http://www.lgtinc.org en-us http://www.lgtinc.org N/A contact@lgtinc.org Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:57:07 EST 20 http://www.lgtinc.org/articles/205/1/Healthcare-for-Kids-Rally-Update%21%21%21%21%21 November 2, 2006   Dearest Advocates:   Healthcare for Kids Rally Update   Rally Day is Here!     As many of you know........I have been very involved in the organization of the Healthcare for Kids Rally that is going to take place this Saturday, November 4, 2006 at 9:30am at Georgia State Capitol.     Please make every effort to attend this largest grassroots advocacy effort our state has ever seen.  We need to show our strength in numbers and put faces to the situation!      For more information regarding the Rally and helpful tips the day of the event, please visit us at www.kidshealthcarega.org.     Therapy Survey Results are In!     In addition to Rally preparation- our group recently conducted a therapy survey in which over 140 therapists from 57 GA counties participated.  Bottom line: the new prior authorization procedure for therapy services (implemented on September 1st) HAS had a HUGE impact on the services our children are receiving and the providers that service them!     The survey clearly shows that cuts in services and increases in bureaucratic paperwork are having a detrimental impact on the children. Georgia taxpayers need to know that their tax dollars are being wasted on paper pushing and not being spent on the very people for whom these programs are intended to help......our children.  We now have the "data" to prove that there is a REAL PROBLEM in the system that needs to be fixed ASAP!     We will be posting the press release regarding the survey later today on our website.   Media Coverage Update!   I wanted to send you a quick email letting you know that we are actively working with the media to spread the word regarding our Healthcare for Kids Rally. Here are just a example of a few of the media outlets that have or will be covering the event:   Atlanta Parent Magazine, Johns Creek Herald Newspaper, Revue and News Newspaper, National American Speech-Language Hearing Association(National publication), AJC newspaper, Mundo Hispanic Newspaper, Martha Zoller National Radio talk show on AM 550 (today), Georgia Trend Magazine and the list goes on and on......   We also continuing to work with all TV and local newspapers for the continued coverage of the Rally. Please note: that all the above references are subject to change.   I hope you can see that this is going to be a major event to bring attention to a serious issue....Healthcare for our kids must be a priority!  Hope to see you there. Arrive early, to allow you enough time to park and walk to the event. Kids are welcomed and encouraged to come! See you on Saturday. Sincerely, Heidi --Heidi J. Moore (Proud Mother to Jacob - 6 years old with Down syndrome & Jared - 5 years old) Additional information regarding the Healthcare for Kids Rally, please visit us at www.kidshealthcarega.org "Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!" The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal representative. Heidi J. Moore Fri, 03 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST http://www.lgtinc.org/articles/204/1/Healthcare-For-Kids-Rally---Quick-Tips%21 October 30, 2006   Dearest Advocates:   Kids around the State of Georgia need your help. On November 4, 2006, Children along with parents, providers, and concerned citizens will rally and raise their voices at Georgia's State Capitol.   We will have a peaceful, fun-filled Rally for the kids, and share our concerns about the recent changes in Georgia's health care programs that have stopped or inhibited the care of Georgia's most vulnerable citizens: our children.     The Healthcare for Kids Rally is an effort to unite parents and those who love and care for our children, together as one, to tell Georgia's leaders that health care for children in our state is a priority. The Rally will encourage our leaders to ensure:   ·          Eligibility of all children in state health care programs: PeachCare for Kids, Babies Can't Wait, Children's Disability Waivers (including the Katie Beckett Waiver), and Medicaid   ·          Full adherence to the Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis & Treatment (EPSDT) Federal Requirements   ·          Granting children access to medicine, doctors, therapy, provider networks, durable medical equipment/medically necessary supplies                     ·          Transitional health care for those in the 18-21 age group   ·          Rectifying the burdensome application, appeal and claims process in all areas of the system   Quick Tips for the Healthcare for Kids Rally Saturday, November 4 at 9:30am at the GA State Capitol!   1. Rally Signs. If you plan on making signs at home, here are some suggestions (No Candidates names or references to politicians, please!!!)  We are a bi-partisan Rally and will not have any signs that have candidate's names on them. Please respect this decision. In addition, you may want to consider putting pictures of our children on the signs.  This puts a "face" to the situation.   From the Capitol Police: No signs can have sticks or handles on them due to safety and visibility issues.   Here are a few Rally Sign suggestions you may want to consider: We value our children! Don't you? Who will save Medicaid? Evaluate Medicaid, NOT Terminate! Ignoring Medicaid Crisis is like Institutionalizing our Kids Medicaid Crisis Is Costing More than $580 Million! Children are Investments, Not Liabilities! $580 Million Surplus but No Healthcare for Kids? Make Kids' Health a Priority in Georgia! First Priority: Georgia's Kids! Wise Medicaid Programs= Wise Kids! 2. Please try to wear RED the day of the event to reflect the emergency state of children's healthcare in Georgia   3. If possible, please try to carpool or take Marta. Parking garages/lot locations can be found on our website: www.kidshealthcarega.org   4. If you would like to make a donation to help defray the costs associated with the rally, please go to our website, www.kidshealthcarega.org. We're volunteers working with virtually no budget and your monetary donations help us pay for basic supplies.    5. We are expecting a large turn out of participates at the Rally.  