May 22, 2020 A Message from OPWDD Commissioner Kastner

Please review the following message from the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. Dear Friends and Colleagues, OPWDD understands how challenging and disruptive the temporary suspension of day services, home visits, community outings and other outdoor activities has been for the people we support and their families during the COVID-19 global pandemic response, but probably most unsettling is the inability to visit your child or other family member. OPWDD provided guidance to our residential provider partners back in March which directs them to make every attempt to provide families with opportunities to maintain contact with their loved ones. Below are just a few of the best practices we encourage all residential providers to engage in to allow more meaningful contact during this unprecedented time: Develop a face-to-face video call program using programs such as Skype, Facetime, Google Meets or Zoom  Arrange in-person through the window calls or visits with family and friends  Develop a family call program where activities or social work staff call families regularly with clinical updates  Establish an ambassador program that makes support staff available to answer phones and connect family members to nursing staff  Hold weekly webcasts from the leadership to answer live questions from families  Provide daily updates from the leadership of the facility on the facility’s web page  Modify the facility’s web page to include COVID-19 information and communication resources  Provide written communication via email and US Mail with regular updates surrounding the facility’s COVID-19 response plan  OPWDD continues to encourage residential facilities to keep the lines of communication with residents and families open. We remain in constant contact with the NYS Department of Health on best practices and we hope to be able to provide expanded safe visitation guidance and guidelines related to the resumption of programs very soon, as regions across the state slowly begin the process of reopening. Moving forward, our number one priority will be to continue to ensure the health and safety of the people we support as we make the transition to a “new normal.” You can sign-up online to receive the latest updates from OPWDD  via email or check the OPWDD website frequently for information relating to COVID-19 .  Sincerely, Theodore Kastner M.D, M.S. Commissioner

May 26, 2020 Parent and Caregiver Group Virtual Meeting on May 29

Parent Network of Western New York is hosting virtual meetings for parents and caregivers of people with developmental disabilities. These meetings will take place on Fridays, May 29 and continuing in June, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. This online event provides a welcoming environment for parents, family members and other caregivers to meet, share experiences, ask questions and receive support.  More information can be found on the  Parent Network website .  Please share with anyone who may be interested.

May 5, 2020 Parent and Caregiver Group Virtual Meeting on May 8

Parent Network of Western New York is hosting virtual meetings for parents and caregivers of people with developmental disabilities. The meetings will take place on Fridays, May 8 and 15, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. These online events provide a welcoming environment for parents, family members and other caregivers to meet, share experiences, ask questions and receive support.  More information can be found on the Parent Network website .  Please share with anyone who may be interested.

Next Informational Session for Families by People Inc. on January 28, 2021

Families of the people supported through the agency are encouraged to join the next Family Conference Call on Thursday, January 28, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. During this call for families, People Inc. management will provide operational updates, projected plans and answer questions. Questions may be sent in advance, and during the call, to  COVIDconcern@people-inc.org , or texted to 716.868.9233. Given the anticipated volume of participants on the calls, this is the most effective way to have your question heard and answered.  The conference call number is: 1.607.442.6488 with the access code 934 708 542#. RSVPs appreciated to 716.817.7400.

November 5, 2020 Letter to Families

A new letter to families is available ( English  and  Spanish ). As always, People Inc. encourages you to stay in contact. A special Coronavirus Phone Line is available for families to call, 716.817.7445, and is responded to directly.  An afterhours Coronavirus hotline is available for the people, and families of people, enrolled in our Day Habilitation Programs and Vocational Services to express questions and concerns. The number is 716.529.6505.  A special email address is available as well, so that concerns can be addressed at  COVIDconcern@people-inc.org. Families can also contact the senior residential supervisor at your loved one’s home.

November 5, 2020 People Inc. Offers Next Informational Session for Families November 23

Thank you to families who participated in our earlier conference call updates from agency management.  We have scheduled the next information session for families of the people we support for  Monday, November 23 at 6:30 p.m. During this call, agency management will provide operational updates, projected plans and answer questions. Questions may be sent in advance, and during the call, to  COVIDconcern@people-inc.org , or texted to 716.868.9233. Given the anticipated volume of participants on the calls, this is the most effective way to have your question heard and answered.  RSVP to 716.817.7400 to receive the conference call number and access code. Please note: an RSVP is needed because even if the conference call phone number remains the same, a new unique access code is issued specific to each call.

NYS Funding for Direct Support Professionals Announced

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced the approval of several funding packages that will impact our direct support staff and agencies in our field of supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. One-time American Rescue Plan Act Funding will, “support recruitment efforts, retention incentives and vaccination bonuses for direct support professionals who provide support for people with developmental disabilities in an effort to address workforce shortages in this field.” Funding for a one-time payment for direct support professionals who worked during the pandemic will be made possible through a “Heroes Fund.” People Inc. is preparing now, so that we will be able to issue checks to those staff included, as soon as funds are received. As details are received by OPWDD, specifics regarding payment amounts and dates will be announced to our staff.   Retention and longevity bonuses will make additional investments in the workforce by rewarding longevity and providing additional bonuses to staff who remain in the direct support professional (DSP) workforce into 2022. Again, as details are received, the agency will share this information with our staff. A Vaccine Bonus Payment for direct support staff of up to $500 will be available. New York State set a due date of Friday, January 14, 2022, for DSP staff to be in full compliance to qualify for the payment. (ICF and Article 16 staff must begin to be vaccinated by Sunday, December 5, 2021.) People Inc. doesn’t have any control over the due date set by the State, but we are hoping that as many of our direct support professionals as possible take action to be qualified for this payment. This is not an automatic payment to the DSPs, they must provide proof of vaccination via one of the variety of methods communicated to them. Currently, our agency is awaiting further details to be announced regarding how and when the funds will become available. We are thrilled to see a positive result from our constant and hard-fought advocacy efforts, that recognize the important work and dedication of our direct support professionals. We will continue our fight for increases to our rates going forward, so that cost of living increases are reflected in rates in the future. The advocacy of our entire People Inc. team – advocates, staff, families and friends – will be necessary going forward toward that goal. Know that when we ask for phone calls, emails or letters, your participation is important and appreciated!  

October 12, 2020 People Inc. Offers New Informational Session for Families October 21

Thank you to families who participated in our earlier conference call updates from agency management.  We have scheduled a new information session for families of the people we support for  Wednesday, October 21 at 6:30 p.m.  During this call, agency management will provide operational updates, projected plans and answer questions. Questions may be sent in advance, and during the call, to  COVIDconcern@people-inc.org , or texted to 716.868.9233. Given the anticipated volume of participants on the calls, this is the most effective way to have your question heard and answered.  RSVP to 716.817.7400 to receive the conference call number and access code.  Please note: an RSVP is needed because even if the conference call phone number remains the same, a new unique access code is issued specific to each call.

October 14, 2020 Letter to Families

A new letter to families is available ( English  and  Spanish ). As always, People Inc. encourages you to stay in contact. A special Coronavirus Phone Line has been established for families to call, 716.817.7445, and is checked every hour 24/7 and responded to directly.  A new, afterhours Coronavirus hotline is available for the people, and families of people, enrolled in our Day Habilitation Programs and Vocational Services to express questions and concerns. The number is 716.529.6505.  A special email address has been established as well, so that concerns can be addressed at  COVIDconcern@people-inc.org. Families can also contact the senior residential supervisor at your loved one’s home.