The Messenger
A Newsletter From The Arc Dane County
Supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 65 years


September 20, 2017 

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy,  
not on fighting the old, but building the new.    
 
What's Happening at The Arc Dane County
Everybody's Golf Tourney - Success!

Friday, September 15th was a perfect day for golf.

Thank you to all of our teams, our day of event volunteers, and the golf committee.  What a great event!

Special thanks to our
Lunch Sponsor: Stafford Rosenbaum
Beverage Sponsors: Complete Mobile Dentistry, Culver's @ Todd Drive, Wagner Insurance & Financial, Lundbeck Inc.

Because of the generosity of our sponsors, we were fortunate to be able to offer spots for two Special Olympics teams.
 
Enjoy the team photos and candid photos of a fun day!
Dane County Families Have Concerns as DHS Makes Switch to Long-Term Care Programs
In February, the Dane County long-term care program that 41-year-old Sara Yochum has relied on since high school will be phased out.

Sara, whose seizures as a child led to permanent brain damage and weakened muscles, got a job through the program when she graduated high school at 21. Twenty years later, Sara is in a wheelchair, works part-time at the World of Variety store in Cross Plains and is trying to find another job after the nursery where she worked shut down this month. Her father, Paul, said her jobs give her a chance to come home, open up the envelopes with her paychecks and "tell people she got paid."

So Paul and his wife, Marcia, are worried about the major changes their daughter and nearly 2,300 other Dane County adults will see when they transition to programs managed by the state Department of Health Services instead of the county. 

DHS Responds
We recently supported and asked you to sign your name to a letter that was sent by families and individuals with disabilities to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) as well as the six Managed Care Organizations and IRIS Consultant Agencies that are contracted to provide long-term services and supports (Family Care and IRIS) in Dane County. That letter was sent on August 8, 2017.

The Department of Health Services responded to that letter on September 18, 2017.   
In This Issue
Upcoming  Events

 
 
DHS Meetings on Family Care & IRIS
The Arc National Events
The Arc Dane County Presents:
Making a Critical Choice:
What You Need to Know About The Family Care/IRIS Enrollment Process
October 19

The Arc Dane County has teamed up with multiple agencies who serve our community of people with disabilities to answer questions about the transition to Family Care/IRIS. 
You will learn about:
  • The role of the ADRC
  • A real family's experience
  • How Options Counseling works
  • Being an effective advocate in the new system
  • Your rights in FC/IRIS
 
Mark your Calendars
Thursday, October 19th
Choose the time that works best for you
10:30am - NOON or 6:30pm - 8:00pm

If you are affected by the change to Family Care/IRIS, we hope to see you at this very special seminar.
 
 
Wisconsin Department of Health Services Meetings on Family Care & IRIS

One of two filled rooms at the  
Sept 13 meeting.
If you have not had the opportunity to attend a DHS briefing, you may want to consider attending one of the final two.  They estimate the first two meetings alone brought in over 1000 people.   
 
This is a crucial time and once the transition occurs there will be assumptions that you have a basic understanding of all you need to know.  The Arc Dane County will continue to help you arm yourself with the information so you are in a position to be the very best advocate.  The final two DHS Meetings take place today and Saturday.    
 
 
Advocacy: Action Needed
New Threats to Medicaid: Action Needed!
This summer, advocates like you worked hard to defeat a dangerous health care bill that would have included massive cuts to Medicaid. We need your help to reinforce this message once again, as new proposals are being introduced that include similar threats.  
Key Senators and the White House are working together to create a bill called the Graham-Cassidy plan (you can learn more about it here).  This bill would block grant and make huge cuts to the Medicaid program, and end the Medicaid expansion and marketplace subsidies. In short, it would be devastating to people with disabilities and their families and threaten access to community living.
In The News


House Committee Advances Bill to Cut Off Basic Income for Adults with Disabilities and Seniors

How to help after Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma
The Arc Dane County | (608) 833-1199
6602 Grand Teton Plaza | Madison, WI 53719