_The next WI Peer Specialist Certification Exam will take place on February 29, 2012. The exams will again be proctored at the WI Independent Living Centers www.IL-Wisconsin.net .

The deadline to apply to take the exam is February 15, 2012. Please download the application at: www.sce-peerspecialist.uwm.edu

Please forward this on to all who may be interested.

Thank you,

Alice F. Pauser, CPS
WI Peer Specialist Program Director
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_
Tax Time!!!
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Dane County

No appointment required!
January 26-April 13, 2011:
Monday, Wednesday 12:00-6:00 P.M.
Saturday: 9:00-3:00 P.M.
April 15, 2011: 12:00-3:00 P.M.

Interpreters will be available
Feb 18 9am-3pm
March 3 9am-3pm

The Villager Mall Financial Education Center
2300 S. Park St. Madison WI
Lower Level
(608) 261-5077
http://www.revenue.wi.gov/faqs/pcs/vita.html
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We need your help!

Please contact your State Legislators and urge them to co-sponsor LRB 3761/1 and LRB 3698/3 by contacting Senator Moulton (6-7511) or Representative Kaufert (6-5719) by noon on Friday, January 13, 2012. 

Find your legislators contact info Here!

LRB 3761/1 and LRB 3698/3 Summary

Since 2000, the Family Care program has served many seniors and individuals who are developmentally and physically disabled.  Currently, Family Care serves over 40,000 people across Wisconsin. 

The 2011-13 state budget established a cap on the program until the Department of Health Services was able to find efficiencies within the program that would help stabilize it and make it sustainable.  DHS has reported that they are now prepared to implement a plan that will do this.

The Survival Coalition worked with the Governor to draft this legislation to remove the Family Care cap and extend program coverage to seniors and individuals with physical and developmental disabilities in areas of the state that previously were not serviced by Family Care.    

Their proposed legislation does the following:

  • Repeals non-statutory language in the 2011-13 state budget that capped enrollment in Family Care, Family Care Partnership, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and the self-directed services option (IRIS). 
  • Repeals non-statutory language in the 2011-13 state budget that prohibits the expansion of Family Care to counties that currently do not receive the benefit and are operating under the community options and community integration programs. 
  • Repeals the non-statutory budget allocation in the 2011-13 state budget for urgent enrollment funding that was appropriated in conjunction with the enrollment cap.
  • Makes no change to the requirement that DHS study various aspects of the cost-effectiveness of the states long-term care programs.

This bill draft does not include an appropriation and makes no changes to the Chapter 20 budget schedule.

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_ Can mental health service users, their family members and others without formal positions of authority lead? Can they make meaningful changes in mental health service organizations?

                The answer is a resounding “YES,” according to a nationally recognized expert in the field of leadership and mental health services. And the knowledge and skills necessary to do so will be the focus of a leadership institute coming to Madison on Feb. 25.

                “If you don’t have authority, you can lead with ideas,” says Steve Harrington, Executive Director of the National Association of Peer Specialists and a post-doctoral fellow at Boston University’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. “The role of the ‘informal’ leader is different but no less important and potentially effective.”

                The one-day institute, entitled “Leading with Ideas: Making Change Happen from Within,” will cover start with basic understandings about what leadership is, why people follow, how to create and express a vision for change, developing collaborative relationships and other components of effective leadership, according to Harrington.

                “Leadership theory is well-developed but, unfortunately, fails to address the needs and effectiveness of informal leaders,” he says. “Service users and friends and family members often feel powerless to change a system very much in need of change. But there are skills and knowledge that can make them among the most powerful leaders.”

                The institute will be facilitated by Harrington who earned masters of public administration and law degrees. In addition to his leadership role with the national peer specialist association, Harrington is on the boards of several other national mental health organizations. He was a planner and on the faculty of the Global Leadership Institute recently conducted by Boston University. He says the institute will be highly interactive to encourage learning through participation. Harrington will be assisted by another facilitator from Recover Resources.

                Although the institute is designed for persons in recovery from psychiatric conditions, family members and others who work for mental health services organizations will benefit. The institute is planned for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature morning and afternoon refreshments and lunch. It is co-sponsored by Access to Independence, Inc. and will be conducted at their office, 3810 Milwaukee St. in Madison. The other co-sponsor is Recover Resources, a consumer owned and operated organization.

                The institute will be facilitated by Harrington and Lyn Legere, M.A., Training Director for The Transformation Center in Boston.

                The cost of attending the institute is $95 per person. Participants will receive a certificate of completion. To pre-register (required) or obtain more information, contact Recover Resources at (616) 773-8866 or visit the organization’s website at: www.RecoverResources.com.

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Dec 8
3:30-6pm

Access to Independence
3810 Milwaukee Street
Madison

(608)242-8484 (V)
(608) 242-8485 (TTY)
(608) 234-4484 (Video Phone)
Or email claired@accesstoind.org
Our theme: COMFORT FOOD!
Bring your favorite comfort food to share.
Flier
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Holiday Shopping and Searching!

Get some of your holiday shopping done and feel good about it.  Choose Access to Independence and do all of your shopping through the online shopping mall, GoodShop.com, where you can shop at more than 2,400 top online retailers and a percentage of your purchases will support our work.  You pay the same price as you normally would, but a donation is given to Access to Independence.

Here's another easy way to raise money for Access to Independence. Just start using Yahoo! powered GoodSearch.com as your search engine and they'll donate about a penny to your favorite cause every time you do a search!  To make things easier all you have to do is download the tool bar and start surfing the web. 

http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/access-to-independence-madison


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LI CHIAO-PING DANCE  The Knotcracker
Promenade Hall
SUN, DEC  4,  2 pm

The Knotcracker follows the story of Little Miss Steps, a young girl trying to solve a puzzle without falling to pieces. In typical Li Chiao-Ping Dance style, this evening-length work blends dance and theater. It features adventurous choreography, humorous vignettes, and insightful works to entertain and inspire audiences members of all ages.
All ages admitted. Running time 1 hour 30 minutes

MADISON BALLET – The Nutcracker
Overture Hall
FRI, DEC 23, 7:30 pm
SAT, DEC 24, 1 pm
MON, DEC 26, 2 pm

A combination of fabulous costumes, dynamic lighting and lavish set design are the perfect vehicle for the energetic choreography of Artistic Director W. Earle Smith and Tchaikovsky’s famous score, providing a magical experience for your entire family.
All ages admitted. Running time 2 hours

cost of tickets $3
Contact ATI by Nov 8
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The team is a recreational hockey team that is open to any youth who uses a power or manual wheelchair.  Please call for more information or stop by and watch a game!
All games are played at the UW Shell. 
NEW TIMES 6-7pm
Nov 6
Nov 13
Nov 20
Nov 27
Dec 4
Dec 11
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Voter ID Information Session
Oct 21
2pm
Access to Independence
3810 Milwaukee St
Madison WI 53714

This presentation will cover the recent changes to state elections law, including requirements for photo identification and poll book signatures, and information on how to obtain an identification card for voting purposes.

For more information on getting a FREE WI ID.
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Wisconsin Department of Health Services Town Hall Meeting on Medicaid Savings Initiatives

Wednesday, October 19, 2011
1:00 – 7:00 P.M.
Goodman Community Center
149 Waubesa Street
Madison, WI 53704
Evjue Community Room D

AGENDA
Department of Health Services Secretary Dennis G. Smith and Deputy Secretary Kitty Rhoades will hold a Town Hall meeting in Madison to collect input from consumers, community partners, and providers on Medicaid efficiencies and cost-savings initiatives recently released by the Department.

The mission and cost of Medicaid in Wisconsin have expanded dramatically over the years. One out of every five citizens is now served in a Medicaid program (traditional Medicaid, BadgerCare Plus, SeniorCare and Family Care). Medicaid pays for 45 percent of all births in the state, and Medicaid recipients occupy roughly 60 percent of nursing home beds.

State funding for Medicaid had to be significantly increased above the 2009-2011 budget, primarily for two reasons – federal matching funds decreased by $1.33 billion and previous budget estimates were based on a projected decline in enrollment. But even after an infusion of $1.2 billion of additional state funding for the current budget cycle, the Department was tasked with finding savings to keep the Medicaid program in balance with the state budget.

Individuals who are interested in speaking will have up to three minutes to share their comments at this forum. Those who would like to share their ideas and do not wish to speak are encouraged to submit their written feedback at the meeting. Those unable to attend the town hall meeting can provide comments on the DHS website at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov.

** People needing special accommodations to attend or participate in the meeting should notify the Department of Health Services at 608-266-9622 (TTY 888-701-1250) on or before October 18, 2011.
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