CPNRI Email List Sign Up

Want to join CPNRI’s advocacy efforts for Intellectual and Developmental Disability (I/DD) issues in Rhode Island? 

Sign up for CPNRI’s communications list here to stay up to date on upcoming events and actions, and to learn more about how you can get involved in statewide advocacy.

Under Construction

ANCOR releases the video developed by the Oregon Rehabilitation Association titled, "The Cost of Compassion".  A heartfelt look at the Direct Support Professional Crisis we are all facing.

Kentucky Together: Participant Directed Services

  This is a wonderful education piece from our colleagues in Kentucky!!

Trauma-Informed Care

In April CPN will be hosting Karyn Harvey for three days to share her expertise to the topic of Trauma-Informed Care!  We are excited to be offering this in partnership with the Dept. of BHDDH, the RI DD Council and the Beset Practices Committee.
Please join up for one, two all all three days!
For more information, please contact dmartin@cpnri.org 

Senate Briefing

The RI Senate hosted a briefing on the RI Consent Decree on 2/25/16.
The Briefing was attended by Health and Human Services and Finance Committee members, individual with disabilities, service providers, advocates and representatives form the Administration.
Speakers included Dr. Charles Mosley, District Court Monitor for the Consent Decree and Dr. Anthony Antosh, Director for the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College.
For more information, visit the following like and select the broadcast from 2/25/16.


Consent Decree Briefing

CPNRI is hosting a monthly Leadership Series for members!
Each month, CPNRI is providing a monthly training to member staff who are interested in networking, developing their leadership skills and bringing back information to share on an array of management and clinical topics.  All session are offered at CPN and are free of charge!

Coming next month is The Key Elements of Leadership on 12/9/15 at 10:00am

Contact dmartin@cpnri.org if you are interested in registering.

Disability Employment Month

CPN in partnership with the Providence Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 2015 Employment Expo on October 29th.  This event will bring together business owners from around the state on the topic of employing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Please join us from 8:30 - 10:00 at the East Greenwich campus of the New England Institute of Technology.

September 13th kicks off National 

DSP Recognition Week!

CPN is supporting this week because we recognize that DSP's are pivotal for so many people with IDD.  It is the DSP who helps each person achieve their goals every day, stay healthy, find work, make friends and participate in their local communities.  Without our DSP workforce, many people with disabilities would face isolation and segregation.  Help us spread the word about how much we appreciate the DSPs and remind them that their work is important!

#DirectSupportProfessional            #DSP'sMakeItHappen

Gov. Gina Raimondo presented CPNRI with a gubernatorial proclamation in recognition of the DD Awareness Day. Donna Martin, the executive director of CPNRI, thanks the honorees for their service to the developmentally disabled community.

Following the ceremony, there was a reception in the Rotunda to showcase individual success stories of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Celebrating Developmental Disability Awareness Month

  Register here for Wretches & Jabberers
  Conference: http://tinyurl.com/q2932vd

ANCOR Files Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Medicaid Rate Case

On December 23, 2014, the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) filed an amici curiae ("friends of the court") brief in the Supreme Court case Armstrong v. Exceptional Child Center, Inc. (Docket No. 14-15). The case has the potential to significantly impact state Medicaid programs nationwide if the Court rules that private providers have legal standing to hold states accountable to having adequate Medicaid rates. ANCOR was joined in the brief by the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, the National Community Pharmacists Association, the American Pharmacists Association, and America's Essential Hospitals. The brief was prepared and filed by Joel Hamme, Esq., of Powers Pyles Sutter and Verville, P.C. 

The case was originated in Idaho by a group of Medicaid waiver residential habilitation providers who brought suit against the state challenging the adequacy of existing Medicaid rates. The providers argued that the state was aware that existing rates were not sufficient to provide services prescribed by the state Medicaid program, and brought action against the state when the state legislature did not appropriate necessary funding. At issue is whether a private party, in this case, providers, has the right to bring a private right of action against a state under the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution. The Supremacy Clause establishes that federal law generally takes precedence over state law. Medicaid is operated by states with federal oversight, requirements, and funding. The Supreme Court granted review of the case to consider whether the Supremacy Clause applies under these circumstances. 

"Ensuring that Medicaid programs are funded appropriately is essential to providing quality supports and services to people with significant disabilities," said Chris Sparks, President of ANCOR Board of Directors. "We hope this case will reinforce the importance of regularly reviewing rate adequacy and making periodic adjustments to meet people's needs."

In its brief, ANCOR argues that while the Supreme Court should affirm the lower court's determination that private parties do have a private right of action under the Supremacy Clause, the court could also come to the same conclusion by applying a Congressional mandate that requires that certain causes of action relating to Title XIX of the Social Security Act (which authorizes Medicaid) be considered using standards established before 1992.  

Barbara Merrill, Chief Executive Officer of ANCOR said, "ANCOR is pleased to have the opportunity to advocate for the right of providers to challenge inadequate rates within their state Medicaid system. We are encouraged that the Court has taken up this issue which will hugely impact millions of people that rely on Medicaid funding for essential services."

Amicus briefs are filed by interested parties who are not litigants in a case. More than a dozen amici briefs have been filed to date, representing dozens of interested parties. (A complete list with links to court documents, including amicus briefs filed, is available here.) In addition to provider and other stakeholder organizations, several Democratic members of the U.S. Congress filed an amici brief supporting the argument that Congress intended to preserve the private cause of action for parties who seek to enforce Medicaid's federal authority over state actions to the contrary.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case on January 20, 2015.  

CPN would like to recognize long time member and Past President, Linda Ward for being recognized as one of the YWCA Women of Achievement 2014!! 

"Women of Achievement Awards are recognized nationally, and bring attention to the accomplishments of women in industry, culture and public service in local communities. Selection criteria focuses on exceptional skills, leadership and mentoring; breaking new ground or old barriers; and being agents of positive change and inspiration. The awards are based on achievements promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity. YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting these qualities. Linda N. Ward is co-founder and executive director of Opportunities Unlimited, Inc. — an agency whose mission is to support people with differing abilities to lead rich and fulfilling lives and to ensure that all people regardless of abilities are treated with dignity and respect. Ward is a founding member of the RI Disability Vote Project. She was appointed to the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities and serves as chair of the legislation committee. She is a board member and past president of the Community Provider Network of RI. She is a supporter of the RI Coalition for the Homeless and a member of Women Ending Hunger at the RI Community Food Bank. Ward received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Rhode Island College. She is a graduate of Leadership Rhode Island and a 2009 Fellow of The Initiative for Nonprofit Excellence at The Rhode Island Foundation." 

Congratulations to Linda on this award and a sincere thank you for your many years of tireless leadership in the association and advocacy on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities!

Copy and photo courtesy of YWCA Rhode Island  www.ywcari.org

CPNRI is hosting a

Meeting the Candidates Event at the Crowne Plaza

Please join us on September 23rd for a casual conversation with candidates running for 

State-wide Office and General  Assembly

Visit Eventbrite to Register

CPNRI celebrates its 2014 Annual Meeting and DSP Recognition!

Over 200 people from across 21 service organizations and guests gathered to honor the 2014 DSP's of the Year.  In addition to our Direct Support Professionals, CPNRI recognized the following individuals and businesses for the supprt of people with developmental disabilities:

Darlene Faust - Excellence in Service

Marie Ganim - Nimmo Governmental Service

Alexis Valory McHugh - Aver Leadership

Dr. Donald Hebb - Special Recognition

Beacon Hospice - Community Service

2014 Annual Meeting Slide Show

2014 Annual Meeting

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month!

CPNRI will be celebrating DD Awareness Month with a ceremony honoring Senator Louis DiPalma and Representative Cale Keable for their compassion for and commitment to Rhode Islanders with developmental disabilities.

The ceremony will be held on March 27th in the State House ~ Senate Lounge at 3:30pm
In attendence will be a representative from the Governor's Office, EOHHS Secretary Steven Costantino, BHDDH Director Craig Stenning, Senator Dominic Ruggerio and Representative Christopher Blazejewski.

The ceremony will be immediately followed by a reception in the Rotunda with representatives from the twenty-one member organizations of CPNRI on hand to visit with there local Senators and Representatives. 

DD Awareness Month will also be recognized with Senate and House Resolutions at this time.

We are excited to take this opportunity for outreach and education on the contributions made by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities every day!

Legislative Session 2013

As the 2013 legislative session is winding down, there is a lot of action at the RI State House!
Some of the bills we are monitoring this year include several that seek to raise the wages of Director Support Professionals.  CPNRI certainly supports these initiatives but also asks that the legislature provide adequate funding to permit the increases.  Other pending legislation supported by CPN includes a bill that, if passed, will enable the members of CPN to self-insure for health benefits - currently, we are unable to do so.  This will help organizations save administrative costs and create a more predictable annual expense.  Lastly there is a bill that would allow individuals to provide SLA services for their siblings with developmental disabilities.  We appreciate our legislators support on these issue and hope to see them through to signage!

Vote Yes on 7 video

As you make your final decisions about candidates and issues important to you and your family, please remember the need for affordable housing in RI. 

 

Support Bond Issue #7 on the ballot November 6th!

For Homes.  For Jobs.  For Rhode Island.