Please allow yourself enough time to arrive, park, and sign-in. The Rally will start at 9:30AM SHARP. The "Kids on the Block" Puppet Show will start at 9:10am. Washington Street will be closed in order to allow for the high volume of participates expected for the Rally!   6. We are expecting a lot of media attention so don't be surprised to see them there the day of the event.   7. We have invited every legislator in Georgia to attend but we need your help.  Please take a moment and invite them as well.  If you don't know who your state senator or representative is go to the following website and input your 9-digit zip code (which can be found on your junk mail): www.vote-smart.org. Also, please let me know if you get confirmation that they will be attending. We are going to publicly acknowledge every legislator that comes out to support our effort but they will not be allowed to speak due to the nature of the Rally being bi-partisan.   8. Finally…We need to show our strength in numbers by attending the Rally. Please don't assume that someone else will go on your behalf.  This is an election year and we need to unite our voices as one to make sure our message is heard….Healthcare must be a priority for our children and the providers that service them!   Thanks in advance for everyone's support. Look forward to seeing at one of the largest grassroots advocacy efforts this state has ever seen!   United… WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!   Sincerely, Heidi J. Moore Rally Coordinator Healthcare for Kids Rally   For additional information regarding the Healthcare For Kids Rally, please go to our website: www.kidshealthcarega.org.   Heidi J. Moore Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EST http://www.lgtinc.org/articles/196/1/Council%26%2339%3Bs-direction-may-shift-in-South-River //configuration OAS_url = 'http://ads.nj.com/RealMedia/ads/'; OAS_sitepage = 'www.nj.com/printer/printer.ssf'; OAS_listpos = 'SponsorRight'; OAS_query = '/base/news-0/1159418114112690.xml&coll=1'; OAS_target = '_top'; //end of configuration OAS_version = 10; OAS_rn = '001234567890'; OAS_rns = '1234567890'; OAS_rn = new String (Math.random()); OAS_rns = OAS_rn.substring (2, 11); function OAS_NORMAL(pos) { document.write(''); document.write(''); } //--> OAS_version = 11; if (navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Mozilla/3') != -1 || navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Mozilla/4.0 WebTV') != -1) OAS_version = 10; if (OAS_version >= 11) document.write(''); //--> document.write(''); function OAS_AD(pos) { if (OAS_version >= 11) OAS_RICH(pos); else OAS_NORMAL(pos); } //--> Council's direction may shift in S. River Republican chances improve for Nov. win Thursday, September 28, 2006 BY NAWAL QAROONI Star-Ledger Staff Republicans this November have a chance to control South River's borough council for the first time in 11 years. For the small town of 16,000 people that sits less than a mile from the New Jersey Turnpike, a Republican take over could mean major change. There are currently two Republicans-- John Krenzel and Ray mond Eppinger-- on the six-member council that is headed by Democratic Mayor Robert Szegeti. The Republican candidates said among the most important issues are reducing this year's 7 cent municipal tax increase, fixing streets and stabilizing utility bills. Both said they believe the cur rent council is stuck in a whirlwind of mismanagement. But Democratic Councilman Richard Reichenbach, who is run ning with newcomer Anthony Raz zano, defended the current council and their ability to manage tax rates, utility costs and redevelopment in the borough. "In the past six years, we've improved recreation programs through lighting parks, expanded our utility stations, and upgrading infrastructure," Reichenbach said. But newcomer Michael Trenga, a 42-year-old Republican and 6-year borough resident, said throughout his campaigning, he's found dissatisfaction in the way things are run. "We've been going door to door and people are concerned," said Trenga, a senior account manager for the Workers Compensation Board in New York. "There needs to be more common-sense in the leadership. Projects need to be finished before new ones are started." Three sites marked in the borough in need of redevelopment -- Whitty's Liquor on the corner of Old Bridge Turnpike and Prospect Avenue, the old Eckerd Drug store on Main Street and the Lincoln School site -- are poorly coordinated, said Trenga. Trenga, with his wife, Beth, have no children and previously lived in Edison. Trenga's running mate John Trzeciak, another newcomer and lifelong resident of South River, emphasized discontent among residents and added that the borough's government isn't transparent enough. Trzeciak, who is married to Amelia and has no children, works for a brokerage dealer in Jersey City. He said he's running because the borough has potential to move forward if there's a change in leadership. Trzeciak, like Trenga, opposes eminent domain. The pair said they will focus on revitalization instead of redevelopment, without spending money on new properties before mending basic infrastructure. "That means prioritizing. The residents are looking for competent leadership," Trenga said. "When talking about redevelopment, you need a plan, which the Democrats don't have. We're not sugar-coating the issues. South River Republicans aren't going to be eminent do maining anyone's property." Both Democratic candidates said they, too, would oppose eminent domain. Having served on the council for 12 years, between 1969 and 1974, and from 2000 on, Reichenbach said there's very little he doesn't know about the borough. No stranger to South River, his two brothers, who have both passed away, served the borough on the council and as clerk. Rei chenbach himself chaired the borough's planning board for 25 years and served in the Sayreville school system as both an administrator and teacher for 34 years. Municipal taxes have been managed well, Reichenbach said, so that last year's 21 cent increase was reduced to just 7 for this year. While he was on the council, three parks in the borough were lighted, thus improving recreation for residents. And Reichenbach said he is against eminent domain, despite what people are saying. "I may go