ANCOR’s First International Member Testifies Before Joint House … · 2012-04-12 · future. A...

ANCOR—A national network of providers offering quality supports to people with disabilities.—www.ancor.org

October 2006Volume 36, No. 9

www.ancor.org

An publication of private provider practice and federal policy issues.

The day after the conclusion ofANCOR’s 2006 GovernmentActivities Seminar, ANCOR’sfirst international member—

Motivation Romania—testified before the joint House-Senate Helsinki Commis-sion of the Commission on Security andCooperation in Europe (OSCE). SenatorSam Brownback (R-KS) and Representa-tive Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) areChairman and Co-Chairman respectivelyof the Helsinki Commission.

The purpose of the September 13thhearing was to Examine the State of Care for the Disabled in Romania. First, in 1991, the OSCE participating Statesspecifically committed to protect thehuman rights of persons with disabilities.At the same time, Congress took steps toensure that the annual country reports onhuman rights, prepared by the Departmentof State, would include information aboutthe treatment of persons with disabilities.Congress allocated funds in the 2005Appropriations Act for programs and activities to address the needs and protectthe rights of people with disabilities indeveloping countries.

Earlier this year, Mental Disability RightsInternational (MDRI) issued a shockingreport, portraying the neglect and abuse ofindividuals with disabilities in Romania.The New York Times published an investiga-tive article May 10th—Romania’s OrphansFace Widespread Abuse, Group Say—that

Links /October 2006 1

followed up the MDRI report—HiddenSuffering: Romania’s Segregation andAbuse of Infants and Children withDisabilities, depicted Romania’s poor treat-ment of children warehoused in filthy anddegrading conditions in institutions foradults with mental illness and/or mentalretardation. There have been several fol-low-up stories on National Public Radio—the most recent of which was onSeptember 19th. The report could have anadverse effect on Romania’s efforts to enterthe European Union next year.

The September hearing was an oppor-tunity to hear more about the report andRomanian perspectives on the challengesof meeting the needs and protecting therights of Romanian citizens with disabili-ties. Cristian Ispas, founder and Directorof Motivation Romania and NationalDirector of Special Olympics Romania,testified as to the supports that his non-governmental organization (NGO) provideas alternatives to state-operated institu-tions. MDRI Executive Director Eric

Government Relations

ANCOR’s First International Member TestifiesBefore Joint House-Senate Helsinki Commission

Cristian Ispas, at far end of table, testifies as to the tremendous difference that MotivationRomania’s community supports make in the lives of people with disabilities.

See Testimony, page 7

ANCOR—A national network of providers offering quality supports to people with disabilities.—www.ancor.org2 Links /October 2006

Contents

Andrea DixonProfessorDepartment of Marketing College

of Business AdministrationUniversity of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH

Amanda CadeVice PresidentThe CouncilTowson, MD

Peggy GouldPresident and CEOVisions Center for Creative

ManagementKatonah, NY

Amy Hewitt, Ph.D.Research AssociateInstitute on Community

Integration Research and Training

Minneapolis, MN

Liz ObermayerThe CouncilTowson, MD

Claudia SchlosbergPartnerBlank Rome LLPWashington, DC

Dennis StorkManagement ConsultantHot Springs, VA

Contributing EditorsAdvocacyMary Ann KeatingTARCTopeka, KS(785) 232-3770

Board DevelopmentCarol MitchellVerlandSewickley, PA (412) 741-2375

Challenging PopulationsCharles LiHowell Child Care Centers, Inc.LaGrange, NC (252) 566-9181

Consumer EmpowermentTerry WisecarverConsultantEdelstein, IL(309) 274-5734

Customer ServiceJohn HannahChampaign Residential

Services, Inc.Urbana, OH (937) 653-1320

EmploymentPeter CallstromSan Diego Food BankSan Diego, CA (858) 527-1419

Environmental AssessmentBonnie-Jean BrooksOHIHermon, ME (207) 848-5804

Ethics/Standards of ConductSheila BarkerSpruce Villa, Inc.Salem, OR (503) 399-7924

FundraisingChris StevensonApple Patch Community, Inc.Crestwood, KY (502) 657-0103

FuturingDan RosenD. Rosen AssociatesNew York, NY (646) 269-2800

Innovative Business PracticesFrank CaponeLibertyAmsterdam, NY (518) 842-5080

Leadership Recruiting/Succession PlanningTom SchramskiHuman Service ConnectionsTucson, AZ(520) 219-7960

Quality AssuranceDale DuttonNoble Solutions, Inc.Toluca Lake, CA (866) 251-7171

Program Quality EnhancementCatherine HayesH&W Independent SolutionsLa Quinta, CA(760) 347-5505

Public RelationsDenise Patton-PaceMarketing ConsultantFalls Church, VA (703) 845-1152

Risk ManagementJohn RoseIrwin Siegel Agency, Inc.(845) 796-3400

Strategic PlanningRon WisecarverConsultantEdelstein, IL(309) 274-5734

Supervision/MentoringLeslee CurrieCreative LivingSeattle, WA (206) 286-9002

Systems ChangeRic CrowleyMACROWDenham Springs, LA (225) 939-0344

Technology ApplicationsMatt FletcherInterhab of KansasTopeka, KS(785) 235-5103

TrainingTom PomeranzUniversal LifeStiles, LLCIndianapolis, IN(317) 871-2092

Editorial Board

Articles, advertisements and other materials appearing in LINKS do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of or endorsement byANCOR. LINKS is copyrighted by ANCOR and cannot be reprinted or reproduced without express written permission. Contact MarshaPatrick at [email protected] for reprint permission.

LINKS brought to you with support fromTherap Services, LLC—ANCOR’s ExclusivePlatinum Partner

The American Network of Com-munity Options and Resources(ANCOR) was founded in 1970 toprovide national advocacy, resources,services and networking opportunitiesto providers of private supports andservices. LINKS provides a nexus forthe exchange of information, ideas andopinions among key stakeholders.

National OfficeCindy Allen de RamosFinance and Office [email protected]

Kari AmidonDirector of Education and [email protected]

Joanna CardinalMembership Administrator/Database [email protected]

Catherine DunkelbergerTechnology and [email protected]

Suellen GalbraithDirector for Government [email protected]

Jerri McCandlessDirector of Member Relations and Board [email protected]

Marsha PatrickDirector of Resource and Revenue [email protected]

Renée L. PietrangeloChief Executive [email protected]

Jessica SadowskyGovernment Relations [email protected]

Tony YuIT Manager/[email protected]

1101 King St., Suite 380Alexandria, VA 22314-2944phone: (703) 535-7850fax: (703) 535-7860e-mail: [email protected] site: http://www.ancor.org

GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt RReellaattiioonnssANCOR’s First International Member Testifies Before Joint House-Senate HelsinkiCommission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

CCEEOO PPeerrssppeeccttiivvee Commitment to Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

PPrreessiiddeenntt’’ss CCoorrnneerrAim for the Top; Finish What You Start; and BeHonest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt RReellaattiioonnssCourt of Appeals Upholds Previous Coke Decisionthat DOL Companionship Reg Invalid . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

