Archive | September, 2012

CSI’s position on League of Women’s Voters and other non-partisan policital organizations

Some of the CSI SCs have been asked by members in leadership positions to have an educational session regarding upcoming ballot measures. Please see CSI’s response:

According to the cooperative principles and Cindy Lamb, CSI Corporate Controller and Fair Housing expert , The League of Women’s Voters may not make presentations at any of our co-ops. Please have service coordinators refrain from scheduling any groups associated with politics even when they are going to provide refreshments or other incentives that might seem nice for the members.

FYI- The same would hold true for religious groups.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!

Sharon Boldon

MI Regional Education Coordinator

CSI Support & Development

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SC Attendence at Co-op Council and General Meetings

By admin on September 26, 2012 in Company News, CSI News

Hello all,

The purpose of the service coordinators attending the council and general meetings was to understand how our co-ops work and the unique management style that CSI supports. Once the staff person feels the SCs have an understanding of the co-op process ( appx. 5-6 months) there won’t be a need for them to attend the council or general meeting.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions concerning this matter.

Thanks!

Sharon Boldon

MI Regional Education Coordinator

CSI Support & Development

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Cost Savings – American House Foundation Holiday Hope for Seniors

By admin on September 26, 2012 in AASC Online Forum, Reference Information

Cheryl Bukoff received information that the Holiday Hope for Seniors gifts from American House Foundation are worth $50-75. Perhaps you should use an average value of $62.50 when accounting for Cost Savings for recipients.

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Recertification for Co-op Members

By admin on September 26, 2012 in Company News, CSI News

Simplification of the Certification/Recertification Process with Co-op members:

If a member (or prospective member) schedules an appointment with you for assistance with certification or recertification paperwork, please use the following procedures:

1. Give the member two options:

a. The member can contact the certification department directly and they will assist the member over the phone with the paperwork. The phone number will be on their document.

b. The member can contact the certification department with you on speaker phone from the SC office and they will assist the member and the SC with the paperwork over the phone.

2. If the member chooses to work with you, they must:

a. Become an active client (ie all Intake, Assessment, ISP, Confidentiality and Release forms must be completed).

b. Sign a Consent to Release form specifically permitting you to speak with the CSI Certification Department regarding their certification paperwork. This form must be time limited to 5 days.

c. The SC must fax the Consent to Release form to the CSI Certification Department prior to the phone call.

3. If the member has literacy challenges, the SC is permitted to assist with writing the information down on the certification forms during the phone call with the certification department.

4. The SC may not help the member obtain any of the information requested in the certification process.

5. The SC should be very clear with the member that CSI is the entity that determines eligibility and rental rates.

6. Until further notice, the CSI SCs can not contact the certification department to inquire when their co-op is due for recertification. Sharon is inquiring if this can be an option in the future because she recognizes that when recertification times come due at a co-op that it adds an extra work load for the SCs and that Anne Sackrison has let the members know that the SCs will be available to assist with the recertification process.

Thank you for your assistance.

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Monitoring Residents/Members – Helpful Hints

By admin on September 26, 2012 in Case Management, Resources

Based on questions and feedback from SCs and audit staff, here are some helpful hints for monitoring clients:

1. The SC should monitor frail and at risk clients a minimum of every 30 days (note that this is more specific than “monthly”).

2. The SC should monitor all other clients a minimum of every 90 days (note that this is more specific than “quarterly”).

3. Monitoring must include direct, individualized contact. Hence, a group service log and progress note indicating that the client attended an educational workshop hosted by the SC is not sufficient. However, the SC can talk with the client individually at the event and note that direct contact in the PN, which could be considered a form of monitoring (as long a the client didn’t have follow-up needs that constituted more intensive monitoring).

4. I recommend that if you follow up with a client one month at an event (such as an educational workshop or Focus Hope delivery) or via phone, that the next month be an in-home or in-office visit.

5. Monitoring must indicate progress towards goals the client’s Initial or Updated Service Plan.

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Sharing Resources with Residents/Members

By admin on September 25, 2012 in General information, Reference Information

Sharing Resources

Service Coordinators should share updated printed versions of your AASC Online Resource Directories and extra brochures with your FCRC chairs during your monthly meetings. Please ask your FCRC chairs to insert the Resource Directories into the FCRC binders (which they keep in a public place so that members can access the information when you aren’t available). If you have any for-profit resources listed in your AASC Online Resource Directories, please make sure you have at least 3 resources of any specific kind (ie chore providers) prior to sharing with your members so that you don’t accidentally give the impression you are endorsing any entity. All SCs, PVM and CSI inclusive, should post your resource directories on a publicly accessible bulletin board so that residents/members can access them when you are not in the office.

Thanks.

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Coop Council and General Meeting – CSI Tip of the Week

By admin on September 25, 2012 in Company News, CSI News

Council and General Meetings

Service Coordinators should not speak at Council or General Meetings, even if invited by co-op leadership or your liaison to speak. This is their time to discuss how their co-op runs. However, you can (and should) use your monthly meeting to ask your president, FCRC chair, or education chair if they would be willing to announce any upcoming educational workshops you have planned and/or important resource dates to remember (ie upcoming Medicare enrollment dates).

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Co-op 102 Training

By admin on September 25, 2012 in Company News, CSI News

Here’s the SCoop on Co-op 102:

Schedule:
Monday, October 1, 9am-5pm
Co-op 102 presented by Sharon Bolden, CSI
Day 1 is primarily Fair Housing

Followed by Baby Shower for Lindsay and Laura!
Location: Restaurant TBA

Tuesday, October 2, 9am-12noon
Co-op 102 presented by Sharon Bolden, CSI
Day 2 includes roles of FCRC, SC, Education Committee, Liaison, Co-op Leadership

Followed by a shared training with PVM SCs, including:
1pm Ann Kraemer and Brenda Carney: “Alternatives to APS”
2pm Ann Kraemer: Professional Development Procedures
2:30pm Cheryl Bukoff: Case Management Procedural Clarifications
3pm npserv: Remote Connection, Shared Files, and Zimbra
4pm Rachel Jacobsen: Logic Model and Semi Annual Report (this is for CSI SCs)

Location:
Hannan House, 4750 Woodward Ave, Gallery (plus Operation ABLE computer lab for npserv training portion; lab location TBA)

Bring:
– Hannan Service Coordinator Manual
– CSI Service Coordinator Manual
– Brown Bag Lunch
– Questions for Sharon regarding anything and everything to do with co-ops! Bring specific scenarios or questions about times when your role intersects with co-op roles.
– Questions for Ann and Brenda regarding emergent client issues that may not meet the need for a 911 or APS call, but may need to be addressed by the SC.
– Questions for Ann re professional development.
– Questions for Cheryl re case management procedures or audit procedures.

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WSU Interprofessional Team Older Adult Visit Program.

By admin on September 25, 2012 in Health and Medical, Resources

Thank you again for your past support of our Interprofessional Team Older Adult Visit Program.

Our deadline is October 1 for adding older adults to be visited by the interprofessional students’ team. If you know of any other older adults who might be interested, could you please forward this message to them? THANK YOU

Our students will be in touch towards the end of November for visits to be completed by Dec 5
If not contact for the November visits contact will be made in early January for visits to be completed by mid Feb

Let me know if you have questions. Thank you again

Jenny

Jennifer Mendez, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor and Director, Co-Curricular Programs

Wayne State University

School of Medicine

320 East Canfield #203 Mazurek Education Commons

Detroit, MI 48201

313-577-2125

313-577-1457 FAX

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Election Information

By admin on September 25, 2012 in General information, Reference Information

Please Note: CSI SCs cannot host election related forums, events, speakers, candidates, ballot measure topics, or the like for your educational workshops. CSI SCs can help individual clients apply for an absentee ballot, register to vote, or obtain a state ID card.

Election Days in Michigan

Polls open from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Election Date

Nov. 6, 2012 State General Election

Registration Deadlines

Oct. 9, 2012 Last day to register for November general election.

By 2:00 p.m., Aug. 4 Electors who wish to receive an absent voter ballot for the August primary by mail submit absent voter ballot applications

Up to 4:00 p.m., Aug. 6 Electors qualified to obtain an absent voter ballot for August primary may vote in person in clerk’s office.

Up to 4:00 p.m., Aug. 7 Emergency absentee voting for August primary.

By 2:00 p.m., Nov. 3 Electors who wish to receive an absent voter ballot for the November general election by mail submit absent voter ballot applications.

Up to 4:00 p.m., Nov. 5 Electors qualified to obtain an absent voter ballot for November general election may vote in person in clerk’s office.

Up to 4:00 p.m., Nov. 6 Emergency absentee voting for November general election.

OFFICES TO BE ELECTED IN 2012

President/Vice President

U.S. Senator (1 seat)

U.S. Representative in Congress (all 14 districts)

State Representative (all 110 districts)

State Board of Education (2 seats)

University of Michigan Regents (2 seats)

Michigan State University Trustees (2 seats)

Wayne State University Governors (2 seats)

Justice of the Supreme Court

Judge of the Court of Appeals

Judge of the Circuit Court

Judge of the District Court

Judge of Probate

County Offices

Specified City Offices

Township Offices

Specified Village Offices

Specified School District Positions

Absentee voting process

To protect and enhance the integrity of Michigan’s absentee voting process, all election officials are required to observe the legal requirements, practices and policies detailed below.

Eligibility: A registered voter is eligible to obtain an absentee ballot for an upcoming election if he or she: 1) is 60 years of age or more 2) is unable to vote without assistance 3) expects to be absent from his or her city or township of residence for the entire time the polls are open 4) is in jail awaiting arraignment or trial 5) has been appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of his or her precinct of residence or 6) is unable to attend the polls due to his or her religious beliefs.

Eligibility restriction: A person who registers to vote by mail must vote in person in the first election in which he or she participates. The restriction does not apply to overseas voters, voters who are handicapped or voters who are 60 years of age or older.

Application process: A voter who wishes to receive an absentee ballot must request it in writing from the clerk; absentee ballots may not be delivered as a result of an oral request made in person or over the phone. However, an absentee ballot application form may be provided as a result of an oral request.

The written request may be on a form supplied by the clerk or other election official, in a letter or on a postcard. The written request must include a statutory reason why the voter is eligible to receive an absentee ballot and the applicant’s signature.

Forms: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/AV_Process_264249_7.pdf

A Guide to Voter Identification at the Polls

Due to a recent court ruling, every Michigan voter must present picture identification at the polls,

or sign an affidavit attesting that he or she is not in possession of picture identification.

Prepare for Election Day

Remember to bring an acceptable form of photo identification to the polls on Election Day. If you don’t have photo ID you can still vote (see Voting Without Photo ID below).

Your photo ID does not need to have your address on it. In addition, the name on your identification card may be a shorter form of your name. For example, “Bill” for “William” and “Kathy” for “Katherine” are acceptable.

After showing your photo ID to the poll worker and signing the application, you may cast your ballot.

Voting Without Photo ID

If you do not have photo ID, you can still cast a ballot simply by signing an affidavit. The affidavit can be used by:

Voters who do not have acceptable photo ID
Voters who have photo ID but didn’t bring it to the polls

Once you sign the affidavit, you may cast your ballot. It will be counted with all other ballots on Election Day.

Getting a State ID Card

If you do not have a driver’s license or other acceptable photo identification, you can get a state identification card at your local Secretary of State branch office for $10.

State ID cards are free to individuals who are 65 or older or who are blind. Cards are also free to those who have had driving privileges terminated due to a physical or mental disability.

Proof of identity and residency are required when applying for a state ID card. The fee can also be waived for individuals who present other good cause for a fee waiver. Visit www.Michigan.gov/sos for details on what forms are acceptable in order to prove identity and residency, or call (888) SOS-MICH (767-6424).

Michigan Voter Information Center

Welcome to the Michigan Voter Information Center! This Web site provides you with a vast assortment of information related to voter registration and election administration in Michigan.

To view your own voter information, you’ll have to log in. Once you log in, you can:

Determine if you are registered to vote
Find your polling location
Contact your local election official
Learn to use your voting equipment
Find answers to frequently asked questions
View your sample ballot

Please remember that if you don’t think that you will be in town on election day, you can request and obtain an absentee ballot; if you are a registered voter of any age.

Please register to vote and , if you are registered, below, you will find a quick and easy way to confirm that you are still registered to vote

What You Need to Know About Absentee Voting

Absentee voter ballots are available for all elections. They provide voters with a convenient method for casting a ballot when they are unable to attend the polls on election day.

As a registered voter, you may obtain an absentee voter ballot if you are:

age 60 years old or older
unable to vote without assistance at the polls
expecting to be out of town on election day
in jail awaiting arraignment or trial
unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons
appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.

A person who registers to vote by mail must vote in person in the first election in which he or she participates. The restriction does not apply to overseas voters, voters who are handicapped or voters who are 60 years of age or older. (Voting in person on one governmental level clears the restriction on the other levels. For example, if a voter subject to the restriction votes in person at a school election, the voter would be free to obtain an absentee ballot for the first state election in which he or she wishes to participate.)

Requesting an Absentee Voter Ballot

Your request for an absentee voter ballot must be in writing and can be submitted to your city or township clerk. (For assistance in obtaining the address of your city or township clerk, see http://www.Michigan.gov/vote) Your request must include one of the six statutory reasons stated above and your signature. You must request an absentee voter ballot by mailing the application, a letter, a postcard, or a pre-printed application form obtained from your local clerk’s office. Requests to have an absentee voter ballot mailed to you must be received by your clerk no later than 2 p.m. the Saturday before the election.

Once your request is received by the local clerk, your signature on the request will be checked against your voter registration record before a ballot is issued. You must be a registered voter to receive an absentee ballot. Requests for absentee voter ballots are processed immediately. Absentee voter ballots may be issued to you at your home address or any address outside of your city or township of residence.

After receiving your absentee voter ballot, you have until 8 p.m. on election day to complete the ballot and return it to the clerk’s office. Your ballot will not be counted unless your signature is on the return envelope and matches your signature on file. If you received assistance voting the ballot, then the signature of the person who helped you must also be on the return envelope. Only you, a family member or person residing in your household, a mail carrier, or election official is authorized to deliver your signed absentee voter ballot to your clerk’s office.

If an emergency, such as a sudden illness or family death prevents you from reaching the polls on election day, you may request an emergency absentee voter ballot. Requests for an emergency ballot must be submitted after the deadline for regular absentee voter ballots has passed but before 4 p.m. on election day. The emergency must have occurred at a time which made it impossible for you to apply for a regular absentee voter ballot. Your local clerk will have more information about emergency absentee voter ballots.

Voting is one of the most cherished and fundamental rights in our country. If you are eligible to obtain an absentee voter ballot and cannot attend the polls on election day, use of the absentee voter ballot is strongly encouraged.

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