NYWe-works: Issue No. 8

December 2004

(See all NYWe-works Issues)

This issue:
Education
*    APSE
*    Center for Reintegration
*    CSP-NJ
*    CUNY
*    Legal Action Center
*    The Rita Project
Funding and Grant Opportunities
*    NYC Department of Homeless Services
*    NYS Office of Children and Family Services
*    NYS Office of Mental Health
News Briefs/Events
*    ADS Center
*    Bazelon
*    CMS
*    DOHMH
*    New York Law School
*    SSA
*    SAMHSA
*    WIA
Publications
*    Abilities Magazine
*    ICI
*    CCRR
*    Surgeon General

Education:

• APSE: Paul Wehman, one of the pioneers in Supported Employment from Virginia Commonwealth University, will lead a discussion on the Future of Supported Employment on December 14 as part of APSE's Tele-Training series. For more information and to register: www.apse.org
• Center for Reintegration's 2005-2006 Lilly Moving Lives Forward Reintegration Scholarships are currently available for those battling severe mental illness. These scholarships help persons with severe mental illness obtain educational and employment skills. Interested candidates can obtain the application at www.reintegration.com. The application deadline is January 14, 2005.
• Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Inc. (CSP-NJ) is a mission-based, consumer/survivor driven organization that provides consumer driven mental health services that support recovery and promote community living. Their web site includes newsletters on topics such as housing and self-help centers: www.cspnj.com
• CUNY sponsors adult literacy and GED classes throughout CUNY locations in NYC. For more information in locating sites and registering students call the Literacy Assistance Center at 212-803-3300.
• LegalActionCenter will be sponsoring a training called "Know Your Rights- Training on the Legal Rights of People with Alcohol and Drug Problems" on December 14th from 1:00-4:30 PM at Beth Israel Medical Center. This training will cover issues of discrimination and provide information to best empower individuals with disabilities. More information: www.lac.org/KYR_Trainings.htm
• The Rita Project offers 2 hour long sessions through artistic activities for individuals who have attempted suicide or have lost someone to suicide. The project was started by NYU Tisch alumna two years ago as an effort to provide alternative mental health services for NYU students of all ages. For more information call 866-775-RITA (7482) or see information on the fall/winter 2004-2005 schedule at: www.ritaproject.org/RitaStudio_Eversion.jpg

Funding and Grant Opportunities:

• (12/21) NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is seeking organizations to facilitate rental assistance programs for single adults living in DHS contracted shelters and drop-in centers. The goal of the program is to assist homeless employed single adults to obtain and maintain permanent private sector housing. For more detailed information call: 212-361-8415.
• (12/17) NYS Office of Children and Family Services is seeking proposals for the Delinquency Prevention Program designed to support a system of services aimed at minimizing the risk that targeted youth encounter further involving them in the juvenile justice system. For more information: https://ocfsws.ocfs.state.ny.us/OBL/index.asp?menu=28&grantid=202
• (1/7/05) NYS Office of Mental Health and the State Department of Health are seeking proposals to improve services in adult homes in NYC including case management, peer services, and vocational training. The letter of intent to bid is due December 15th. More information: www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/RFP_110904/index.htm

News Briefs/Events:

• ADS Center: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma (ADS Center) has recently moved to a new home. The SAMHSA ADS Center helps individuals and organizations design, implement, and operate programs that counter discrimination and stigma associated with mental illnesses. The SAMHSA ADS Center web site is now at www.stopstigma.samhsa.gov.
• Bazelon has a summary of the intermediate or "lame duck" session held prior to the new Congress convening, post inauguration. Included are issues on mental health and special education. To view: www.bazelon.org/newsroom/reporter/11-04.htm
• CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) presents a series of dialogues on topics such as the New Freedom Initiative and diversity called Open Door Forums. The Open Door Forums are a series of outreach teleconferences that support CMS's desires to interact with and learn from beneficiaries, providers, and other stakeholders interested in quality healthcare for beneficiaries with disabilities. View the schedule with updates: www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoor/
• DOHMH with NYSOMH NYC Field Office will present a Consumer Educational Forum on PROS on December 14th from 1:30-3:30 PM at ICL's Stepping Stone residence at 50 Nevins Street in Brooklyn. The forum will address basic aspects of PROS and there will be a question and answer period. To register call 212-219-5181.
• New York Law School's Tony Coelho's Lecture in Disability Employment Law and Policy presented the Honorable Steny H. Hoyer's (House Democratic Whip) lecture called "The Imperative and the Peril of ADA Restoration" on October 21st. This lecture reviewed the history of the ADA and its benefits and the challenges existing within the workplace for individuals with disabilities. To view: www.nyls.edu/docs/hoyerremarks.pdf
• SSA will increase the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Threshold for persons with impairments other than blindness from $810.00 per month to $830.00 per month on January 1, 2005. The Trial Work Period amount will be increased from $580.00 per month to $590.00 per month on that date as well. There will be no change in the Federal Minimum Wage for 2005 at $5.15/hour.
• SAMHSA proposals are being requested for the Center For Mental Health Services 2005 Joint National Conference on Mental Health Block Grant and National Conference on Mental Health Statistics "Achieving Transformation Through Shared Leadership and Knowledge". The theme will be transformation throughout the mental health field creating a recovery and resiliency oriented care system that is consumer and family focused. The conference will be held on May 30th-June 3rd, 2005. Proposals must be postmarked by January 14th, 2005. More information: http://media.shs.net/ken/msword/National%20Conference%202005%20Announcement.doc
• WIA: Congress has increased the 2005 WIA appropriation by $216 million however this bill may encounter difficulties in forming a clear and focused advocacy campaign during the spring session of Congress due to conservative membership. One example of the appropriation includes $20 million for youth offenders. For general information on WIA: www.workingforamerica.org/documents/workforce.htm

Publications:

• Abilities Magazine is Canada's foremost cross-disability lifestyle magazine. All issues can be accessed via the archives link. One issue, "Barriers and Accommodations" by Marcia Rioux, et al. (2002), applies the human rights model of disability to the analysis of the HALS (Health and Activity Limitation Survey), exploring disability based on environmental factors vs. functional limitations. Access the archives: www.enablelink.org
• ICI: The second issue in the new ICI Professional Development Series is called "When Existing Jobs Don't Fit: A Guide To Job Creation" (Institute Brief, September 2004, Order #IB17). This issue looks at the unique needs of the job seeker and those of the employer and making a match towards successful job development. To view: www.communityinclusion.org/publications/pdf/ib17.pdf
• CCRR has posted the Second Year Summary/Final Report on the "Ways to Work Project" on its web site. The report looks at the employment, programmatic, and organizational data from the project and the issues and challenges that were encountered. To view: www.coalitionny.org/projects/WTWreportNov04.pdf
• Surgeon General's "Mental Health: Culture, Race and Ethnicity" (2001) is a supplemental report to the 1999 "Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General." This supplement looks at the broad range of ethnic and racial categories in the US and how these groups differ within the mental health field. To view: www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/cre/

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NYWe-works is a monthly electronic newsletter for mental health and rehabilitation providers in New York City. NYWe-works contains news briefs, information on publications, funding information, and educational resources.

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