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Getting My Own Address news - September 2015
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Community Events
    
Avondale Skill Activity Night
Open to Oakland County adults with disabilities up to age 35.Come dance, draw, eat, play and be with friends!
Dates: September 25, 2015, November 20, 2015,
April 22, 2016, June 3, 2016
Time: 7-9:30 p.m.
Location: 1435 W Auburn Road, Rochester Hills 48309 
If your last name begins with the letter A-J
please bring a 2-liter of pop.
If your last name begins with the letter K-Z
Please bring a snack (chips, cookies, etc.).
Any questions, please call
Susan Jackson at 248-537-6440
 
Autism ASK Support Groups
Location: Autism ASK, 4345 Meigs Ave., Waterford 48329
All three groups are free of charge.
For more information or to register for a group, please contact Bonny Pomeroy at
248-881-5236 or bonnypomeroy@gmail.com
1.) Parents and Caregivers Support Group
Dates: October 10, October 24, November 14 and December 12
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
 2.) Women with Asperger's/High Functioning ASD Support Group
Dates: October 3, November 7 and December 5
Time: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
 3.) Men with Asperger's/High Functioning ASD Support Group
Dates: October 17, November 21 and December 19
Time: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 
 
FAR's Fantastic Friday Night Parties
Ages: 13 years and older.
Dates: October 16 -Halloween
November 20- TBD
December 18 - Holiday Party
Time: 6:30-9 p.m.
Location: First Presbyterian Church, Knox Auditorium, 1669 W. Maple Road Birmingham
Monthly themed events include games, crafts, dancing, food and more.
The cost of the parties is $10 and can be paid at the door. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.
If you would like to receive email invitations preceding each party, contact Sara Renke by email at srenke@FAR-therapy.org.
 
Birmingham Family YMCA Social Club
Ages 12 and older with special needs
Activities include physical fitness, games, crafts and community outings. Groups are led by experienced, caring staff and volunteers. A light dinner is included, or participants may bring their own meal. Additional fees may apply for community outings or one-on-one assistance if needed. 
Teen Group (Ages 12-17)
September 12-October 24 Fridays 5-8 p.m.
October 31-December 19 Friday 5-8 p.m.
Y Members or Community Participants $220 / session
 Young Adult Group (Ages 18-26)
September 13-October 25 Saturdays  5-9 p.m.
November 1-December 20 Saturdays 5-9 p.m.
Y Members or Community Participants $290 / session
 Adult Group (Ages 27+)
September 13-October 25 Saturdays 5-9 p.m.
November 1-December 20 Saturdays 5-9 p.m.
Y Members or Community Participants $290 / session
 
Oakland County Adaptive Recreation
For individuals 18 and older with developmental disabilities
October 27 
Halloween Happiness
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Southfield Civic Center
Will include pizza, music and dancing. Cost is $8 per person. Deadline to register is Oct. 21.
November 4
Starlite Dance
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: White Lake Oaks Golf Club
Dinner, music, dancing and walk around entertainment. Cost is $14 per person; caregivers pay the same price.
November 20
Hoedown
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Novi Parks and Recreation, 45175 West 10 Mile Road, Novi, 48375 
Dinner, music and dancing. Cost is $8 per person.
 For more information and events, check the website.
  

Welcome to our September e-newsletter! We hope you had a great summer!
Save the Date! Getting My Own 
Address Overview 
Sponsored by Secured Planning Strategies         
Do you have a son or daughter who is 15 years old or older? Are they asking to move out or are you wondering where they will live when you can no longer care for them? Come explore your options with Linda Ronan Brown, Housing Resource consultant, and learn how to make a long-term housing plan. It is never too early to begin to plan!
      
When: Monday, October 5, 2015
 
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
 
Location: Bloomfield Hills Library
              1099 Lone Pine Road
              Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
 
Seating is limited. Please RSVP by September 28 to Cathy at cpadggett@spsfinancial.com or 248-827-2580.
GMOA Support Group  
 
The Getting My Own Address Support Group meets the third Tuesday of each month   
6-8 p.m. at
Community Housing Network  
570 Kirts Blvd., Suite 231
Troy, MI 48084.  

Tuesday, October 20 
Topic: The ABLE Act in Michigan and Springhill Pooled Accounts Trust (SHPAT)
Speaker: Carrie Alexander, coordinator SHPAT, administered by CHN  
The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act is a new federal law that provides individuals with disabilities a way to save money tax-free without putting their public benefits at risk. Michigan is on its way to offering such plans. It is critical for individuals with disabilities and their families to understand how these accounts must be used in order not to jeopardize benefits.  Come educate yourself on the ABLE Act accounts -- eligibility, permissible uses of funds, and the payback provision. Discover how they may, or may not, fit into your estate planning.  
Carrie will also share the alternatives offered within the SHPAT which offers both a first-party special needs trust and a third-party special needs trust, with the option to hold a residence within a participant's trust sub-account. 
 