for it to build a school, if necessary, but not for businesses," Reichenbach said. "We're trying to build commercial (ratables) in South River, but not through eminent domain." Reichenbach and Razzano, who was appointed by the mayor and council earlier this month when Democratic council member Linda Ejk resigned, said their families have been tied to the borough for generations. Razzano, 58, grew up in South River and is a retired middle school teacher of 35 years. He too would not vote for eminent domain, he said, because he said there are ways to redevelop the borough without eliminating by force. The election is November 6. Staff Writer Nawal Qarooni may be reached at 732-404-8082 or nqaroo ni@starledger.com. © 2006  The Star Ledger © 2006 NJ.com All Rights Reserved. if (window.print) window.print(); if (_pdata){ sendpdata(); } if ( (document.cookie).indexOf('v1st')>=0 && (document.cookie).indexOf('GTC=') Alan Weinrib Sat, 14 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.lgtinc.org/articles/195/1/Bare-knuckle-Jersey-politics-bared Bare-knuckle Jersey politics bared On tapes, Democratic power broker Norcross boasts his influence affects all levels Friday, April 01, 2005 BY JEFF WHELAN AND DEBORAH HOWLETT Star-Ledger Staff Hear Tape Excerpts Advisory: The audio clips below contain profanities and adult language that may be offensive to some listeners. Clips presented in Real Audio format. • "They're all going to be with me..." • "Rosenberg is history..." • "Take the people who are bought and paid for..." • "The less I have to do with politics the better..." Profane, boastful and sure of his power, one of the state's most formidable political bosses can be heard proclaiming his influence over everything that moves in New Jersey politics, from U.S. senators to lowly local officials, in a series of secret recordings released yesterday. In a rare unguarded dialogue on backroom politics Jersey-style, Democratic power broker George Norcross III tells a councilman in South Jersey that he can call the shots from behind the scenes. "I'm not going to tell you this to insult you, but in the end, the McGreeveys, the Corzines, they're all going to be with me," Norcross said on the tape. "Not that they like me, but because they have no choice." Norcross bragged about his political connections to former Gov. James E. McGreevey and U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine at a Jan. 3, 2001, meeting secretly taped by then-Palmyra Councilman John Gural. He told Gural that he'd had breakfast at Corzine's home the morning before and spoke with the newly elected senator once a week. In the conversation, Norcross sought to persuade Gural to help him sabotage the career of a political rival. The tape offered a glimpse into the bare-knuckle politicking that has almost become a cliché in New Jersey. In a series of rambling conversations, Norcross brags of helping the Assembly Budget Committee chairman win a lucrative private job and tells of threatening another assemblyman not to "make nice" with a rival Democratic leader. He discusses the politics of awarding municipal contracts, saying: "There's nothing wrong with considering if you can help a friend ... as long as a friend's doing a good job." The recordings were made secretly by Gural in cooperation with a state investigation into political corruption. Gural, now mayor of Palmyra, wore a wire every day for two months in 2000-2001 as investigators amassed more than 330 hours of recordings. Their probe ended in February, without any indictments of public officials. A small sampling of the tapes -- 117 minutes of conversation, mainly between Gural and Norcross -- was released by the Attorney General's Office even as it won an appeals court order to delay releasing the rest. The state argued those should not be made public until they can be edited to protect "innocent third parties" and avoid revealing "investigative techniques," but decided to release the Norcross portions because he requested it. Gural has long claimed that the tapes would show that Norcross was behind a series of threats and bribes to force him to vote against reappointing Ted Rosenberg, a local lawyer and political rival, as the Palmyra borough solicitor. But Norcross has said they would prove he did nothing illegal. "The tapes show that Mr. Gural and Mr. Rosenberg invented, fabricated and lied in all their wild accusations," Bill Tambussi, a lawyer for Norcross, said last night. "Otherwise, the only other truth they document is that Mr. Norcross has fought to strengthen the Democratic Party and to advocate for South Jersey." Gural, however, complained yesterday that the Attorney General's Office didn't release enough of the tapes to make sense of the conversations with Norcross. The tapes are "a bunch of disconnected dialogue," Gural said last night. "There's no context." Gural said the context lies in other recordings he made of his employers at JCA Associates, a politically connected engineering firm. Gural claimed that his bosses, under pressure from Norcross, threatened to fire him unless he voted against Rosenberg. "They threatened my livelihood. They said if I didn't do what they told me to do I was fired," Gural said last night. "I believe the quid pro quo is obvious when all of the conversations fit into the dialogue." Tapes and transcripts released yesterday covered five meetings or phone conversations between Gural and Norcross. The longest was a 90-minute meeting on Jan. 3 at Norcross' office in Cherry Hill, also attended by JCA president Mark Neisser. At that meeting, Norcross told Gural he wanted Rosenberg out, complaining about Rosenberg's vocal opposition to a judicial appointment Norcross had helped engineer for former Burlington County Democratic Party head John Harrington. "I want you to fire that (expletive) ... you need to get rid of this (expletive) Rosenberg for me and teach this (expletive) a lesson," Norcross said. Norcross, an executive with Commerce Bank in charge of its insurance division, has never held elected office but has served as backroom adviser to a dozen of the state's top politicians, including McGreevey. He played a key role in selecting both the Speaker and Majority Leader of the state Assembly; selecting county executives in New Jersey's two biggest counties; and, most