October Marks National Disability EmploymentAwareness Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

FFeeddeerraall WWaaggee aanndd HHoouurr GGuuiiddaanncceeRemember to Observe Department of LaborRecordkeeping Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

MMooddeellss ooff PPrraaccttiiccee –– AAddvvooccaaccyy aanndd MMeennttoorriinnggWho Are The Real Mentors? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

PPeerrffoorrmmaannccee EExxcceelllleenncceeTraining…Resources…Education…Network…Developing & Leading Practices (TREND) . . . . . . .15

SSnnaappsshhoottss ffrroomm tthhee 22000066 GGoovveerrnnmmeennttaall AAccttiivviittiieess SSeemmiinnaarr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-17

AANNCCOORR 22000066 BBOODD EElleeccttiioonn RReessuullttss . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

AANNCCOORR 22000066 BBOORR EElleeccttiioonn RReessuullttss . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

AANNCCOORR FFoouunnddaattiioonnJoin ANCOR Foundation in its National Walk, Run, Roll Effort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

2007 Community Builder Award Nominations Deadline October 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

NNaattiioonnaall AAddvvooccaaccyy CCaammppaaiiggnnNAC Central: The Wheels Keep Turning . . . . . . . . .22

AANNCCOORR MMeemmbbeerr HHiigghhlliigghhtt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

AANNCCOORR MMoonntthhllyy UUppddaatteessANCOR Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23ANCOR Welcomes New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

ANCOR—A national network of providers offering quality supports to people with disabilities.—www.ancor.org Links /October 2006 3

Renee Pietrangelo

As the events of the recentGovernmental ActivitiesSeminar unfolded, includingBoard of Directors, Board of

Representatives,State AssociationExecutives Forum,ANCORFoundation andANCOR divisionmeetings, I wasstruck by ANCOR’sconnectivity to such

a broad network and our leaders’ hardwork and commitment to maintaining rel-evance and enhancing value-added.

The 7 Measures of Success author JimCollins said that “Associations are the hidden glue of our society and economy.Like the mortar that holds the bricks of abuilding in place, associations go largelyunnoticed, yet they do so much to holdthe entire structure together.” He acknow-ledges that “Greatness is cumulative—it isnot a function of circumstance, rather itis, first and foremost, a matter of choice.”

Collins’ book examines seven measuresof successful nonprofit associations andwhat the best associations purposelychoose to do in order to achieve that suc-cess. According to Collins, remarkableassociations never look away from theirmembers. They both think and act strate-

Commitment to ActionCEO Perspective

gically, amassing data, engaging in ongoingdialogues, and designing products, pro-grams and services to support their mem-bers. They consistently implement theirpriorities. The seven measures include:

1. Customer service culture2. Alignment of products, programs and

services with an organization’s mission3. Data-driven strategies4. Dialogue and engagement5. The CEO must be broker of ideas6. Organizational adaptability7. Alliance building

ANCOR can feel confident in many of these areas and is continually striving todo better. One area of weakness, however,is #3—-data-driven strategies. Our effortsand success at amassing and effectively uti-lizing data have been hit and miss at best.Research was established as a priority issueby the ANCOR Board of Directors as aresult of its deliberations at the GAS con-

ference. We are planning to devote moretime, talent and resources to data collec-tion and research. But even with that, wecan’t successfully address this importantmeasure without your organization’s inputand support.

You will soon receive a comprehensiveANCOR Member Survey. Your responseto this important research tool is veryimportant; please make it a priority. TheNational Advocacy Campaign has alsobeen actively working to compile work-force data from ANCOR members andassociates. To date, 160 members haveresponded. If you’re in the group of 450who have not responded, I urge you to doso. It’s not too late. Contact CatherineDunkelberger at ANCOR ([email protected]) to access the survey. And, be on the lookout for our 2006ANCOR Member Survey, which be dis-tributed to you electronically in the nearfuture. ■

ANCOR is pleased toannounce the 2007Management PracticesConference will be in sunny

San Diego. The conference will be heldat the Westin Horton Plaza, San Diegofrom March 25th-27th and will featurekeynote speaker Bodine Bolasco.

Named “one of the Top 21 Speakersfor the 21st Century” by SuccessfulMeetings Magazine, Bodine has workedwith Fortune 100 clients such asAT&T, Boeing, Coca-Cola, BritishPetroleum, and FedEx.

Join us in San Diego as Bodinedelivers the keynote, “Meeting theLeadership Challenge.” In this interac-

tive session, you will learn:

• The most authentic Top-10 List of“What Employees Want.”

• The 12 workplace characteristics forattracting, retaining, and motivatingthe very best employees.

• How to keep employees focused onlearning & improving.

• A modern method for easily stimulat-ing & capturing the ideas from youremployees.

Be on the look out for further detailson this and more at ANCOR’s 2007Management Practices Conference inupcoming LINKS, on the web, and infuture ANCOR communications. ■

ANCOR’s 2007 ManagementPractices Conference: San Diego, Here We Come!

ANCOR 2006-2007Resource Partners Guide

This important agency tool and resource features consultants and firms offering goods, services, and knowledge to the privateprovider industry as well as expertise andexperience in specific areas.

• Check it out at www.ancor.org

• Click on RESOURCE PARTNERSlocated under Related Items in right hand column of home page.

• You’ll be glad you did!

Peter A. Kowalski

GaryMattsonwas presi-dent the

year I attended my first ANCOR(NAPRR) Govern-mental Affairs

Seminar in those long ago 80s. His clippedhair, jeans and boots, and his steady leader-ship style and enthusiasm in rallying us tonot be afraid of the new models aroundwere inspiring. My arrival was late inGary’s presidency and soon Peter “Skip”Sajevic followed. Skip’s brain ran so fast hetalked in half sentences and it took me awhile before I realized how smart he was,and how ahead of the times he was as heflitted from traditional to innovative serviceideas. Bonnie Brooks followed and


President’s Corner

Aim for the Top; Finish What You Start; and Be Honestchanged the face of ANCOR. Her focuson improving the lives of the people wesupport in our organizations continues todrive and motivate us all.

ANCOR wrestled with identity: are wean advocacy group or a trade association; so we strove to be both. Than Johnson followed with a polish and debonair style,and a solid leadership agenda to balanceour trade association functions and to helpus all recognize that although our customerat home are the people we support, ourmembers are the ANCOR customer. Heoversaw the hiring of our CEO, ReneePietrangelo, and used his charm and skill to ensure her the time to be successful andprotect her from the comparisons with ourretired long-term executive Joni Fritz Thencame Fred Romkema; a get it done personif there ever was one. Fred’s leadership sawANCOR explode with success as he navi-gated us away from a tradition of board-ledprojects to a staff-driven organization.

Under Fred’s presidency ANCOR hasachieved acclaim and recognition for itsleadership on many projects, including theNational Advocacy Campaign.

