Hands Around the Capital

April - June 2015 Newsletter

Gasconade County R-2 Students Gear Up for a New Year

Heartland Independent Living Center held their first of three events on Friday July 10^th at the Rosebud American Legion Hall. By the end of the event, 173 students (Kindergarten thru 12^th grade) left with backpacks loaded with the necessary supplies for the upcoming school year.

Each student came through the door and was able to pick their backpack color. Then they traveled among the tables and gathered information and the school supplies as they went. Height and weight checks provided by Capital Region, a portable germ center provided by the Medical Clinic of Owensville, and hearing checks provided by the Lions Club, among other services were provided at the event.

Twenty-six vendors helped to make the event a success, by providing additional supplies to those purchased by community donations and Heartland funds. The supplies provided included Crayola markers, crayons and colored pencils; as well as, loose leaf paper, notebooks, books (donated by Scholastic), shampoo and conditioner (donated by Unilever), and much more. In total each student left with approximately $30 to $40 worth of supplies purchased by Heartland staff, plus all the extras provided by the vendors.

Heartland would like to give a very heartfelt thank you to all the donors, vendors, and community that made the event possible in the first place.

“Heartland was very pleased with the community’s response to our first Back to School Fair for students living in the Gasconade Country R-2 school district,” said Patrick Chamber, Executive Director of Heartland Independent Living Center. “We appreciate the cooperation of the American Legion Post in Rosebud, and the 26 vendors who provided students with school supplies and information at the event.”

Heartland Independent Living Center is a nonprofit, community based organization that serves individuals with disabilities in their quest to remain independent in their own homes.  Services include in-home assistance, home modifications and ramps, adaptive equipment, transition assistance from institution to home, and dental services.  Heartland meets accountability standards and holds the Better Business Bureau Charity Seal of Approval. For additional information on their services contact Heartland at 573-437-5100, or visit their website at www.heartlandilc.org. Follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heartlandilcenter.  

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July 2015 Board of Directors Agenda

Governor Proclaims June 30th Arthrogryposis Day

Getting a proclamation signed by the governor is not the easiest thing to do. It involves writing, rewriting and then waiting, but that is exactly what Andrea Gerloff did. She petitioned Governor Jay Nixon to proclaim June 30^th Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC) Day in Missouri.

AMC is a general term for the development of non-progressive contractures (tightening and shortening of muscles and joints leading to loss of joint motion) affecting one or more areas of the body prior to birth, according to the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine. The disease results in decreased flexibility to the joints, which can include muscle weakness or stiff joints.

Gerloff’s hope is to raise awareness and promote learning about a disease that affects one in every 3,000 live births, she said.

Gerloff holds the proclamation signed by Governor Jay
Nixon making June 30th Arthrogryposis Multiplex
Congenita (AMC) Day.

“I’m just hoping it will get out there so people will know what Arthrogryposis is and how it affects people’s lives,” Gerloff said. “I’m still learning things about my disability, like 84 percent (of people) are affected in all four limbs and 16 percent in either the arms or the legs.”

Gerloff who is affected by AMC in all four limbs, uses a motorized wheelchair for mobility and requires help to remain independent in her home.

“You can’t do everything you’d like to do, like bike riding or going for a walk,” Gerloff said. “You can go with people, but it’s different because you’re in the chair.”

As a daily routine, Gerloff relies on her fiancé to help her get dressed in the morning. During the day she takes online courses toward a degree in information technology with the intent of web design and development. However, if Gerloff needs to use the restroom or eat, she must call someone to come help her.

“Everything I’ve been through, I go around with a smile on my face every day,” Gerloff said. “There’s no need to be down.”

After a month of waiting, the proclamation finally came in the mail and Gerloff says she couldn’t have been more excited.

Missouri joins 28 other states that recognize June 30^th as AMC day. 2015 will be the 6^th annual celebration, and it is requested that you wear blue on June 30^th in awareness of Arthrogryposis.  

Heartland Independent Living Center is a nonprofit, community based organization that serves individuals with disabilities in their quest to remain independent in their own homes.  Services include in-home assistance, home modifications and ramps, adaptive equipment, transition assistance from institution to home, and dental services.  Heartland meets accountability standards and holds the Better Business Bureau Charity Seal of Approval. For additional information on their services contact Heartland at 573-437-5100, or visit their website at www.heartlandilc.org. Follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heartlandilcenter.  

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JUNE 15TH HEARTLAND INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER BOARD AGENDA

Board Meeting Agenda for April 20th, 2015

Heartland Independent Living Center

Board of Directors - Monthly Meeting 

Monday April 20, 2015 - 11:00a.m. 

