Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) currently set to expire in Mid April 2022

The federal government has extended the public health emergency, or PHE, for an additional three months – until mid-April 2022. The PHE was originally scheduled to end mid-January 2022.

Oregon has already ended its public health emergency. However, the federal health emergency allows Oregon to continue “emergency authorization” for the following services connected to the federal PHE:

Allows some parents/guardians of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to be paid Personal Support Workers (PSWs) and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) for their minor children. This emergency authorization was granted to Oregon due to the federal PHE and COVID-19 pandemic. ODDS held a webinar on Dec. 12 and answered questions about Oregon’s funding structure and why our rules do not allow us to make this a permanent option. ODDS has recently announced there may be ways to continue to allow some parents of minors to be paid. ODDS is currently looking into these options and having discussions with stakeholders. La presentación del seminario web también estará en español.
Allows for remote Individual Support Plan (ISP) meetings and telehealth.
Allows the use of electronic or verbal signatures to protect health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Allows for additional PSW overtime.

PSW Overtime

CPI has been allowed to approve overtime (up to 16 hours per day) for PSWs under special COVID rules during the last two years in the following cases:

One or more of an individual’s regularly scheduled PSWs or DSPs was unable to report to work due to the COVID-19 pandemic; or
If before the COVID-19 pandemic, an individual regularly attended a day support activity (DSA) site or worksite that is now closed.

These allowances are only available while there is a federal public health emergency. Once the federal state of emergency is lifted, these rules will likely be rescinded, and the method of requesting PSW overtime (involving an exception request submitted to the state) will likely return to normal.

ODDS will provide as much notice as possible when we have formal notice of the PHE ending. ODDS is in talks with Medicaid and expect there will be a “transition” period between when the Federal public health emergency ends and when things need to revert back to the way they were prior. We will share additional information when we learn more.

COVID Updates

Mask Mandate – CPI Operations

As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, Oregon has now dropped its indoor mask mandate (except in health care settings). As mentioned in the OHA FAQ: Masks in public spaces document here, many business and organizations will still recommend (or require) face coverings.

We want to make sure that CPI customers and staff stay safe, which means that for right now, we will still be requiring guests and staff to wear face coverings while in our office. Community Pathways plans to fully reopen our office on May 1st. Please note that while our offices will be “open” many of our staff will continue to work remotely. We strongly encourage individuals to make an appointment with the person they need to see prior to coming to the office. The Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) has not changed their guidance yet, so providers and CPI staff will still be required to wear masks when meeting with customers in other settings as well. Keep an eye on our website for more information.

At-Home COVID Tests / Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

As mentioned in our last newsletter, CPI has a large number of N95 and disposable masks (for both adults and children) and at-home self-testing* kits that are now available** to pick up. With the mask mandate dropping, it may be important for individuals to self-test more often. CPI customers can contact their PA to access tests and other PPE.

* These tests may only be administered to another individual if (a) the test is being performed under a CLIA certificate of waiver and results are reported to Oregon Health Authority, or (b) the person administering the test is the parent or guardian of the individual being tested. For more details, visit these links: frequently asked questions and Oregon Health Authority guidance.

**Self-testing kits are available for individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or if someone they live with has tested positive for COVID-19 or is showing COVID-19 symptoms.

Carewell Training Deadline for PSWs

The Carewell training deadline of March 31, 2022 has now passed. ODDS, SEIU and Carewell have been in discussions about a potential extension in certain cases (ex. if a PSW has language barriers or are unable to complete their training online and have not yet received their materials).

PSWs may receive letters indicating that the training hasn’t been completed, and that their provider numbers may be terminated if they don’t complete the training as soon as possible. If PSWs are still having significant issues completing this training due to an extenuating circumstance, they should contact Carewell by phone at 1-844-503-7348 (hours are Monday-Friday, 8AM-6PM), or email Carewell.

Compass Project – Oregon Support Services Association (OSSA) Blogpost

OSSA, which represents the 14 brokerages, recently published a blog post about the Compass project to make sure the DD community understands why this project is happening. They also wrote about the history of the K-Plan, and the work that needs to be done in order to further improve DD services in Oregon. Changes will be coming to processes, forms, service rates, case management, ISPs and much more!

The Oregon Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) recently hosted some trainings to help those with DD, their families and guardians better understand the main parts of the Compass Project. These include the Oregon Needs Assessment (ONA), exceptions, service groups and more about how the project will affect those who receive services and their families. Recordings of these trainings are now available on You Tube:

Open Future Learning Video – Do Disability Workers Need to be Experienced?

Do disability services put too much emphasis on experience? Watch this video to see that with the right supervision and training, workers without experience can be just as exceptional as their more seasoned peers.

