• Wage & Hour Training
  
  Tallahassee, Florida (January 30, 2007) Florida ARF has scheduled a 1 1/2 day Wage and Hour Training with Charlie Harles (from I-NABIR) for March 13-14, 2007.  The training will be held at Goodwill Industries of Central Florida in Orlando.  The registration fee is $100 per individual which includes lunch on March 13th.  More Information.
   
• Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Announces “Fair & Public” Meetings
  
  Tallahassee, FL  (February 16, 2007)  VR has announced a series of public hearings in which they invite you to share your thoughts on ways to improve Florida’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program.  The hearings are as follows:
  • Mar 13, 2007, 10AM - 2PM CST
    Pensacola Junior College, 418 West Gadsden Street, Pensacola, Florida
  • Mar 20, 2007, 10AM - 2PM EST
    Florida International University, Kovens Conference Center, 3000 NE 151st Street
    Miami, Florida
  • Mar 21, 2007, 10 AM - 2 PM EST
    Florida Atlantic University, Live Oak Pavilion, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida
  • Mar 26, 2007, 10AM - 2PM EST
    Ocala Public Library, 2720 East Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, Florida
     
• Former DCF Chief Gets Another Job
   
  Tallahassee, FL  (February 16, 2007)  Lucy Hadi, the state's former top child welfare official, will begin work March 1 as the Department of Education's first Chancellor of Workforce and Economic Development.  Hadi is a 36-year veteran of state government.
   
• FL Project Newsletter on Supported Employment Available Online
  
  Tallahassee, FL (January 31, 2007)  J.B. Black, Training and Research Manager forthe Agency for Persons with Disabilities, forwarded the attached newslater and indicated it is a good resource for employment information.  Black encourages viewers to circulate the newsletter to anyone that may be interested.  The originator is Dale Dileo from the Florida Provider Network.   Read More...
   
• VR Posts Update to Five Year Plan
  
  Tallahassee, FL  (February 16, 2007)   The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation has posted its "2007 Federal State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation Services for FFY 2007.  Read More...

• Cornell University Houses Disability Statistics Data
  
  Tallahassee, FL  (February 14, 2007)  If you are looking for disability statistics for US citizens, we highly recommend the Cornell University website.
   
• Able Trust Grant Information Booklet Available
   
  Tallahassee, FL  (February 16, 2007)  The Able Trust's mission is to be the leader in providing Floridians with disabilities fair employment opportunities through fundraising, grant programs, public awareness and education. This mission is accomplished by providing grant funds to not-for-profit agencies and Florida citizens with disabilities. Proposal guidelines for both not-for-profit agencies and individuals are contained in The Able Trust's Grant Program Information Booklets.  
  Individual Grant Booklet  /  Agency Grant Booklet
   
• ACCSES-DSPA 2007 Winter Conference
   
  Washington, D.C. (January 2007)  The ACCSES-DSPA Alliance 2007 Winter Conference will be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on February 21-23, 2007. The conference will be held at the Sheraton Yankee Trader Hotel, located at 321 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard.  The conference agenda can be found at the following link: 2007 Winter Conference ACCSES / DSPA.
   
• IRS Shares Exempt Organization "Good Governance Practices"
  
  Washington, D.C.  (February 14, 2007)  The IRS has released a report that describes “Good Governance Practices for 501(c) (3) Organizations." The document discusses governance practices that reflect various ideas used by others within and outside the exempt sector who have studied nonprofit governance. The update also offers IRS guidelines for organization directors to “understand their roles and responsibilities and actively promote good governance practices."  To view these guidelines and read the discussion draft, Go Here.
  
  ACCSES / DSPA Alliance has shared a summary of the guidelines.  Click Here.
    
• Budget/Appropriations Update
  
  Washington, D.C.  (February 5, 2007)  ACCSES / DSPA has forwarded a summary report from the Bush Administration on the FY 2008 budget request.  Click Here.  The budget calls for significant cuts to many domestic programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.  The author of the attached summary is Peter Thomas who spoke on this same topic at the Florida ARF Winter meeting in Maitland.

• AHCA Reminder for ICFDD Licensure
  
  Tallahassee, FL (February 7, 2007) New licensing requirements under Chapter 408, Part II, F.S., require submission of licensure applications 60 days prior to license expiration, and a response within 21 days when an omission letter is sent.
   
• New Focus on ICFDD Federal Reviews
  
  Tallahassee, FL (February 9, 2007)  According to AHCA Analyst Kim Smoak, the principal focus area for this year's ICF/DD federal surveys will be on the active treatment component and whether interdisciplinary team plans and services are maximizing clients' individual independence or preventing regression or loss of functional status.
   
• ICFDD LicensureRule Update
  
  Tallahassee, FL (February 14, 2007) The ICFDD Licensure rule is still awaiting release from AHCA and will require public review and comments.

• AHCA Releases Top Ten Deficiencies for ICFDDs
   
  Tallahassee, FL (February 7, 2007)   Kim Smoak from the AHCA Bureau of Long Term Care Services has forwarded the ICF Top Ten Deficiencies for the past quarter period of 10/1/06-12/31/06 and for the year of 2006.  It is broken down per field office and then state wide.  Click Here.
   
• ICFDD Assessment Approved for Education Campaign
   
  Maitland, FL  (February 7, 2007)  Today, ICFDD Forum members approved a self-assessment for ICFDDs to develop information materials that will be used to educate the public on the services ICFDDs provide.  Also, assessment funds will be used to sponsor booths at the Family CAFE' and other venues.  The intent of the campaign is to educate families on the nature of community ICFDDs and to dispel the myth that ICFDDs represent institutional care.

Don’t forget to review the lastest information in Capitol Breaking News

• Florida ARF Platform Amended
  
  (February 8, 2007) A RESPECT of Florida Plank has been added to our platform and reads as follows: “Increase jobs for individuals with disabilities by obtaining an executive order or legislation that promotes state purchasing from products and services offered by RESPECT of Florida.”
   
• 2007 Legislative Tracking
  
  Pending legislation that affects Florida ARF members and the individuals they serve is being continuously monitored.  Go to www.floridaarf.org / Members Only / Forums Directory / Government Relations to view our tracking chart.
   
• 2007 Advocacy Platform Summit Organized by Florida ARF  
  
  Florida ARF is working with the Florida DD Council and advocacy representatives to organize a forum in which disability advocacy agencies will come together and discuss their legislative advocacy initiatives.  The goal of the Legislative Platform Summit is to increase unity in the disability community and to coordinate efforts to enact legislative change in favor of persons with disabilities.  This summit will be held at the Agency for Persons with Disabilities on March 26, 2007 at 10:00 am.
    
• Legislative Fly-In
  
  The annual Florida ARF Legislative Fly-In is scheduled for April 18-20, 2007.  Take advantage of this opportunity to visit your legislators and provide input on the appropriations process!  More details will be forthcoming.
     
• Don’t Forget!  Government Relations conference calls are held every other week.  Next month’s schedule for conference calls is as follows:

March  2, 2007 –  2:00 pm
March 16, 2007 – 2:00 pm
March 30, 2007 – 2:00 pm