Archive | General information RSS feed for this section

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.

Comments { 0 }

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.

Comments { 1 }

Hamtramck United Social Services Community Resource Guide

By admin on September 20, 2012 in General information, Reference Information

The attached Hamtramck United Social Services Community Resource Guide and Resource Index includes agencies in and around Hamtramck and places a special emphasis on resources for immigrants. I highly recommend it for co-ops with large international memberships.

Comments { 0 }

Association of Chinese Americans events at Madison Heights Chinese Community Center

By admin on September 14, 2012 in General information, Reference Information

Upcoming Events

ACA Moon FestivalFri., September 28 at 10:30am

Join us in celebrating the Moon Festival. There will be entertainment, Chinese food for lunch, and moon cake raffles. Tickets are $5 ($2 for children 10 yrs. old and under).

ACA Senior Club Anniversary Fri, October 19 at 10am

Our Senior Club is 7 years old and going strong. To mark this anniversary there will be special performances followed by a catered lunch. Tickets are $4 for a general ticket and $2for seniors 60 years and older or children under 10 yrs. old.

ACA Thanksgiving Event Sat., November 10 at 3pm

We acknowledge and thank our dedicated volunteers who have helped us throughout the year. Program includes entertainment & Chinese dinner. Tickets are $6 for a general ticket and $4 for seniors 60 years and older or children under 10 years old.

Chinese Community Center address: 32585 Concord Drive Madison Heights, MI 48071 Phone: 248-585-9343 Fax: 1-888-708-2739
Office hours: Monday-Friday 10AM-4PM, Saturday-Sunday Closed

Detroit Service Center address: 4750 Woodward Ave., Suite 211 Detroit, MI 48201 Phone: 313-831-1790 Fax: 313-831-3613
Office hours: Monday-Thursday 9AM-4:00PM, Friday 10AM-4PM, Saturday-Sunday Closed

Comments { 0 }

Advance Directives: What Would You Do?

By Renee on September 7, 2012 in Advance Directives, Company News, Conference call notes, General information, Legal Services

This week Hospice of Michigan visited Flat Rock Towers and did a presentation on advance directives. The presenter brought the 5 Wishes book with him and explained how to complete the forms inside. All of the residents who attended the presentation now want a copy of this book, which will be mailed to me. I am to distribute the books to the individuals who requested them when they arrive in the mail.

Then there was the discussion we had during yesterday’s phone conference on advance directives…

My thought, to rememdy any potential future misunderstandings for residents, is to attach a note stating that members should consult an attorney when signing any type of legal medical documents. