Alphabet Soup, Forms, Waivers, Policies, and Cut-off Dates 
The complexity of the paperwork and processes serving people with disabilities is overwhelming.  Admittedly, I've never been good at filling out paperwork - nor tracking it.  Secretaries would not let me refile any files they gave me.  Thank goodness for Outlook.

The reality of the paper process for people with disabilities was really brought home when Eileen Lowery of the OBX Autism Chapter sent me a copy of a news release about date changes and services hours related to receiving services.  In July, the NC Department of Medical Assistance (DMA- which oversees Medicaid in NC) and the Division of Mental Health /Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse (MH/DD/SAS) announced new policies for CAP DD waiver services that will limit people to 129 habilitative service hours per month. There are other changes in the policies as well.

These limits will go into effect on May 30, 2011 UNLESS your Case Manager fills and submits out an Extension/Exception Request Form on time (and it is approved). By December 1, 2010 the Case Manager will complete this CAP-MR/DD Policy Requirements Extension/Exception Request Form, sign, date, and submit to the LME. If you do not have your Case Manager fill out and submit the Extension/Exception Request Form to your LME on time, you do NOT have the right to appeal because these limits are based on a change in state policy. 

And this is just the tip of the mountain.  For more information. 

Food Inc to be Shown on November 16.

The Peace and Justice Interfaith Coalition Film Series will present Food Inc. at 7:00 at Kelly's Restaurant.   Food, Inc. lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the

Watch the Trailer

American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment.

 Wednesday, November 10,   Hatteras Island.  Persons interested in helping with the 2^nd Annual Hatteras Connection Seafood Dinner Fundraiser are invited to a planning meeting at 1 p.m., Wednesday, November 10 at Fessenden Center in Buxton.  Last December the event raised almost $3000 for the Hatteras Island Food Pantry and Hatteras Meals, Inc. and helped stock the food pantry's shelves for the holiday season. 

 

This year the fundraiser will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, December 7 at the Hatteras Village Civic Center.  For more information, contact Susan West, Hatteras Connection Coordinator, at Susan West or (252) 995-4131.  Hatteras Connection is a community-based project dedicated to sustainable economic development and environmental stewardship, and committed to working to ensure a future for new generations of watermen on Hatteras Island.

Knowledge is power and in today's world there often is an overwhelming amount of information to digest. Dr. David Lustig, a recent addition to The Outer Banks Hospital, will sort out the facts and present a clearer picture of best practices in a free lunch-time community lecture on November 19 at noon titled, "Prostate Cancer, What's Important to Know Today." To attend this Lunch and Learn lecture call 252-449-9184. Seating is limited and registration is requested. A complimentary light lunch will be provided

 

In July, Dr. Lustig relocated his practice from Virginia Beach to North Carolina's Outer Banks. With over 35 years in the medicine field, Dr. Lustig has substantial experience in urinary incontinence, prostate disease, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and kidney stones.

Dr. Lustig is certified in many urological procedures including: microwave therapy,

Watch past presentations

digo laser ablation, medstone lithotripsy, urodynamics, and high intensity focused ultrasound. Many urology procedures are available on an outpatient basis. The UNC Network provides access to community resources including  lunch and learn programs.

Around 2005-2006 a community group, America United was formed in Dare County. The purpose of the group was to build bridges between the Anglo-Latino Community, Anglo Education, Immigration Advocacy, and Community services.   It sponsored two meetings in local churches between the County Sheriff and the Latino Community.  I attended one, and walked out hopeful.  Hopeful how people were were treated with dignity and hopeful that somehow, comprehensive immigration reform was possible.  Law enforcement could exercise justice with compassion.  That all people would be protected by the sheriff's department.  Women could call the police about domestic abuse regardless of their paperwork. 

 

 By late 2008, things got tougher.  City councils declare English as the official language.  One city official said he was tired of having to push 1 on his phone to hear the message in English.  There was a state change in how driver license were renewed.  And Holy Redeemer, a long support of America United,  changed priorities in social justice; sisters were moved to other areas.  America United lost its focus and survives in name only. And then hard economic times came upon us. At the Holy Redeemer by the Sea Pastoral Council Meeting on January 27, 2009, Raul Gonzalez noted that the Latino Community had dropped approximately 30% due to the lack of work in the Outer Banks.  I have no way of knowing, but I imagine it may be up to 60 or 75% now.

In 2008, Wake County teamed up with Homeland Security for a program, called 287(g) which connected arrestees with ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The program from its beginning has been criticized because of racial profiling and civil liberties.In 2008, in North Carolina three children were left on a roadside after their mother was arrested on a traffic violation, and a library worker brought illegally to the U.S. as a toddler  Just recently, a woman called the police because of domestic violence. She and her husband now face deportation. 

It is now 2010.  In March, Dare County began employing  this new information-sharing capability that modernizes the process used to accurately identify criminal aliens in the community.   

Maybe you already knew this. It took an email from the North Carolina Council of Churches and five clicks through cyberspace for me to find out that Dare has been participating. The program will be up and running nationwide by 2013. If a state signs up for the program, cities and counties don't have a choice.

The N.C. Religious Coalition for Justice for Immigrants was formed in response to rising anti-immigrant rhetoric and sentiment here in North Carolina.  This coalition acknowledges that finding a solution to immigration policy is a complex matter and that people can and do disagree about policy specifics. I agree.