DDadvocates Newsletter #4 February 2014
As
we’ve said before, one of the major concerns facing the Wayne County
Community as we enter the New Year is the launch of the new Detroit
Wayne Mental Health Authority. This launch will include a restatement of
goals and objectives and a reevaluation of the MCPN service delivery
model. It will set the course for service delivery in Wayne County for
the next generation.
I
imagine one of the objectives will be to maintain a robust Recipient
Rights Program. But I don’t believe this is the right emphasis. Using an
automotive example, it’s like trying to control warranty costs by
reviewing repair claims. The right place to avoid claims is in the
integrated design, purchasing, manufacturing and delivery process; not
at the back end after the damage has been done.
For
social services, if you get program staffing, quality providers,
dedicated and effective MCPN and Authority staff in place, you avoid the
need for after the fact analysis. This is not an easy task, but it is
time to reward and encourage the quality programs in Wayne County and
let the others dry up on the vine.
The challenge is to clearly define and measure quality.
As
an example, here’s an unsolicited story from a person who has been on
our distribution list from the very beginning. These are excerpts from
several exchanges of mail between the advocate and I:
Advocate:
Thank-you for all the work you do. I have a son in a group
home. Wayne County needs a complete over haul. Some of the stories I
have heard make me cry. When some staff try to tell managers some of
the things happening in homes i.e.: staff
coming in to sleep in four hour shifts, residents left in wet beds... it
apparently is ignored because these and many other problems
continue. There needs to be a lot of change….
Response:
Thank you. May I use your comments; either with your name, or not? Let
me know. I believe there is a level of awareness building and I hope it
will make a difference
Yes
you may use my comments. At present please do not use my name. My son
and so many others cannot speak for himself. He cannot tell me if they
really went for a walk or if the staff was sound asleep. Saturday I
was told my son was going on a specific outing. I know staff at the
place where the outing was to be, he was never there. If I say
anything, nothing is done. Per management I have no right to know if
staff is talked to. Again thank-you for all the work you do
It
has been a difficult struggle. Recently I have made many calls to
various people. Unless I want to file recipient rights, they do
nothing. I personally know other people who have made calls concerning a
group home. No change whatsoever. I had hoped the new "Authority"
would open their eyes and see that things are not as they portray. It
is a sad situation. Thank-you for a least letting me tell you about my
concerns.
This
is a perfect storm of unacceptable forces; the client and his family
are tied to a home, fellow residents, some good staff and a community
that they know. On the other hand, they are faced with
· At least one lying and dishonest staff,
· probably a home manager and definitely a provider who are unwilling to take on hard cases and do the correct thing
· a MCPN social worker who seems oblivious and chooses not to get involved
· a
MCPN network that does not clearly define expectations for quality
service and appears to operate with a “no news is good news” attitude
· and an attitude at the Authority that says that if it is not on the right form and irrefutable, nothing gets done.
No
amount of double checking can overcome a double faced staff, or an
administrator or provider that puts themselves in front of the needs of
their clients.So, situaions that should be taken care of on the first phone call are allowed to snow ball and become systemic.
What can we do about it?
I
suggest we start by telling persons in common language what their
rights are and that anyone who does not step forward and vigorously
support those rights will no longer be a part of the system—whether it
be a staff, an administrator, a provider, a PA, a fiduciary or an
employee of the MCPN or of the Authority.
At
our house, every year we get a blue Rights Booklet from each agency
providing Deb’s supports. In our case, Deb is 47 and I imagine we’ve
been handed at least 50 of these things. But do you know that I cannot
remember anyone putting the book down and explaining in plain English
just what those rights are?
Understanding
that the Rights of persons receiving services create responsibilities
for everyone in the process from individual staff through the provider
network and all the employees of the MCPN’s and the Authority, we
propose the following draft:
Bill of Rights for Persons with Developmental Disabilities.
You
have the right to be respected and to live in a safe, healthy
environment. If this is not happening, you have the right to demand a
change, or to move to a different setting which you choose.
You
have the right to choose where you live and to choose your room
mate(s). If you are not happy with where and whom you live, you have the
right to demand a change or to move to a different place which you
choose.
You
have the right to decide what kind of work or skill building program is
best for you. If you are not happy with the program you are in, you
have the right to change to a different one you like.
You
have the right to choose from an array of services and to choose those
you are most comfortable with whether that be fully immersed in the
community or in a more congregate setting
If
you are not happy with where you live or work or with service from any
staff, provider, personal assistant, MCPN or fiduciary, you have the
right to demand improvement or to make a change which you choose.
When
clients understand their rights and begin to switch between MCPN’s and
between residential and vocational providers, the inadequate performers
will begin to be left behind. This natural selection is already
happening in Wayne County as we see the STEP Northwest facility with a
waiting list and so many positive stories about the PEP Program.
I
believe that if we spent more time in this county listening to the
wants and needs of those we serve and less time telling them what our
lawyers or accountants say is best for them, we’d have a much more
effective, less costly service delivery process
Furthermore,
I’d be much more impressed if our paid advocates would work with
Lansing and Washington to protect some of the quality programs we have
in Wayne County rather than trying to close them without presenting
viable options suitable to the clients who are asking for service!
Question of the day: What is an advocate?
Answer: An
advocate is a person who stands alongside an individual who is
disadvantaged, and speaks out on their behalf in a way that represents
the best interests of that person. The aim of advocacy is to bring about
beneficial outcomes in a way that enables each client to retain as much
control as possible over how it is carried out.
Second Question of the Day: What do you call an advocate that puts Budgets, Attorneys and Autocratic Dictates ahead of the interest and desire of the people he represents?
Answer: A BAADVOCATE!
Let us know your story; there are more to come and each of them is important to each of us!!!!
Next Newsletter will be mid-March. Stay Warm
--
Ed Diegel,
Advocates for Persons with Developmental Disabilities in Wayne County.
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