recently, securing the Democratic gubernatorial nomination for Corzine. Dozens of elected officials in Trenton owe their political careers to the influence and money Norcross wields. Former Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli said he never made a major decision in office without bouncing it off Norcross. "George Norcross is a cornerstone of anything that is built in New Jersey of any substantial magnitude," Torricelli said. "George has money and influence and respect." Norcross keeps a low profile, preferring to operate behind the scenes. However, in the tapes he is often profane, ruthless and happy to let Gural know just how much influence he has. His boasting goes all the way to the upper echelons of state politics, including his breakfast with Corzine. Corzine declined to respond to Norcross' taped comments. "We haven't seen the transcripts. We will be happy to comment when we do," said Corzine's campaign spokeswoman Ivette Mendez. At one point during a Jan. 3 meeting, Norcross suggested that he helped Assembly Budget Chairman Louis Greenwald (D-Camden) get a job with Remington & Vernick, an engineering firm with extensive government contracts. Norcross said the firm had lost business in South Jersey and "realized they needed to create some good will, so they made Lou an offer he couldn't turn down." Asked if Greenwald, a lawyer, was going to do marketing, Norcross laughed and said, "Oh, what else would it be. He'll probably tell you he's counsel. No, I'm sure he'll do some legal work for him, but it's gonna be a joke." He added, "He doesn't like practicing law ... no, never did." Greenwald could not be reached for comment last night. At another point, Norcross said that the only reason Democratic Assemblymen Herb Conaway and Jack Conners got elected was "because nobody thought that anybody could win that year and they just threw these two boobs up." Norcross said he kept Conaway on a tight leash. He said that one day he "sat him down" to warn him he'd better not "make nice" with then-Assembly Minority Leader Joseph Doria, who led an opposing Democratic faction. "I'll tell you, if you ever do that and I catch you one more time doing it, you're gonna get your (expletive) cut off," Norcross said he told Conaway. "He got the message." Neither Conaway nor Conners could be reached for comment last night. Later in the conversation Norcross boasted that Doria and acting Gov. Richard Codey, then a senator, were "furious" over an unspecified deal "that we cut with McGreevey because they viewed it as we got the world and they got (expletive). And the reality is they did. Tough luck." When the conversation turned to Rosenberg, Norcross pressed Gural to vote for his ouster, saying it was crucial to driving out "extremists" from the Democratic Party. Later Gural asked for Norcross' help in getting appointed to the board of elections. Norcross said he would try to help. But a quid pro quo was never mentioned. In another telephone conversation about two weeks later, Norcross apologized to Gural for not following up, and asked if he'd spoken to Burlington County Democratic Chairman Louis Gallagher. Gural said he had, but was told it was "too late in the game" because the board of elections position was filled. "All right, so what else can he do to be helpful?" Norcross asked. Gural said he planned to have lunch with Gallagher, and Norcross said that's good but added, "I wanna stay in the background." At a different point in the conversation, Norcross reiterated that "we need to get rid of Rosenberg" and said he wanted nothing more than a strong Burlington County party. The only convictions to stem from the probe were guilty pleas by Neisser and two other JCA officers to minor tax offenses, for trying to disguise $100,000 of printing work for local Democrats as a business expense. All three paid fines and were given probation. Staff writers Josh Margolin, Dunstan McNichol, Ron Marsico and Rick Hepp contributed to this report. Alan Weinrib Sat, 14 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.lgtinc.org/articles/170/1/Healthcare-for-Kids-Rally-Flyer-and-Other-Information--Please-Distribute%21 September 19, 2006   Dearest Advocates:   Please find attached the "official" flyer for our upcoming Healthcare for Kids Rally to be held on November 4th at 9:30am at Georgia State Capitol.    The time has come for us to unite our voices to be heard....HEALTHCARE must be a priority for our children! This rally is being put together for everyone that has been impacted or has a vested interest in the Medicaid system (which includes the following: parents, providers, and concerned tax paying, voting citizens of Georgia....Therefore, everyone is impacted by this issue in the State of GA!)   At the rally, we will be discussing the following issues: + Eligibility + Access to care and provider networks. + Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis & Treatment Federal Requirements. + Burdensome Application, Appeal and Claims Process.   We encourage children to attend and plan on having some entertainment for them as well. It is going to be a family friendly event! We need to put a face to the children being impacted by poor decisions.   The color theme is RED.  Please try to wear red the day of the event.    We recommend that you either car pool with other families or take Marta. There is parking available but it might be easier to come together as a group!    We currently have a wonderful volunteer group of over 40 concerned citizens wanting to make a difference and change in the direction of Medicaid!  I am amazed at how many people are actively wanting to get involved.  If you would like to volunteer (still looking for people the day of the event to help with set-up/clean-up): please send Leanne Manning (leanne_d@bellsouth.net ), my administrative assistant for the Rally, an e-mail with the following information: Name, e-mail, phone numbers, where you live, and if you are a parent, provider,etc.   Also- if you know of a organization and/or person that would like to donate to the Rally, please let us know.  North Metro Miracle League (NMML) has graciously offered to be an administrator of funds for the Rally! Please see the attached flyer for further information. Thanks in advance for your help in this matter.    