I come before you as your newPresident, looking back at the accomplish-ments of our great leaders and forward tothe challenges and opportunities ahead. I humbly thank those who have put theirtrust in me and ask for your support andhelp as we move forward. Over the nextmonths we will explore together ideas forcarrying this organization forward. I willpresent my vision and ask you all to take an active role in shaping that vision.

I also want to articulate three importantleadership principles my mother taught me.First, is to aim for the top. I intend to pushus to continue to be number one in theareas we are and to put emphasis on somenew areas where we can achieve. I believestrongly that the quality of the lives of the

TheArcLink.org

Now you can choose for yourself.

Information and resources for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

toll free 877.431.8532e-mail: [email protected]

www.TheArcLink.org

See President, page 19


ANCOR Services Corporation has established a Marketing Agreement withPhiladelphia Insurance Companies.


Late last month, the U.S. Court ofAppeals for the Second Circuitruled a Department of Labor wageand hour regulation invalid in

exempting home care agencies from FairLabor Standard Act (FLSA) minimum wagerequirements when their employees are com-panions. The case, Coke v. Long Island CareAt Home, LTD, was first argued at the district court level. The case was an action first brought forth as a test case by plaintiffEvelyn Coke in order to challenge the validity of these regulations. The home care agency argued that the companionshipexemption was a valid regulation, that ithad depended upon previous DOL opinion


Court of Appeals Upholds Previous Coke Decisionthat DOL Companionship Reg Invalid

Testimonycontinued from page 1

Rosenthal defended the findings of thereport and testified that the conditions hefound in Romania were the worst he hadever witnessed in his 15 years of internalhuman rights work to recognize andenforcement the rights of people with dis-abilities. Adrian Mindroiu, a RomanianGovernment representative working for the National Authority for Persons withDisabilities, was the third witness. Heprovided information on the efforts of thegovernment’s initiatives in this area.

Mr. Ispas provided compelling testimo-ny on the work Motivation Romania hasdone in identifying, removing, evaluating,and providing community-based, family-like residential and foster care alternativesfor children with disabilities—often aban-doned by natural families— in state-oper-ated institutions. In addition to underscor-ing the importance of aggressive interven-tion and the successes of his organizationon behalf of Romania’s children with dis-abilities, Ispas provided recommendationsto the Commission. He also reminded theCommission that Romania has been ademocracy only since 1989—well short ofU.S. history of more than 200 years—andis in need of continued international sup-

port. Motivation Romania has benefitedfrom private donations raised by IMPACT,an international alliance founded byMosaic and other partners.

Cristian Ispas has become a welcomeface at ANCOR conferences. During histrip to the U.S. for the hearing and atten-dance at the 2006 Seminar, he spoke toANCOR’s Board of Directors, visited withU.S. providers, and worked Capitol Hilland federal agencies on behalf of Motiva-

tion’s efforts to enhance the lives of chil-dren and adults with disabilities. ANCORcongratulates Mr. Ispas and MotivationRomania for their work and testimonythat focused on what is possible for peoplewith disabilities if the appropriate non-institutional supports are available. Staytuned for future information on collabora-tive ANCOR and Motivation Romaniaactivities and the benefits of ANCOR’sinternational initiative. ■

Cristian, along with Rich Carman of Mosaic, talk with Representative Smith (R-NJ) followingthe hearing.

letter, and that that paying home care aideworkers overtime compensation would bedetrimental to consumers, forcing agenciesto charge more for services and/or limitthe hours that aides work

In its May 23, 2003 decision, the dis-trict court granted the defendants’ motionfor judgment on the pleadings underFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c), anddenied the plaintiff ’s motion to certify acollective action under 29 U.S.C. 216(b).The plaintiff then appealed the districtcourt decision. AARP filed an amicus briefcontending that requiring overtime andminimum wage pay to home care workerswill ensure better care by improving condi-

tions that lead to workforce shortages. The plaintiff received a favorable ruling by the Second Circuit. Decisions by thatcourt are binding only on the follow statesNew York, Connecticut, and Vermont.

Defendants then petitioned for a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court.However, the high court sent the 2004 rul-ing back to the appellate court in responseto an amicus brief filed by the Secretary ofthe U.S. Department of Labor in supportof the legislative intent of the exemption.The Court of Appeals ruled last month thesame way in its 2004 decision in EvelynCoke v. Long Island Care at Home, Ltd.,

See Court, page 8


Courtcontinued from page 7

and Maryann Osborne.At the time that Congress amended the

FLSA in 1974 expressly to extend coverageto employees in domestic service, it excludedfrom coverage any employee employed indomestic service employment to provide com-panionship services for individuals who(because of age or infirmity) are unable tocare for themselves (as such terms are definedand delimited by regulations of theSecretary). Sections 552.6 and 552.109(a)of the FLSA were both promulgated in1975 in response to the express delegationof authority by Congress. The so-calledcompanionship exemption relieved third-party employers of the minimum wage and overtime compensation requirements that otherwise would have applied. SecretaryChao’s brief argued that the products ofnotice and comment rulemaking are enti-tled deference under the decision inChevron U.S.A. Inc. Therefore, the DOLregulations must be upheld if they repre-sent reasonable, permissible interpretationsof the statute.

The DOL brief concluded that the U.S.Court of Appeals for the Second CircuitCourt should affirm the district court’sdetermination that sections 552.6 and552.109(a) represent reasonable, permissi-ble interpretations of the statute and,therefore, are not arbitrary, capricious, ormanifestly contrary to the FLSA.

Having rejected the DOL’s argument,the decision currently affects only third-party companionship exemption employersin the Second Circuit. According to the

Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute’snewsletter, the ruling would affect about30,000 workers in New York City’sMedicaid-funded personal care program,increasing the cost of the program by anestimated $263 million unless overtimewere managed.

Another petition for a hearing beforethe U.S. Supreme Court is expected.ANCOR will keep providers of compan-ionship services apprised of further developments in this case. ■

The section 552.6 definition of "companionship services" is reasonable because it is consistent withlegislative history indicating that Congress did not intend that the performance of either "householdwork related to the care of the aged or infirm person," or a limited amount of general, incidental house-hold work, would disqualify an employee from being exempt under section 13(a)(15). The inclusionwithin the "companionship services" exemption, under section 552.109(a), of companionship workerswho are employed by third party employers also reflects a reasonable interpretation of the statute. Asnoted by the courts, section 552.109(a) is consistent with the policy underlying the exemption of makingcompanionship services more financially affordable to the elderly and disabled, who might otherwiseneed to be institutionalized. Moreover, the Administrator recently issued an opinion letter reaffirmingthe Department's position under section 552.109(a) that employees of a third party employer working as domestic service employees in private homes may qualify for the section 13(a)(15) exemption.

From DOL Amicus Brief


VISIT US

ON THE WEB

www.ancor.org

ANCOR joins with manyproviders of vocational andemployment supports in cele-bration of Disability Employ-

ment Awareness Month (NDEM).“Americans with Disabilities: Ready forthe Global Workforce” is the theme forOctober 2006 NDEM. What are youdoing to recognize the talents and skills ofpeople with disabilities?

