At the beginning of August, MNCCD member organizations met to vote on support for several public policy campaigns and initiatives brought forward by our member organizations. MNCCD member organizations voted to join in support of, and participation in, the 5% Campaign coalition, the MA Income Standard and Asset Limit campaign, the establishment of a Quality Self-Directed Services Workforce Council, and the DSPMatch project.

One of these policy campaigns, “The 5% Campaign: Committing to Life in the Community for People with Disabilities & Older Adults” is set to launch with a news conference in Duluth, MN tomorrow!

The news conference will be taking place at the front stairs of Duluth City Hall at 11:30am on Tuesday, August 13th, and will include testimony from Direct Support Professionals and caregivers, individuals who use community-based services, advocacy staff, and House Health and Human Services Finance Committee Chair Representative Tom Huntley.

For a great Access Press article, click on the following link:

For a copy of the News Advisory, click on the following link, or see the information below.

News Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 9, 2013

 

 

CONTACT:

Steve Larson, The Arc Minnesota

651-334-7970 or stevel@arcmn.org

COMMITTING TO COMMUNITY LIVING FOR ALL

Disability and Older Adult communities launch ‘The 5% Campaign’ and ask legislators to prioritize home and community based services

DULUTH, Minn. – Members of a broad new coalition of disability and older adult service advocates across the state will hold a news conference on the steps of Duluth City Hall at 11:30 a.m. on August 13th, 2013 to launch ‘The 5% Campaign’.  The campaign is dedicated to securing a much needed five percent rate increase for home and community based services in the 2014 legislative session. “Legislators are charged with difficult budget-balancing decisions and have to pick their priorities. 2014 is now the time for their top priority to be adequately funding community support for people with disabilities and older adults,” said Steve Larson, Senior Policy Director at The Arc Minnesota.

The news conference speakers will include Representative Tom Huntley, Chair of the Health and Human Services Finance Committee. A local direct support professional/caregiver and a family member from the area will also share their stories.  Speakers will be available before and after the news conference for media interviews. Other local legislators have also been invited.

Community-based services touch the lives of about 60,000 individuals and support thousands of jobs across Minnesota. They are also an efficient tool to ease state budget woes. For example, the Elderly Waiver program is able to serve three seniors in the community for every one individual in a nursing home with the same level of funding. However, despite the numbers served and the cost savings for the state, these programs have experienced deep cuts over the last decade.

Community based services include a wide range of supports designed to increase independence, including: home-delivered and congregate meals, homemaker and chore services, independent living skills training, direct support in foster care homes, personal care assistance and more. “This campaign is critical for providers across the state,” said Jon Nelson Executive Director at Duluth-based Residential Services, Inc. He continued, “I’ve see the good that our services do for the people we serve, but needs are being unmet and our hard working staff can’t continue to do so much with so little.”

For more information or to schedule an interview with a speaker, please contact Steve Larson at 651-334-7970 or stevel@arcmn.org. Find out more on the 5% Campaign Facebook page.