This is going to be the event of the year for Healthcare in this State....... Let's show our support!   Feel free to distribute this flyer to anyone you think would like to attend and post at therapy clinic's doctor offices,etc. WE need to get the word out about this event. The more people that show up the better........   We are voting citizens and need answers to the healthcare crisis in Georgia!   UNITED... WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!   Additional information can be found on our website: www.kidshealthcarega.org  Hope to see you there!   Sincerely, Heidi J. Moore Healthcare for Kid's Rally Coordinator   --Heidi J. Moore (Proud Mother to Jacob - 6 years old with Down syndrome & Jared - 4 years old) "Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!" The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal representative. Heidi J. Moore Tue, 19 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.lgtinc.org/articles/166/1/URGENT%3ASave-That-Date%3A-Children%26%2339%3Bs-Healthcare-Rally%21-11%7B47%7D4%7B47%7D06-at-9%3A30am September 1, 2006   Dearest Advocates:   The time has come for EVERYONE to get involved.......    We are planning a Children's Healthcare Rally at the State Capitol on Saturday, November 4th at 9:30am.  More information will be following but I wanted to make sure you SAVE THAT DATE!   We all need to speak up and have our voices heard for our children and the providers that service them.  This is an election year and we need to make sure the State understands OUR priorities must include healthcare for our children.   The Children's Healthcare Rally will involve some of the following issues:   1. Eligibility Issues for disability waivers (including the Katie Beckett Waiver). 2. Access to a viable provider network (including therapy!) 3. CMO concerns. 4. BCW Concerns. 5. Overall, administrative paperwork problems in the system!   As you can see, we will be advocating for all children with and without disabilities that require healthcare from the State.   The issue is...... all children need healthcare (which includes having service providers to perform those services!).   If you are interesting in getting involved, donating time, or money in helping make this be the most effective rally to get the lawmakers attention....please send me a BRIEF e-mail stating the following:   1. What you think you do to help the cause? 2. Contact information including: name, phone numbers, e-mail address. 3. Where you live? 4. Are you a parent, provider, friend, concerned citizen, etc?   A rally committee is being put together to help make this a successful event.  Thanks in advance for wanting to participate!   Let's show our strength in numbers....OUR VOTE COUNTS!    UNITED... WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!   Hope to see you there! More detailed information will be following shortly.    Sincerely, Heidi   --Heidi J. Moore (Proud Mother to Jacob - 6 years old with Down syndrome & Jared - 4 years old) "Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!" The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal representative. Heidi J. Moore Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.lgtinc.org/articles/162/1/CNN-Headline-News-and-Our-Jacob%21 Dear Family and Friends and individuals that want to see Jacob succeed in life:   I have exciting news........I was contacted by CNN Headline News two weeks ago about them wanting to do a consumer educational story on Down syndrome! They ended up coming out to our house last week and video taping Jacob in music therapy (many thanks to Jennifer, his Music therapists for being willing to participate on such late notice), crafts with the kids and an interview with me.   Here is the detailed information on when the show will air and where you can see it on the web.  The story will air on CNN Headline News on Monday, August 21.  It will air once an hour, from 1-6pm, at around 7-8 minutes past the hour (provided there is no breaking news).  It will also be fed out to CNN affiliates (around 800-1,000) the same day.  On Tuesday, August 22, the story will appear on http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/05/26/health.minute/index.html (Health Minute segment).  I really hope we continue to see stories like this in the media.....CNN asked me what was my goal for Jacob. I said " My goals are like any other parent. For Jacob to live a happy, healthy productive life and that I hope society sees my son for his abilities, not disabilities.  It's not that Jacob can't learn, he just learns differently and at his own pace! He is an amazing boy that happens to have an extra chromosome!".   Thanks again to everyone that has been on the "Jacob Team" for many years. We are all seeing the hard work paying off in his accomplishments!   Please take a moment after the segment airs next week and thank CNN for continuing to cover issues that are important to the disability world. (CNN was fantastic to work with on this project and really tried to understand the issues associated with families that have children with Down syndrome).  Building awareness is half the battle to acceptance in society and building a brighter future for our children!   You can send a quick thank you to the following general CNN feedback website: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.html?33   And here is the reporter, Judy Fortin contact info as well: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form4b.html?21   Let's keep up the positive media for children with disabilities!    I'm so proud of Jacob and how well he did in the interview!  Hope you enjoy! Sincerely, Heidi   --Heidi J. Moore (Proud Mother to Jacob - 6 years old with Down syndrome & Jared - 4 years old) "Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!" The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal representative. Heidi J. Moore Mon, 14 Aug 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.lgtinc.org/articles/132/1/The-Long-Road-Home-III For Immediate Release The Long Road Home III For more information contact: Zen Garcia at (678)770-1225 Kate Gainer at (404-)687-8890 x 115 Georgia Disability Advocates plan this year's Olmstead celebration around three areas of tremendous need - 1) the Children's Freedom Initiative, 2) Money Follows the Person, and 3) a Starvation Dehydration Prevention Act to protect people with disabilities from that nightmare scenario that Terri Schiavo was forced to endure.  