For people with disabilities, like mostothers who want and need to be employ-ed, finding work is not something thatcan be solved in a week or a month.However, the annual observance ofOctober as NDEM is an opportunity toeducate the American public about theemployability of people with disabilitiesand their workforce contributions locallyand nationwide, as well as the issues theyface in obtaining employment.

Congress enacted a law in 1945 declaring the first week in October ofeach year “National Employ the PhysicallyHandicapped Week.” In 1962, the word“physically” was removed to acknowledgethe employment needs and contributionsof individuals with all types of disabilities.In 1988, Congress expanded the week to

award ceremony, Celebrating Persons withDisabilities, on Wednesday October, 25th.Also, the 2006 poster for National DisabilityEmployment Awareness Month is now avail-able to the public. This poster can be usedto focus attention on employment oppor-tunities for workers with disabilities.

Be on the look out for events and pro-grams that highlight expanding employ-ment opportunities for individuals withdisabilities throughout the month ofOctober.

Activities to Recognize NationalDisability Employment AwarenessMonth:

• Employer recognition events

• Share successes with the media

• Identify employers who hire peoplewith disabilities to the media

• Host events highlighting employersand individuals

• Meet with and form partnershipswith local workforce investmentboards and one stop centers

• Work with your governor’s office toissue a proclamation

ANCOR appreciates all of your efforts toexpand opportunities for employment forpeople with disabilities. For informationon ANCOR’s Government RelationsSubcommittee on Employment, pleasecontact Jessica Sadowsky at [email protected]. ■


October Marks National Disability EmploymentAwareness Month

a month and changed the name to“National Disability EmploymentAwareness Month.”

2004 N.O.D./Harris Survey ofAmericans with Disabilities Reports:

• There are 54 million Americanswith disabilities, well over half ofwhom are of working age (18 to64).

• Only 35 percent of those who areof working age are employed eitherfull or even part time, compared to 78 percent of the non-disabledpopulation.

• Although 22 percent of employedpeople with disabilities reportencountering job discrimination,this is a dramatic drop from 36 per-cent four years ago.

• The severity of disability makes a significant difference in whether anindividual is employed, with peoplewith severe disabilities having muchgreater disadvantages in obtainingemployment.

• An estimated 28.2 percent non-insti-tutionalized, men and women with adisability, aged 18-64 in the UnitedStates lived in families with incomesbelow the poverty line.

This month is a time not only toacknowledge the struggle people with dis-abilities endure to obtain employment,but also to celebrate the strides made bythose who have overcome the many barri-ers to employment. This month is also anopportunity to recognize employers, whohave hired people with disabilities and aretapping into new sources of creativity inthis existing, rich source of loyal employ-ees.

In celebration of this annual event, theOffice on Disability of the Department ofHealth and Human Services will host an

Job Opening in Your Agency?You can post the position at

www.ancor.org Career Opportunities

just send your e-mail to [email protected]


Federal Wage and Hour Guidance

Joni Fritz, Labor Standards Specialist

In our last two articles, we discussedU.S. Department of Labor require-ments for paying hourly, nonexemptemployees for travel time and for

paying them on a“piece-rate’ or “fee-for-service” basis.Since some of thesecomputations aremade on a rateapplied when a task is completed,employers may lose

sight of the fact that records must neverthe-less be maintained that show how manyhours each employee has worked each day

and in each workweek and what the hourlyrate of pay is for the time actually worked.

The ANCOR Wage & Hour Handbookcontains a lengthy discussion of federalrecordkeeping requirements on pages 105and 106. Many of the requirements aresimilar to those required for social securitypurposes. Additional requirements that areoutlined in 29 CFR §§516 and 785.46include the following:

• Time of day and day of the week onwhich the employee’s workweek begins;

• Regular hourly rate of pay for any work-week in which overtime compensation isdue, and the basis from which that pay-ment is derived (e.g. per day, per week,fee-for-service);

• Hours worked each workday and total

hours worked each workweek;• Total daily or weekly straight-time earn-

ings or wages due for hours worked dur-ing the workday or workweek, exclusiveof premium overtime compensation;

• Total premium pay for overtime hours(excluding straight-time earnings);

• Total additions to or deductions fromwages paid each pay period;

• Total wages paid each pay period; and• Date of payment and the pay period

covered by the payment.

Most records must be preserved for three years. Basic daily time sheets may bediscarded after two years, according toDepartment rules, but employers are

Remember to Observe Department of LaborRecordkeeping Requirements

See Requirements, page 12


Requirementscontinued from page 11

advised to keep these for three years aswell.

Employers should contact their statelabor office since some states have addi-tional rules governing recordkeeping.Remember that states cannot promulgaterules that are less restrictive than the feder-al rules, but they can add more restrictiverequirements which employers are requiredto meet.

Random investigations by federal Wageand Hour officials in 246 community liv-ing arrangements during 1998 revealedthat one third of those homes had record-keeping violations. It is clear that this is afrequent area of violation. ■

Joni Fritz is a Labor StandardsSpecialist whose guidance is free to ANCOR membersand to those who attend a Wage and Hour Workshop or participate in a teleconference she has conducted.Any ANCOR member who wishes to make arrange-ments for consultation or workshops with Joni mustfirst contact ANCOR national headquarters for referral.Contact Suellen Galbraith at 703-535-7850 or [email protected] for referral information.

AUTHOR LINK

ANCOR Audio Conference to Focus on Cloning Top Performers: A Case Study of DSPs

As providers know, turnoverranging from 60-90% increasesoperating costs in a number ofways, including squeezing mar-

gins and frustrating corporate goals toachieve higher patient satisfaction levelsand organizational growth.

Recently, one provider contacted WebFooted Friends Inc., an organization whichdesigns diagnostic systems to meet organi-zations’ needs, to find a way to clone topperforming DSPs and tailor the workplaceenvironment to complement those topperformers’ style and values.

By installing an online system to pre-screen applicants to rule out those candi-dates who represented a high probabilityof exhibiting counter productive behavior,

initial retention increased from 54% to63%, respectively. However, when addi-tional research techniques were developedto help create a sort of position DNA forDSPs, retention rates increased to 73%.

To learn more about the methods usedin this study, join Linda Petrini, Presidentof Web Footed Friends in the ANCORaudio conference Cloning Top Performers:A Case Study of DSPs on November 14thfrom 2:00pm-3:15pmEST. Registrationfor this audio conference is available athttp://www.ancor.org/conferences/eventpage.cfm?eventid=160&cartid=0&userid=0

To learn more about Web FootedFriends, go to http://www.webfootedfriends.com/. ■


“I like being able to put up my own decora-tions like Elvis pictures, my art work andbracelets I’ve made. I like having my ownapartment by myself. I can do whatever I want whenever I want. I have freedom. I like having my own food and furniture.”

…from Marilyn

Marilyn is a woman we serve inour supported living programin the Seattle area. Sheresponded to some questions

we posed to many of those we serve as partof a project to put on paper the “heart andsoul” of Creative Living Services (CLS).This particular question was, “what do youlike best about living on your own?”

