Bridges to Opportunity Projected Schedule at DSIs

Bridges to Opportunity

These meetings are taking place to educate family and guardians of current residents of the Developmental Services Institutions as to what options are available to residents who are leaving the institutions and will be residing in the community. If you have any questions please call the specific DSI directly for clarification.

This schedule includes only opportunities tentatively scheduled through July 2007.

• Gulf Coast Center
• Tacachale
• Sunland

View information regarding past events.

GULF COAST CENTER

For additional information on times and specific location of the meetings on the campus, please contact:

Mr. Michael Mayfield, Superintendent
5820 Buckingham Road
Ft. Myers, FL 33905
(239) 690-3652

Announcements

• July 22, 2006 - Please join the Community Inclusion Team at Gulf Coast Center in a discussion with Area 8 staff who will provide the community follow-up for your loved one and Medicaid Waiver Support Coordinators who you will choose to coordinate services. We believe you can benefit from meeting these folks and learning their roles in community based care.
  Time: 10:00 AM
  Location: Gulf Coast Center
  5820 Buckingham Road
  Fort Myers, Florida 33905
  Kennedy Conference Room
  
• August 19, 2006 - Please join the Community Inclusion Team, Waiver Support Coordinators and other community providers in an open discussion of supports available under the Medicaid waiver in your community.
  Time: 10:00 AM
  Location: Agency for Persons with Disabilities Office/Saint Petersburg
  1201 102 Ave North
  Saint Petersburg, Fl 33716
  Conference Room
• September 16, 2006 - The Advocacy Center for Disabled Persons will join us to discuss community follow up, what is available, how recently discharged folks are progressing and what is still needed.
  Time: 10:00 AM
  Location: Gulf Coast Center
  5820 Buckingham Road
  Fort Myers, Florida 33905
  Kennedy Conference Room
• October 21, 2006 - Please join us in receiving training in the Yellow Book each family recently received by mail. The Community Inclusion Team of Gulf Coast Center will be joined by Melinda Coulter from our central office in Tallahassee for this training. Please bring your Yellow Books as only a few will be available.
  Time: 10:00 AM
  Location: Agency for Persons with Disabilities Office/Saint Petersburg
  1201 102 Ave North
  Saint Petersburg, Fl 33716
  Conference Room
• November 18, 2006 - Please join members of Gulf Coast Center's administration in discussing the status of the phasedown and the impact of the phasedown on the residents remaining at GCC.
  Time: 10:00 AM
  Location: Gulf Coast Center
  5820 Buckingham Road
  Fort Myers, Florida 33905
  Kennedy Conference Room
• December, 2006 - There will be not Bridges to Opportunity Meeting in Decmeber Happy Holidays!
• January 6, 2007 - Please join us for a cup of coffee and an individualized planning session for your loved one with your Community Inclusion Specialist.
  Time: 9:00 - 11:30 AM & 1:30 - 3:30 PM
  Location: Gulf Coast Center Palms Cafe (extension 376)
  Contact: Donna Krysa (239) 349-7250
• January 20, 2007 - Please join guest speaker Richard LaBelle, Esquire, along with the Gulf Coast Center Transition Team & The Advocacy Center for disabled persons in a discussion on special needs trusts.
  Time: 10:00 AM
  Location: Agency for Persons with Disabilities Conference Room
  1201 102nd Avenue North
  St. Petersburg, FL 33716
  Contact: Carol Lingenfelter, Transition Manager (239) 289-1770
• January 20, 2007 - Please join us for a cup of coffee and an individualized planning session for your loved one with your Community Inclusion Specialist.
  Time: 9:00 - 11:30 AM & 1:30 - 3:30 PM
  Location: Gulf Coast Center Palms Cafe (extension 376)