The Children's Freedom Initiative Families are being reunited with their children as Georgia implements the Children's Freedom Initiative.  This program came about as a joint venture of the Georgia Advocacy Office, the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Institute on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia.  The program aims to free virtually all children with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities currently confined in Georgia institutions.  This year, state lawmakers set aside 45 Medicaid waivers for developmentally disabled children, to help provide them with community services. These waivers allow Medicaid money intended for institutional care to be redirected to community and home services.  State officials confirm that Georgia which has 5,800 emotionally disturbed or disabled children in state institutions lags grossly behind the national average when it comes to providing community-based mental health services for children.  The average cost to keep these children in state run institutions is anywhere from $100-$300 dollars a day.  State officials admonish that it is "cheaper in the long run to care for these children at home, as it relieves the state of facility and staffing costs." Money Follows the Person  Too often people with disabilities of all ages, wind up having to go to a nursing home or other institution because either no one informed them about community based support services, or the waiting lists were too long for them to receive services in the community.  However, by listening to people with disabilities, the government has finally figured out how to provide community services without additional constraint to the budget.   The money that pays for a person's services in the nursing home or other institution can instead be used to pay for services in the community, hence the name Money Follows the Person.  In 2007, under the federal Money Follows the Person initiative, states can apply to CMS (the federal Medicaid agency) to receive a better federal match (FMAP) for this initiative.  Over the course of the next five years, about 40 states will be selected to receive a better federal match (FMAP).  Using Money Follows the Person, for the first year a person moves out onto community services the federal government will cover a higher percent of the cost of their services and states will pay a smaller portion.  After that first year the match rate will return to the regular rate, but even this can save the state money. Georgia ADAPT wants to alert our Governor and challenge him to take full advantage of this initiative and apply with CMS as soon as possible so that our state can reap the rewards of a better matching federal rate. According to the first quarter analysis of the Minimum Data Set, a quarterly questionnaire asked of all current nursing home residents, 5,774 people want to return to the community in this State alone.  Starvation/Dehydration Prevention Act This year marked the first anniversary of the judicial murder of Terri Schindler Schiavo.  Advocates across the nation were horrified at the treatment our nation forced Terri to endure.  Georgia ADAPT wants to protect people with disabilities in this state and across the nation from such a similar scenario unfolding here.  We have been instrumental in working with Senator Nancy Schaefer, who just a few months back introduced SR. 1067 - A Resolution creating a Senate Study Committee on the Prevention of the Starvation and Dehydration of Persons with Disabilities.  We would like to follow-up this next legislative season with legislation to protect Georgians with disabilities from ever having to endure such cruel and inhumane treatment such as starvation/dehydration.  There is an increasing movement among the bioethicists in our nation to expand 'back-door' euthanasia practices in our nation's hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, and institutions as not only a way to remove the medically expensive, but also as a way of increasing the population of people which can be harvested for their organs. The bioethics movement in our country threatens the lives of all Americans especially those born pre-mature, disabled, or medically fragile.  They seem determined to kill many classes of individuals against our own will.  This is why it is imperative that Georgia become the second state in our nation to protect people from the bioethics agenda.  Georgia ADAPT is holding a press conference at the Underground on June 22, 2006, to discuss all of the relevant issues facing our communities.  For information on how you can join us for the Long Road Home III, go to: http://www.lgtinc.org/authors/12/Kate-Gainer,  call Kate at 404-687-8890 x 115 or email her at ngainer@msn.com. Zen Garcia Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.lgtinc.org/articles/130/1/Writers-Needed%21 The Mobility RERC at Georgia Tech is in need of contributing authors in the area of mobility for their website. i.e. wheelchairs.   If you, or know of any writers and/or bloggers, professionals or consumers, who may be interested in submitting articles please contact:Glenn Moscoso glenn.moscoso@coa.gatech.edu Compensation will be in the form of a by-line and full-text of their article.    Thanks! Glenn Moscoso Thu, 25 May 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.lgtinc.org/articles/80/1/Long-Road-Home 1. History of Long Road Home (LRH) 2. 5,774 Georgians want out of nursing homes 3. Press Release for LRH III, 2006, Get Us Out, Keep Us Out, Don't Put Us In 4. Schedule for June 21-22, 2006 5. Flyer for Cartersville, June 22nd 6. Special Guest 7. Information about LRH '04 and '05 8. Information about Money Follows the Person (MFP) 9. Related Advocacy 10. Related News 11. President Bush 12. Remarks from CMS 13. To Make a Donation   1. History of Long Road Home (LRH)   The Olmstead Decision of 1999 http://www.atlantalegalaid.org/impact.htm was a landmark Supreme Court decision ordering the states to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act by providing services to people with disabilities in the least restrictive environment.    