Marilyn’s response was typical of mostwe surveyed. It speaks to her life havingstatus, dignity, freedom and choice…..what we all want in our lives. It also sug-gests the idea that if we listen carefully tothose we support, they can and will serveas mentors to us all.

In our agency, which was founded in1982, we have a history and culture ofhelping those we support achieve theirdreams, make choices, learn new skills,build relationships, explore creativity andlive typical lives. We have a good reputa-tion, but we can do more.

Our current challenge is how to involvethose we support to a greater degree indirecting how they want to be supported,to move to greater self determination andto get out of the way when we need to.

This isn’t easy, as most providers know.With the lack of resources, potential fund-ing cuts, extreme staff turnover and a pre-carious future, it would be easy to say it’sjust too hard to devote time and energy tofurther imbedding a culture of self direc-tion and careful listening with those wesupport. The challenges and pressures ontime and resources will always be with us.We need to create environments withinour organizations that allow and encouragepeople supported to tell us what theywant, to teach and mentor us.

When we asked Brenda, another personwe support, “What do you want your staff

to know about how to support you?” sheeasily responded to say: “Call me beforecoming over to my apartment. Help me planmeals and cook because I sometimes burn thefood. Help me do my grocery shopping, espe-cially about pricing the items. Get to knowme and what works for me before you ask meto do things. Help me plan more barbecuesby the pool when the weather is nice. Supportme to have my friends come visit me in myhome. I would like to join Weight Watchersagain and have staff support to do this.”Brenda’s message to us is, “respect me.”She is articulate about how she wants to betreated, yet it is also clear that she under-stands that greater independence can comewhen she and her staff work cooperativelytogether. The theme of relationshipscomes through loud and clear too, she istelling us she needs some support to main-tain friendships.

But how do we get Brenda andMarilyn’s messages to guide all of us in our organization, from administration tosupervisors to direct support staff?

How do we involve those we support to a greater degree in teaching the cultureof self determination in our agency?

The following are some things we’vebeen doing here at CLS or hope to imple-ment:

• Involve people supported in interview-ing and hiring potential staff.

• Be sure that the people you support are at the center of and included in allmeetings about them from problem-solving issues to developing supportplans.

• Involve people you support in stafftraining and orientation. What betterintroduction to your agency and howpeople should be supported than hear-ing directly from people about whatthey want?

• Include people supported in your othertraining and conference opportunities.Your staff can learn from and alongsidethose you support.

• Assist the people you support to becomeinvolved in self advocacy and politicalaction. Have them teach your staffabout their experience in order to get

them involved as well.• If you have committees in your agency,

like a human rights committee, safetycommittee, quality assurance, etc.,include participants and families. Theirperspectives and involvement will enrichthe outcome and work of your commit-tees.

• Involve those you support in policy andprocedure development within youragency.

• Celebrate successes and make sure thoseyou support are in the “director’s chair”to plan and execute these events.

• If you do an organization newsletter, besure to focus on articles by and aboutpeople you support.

• Create opportunities for people you support to teach and mentor your staff.

Give the people you support an oppor-tunity to be the self-determination men-tors and teachers. If we take these ideasseriously in our organizations it will createexcitement and anxiety. Be open to changeand trying a new way. As we read recentlyin Marilee Goldberg’s, The Art of theQuestion, “For every step forward, some-one had to wonder whether a current situation could be changed or bettered, or simply asked, ‘What would happen if I did this?’ or ‘What would happen if I didthat?’ That individual would have askedinternal questions such as: ‘Is there anyother way to think about this?’ or ‘Whatelse could I do?’ or ‘What possibilities existthat I haven’t thought of yet?’ – and thenacted on his answers.”

Get beyond the pressures of the dailychallenges and make a commitment toputting the people you support in thisessential role. If not now, when? ■

Leslee Currie is the state executivedirector for ResCare Washington, Inc/Creative LivingServices. She is also a member of ANCOR’s Board ofRepresentatives and a member of the LINKS editorialboard. Sally Sehmsdorf is the Facilitator for Educationand Learning at Creative Living Services. They can bereached at 206-286-9002 or at [email protected] [email protected].

AUTHOR LINK

Who Are The Real Mentors?Leslee Currie and Sally Sehmsdorf

Models of Practice – Advocacy and Mentoring


When the Performance Excellence Task Force metduring the Governmental Activities Conference onMonday, September 11th, the committee mem-bers noted the significant progress the Task Force

has made in the past 2 years, including:

• Over 90% of the membership have signed the Quality Pledgecommitting themselves to the utmost standards of quality intheir organizations

• The Performance Excellence Framework has been completed• Resources are available to assist the membership related to the

markers• A new website is being designed to make the web site more user

friendly and accessible • Interest in the Performance Metrics Pilot Project continues to

grow

While these are all signs of progress, committee members notedmany of the ANCOR members still are unaware of whatPerformance Excellence is or how it can help them.

To help convey the meaning of Performance Excellence, theTask Force would like to thank Mercedes Witowsky and the staffof Community Access Unlimited (NJ) for coming up with thetagline TREND which accurately describes the informationANCOR providers can access via the Performance Excellence section of the ANCOR website (http://www.ancor.org/pe/index.html ).

By providing access to training, resources, education, net-working opportunities, and developing and leading practices(TREND), ANCOR’s Performance Excellence Initiative is positioning itself as the one-stop resource center for ANCORmembers.

However, in order to become this help repository of informa-tion, ANCOR is actively searching for leading practices from the field. Whether you have implemented a leadership program,recently diversified the services you provide, or are utilizing tech-nology in ways you never imagined to tremendous benefit, wewant to hear from you. But more important, other ANCORproviders want to hear from you.

Help ANCOR set the TREND for years to come. ContactKari Amidon at [email protected] and help build the compre-hensive website that will connect providers far and wide.

If your agency has not signed the Quality Pledge but wouldlike to, contact Joanna Cardinal at [email protected]. ■

NOTE: To access the Performance Excellence Framework go to:http://www.ancor.org/pe/markers_07-15-05.pdfTo access the Quality Pledge go to:http://www.ancor.org/pe/PledgeSigners.html

Performance Excellence

Training… Resources… Education…Networking… Developing & LeadingPractices (TREND)


The rich content ofthis year’sGovernmentalActivities Seminar

(GAS) attracted over 200 partic-ipants. An impressive anddynamic array of speakers fromHHS’ Centers for Medicare andMedicaid Services (CMS) andOffice on Disabilities; theMedicaid Reform Commission;the Kaiser Commission onMedicaid and the Uninsured;U.S. Senate Finance and HealthPolicy staff; the NationalGovernors Association; theNational Council of StateLegislators; the Social SecurityAdministration; the U.S.Department of Labor; theNational Organization onDisability and other key con-sultants presented compellingresearch data, timely informa-tion and astute analysis. Therewas also ample time for incisive

Snapshots from the 2006 Governmental Activities Seminar

Medicaid Reform, Quality and DisasterPreparedness Get Top Billing at GAS 2006

Board of Representatives Meeting with Elections

Bonnie Booksof OHI, RichCarman ofMosaic, andCristian Ispasof MotivationRomania.