Staff Highlights: Leigh Callahan and James Salisbury

CPI recently added two new Personal Agents to the team. Both Leigh and James answered some questions so the CPI community could get to know them a bit better! Read more below about their background, favorite things, and answers to some ice-breakers!

Welcome Leigh! Can you tell us about your journey with the I/DD field?

When I was in high school my mom was a long term substitute in a special education classroom, and I spent a lot of time with her students and loved getting to know them. I decided to be a teacher’s assistant in a different sped room, and that motivated me to learn more in college about serving people with disabilities. I got my degree in social work, with a focus on special education, and got a job as an Educational Assistant in a Community Transition Program after college. I became really interested in job development while job coaching in the transition program, which eventually led to me taking on the role of Vocational Specialist in the transition program. I was able to work with high school and 18-21 year old students, helping them reach their employment goals as they transitioned out of public school. My interest in employment and job development led me to my next position, as Employment Services Coordinator at a provider agency. I worked with individuals in their home, as well as in the community doing job development and placement. Working with folks in their home gave me a very different perspective on the services they access, and what it takes to deliver those services and support people in the most effective way possible. I am excited to use that perspective and my experience in the public school system to support individuals in a case manager position. I’m passionate about getting to know my customers, understanding what we have in common and how to best support them.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of work?

I love to spend time taking my dog to the dog park and the river, trying new restaurants and spending time with friends. I love to see live music and comedy shows, and I’m looking forward to going to more concerts as things open up a bit more this summer. I really enjoying lap swimming as a form of exercise, or just swimming in a lake or river- anything outside near a body of water makes me happy! I travel to Chicago as often as I can to visit family, including my new niece and nephew.

Can you tell us about a unique skill you have? If you could learn any other skill, what would it be?

A unique skill that I have is doing impressions of characters in shows or famous people.

A new skill that I’d like to learn would be doing stand-up comedy. I’ve recently been inspired by a friend to take a comedy class and give it a try, even if it sounds terrifying. If that doesn’t work out, I’d like to learn auto-repair, so I can take care of all my future car issues myself!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

A couple pieces of advice I’ve been given and try to incorporate in my daily life are:

When people show you who they are, believe them.

When you know better, do better.

If you could travel through time, which period would you visit and why?

If I could travel through time I would go back to the 19th century Victorian period. I’m fascinated by the sense of fashion, including women’s hair and clothing, and I would love to sit back and people watch during a Victorian ball.

Welcome James! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

*James likes to watch animals in his back yard!*

I grew up in Wyoming but I have spent the last 30 years in Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Before entering this field, I had many jobs. I started working when I was about 13 at a gun club loading clay pigeons and then cleaning bricks for a demolition crew. I went on to enjoy a series of jobs starting with pumping gas at a gas station at 15, then worked as a carryout, pizza deliverer, shuttle bus driver, Military Policeman, bartender, bouncer, bar manager, wrangler, just to name a few.

Can you tell us about your journey with the I/DD field?

I decided I wanted to do something a little more worthwhile [with my career], so I became an AmeriCorps member for a residential program in Washington, then became a staff person for a few years, eventually helping to start a residential tribal AmeriCorps program in Alaska. During my time involved in AmeriCorps, I realized that I was much more drawn to the social service projects rather than environmental projects. In fact, my time leading an AmeriCorps team in a middle school and spending a lot of time in the resource room, made me become interested this field.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of work?

Outside of work, I like to play softball, play Dungeons and Dragons, go to live music shows, write songs and poetry and people watch. I enjoy watching the birds and animals in the yard also, they are fascinating.

If you could have dinner with any famous person (dead or alive), who would it be and why?

Rather than going to dinner with one person, I would love to host a dinner party with some of the people I admire and just watch the interactions. How would Mr. Rogers react when Hemingway starts challenging someone to a boxing match. I think he would tell him he likes him just the way he is and give him a hug. Doc Watson could swap guitar riffs with Joni Mitchell and then, accompany John Prine and Guy Clark as they let loose some “poetry of the masses” songs. JRR Tolkien could read some new language he has made up while Elizabeth Warren talks economics as they both bore each other to the extreme. That would be a fun dinner.

What is one non-work related goal that you want to achieve in the next year?

Something I would like to learn over the next year is how to speak Portuguese.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

The best advice I was ever given is something along the lines of “Everyone is bad at something when they first start.”

Easter Recipe – Devilled Eggs (Via Smitten Kitchen)

In my family, Easter means lots of chocolate, and using up all the hardboiled eggs that were dyed the night before by making devilled eggs. Top your eggs with anything you’d like; the sky is the limit! These are great as a before-dinner snack or with a big salad!

Ingredients

8 large hard-boiled eggs
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (45 grams) mayonnaise
2 teaspoons (10 grams) smooth dijon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons (7 ml) white wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Smoked paprika
Garnishes, such as: chives, pickles, celery, radishes, bacon bits, pickled or fried shallots, etc.