  Contact: Jennifer Locklear (239) 462-1074
• February 3, 2007 - Please join us for a cup of coffee and an individualized planning session for your loved one with your Community Inclusion Specialist.
  Time: 9:00 - 11:30 AM & 1:30 - 3:30 PM
  Location: Gulf Coast Center Palms Cafe (extension 376)
  Contact: Donna Krysa (239) 349-7250
• February 17, 2007 - Please join us for a cup of coffee and an individualized planning session for your loved one with your Community Inclusion Specialist.
  Time: 9:00 - 11:30 AM & 1:30 - 3:30 PM
  Location: Gulf Coast Center Palms Cafe (extension 376)
  Contact: Jennifer Locklear (239) 462-1074
• March 3, 2007 - Please join us for a cup of coffee and an individualized planning session for your loved one with your Community Inclusion Specialist.
  Time: 9:00 - 11:30 AM & 1:30 - 3:30 PM
  Location: Gulf Coast Center Palms Cafe (extension 376)
  Contact: Donna Krysa (239) 349-7250
• March 24, 2007 - Please join us for a cup of coffee and an individualized planning session for your loved one with your Community Inclusion Specialist.
  Time: 9:00 - 11:30 AM & 1:30 - 3:30 PM
  Location: Gulf Coast Center Palms Cafe (extension 376)
  Contact: Jennifer Locklear (239) 462-1074
• March 25, 2007 - Gulf Coast Center will be hosting Family Day. All family members are encouraged to participate in the activities. Lunch will be provided. Your Community Inclusion Specialist, a representative from the Advocacy Center, and other community support groups will be ready to greet you and answer your questions.
  Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  Location: Gulf Coast Center, Ira Hatch Park
  Contact: Carol Lingenfelter, (239) 690-8090
• April 14, 2007 - Please join us for a cup of coffee and an individualized planning session for your loved one with your Community Inclusion Specialist.
  Time: 9:00 - 11:30 AM & 1:30 - 3:30 PM
  Location: Gulf Coast Center Palms Cafe (extension 376)
  Contact: Jennifer Locklear (239) 462-1074
• April 28, 2007 - Please join us for a cup of coffee and an individualized planning session for your loved one with your Community Inclusion Specialist.
  Time: 9:00 - 11:30 AM & 1:30 - 3:30 PM
  Location: Gulf Coast Center Palms Cafe (extension 376)
  Contact: Donna Krysa (239) 349-7250
• May 19, 2007 - Please join us for "Meet Families of Discharged GCC Consumers". This meeting will give an opportunity to families who have consumers at Gulf Coast Center to meet loved ones and guardians of persons who have been transitioned. The forum will allow families to discuss the benefits to community living and allow participants to ask questions regarding the process.
  Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  Location: Agency for Persons with Disabilities Conference Room, 1201 102nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33716
  Contact: Carol Lingenfelter, Transition Manager (239) 690-8090
• June 16, 2007 - GCC Fiscal Year in Review. Please join us for an open discussion about where we are and what's next for the residents at Gulf Coast Center.
  Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  Location: Kennedy Conference Room
  Contact: Carol Lingenfelter, Transition Manager (239) 690-8090
• July 21, 2007 - Please join us for an open discussion about where we are and what's next for the residents at Gulf Coast Center.
  Time: 9:00 - 11:30 AM
  Location: Agency for Persons with Disabilities Conference Room, 1201 102nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33716
  Contact: Carol Lingenfelter, Transition Manager (239) 690-8090

TACACHALE

For additional information on times and specific location of the meetings on the campus, please contact:

Don Thomas, Superintendent
1621 N.E. Waldo Road
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-5580

Announcements

• July 28th, 2006 10:00AM to 11:30AM - Tacachale will be providing another educational opportunity forum to share information about supports available in the community. We have invited licensed mental health counselors and certified behavior analysts to discuss provision of these Medicaid Waiver services. Using a panel discussion format, each professional will provide a brief description of how they provide these services, including process for referrals, authorization, and other logistics, along with examples of services provided. Without breaking confidentiality, success stories will be shared to provide a good overview about how these services can help individuals succeed in community settings. We plan to include at least 45 minutes for these experts to field questions from participants. Invited providers include Astrid Hall, Paul Redline, and Tom Moore.
• October 13, 2006
  Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
  Presenter: The Advocacy Center
  Topic: Overview of Advocacy Center Services
  Summary: The Advocacy Center will present an overview of the services they provide. They will also discuss the benefits of living in the community and success stories.
• January 26, 2007
  Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
  Presenter: Area 3 APD and Tacachale
  Topic: Planning & Coordinating Services in the Community
  Summary: Area 3 APD and Tacachale staff will present a panel discussion about the planning and coordination of services in the community. Emphasis will be placed on how Medicaid Waiver services are obtained and how the community system works in contrast with ICF approcach.
• April 27, 2007
  Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
  Presenter: Sam Boone, Attorney at Law
  Topic: Guardianship, Trusts and Wills
  Summary: The Advocacy Center will provide information about guardianship, trusts and wills, specifically related to persons with developmental disabilities.
• July 27, 2007
  Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
  Presenter: Area 3 APD and Medical Providers
  Topic: Obtaining Medical Care in the Community
  Summary: Area 3 APD and community health care providers will discuss the provision of health care services in the community, including specific services available and how to obtain them.
• October 19, 2007
  Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
  Presenter: Area 3 APD and Medical Providers
  Topic: Socialization, Recreation, and Various Support Options in the Community
  Summary: Area 3 APD staff and local providers will discuss how individuals living in the community enjoy social, recreational, and leisure resources. Services available through Medicaid Waiver and natural supports will be described. Individuals living in the community will talk about their own experiences and how much they enjoy community living.
  Location: Tacachale, Staff Development building.

Sunland

For additional information on times and specific location of the meetings on the campus, please contact:

Tracy L. Clemmons, Ed.D.
Superintendent
3700 Williams Dr.
Marianna, FL 32446
(850) 482-9210

Announcements

• July 22, 2006 @9:00am central time
  Place: Sunland Unit 2 Conference Room B
  Topic: Medicaid Benefits/Legal Issues/Trust
  Speaker: Advocacy Center Staff
• July 22, 2006 @9:00am central time
  Place: Staff Development Conference Room
  Topic: Planning For The Future
  Speaker: Richard LaBelle, Director of Family Network On Disability
• Saturday, October 7, 2006 @9:00am central time
  Place: Sunland Staff Development Building
  Topic: Supported Living
  Speaker: Deb Blizzard, Supported Living Program/Central Office Tallahassee, Florida
  Description: The purpose of the meeting is to provide information about the options that are available for supported living arrangements, resources and contact persons.
• Saturday, January 27, 2007 @9:00am central time
  Place: Sunland Staff Development Building
  Topic: Sunland Open Forum
  Speaker: Panel Discussion
  Description: Agency for Persons with Disabilities staff from the Central Office and staff from Sunland will provide a panel for discussion of Sunland?s past, present and future. There will also be discussion about admission/discharge process and legal issues pertaining to Brown v Bush settlement.
• Friday, April 27, 2007 @10:00AM - 2:00 PM central time
  Note: This event date has changed from April 20 to April 27.
  Topic: Sunland Family Day
  Description: Come join us in our Family Day Celebration that promises to be full of fun, refreshments and activities. Staff will be available during this time to talk with you about any concerns you may have.
• Saturday, July 21, 2007 @9:00am central time
  Place: Sunland Staff Development Building
  Topic: Wavier Services
  Speaker: Liz Stuart, Waiver Support Coordinator APD staff to be announced
  Description: Waiver Support Coordinators, consumers, and APD staff will be available to talk about the benefits of Waiver Services. Learn how to access these services and share success stories.
• Saturday October 6, 2007 @ 9:00am central time - 11:00am central time
  Place: Staff Development
  Topic: "Meet Your Social Worker"
  Description: Social Workers will be available to discuss with family members, guardians, consumers, etc issues concerning the consumers life at Sunland, community support services/placement, future planning, legal matters, etc.