DepartingANCOR Boardmembers WayneLarson, PattiManus & TomDaniels.

Southwest Region state reps.Mid-Atlantic Regional DirectorJennifer Fidura with state reps.

discussion. Medicaid reform and quality

initiatives manifested throughthe Deficit Reduction Act;financing long-term care; andpandemic and emergency pre-paredness took top billing andwere complemented by theinsightful political analysis ofCongressional Quarterly colum-nist and political pundit CraigCrawford and the humorousand entertaining satire of therenowned Capitol Steps comedytroupe.

Reception

Craig Crawford, autographing hisbook for Ken Lovan, ANCORVP Government Relations.

The Capitol Steps had every-

one laughing!

Departing President Fred Romkemaand Departing Past President ThanJohnson.


Snapshots from the 2006 Governmental Activities Seminar

Iowa ANCOR delegation knows how to do it, working year-round on building relationships with theirmembers of Congress. Here the Iowafolks meet again with Senator ChuckGrassley (R-IA), Chairman of theSenate Finance Committee.

Henry Moore, Asset BasedDevelopment Institute,Northwestern University.

Joy Wilson, NationalConference of StateLegislators

Dianne Smith, Centers forMedicare and Medicaid Services.

Speakers

State Share

Capitol Hill Visit

Diane Rowland, KaiserCommission on Medicaidand the Uninsured.

Christopher Logan, NationalGovernors Association.

Daryn Demeritt.Field Goals.

Ride-Away Corp.

Esteam

This End UpFurniture

CapGrowPartners

Hilary Stryon, NationalOrganization on Disability.

Dr. MargaretGiannini, HHS Officeon Disability.

Jeff Crowley, Health Policy Institute,Georgetown University.

Exhibitors

State Execs Forum Moderators Mary Lou Dyer, Tom Scheinost and Chris Collins.Audience Discussion


NEWLY

ELECTED STATE

REPRESENTATIVES

ArkansasPatti ManusRainbow of Challenges, Inc.Hope, AR

GeorgiaJerry HubbsResCareBogart, GA

IowaMarilyn AlthoffHills and DalesDubuque, IA

MarylandDebra LangsethSpectrum SupportEldersburg, MD

RE-ELECTED STATE

REPRESENTATIVES

DelawareGwen BennettVoca – DelawareNewark, DE

LouisianaChris PilleyCommunity andResidential ServicesAssociationBaton Rouge, LA

MontanaBrodie MollMission MountainEnterprisesRonan, MT

North CarolinaSam HedrickRHALaGrange, NC

North DakotaBrenda NiessREM NorthDakota, Inc.Minot, ND

ANCOR 2006 BOR Election ResultsANCOR 2006 BOR Election Results

The ANCOR Members from the states listed below elected thefollowing individuals to the ANCOR Board of Representatives.The newly elected representatives began their three-year terms onOct. 1, 2006.

New JerseyMercedes WitowskyCommunity AccessUnlimitedElizabeth, NJ

New YorkLinda LaulUnited Cerebral Palsy of New YorkCity, Inc.New York City, NY

South CarolinaRalph CourtneyAiken County Boardof Disabilities &Special NeedsAiken, SC

TennesseeTheresa SumrellOpen Arms CareCorporationNashville, TN

PresidentPeter KowalskiJohn F. Murphy Homes

President-ElectWendy SokolSoreo

SecretaryRichard CarmanMosaic

Director, Northeast RegionNancy Silver HargreavesWCI

Director, North Central RegionChris SparksExceptional Persons, Inc.

Board of Representatives LiaisonKarin StockwellDungarvin

President (will now serve asPast President)Fred RomkemaNorthern Hills TrainingCenter

Past PresidentThan JohnsonChampaign ResidentialServices, Inc.

SecretaryPatti ManusRainbow of Challenges, Inc.

Director, North Central RegionWayne LarsonMount Olivet Rolling Acres

Board of Representatives LiaisonTom DanielsFaith, Hope & Charity, Inc.

ANCOR 2006 BOD Election ResultsANCOR 2006 BOD Election Results

The following were elected as Officers/Directors at theSeptember 10th meeting. Our congratulations to:

Departing ANCOR President Fred Romkema (right) handsover command to newly elected ANCOR President PeterKowalski.

Tom Daniels, departing Iowa rep. and BORBoard liaison, receives gift from ANCORdeparting President Fred Romkema.

ANCOR extends its sincere appreciation to the following outgoingRepresentatives for their dedicated commitment and leadership:

Board ofRepresentativesLiaison & IowaRepresentativeTom DanielsFaith, Hope &Charity, Inc.

AlaskaSteve LeskoHope CommunityResources, Inc.

ArkansasJackie FlissIndependent LivingServices, Inc.

GeorgiaJanet DealResCare

MarylandDonna LovelaceArdmoreEnterprises, Inc.

MichiganBob SteinMichigan AssistedLiving Association

TexasLora ButlerMission RoadMinistriesSan Antonio, TX

ANCOR extends its sincere appreciation to the followingoutgoing officers and directors for their dedicated commit-ment and leadership:


Presidentcontinued from page 5

Say you’re a high school graduate inPhoenix and you’ve just lost yourjob. Hearing that the state’s unem-ployment rate is a little more than

4 percent doesn’t give you much comfort.You need to make a living, and you’d likeyour new position to be a better careermove than your last one—something fulfilling.

Walk in the door of an ArizonaWorkforce Connection “One-Stop” centerin Maricopa County and you may find theanswer to your career challenge: becominga direct support professional (DSP).

As a result of the ANCOR NationalAdvocacy Campaign, the U.S. Departmentof Labor has partnered with private-sectoremployers in four states, includingArizona, to jump-start employment orien-tations for candidates interested in a DSPcareer and thereby confront a growingshortage of direct support workers in thehealth care and human services fields.When you talk to a job counselor at theone-stop about wanting more meaningfulwork, he or she will have a full menu oftools to help you consider whether being a DSP is for you.

The DOL-private partnership has created a brochure and poster about DSPcareer opportunities, a notebook with spe-cific information about provider compa-nies and a video of DSPs working withpeople who have disabilities, all for poten-tial employees. One-stop job counselorshave received training in the facts aboutthis growing business sector so they canmake good referrals of candidates for jobs.Providers are making presentations togroups of potential employees.

“Our counselors now have the tools to … enable candidates to assess their interest,” said George Thorne, statebusiness relations coordinator for theArizona Department of Economic Security(ADES). “Jobs are available, and we wantto make it easier to match employers withinterested candidates.” According to theADES, the sector of educational, socialservices and health services jobs in Arizonais expected to grow almost 6 percent in2006 and more than 4 percent in 2007.

