3:30