Three years ago advocates from around Georgia organized the LRH, a march and caravan to demonstrate the lack of community-based services.    We vowed to march until we have full compliance of Olmstead in Georgia.  We are determined to rid Georgia of the institutional bias.    2. 5,774 Georgians   Go to the bottom of this link, select MDS Q1a Report, Submit, then select Report Date and Submit, http://www1.cms.hhs.gov/apps/mds/default.asp   3. Press Release The Long Road Home III For more information contact: Kate Gainer at (404-)687-8890 x 115 or 404-247-3945. Georgia Disability Advocates plan this year's Olmstead celebration around three areas of tremendous need - 1) the Children's Freedom Initiative, 2) Money Follows the Person, and 3) a Starvation Dehydration Prevention Act to protect people with disabilities from that nightmare scenario that Terri Schiavo was forced to endure. The Children's Freedom Initiative  Families are being reunited with their children as Georgia implements the Children's Freedom Initiative.  This program came about as a joint venture of the Georgia Advocacy Office, the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Institute on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia.  The program aims to free virtually all children with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities currently confined in Georgia institutions.  This year, state lawmakers set aside 45 Medicaid waivers for developmentally disabled children, to help provide them with community services. These waivers allow Medicaid money intended for institutional care to be redirected to community and home services.  State officials confirm that Georgia which has 5,800 emotionally disturbed or disabled children in state institutions lags grossly behind the national average when it comes to providing community-based mental health services for children.  The average cost to keep these children in state run institutions is anywhere from $100-$300 dollars a day.  State officials admonish that it is "cheaper in the long run to care for these children at home, as it relieves the state of facility and staffing costs." Money Follows the Person  Too often people with disabilities of all ages, wind up having to go to a nursing home or other institution because either no one informed them about community based support services, or the waiting lists were too long for them to receive services in the community.  However, by listening to people with disabilities, the government has finally figured out how to provide community services without additional constraint to the budget.   The money that pays for a person's services in the nursing home or other institution can instead be used to pay for services in the community, hence the name Money Follows the Person. In 2007, under the federal Money Follows the Person initiative, states can apply to CMS (the federal Medicaid agency) to receive a better federal match (FMAP) for this initiative.  Over the course of the next five years, about 40 states will be selected to receive a better federal match (FMAP).  Using Money Follows the Person, for the first year a person moves out onto community services the federal government will cover a higher percent of the cost of their services and states will pay a smaller portion.  After that first year the match rate will return to the regular rate, but even this can save the state money.  Georgia ADAPT wants to alert our Governor and challenge him to take full advantage of this initiative and apply with CMS as soon as possible so that our state can reap the rewards of a better matching federal rate. Starvation/Dehydration Prevention Act  This year marked the first anniversary of the judicial murder of Terri Schindler Schiavo.  Advocates across the nation were horrified at the treatment our nation forced Terri to endure.  Georgia ADAPT wants to protect people with disabilities in this state and across the nation from such a similar scenario unfolding here.  We have been instrumental in working with Senator Nancy Schaefer, who just a few months back introduced SR. 1067 - A Resolution creating a Senate Study Committee on the Prevention of the Starvation and Dehydration of Persons with Disabilities.  We would like to follow-up this next legislative season with legislation to protect Georgians with disabilities from ever having to endure such cruel and inhumane treatment such as starvation/dehydration.  There is an increasing movement among the bioethicists in our nation to expand 'back-door' euthanasia practices in our nation's hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, and institutions as not only a way to remove the medically expensive, but also as a way of increasing the population of people which can be harvested for their organs. The bioethics movement in our country threatens the lives of all Americans especially those born pre-mature, disabled, or medically fragile.  They seem determined to kill many classes of individuals against our own will.  This is why it is imperative that Georgia become the second state in our nation to protect people from the bioethics agenda.   For more information on how you can join us for the Long Road Home III, call Kate Gainer at 404-687-8890 x 115 or email her at ngainer@msn.com. 4. Schedule of Events JUNE 21st -12:30-1:30, Check In, Best Western Inn Suites of Cartersville, 5663 Highway 20 NE, Cartersville, GA 30121, 770-386-1569 -2-3, Caravan to Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital, 1305 Redmond Circle, N.W, Rome, Georgia 30161, 706-295-6011 -3-5, March through gates & visit Hospital, Pavilion, Building 100 -5-6, Caravan to The Forum, http://forumevents.org/Directions.htm -6-8, Dinner (local guests and Marchers only), hosted by disABILITYLINK, NW, 706-314-0008 -8:30-9:30, Vigil, meet at LINK between 8 & 8:30 -9:30-10:30, Caravan to Best Western 22nd -Breakfast, Hotel -10:00-11:00, Caravan to American Legion, 1 Roosevelt Street, Cartersville, corner of Roosevelt and MLK Jr. -11:00-Noon, March to Starcrest of Cartersville Nursing Home -Noon-12:30, Press Conference, Starcrest, 196 N Dixie Ave, Cartersville, GA 30120 -1-3, Lunch & Caravan to Underground, directions at, http://www.underground-atlanta.com/HTML42.phtml -3-4, Press Conference on Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), Underground, Kenny's Alley, Atlanta Join us for one or more segments.  