In the Arizona DOL-private partner-

ship, companies and other organizationsthat are members of the AmericanNetwork of Community Options andResources (ANCOR) or the ArizonaAssociation of Providers of People withDisabilities (AAPPD) are on the private-sector side of the table. Representatives ofCreative Networks, part of the ResCarefamily of companies, have served on theplanning committee for the partnership.

In addition, Creative Networks hasbeen working with another workgroup andcolleges to develop standardized DSPtraining programs to offset the growingshortage of workers.

Make a workforce connectionFor more information about Arizona

Workforce Connection One-Stop locationsand DSP workshop schedules, call602/542-3957 or visit:www.arizonaworkforceconnection.comwww.arizonavirtualonestop.com ■

The above article appeared in the Summer 2006 edition of the Review, a ResCarepublication. Ida Jones is the community relationsdirector at Creative Networks/ResCare Arizona. Toaccess this story and others from the online version of the Review, click NewsPrint under the News &Networking section at www.rescare.com.

INFORMATION LINK

Finding People Who CareIda Jones

Recruiting and Retention

people we support needs to be our num-ber one priority. We need to do what ittakes to see that their lives and welfare areprotected in emerging models, systemsand financing models.

The second is to always finish whatyou start. We won’t quit on our currentinitiatives whether it be the NAC, ourinformation sharing capacity or politicaladvocacy we will continue to lead theway; new initiatives will add to and nottake away from accomplishments. Ibelieve we will be challenged in a numberof areas where we thought the battle waswon. We won’t quit; we will fight to keepour system of services moving forwardnot backward.

Finally I believe in honesty. We needto keep our dealings between each mem-ber of this organization honest. We needto take an honest look at all aspects ofour delivery system including those sys-tems that provide our funding and regu-lation. We need to put forth honest ideasand proposals that challenge us. I hope I can rely on the honest and open com-munication between us. I ask you to callor write with your ideas, concerns, ideasor visions for the future. The ANCORfamily has always been made up of thebest and brightest in the field. I hope tochannel that energy and grow from it.

Over the next several months we will explore the many opportunities andchoices we have as we experience radicalchanges in our service system, philosophi-cal principles, leadership turnover, newfinancing mechanisms and who knowswhat else. What roads will we go downover the next few years? It’s up to usdecide. Thank you ■

FYI LINKS is being distributed in both elec-tronic and hard copy formats. If you pre-fer one over the other, please let usknow. If you have no preference, you'llreceive it electronically.

Questions?Contact Marsha Patrick at

[email protected] or 703/535-7850

ANCOR LeadershipANCOR’s 2006 Officers, Directors,

State Representatives andAssociation Executives – alongwith contact information – can

now be found on the ANCOR web site.

• Visit ANCOR’s home page

• Highlight ABOUT ANCOR

• On the menu that appears, click on LEADERSHIP

• Then click on the pdf of ANCOR Leadership.


Member Highlight is designed to recognize andshowcase ANCOR member agency achievementsand significant community and other initiatives ofnote. Our goal is to feature an ANCOR member

in each issue of LINKS, so please forward your highlight storyto Marsha Patrick at [email protected].

Our October Highlight is Trinity Services located in Joliet,Illinois, under the leadership of Executive Director ArtDykstra.

Trinity Receives PrestigiousAlford-Axelson Award forNonprofit Managerial Excellence

At its 7th annual NonprofitSymposium on Wednesday, May17, at North Park University, TheAxelson Center for NonprofitManagement awarded its presti-gious Alford-Axelson Award forNonprofit Managerial Excellenceto Trinity Services, Inc. Theaward also included a $5,000grant from the university.

Established in 2002, theAlford-Axelson Award forNonprofit Managerial Excellenceis given annually to organizations

that exemplify extraordinary managerial excellence. The awardis named in honor of leading nonprofit thinker, Jimmie R.Alford and devoted community healthcare leader, Nils G.Axelson. Two awards are given – one in the small nonprofitcategory, the other in the large nonprofit category. Trinity wasthe winner of the large nonprofit category.

In choosing this year’s winners, a panel of evaluators con-sisting of Chicago’s top nonprofit and philanthropy leadersreviewed a nominated pool of 40 organizations. Nomineesunderwent a rigorous review process, which included an exami-nation the of the organizations’ audits and financial records,performance indicators, primary objectives, and the socialneeds addressed by their missions.

After receiving the award, Trinity’s Executive Director ArtDykstra noted, “Miguel de Cervantes made the observationsome 500 years ago that the journey is better than the inn.Being selected as the recipient of the 2006 Alford-AxelsonAward for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence provided impor-tant feedback to Trinity’s Board of Directors and executiveleadership staff that the journey taken is a proper one and thatin the eyes of good and knowledgeable people, Trinity Services,Inc., continues toward true north in its mission and opera-tions.” ■

ANCOR Member Highlight

Art Dykstra


Trying to find a simple and inex-pensive way to raise funds foryour agency? Partner withANCOR Foundation and hold

a Walk, Run, Roll in your community inSpring 2007!

Think it will require much work? Not at all! By logging on to the ANCORFoundation website and downloading themedia toolkit we have devised (http://www.ancor.org/foundation/07WRR.htm ),holding a Walk, Run, Roll in your com-munity couldn’t be simpler.

Designed for agencies both large andsmall, this toolkit has all the informationyou need— insurance forms, press releas-es, registration forms etc… so that youcan make your Walk, Run, Roll event asuccess.

Don’t think you are ready to plan ahuge event? That’s okay. Just pick up the

phone, call your local YMCA, speak tolocal merchants, and start connecting withthe people you know who can helpincrease awareness of the important issuesfacing individuals with disabilities andhow ANCOR Foundation can help.

Don’t believe that it’s that simple? Hearthe benefits holding a Walk, Run, Rollhad on Evant, an ANCOR memberagency in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio…

“ Before Evant’s Walk, Run, Roll, somany of my DSPs did not know whoANCOR was, what they did, or howANCOR Foundation and ANCOR helpthem. This event helped bring this tolight…increased staff morale… andhelped raise almost $900 for ANCORFoundation. Evant’s First Annual Walk,Run, Roll was a success—and marked thebeginning of something special. Just thinkof what could be done to advance if

ANCOR members banded together anddeveloped Walk, Run, Rolls throughoutthe country! (For complete story, go top.34 at http://www.ancor.org/members/links/200605links.pdf )

– Sandy Kidd, Residential DirectorEvant

And the best part…

By partnering with ANCORFoundation in this Walk, Run, Roll effort,not only will your agency keep HALF theproceeds, ANCOR Foundation will utilizethese monies to develop broad-based edu-cation and training programs in the fol-lowing areas:

• Addressing the looming leadership crisis• Educating Board of Directors as to the

future leaders they need

Join ANCOR Foundation in its National Walk, Run, Roll Effort

2007 Community BuilderAward NominationsDeadline October 31

Don’t delay; the deadline for submitting nomi-nations for the 2007 Community BuilderAwards is rapidly approaching!