Tuesday, November 17
Topic: Continuum of Care Body Advocacy: How to Effect Change in the Use of Federal Funds for Housing Development and Programs/Services
Speaker: Juanita Harper, CHN Community Outreach coordinator and co-creator of the "Working with Continuum of Care Bodies Guide" and program

The Working With Continuum of Care Bodies program was designed to educate and empower people with developmental disabilities and secondary stakeholders to advocate for themselves and others, and to be fully able to participate in the decision-making process.  Through this training, examples and curriculum will be provided to provide people with developmental disabilities, and those who care about them, opportunities to advocate for change.
Some of the topics covered in the curriculum and guide are:
  • What is a Continuum of Care?
  • Why do I need to be a part of it?
  • What are the benefits of an inclusive community?
  • How do I get involved?
Make a plan for long-term housing

It takes time to make a plan and gather or obtain resources. During a period of limited funding this is especially true.
 
The up-dated GMOA Overview presentation is currently available and we are scheduling dates for this fall, winter and spring. Make plans to include the GMOA Overview in your budget this year or plan to share the cost with other school districts, non-profits or service providers.
 
The cost is $550 and includes hand-outs for 50 participants, mileage (if distance is less than 25 miles from CHN's Troy office). It is a two-hour overview presentation explaining the long-term housing planning process including person-centered planning and self-determination as related to housing, budgets, supports, housing options and choices.  We are willing to explore a webinar option if it will better fit your needs and budget.
 
Please contact Linda Ronan Brown at Lbrown@chninc.net or 248-269-1346 to schedule a presentation or for other information on the GMOA program.
The 'Getting My Own Address Guide' now in digital format

The "Getting My Own Address Guide" has been updated and is now available for purchase in either the original 2011 print version or on a flash drive for ease of use. The GMOA guide is useful for long-term housing planning for people with any disability. Click here to order print or digital versions of the GMOA guide.
 
 The flash drive contains the 2015 updated guide in the following digital formats:
  • Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format
  • Text document
  • .mobi formatted eBook for use on Kindle devices
  • .epub for use on Apple iPad/iPhone/iPod devices
The flash drive also includes PDF versions of the worksheets for each chapter of the guide, and instructions to assist in loading the guide onto Kindle and Apple devices. The worksheets provide concrete examples of the options and choices available and assist the individual planning their housing to create a customized plan.
 
For details about the GMOA program, the GMOA guide, and presentations, visit this link.  
 
If you have any questions please contact Linda Ronan Brown at (248) 269-1346 or LBrown@chninc.net.


Housing vacancies for individuals with disabilities 
 
Oakland County
CHN has a single vacancy in one of our four scattered-site, residential homes in Oakland County for a single adult individual with a qualifying disability who meets HUD income guidelines. 

 
Macomb County
CHN has a single vacancy in a scattered-site, residential homes in Macomb County for a single adult  with a qualifying disability who meets HUD income guidelines. 

If you are interested in more information, please contact Karla Chambers at 248-269-1321 or kchambers@chninc.net.
16th Annual Solutions for Family Caregivers Expo
 
When: Saturday, October 17, 2015

Time: 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Where: Suburban Collection Showplace
   46100 Grand River Avenue
   (one mile west of Novi Road)
   Novi, 48374

Cost: Free (including free parking)
 
The Area Agency on Aging 1-B (AAA 1-B) is hosting its 16th Annual Solutions for Family Caregiver Expo to provide caregivers with valuable information, answers, and links to community resources and services in an effort to provide family caregivers with relief from their daily responsibilities and support to help them continue their important role.
  • Visit with more than 100 exhibitors to learn more about products and services available to assist caregivers.
  • Attend expert presentations throughout the day on a variety of topics.
  • "Ask The Resource Specialist" and receive answers to questions on Medicare, Medicaid, prescription assistance and long term care insurance and learn about specific services and resources available in your community.
  • Enjoy morning refreshments
  • Cash and Carry Snacks Available
  • Door Prizes and Giveaways!
  • Respite care at the expo for older adults and persons with disabilities is also available on-site at the event. Respite reservation required at 800-852-7795.
Insider's guide to future planning and person-centered planning

The Arc of Oakland County will present an educational workshop on transition planning with "insider" information and practical tips for families as they navigate adult life with their sons and daughters with special needs on October 15 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in Conference Room D of the Oakland ISD Building, 2111 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford 48328.
Areas covered will include:
  • Letter of Intent as part of special needs estate planning
  • Education, employment, day activities
  • Community connections
  • Housing
  • Medical
  • Funding
  • Supporting daily and major life decisions
  • Person-centered planning
  With support from:
OCCMHA

Community Housing Network | Lbrown@chninc.net | 248-928-0111  | http://www.communityhousingnetwork.org
570 Kirts Boulevard, Suite 231
Troy, MI 48084

www.communityhousingnetwork.org

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