Directions

Peel your eggs! This can be done under cold water to make it easier.
Cut the eggs in half and pop out the centers into a bowl. Arrange the empty egg whites onto a plate.
Mash the egg yolks with a fork until they are fairly smooth. Add mayonnaise, dijon mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper. Stir until as smooth as possible and taste for seasoning.
Spoon the filling back into the egg halves, or scoop the filling into a sandwich bag and cut the corner to pipe it into the halves.
Fill eggs evenly and dust with paprika.
Optional: add any garnishes you like! Chop up some chives, celery or pickles, fry up some bacon, red onion or shallots, or enjoy as is.

Upcoming Events

Community Garden Opportunity – Aspire Together

Interested in meeting new people, being outdoors and growing your own veggies? Aspire Together is a new nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for people with DD. They have recently opened a community garden in Milwaukie (Clackamas United Church of Christ, 1530 SE Webster Rd) and are looking for members! Members can learn about gardening, healthy eating, and more!

There will be a small refundable fee of $15 that will be reimbursed on July 1st if all participation guidelines are met.

Aspire Together is holding a meet and greet on Saturday, April 16th - the garden will fully open on Monday, April 18th.

For more information, contact Aspire Together by email at: aspiretogethernonprofit@gmail.com or by phone at (503) 451-0675.

Disability Justice Dreaming

Disability Justice Dreaming is a Portland based Disability Justice gathering space, focused on disabled art, justice, culture, leadership and more! For and by Queer and Trans (QT) + Black, Indigenous, Multiracial and People of Color (BIPOC). For more information, email rebel@disabilityjusticedreaming.org.

Dreaming sessions are a gentle space to build community and reflect. Come as you are! Upcoming sessions:

Monday April 11th 5-6PM

Monday May 2nd, 4-5PM

Housing Independence April 2022 Events

Housing Independence has a ton of great events happening this month! To sign up for an event, tell your PA or contact Amy Reza by text at 614-634-6087 or email Amy at amyr@housingindependence.org. Anyone is welcome to try up to three activities for free before deciding to join their DSA program.

There are more in-person events happening this month, and with pandemic restrictions relaxing they can have more people join in! Use common sense here: if individuals feel sick they should stay home and people should continue to wash their hands often.

Some examples of events (see full list in the newsletter here):

Drop-in Basketball (4/8 and 4/22, 11-1PM – THPRD Athletic Center, $5.25 for 4/8 and $6.50 for 4/22)
Japanese Gardens (4/6, 11-3PM – meet at Beaverton Transit Center, $18.95 or $5 Oregon Trail)
Acting at the Bridge (4/29, 3-5PM – meet at Beaverton Transit Center, free)
At The Movies (4/26, 11-5PM – meet at Beaverton Transit Center, $7 for movie ticket + extra for treats)
Kahoot Trivia Night on Zoom (4/11, 12-2PM)
UNO on Zoom (4/14, 4/28, 3-5PM)

2022 Employee & Program Participant Art Show

Multnomah County DCHS Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) is hosting the 12th Annual Employee & Program Participant Art Show in April 2022! Unfortunately, due to COVID safety they will not be hosting an Art Show Reception this year.

Who can submit art?

Individuals served by Multnomah County IDD Services or by a Multnomah County Support Services Brokerage (CPI, Inclusion, INW, UCP Connections, UCP Mentors); and
Multnomah County IDD employees.

Where will the art show be?

The art will be displayed all year in the IDD Program Offices on the 6th floor of the 5 Oak Building (209 SW Oak St. 6th floor) and West Gresham Plaza (2951 NW Division St. 2nd floor).

How do I add my art to the show? What if I still have art to pick up from the 2020 show?

Individuals can register by filling out a form here. PDF versions of the form should be submitted with art for 2022. Art should weigh less than 5 pounds and have hanging hardware attached. This art label should be attached to the back of each piece of art.

Individuals who need to pick up art from 2020 or drop off new art should go to Multnomah County IDD (Gresham office) on Tuesday, April 12th, 2022 between 9am - 5pm. The new delivery address is: Multnomah County IDD, Gresham office, 2951 NW Division St. Suite 200 (2nd floor), Gresham, OR 97030

Tenant Education Class

Interested in finding affordable housing? Want to learn skills to be a successful renter including about renter’s rights, reasonable accommodation requests, improving your credit and more? Join Community Vision’s class, Moving Out, Moving Up! This class is taught by professional educator with disabilities, Nico Serra.

If you are interested in registering for the course, please complete this form or email Allen Hines at ahines@cvision.org for help completing the form.

Classes run 2:30-4PM on the below dates:

Thursday, April 14th
Friday, April 15th
Thursday, April 21st
Friday, April 22nd
Thursday, April 28th
Friday, April 29th

Newsletter: Friday, April 1st