Each year, ANCOR Foundation recognizes one serv-ice provider and one community/community memberthat has displayed exemplary practices in creating com-munities that provide the respect, opportunity, and support needed by people with disabilities to live asincluded and valued members.

Help ANCOR Foundation honor those who show us all how communities can be created, modified andsustained to offer people with disabilities meaningful lifeexperiences.

Download the 2007 Community Builder Awardnomination form at http://www.ancor.org/foundation/documents/foundation_cba_07.pdf .today! ■

See Effort, page 22

THE VISIONS CENTERINTRODUCES NEW

STAFF TRAINING KITS

SUPPORTING THE FIRST TIMEMANAGER

Writing Well, Writing WithPurpose

12Essential Person Centered

“SKILL-BUILDER EXERCISES”for Direct Support Staff

LEGACY PROJECTEnsuring a Legacy

Phone: (860) 521-7684 Fax: (860) 521-7684Mail: P.O. Box 270974, West Hartford, Connecticut 06427

Web: www.thevisionscenter.com


NAC Central: The Wheels Keep Turning

ANCOR’s September 10 throughSeptember 12 GovernmentalActivities Seminar brought yetanother surge of energy to

ANCOR’s National Advocacy Campaign(NAC). Attendees were briefed on thelatest NAC developments, received advo-cacy training and lobbied their UnitedStates Representatives on H.R. 1264, theDirect Support Professionals Fairness andSecurity Act of 2005.

The effort yielded immediate returns as a number of new Congressional offices expressed support for H.R. 1264.Persistent follow-up over the next fewweeks will be the key to determining howmany “commitments” transition into newH.R. 1264 co-sponsors.

H.R. 1264 currently has 74 co-spon-sors. While more work remains to bedone, this is a considerable achievementwe should all be proud of. We are averag-ing about five new co-sponsors a month andgetting strong geographic diversity with co-sponsors from 30 different states!

As part of the effort to secure these legislative champions, the NAC has gener-ated more than 40,000 letters to CapitolHill in the last year and its AmericanWorker cartoon, www.WhoWillCare.net,has been viewed more than 50,000 timessince its launch last spring.

While the continued growth in H.R. 1264 support and the success of the grassroots activities are a testament to thestrength and reach of the ANCOR net-work, it also offers a stark reminder thatthe NAC is a marathon not a sprint.

The NAC leadership understands that it takes years, not months, to have ameaningful impact on federal public poli-cy and has constructed enduring strate-gies. It’s not always easy, but the educa-tion we are doing together is Making aDifference. The measurable growth insupport and exposure is evidence of that.

So what’s next? In the short term weneed to do two things – take advantage of immediate opportunities and beef upour data.

By the time you read this article, only afew weeks will remain before voters decide

who maintains control of the United StatesHouse of Representatives. Your U.S.Representative, particularly if he or she isin a competitive race, is never more atten-tive than they are in the weeks precedingan election. Educate them or their staff onH.R. 1264 and the workforce crisis today!

Additionally, if you have written, calledor visited with your U.S. Representative on H.R. 1264 and have not formally heardback from them, follow-up! You took thetime to make the contact, you deserve(and need) a definitive answer aboutwhether or not they are going to co-spon-sor the legislation. If you do not do thefollow-up, all your efforts were for naught.

Data. We need local workforce data toaid state and Congressional-district specificlobbying efforts. A summer NAC work-force survey to ANCOR members yieldedmore than 160 unique data sets from 42

states, but we need to broaden the sample size. If you did not participate in the survey, please do so by contactingCatherine Dunkelberger [email protected] today. All the data is confiden-tial and the participants will be anony-mous.

Thank you for the continued sup-port! ■

National Advocacy Campaign

New H.R. 1264 Co-Sponsors

Four new co-sponsors joined H.R.1264 when Congress returned from itsAugust recess, the new sponsors are:Betty McCollum (D-MN), RobertWexler (D-FL), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)and Albert Wynn (D-MD). The NACleadership extends its gratitude andappreciation to everyone who workedto secure these new co-sponsors.Congratulations!

To find out if your U.S.Representative is one of the 66 H.R.1264 co-sponsors, visit the ActionCenter at www.ANCOR.org. If yourU.S. Representative is a sponsor, makesure you thank them for the support.If they are not, contact them today!

Effortcontinued from page 21

• Cultivating leaders in the self-advocate,DSP, and parent communities

Help ANCOR Foundation build inclu-sive communities for all by contactinglocal merchants, organizations, and otherproviders in your area and hold a Walk,Run, Roll in your community.

Other ways you can help increaseawareness of the important issues facingproviders and the individuals they serve:

Become a sponsor for the main Walk,Run, Roll event to be held Sunday, March

25th in concert with ANCOR’s 2007Management Practices Conference. For as little as $100, your name will appear inthe April edition of LINKS and on theANCOR Foundation website. For com-plete sponsorship information, go to theCorporate Sponsorship Information section at http://www.ancor.org/foundation/07WRR.htm.

Do something as simple as collecting$1.00 from each of the workers in youragency. Check out the media toolkit tofind the sample request letter you can utilize to collect these pledges and watch as the money accumulates! ■

By empowering people with disabilities, Direct Support Professionals strengthen all of America.


ANCOR Welcomes New MembersANCOR Welcomes New Members

Great Lakes/West RegionThomas Lewins, Regional Director

Gerry BeaglesGarden Center ServicesBurbank, IL(708) 636-0054gbeagles@gardencenter

services.org

South Central RegionJan Hannah, Regional Director

Jennifer FellerFlinthills Services, Inc.El Dorado, KS(316) 321-2325jennifer@flinthills.

kscoxmail.com

ANCOR CalendarANCOR Calendar

2006

Sept. 25 Audio Conference: Translating Values Into ActionDerrick Dufresne, CEO and President of Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities

Oct. 12 Audio Conference: Creating a Culture Where People CountAnn Rhoades, Former Executive Vice President,JetBlue Airways and President, People Ink

Oct. 24 Audio Conference: Moving Beyond Medicaid Funding: Tax Credits and Other Programs to Assist Your AgencyJennison Bielemeier, Director of Financial Development, Heritage Christian Services

Nov 14 Audio Conference: Cloning Top Performers: A Case Study of DSPsLinda Petrini, President, Web Footed Friends, Inc.

2007

March 25-27 2007 Management Practices ConferenceThe Westin Horton PlazaSan Diego, CA

Sept. 9-11 2007 Governmental Activities SeminarWashington Court HotelWashington, DC

Southwest RegionJeff Gardner, Regional

Director

Gale BohlingFederated Human Service

CooperativePhoenix, AZ(602) [email protected]

ANCOR Mission: To empower providers and people with disabilitiesto celebrate diversity and effect change thatensures full participation.

ANCOR Vision: To be the premier provider association creatinga world that values the full participation of allstakeholders.

PRST. STDU.S. Postage

PAIDManassas, VAPermit No. 77

A National Network of Providers Offering Quality Supports to People with Disabilities

1101 King Street, Suite 380Alexandria, VA 22314-2944703-535-7850www.ancor.org

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