Owensville Office of Heartland Independent Living Center

Agenda

Minutes    Time 

1               11:00 a.m.             Call to order - Mark 

1               11:01 a.m.             Roll Call - Deborah 

1               11:02 a.m.             Welcome & Introduction of Guests - Mark

1               11:03 a.m.             Approval of Agenda - Mark

3               11:06 a.m.             Consent of Agenda - Mark & Pat

                                                                     

                                               E.D. Reports for March with explanation; including:

                                                     - Informational Narrative

                                                     - Dash Board Monitoring Report

                                                     - March Income Statement

2               11:08 a.m.             Approval of Minutes - Mark

                                                     - Minutes of March 16 Meeting 

25             11:33 a.m.             Board Training - Mark

                                                     - TAP Adaptive telephone program - Debbie Skasick

                                                     - Policy Governance Scenario 6.2 & 6.5 - Board & Pat

20                                           Working Lunch with Continuation of Agenda 

60             12:53 p.m.             Board Process Work -  Mark

                                                     - Update on Owensville Building Renovation - Pat

                                                     - Review & approval of new & revised 

                                                            Employee Policies

                                                     - Review of proposed investment policies - Pat/Katrina/Brett

5               12:58 p.m.              Old Business -  Mark

                                                     - Review of the recent Blooming Craft Fair Event - Pat

5               1:03 p.m.                New Business - Mark

                                                     - Plans for upcoming fundraising events - Pat

2               1:05 p.m.                Public Comments - Mark

                 1:05 p.m.                Adjournment - Mark

Alert for Medicaid recipients who do not receive Social Security or SSI.

1)      Have you received any communications recently from the state that have the words MO HealthNet Adverse Action Notice at the top?

2)      If you have received the letter, you MUST take it to the FSD office in your area (preferably) or if you cannot take it to an office, you must call 855-373-4636.

3)      If you have NOT received the letter, watch your mail for a letter from the state with the words MO HealthNet Adverse Action Notice at the top and as soon as you get it, take it to an FSD office to get it corrected.

4)      There is nothing that you as a consumer have done wrong. The state is merely needing you to complete a Medical Review to verify that you still have a disability. Anyone with SSDI or pending SSDI (who do not also have Social Security or SSI) are getting the letter, not just you. Even if you recently completed a medical review, if you get the letter, you MUST go to visit an FSD office to take care of it.

5)      If you get the letter and you do not follow-through on it within the timeframe listed on the letter, your Medicaid WILL be terminated.

6)      As long as you visit the FSD office or call and ask for a review/hearing by the date listed in the letter, you will be able to continue your Medicaid at the same level until the hearing/review process is done. 

Moll scholarship offered to students with disabilities

Heartland Independent Living Center is looking for qualifying students to sponsor for the Gary Moll Memorial Scholarship for the 2015 – 2016 school year.

Applications for the Gary Moll Memorial Scholarship program are being accepted through Friday May 1, 2015. The Missouri Statewide Independent Living Council (MOSILC) intends on awarding two $1,000 scholarships. Qualified students are strongly encouraged to submit one or two letters of recommendation with their applications and must be sponsored by a Missouri Center for Independent Living.

The scholarship program is for Missouri students with disabilities who are attending, or will be enrolling in, a junior college, college, university or accredited vocational school located in the state of Missouri. Proof of their enrollment is required with the completed application.

“Gary Moll was a tremendous advocate for people with disabilities, and the Centers for Independent Living.” Executive Director Patrick Chambers said. “Because of his disabilities, he understood the challenges facing the disability community. It is an honor for Heartland to recruit students for these scholarships in his honor.”

Heartland Independent Living Center is a nonprofit, community based organization that serves individuals with disabilities in their quest to remain independent in their own homes.  Services include in-home assistance, home modifications and ramps, adaptive equipment, transition assistance from institution to home, and dental services.  Heartland meets accountability standards and holds the Better Business Bureau Charity Seal of Approval. For additional information on their services contact Heartland at 573-437-5100, or visit their website at www.heartlandilc.org. Follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heartlandilcenter.   

Heartland Independent Living Center receives $11,300 from United Way

Heartland Independent Living Center received $11,300 from the Franklin County Area United Way to help serve individuals with disabilities throughout Franklin, Maries and Gasconade counties. This is an increase from what Heartland was allocated last year. The funds will go to support Heartland's mission which is to create accessibility for all. Heartland seeks to empower people with disabilities by helping them to live independently with dignity and Security.

For the full news release written by the Missourian follow the link.

United Way to Allocate to $900,000 to 54 Agencies and Programs



*Heartland is a non-profit, non-residential, community based 501(c)(3) organization.