It will be fun and empowering.  And you will be making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. 5. Cartersville Flyer YOU'RE INVITED Long Road Home coming to Cartersville     WHAT:       Celebration of the 7th Anniversary of the Olmstead v. LC and EW Landmark Case Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson, two women with disabilities who lived in Georgia nursing homes, asked State officials to allow them to move into their own homes in the community. After the State's refusal, Atlanta Legal Aid attorney, Susan Jamieson filed a lawsuit on behalf of Ms.Wilson and Ms.Curtis. In the lawsuit, they again sought to have the State of Georgia allow the two nursing home residents to live in the community. After appeals, the case was heard by the U. S. Supreme Court.  In July 1999, the Supreme Court issued the Olmstead v. L.C. decision. The Court ruled that there should be community options for Ms.Curtis and Ms.Wilson. WHEN:       Thursday, June 22nd, 11:30-12:30   WHERE:    -11:00 AM, Caravan Arrives, American Legion, 1 Roosevelt Street                     -11:30-Noon, March, MLK Jr. to Dixie, South on Dixie to 196 North Dixie Ave.                 -12:30, Brief Press Conference                 -1PM, Depart for Atlanta     Advocates with and without disabilities from Bartow and Floyd counties are participating in this year's event.  JOIN them and other advocates from around the state and MAKE a DIFFERENCE  It'll be fun and empowering.   Information about the   -Olmstead Case at http://www.atlantalegalaid.org/impact.htm -5,774 Georgians who want out of nursing homes at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/mds/default.asp, go to the bottom of the page, select MDS Q1a Report, Submit, then select Report Date and Submit.   Additional information about the Long Road Home at http://www.lgtinc.org/authors/12/Kate-Gainer   PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT 6. Special Guest This year, we'll be joined by Sarah Watkins, http://www.adaptingthesystem.blogspot.com/ 7. LRH, 2004 and 2005 DVDs of LRH I & II, both 4 day celebrations, can be purchased from LRH, contact Kate, ngainer@msn.com. Proceeds support the 2006 and future celebrations. 8. MFP Go to http://www.ancor.org/issues/medicaid/medicaid_dra.html , click on CMS DRA, March 31, 2006 9. Related Advocacy -ADAPT, http://www.adapt.org -Unlock the Waiting List http://www.unlockthewaitinglists.com/index.html 10. Related News -On June 26nd, Abel Ortiz, aortiz@gov.state.ga.us, and DCH are having a meeting on Money Follows the Person (MFP), http://www.aucd.org/aucd_medicaid.htm#DRA  -On June 30th, DCH is hosting a Redesigning Medicaid LTC Summit at the Loudermilk Center, http://www.loudermilkcenter.com/map.html  Commissioner Rhonda Medows and the Georgia Department of Community Health are pleased to host "A Call to Action: Redesigning Medicaid Long Term Care," on Friday, June 30, 2006 at the Loudermilk Center. This summit will bring together key stakeholders to explore new opportunities for Medicaid Long Term Care in Georgia provided under the federal Deficit Reduction Act (DRA). Attendees will hear about Georgia's current system for long term care, new opportunities under DRA, and innovative reform initiatives in other states. The morning session is open to the public. To Register http://dch.georgia.gov/00/channel_title/0,2094,31446711_55747859,00.html 11. Executive Order http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/06/20010619.html 12. Remarks http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/speech.asp?Counter=1881 ... We don't have an excuse. It is time for every person on Medicaid to have the opportunity to choose the care that they prefer. .. It's a privilege to join you today, as we honor some people who have made real contributions to your mission-creating a world in which people with a disability can participate fully. It's especially an honor to be invited back to this conference, where the theme is Ending Institutional Bias, because right now we have some unprecedented opportunities to do it. Each time I've talked with you in the past, we've focused on this goal. We've talked about progress, about pilot projects, and on what new legislation and new Federal funding it would take to get us there. This year it's different-after years of working to pass Money Follows the Person, we've passed new legislation. I'd like to thank all of you who have worked so hard with us for so long to make it happen. I want to thank you for all the conference calls and updates, for all the work with Hill staff and members. You made sure that this key reform made it into the Conference Report of the Deficit Reduction Act in a meaningful way. Now, as a result of your efforts, we have a new law. It has been an honor, a privilege and a uniquely rewarding experience working with all of you on this. It's been one of the best experiences I've had in government. I also want to give a special word of thanks to the staff at CMS in the Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group, and to others in the federal government for their tremendous efforts-this public-private collaboration has been truly impressive. Now I'll tell you what we don't have any more: We don't have an excuse. It is time for every person on Medicaid to have the opportunity to choose the care that they prefer.We also don't have time to waste. So today, I am going to talk about some of the reforms that are available now, and how we can work together to take advantage of them. 13. To Make a Donation Make checks payable to: People First of Atlanta Mail to: disABILITY LINK 755 Commerce Drive, Suite 415 Decatur, GA 30030   http://www.disabilitylink.org/ Kate Gainer Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:00:00 EST http://www.lgtinc.org/articles/8/1/Wheelchair-User-Survey The MobilityRERC project at the Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access at GA Tech is conducting a online survey of wheelchair users and their caster use.The survey can be found at:http://wheellife.gatech.edu/ - under What's New in the right column.The survey takes approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Glenn Moscoso Wed, 11 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST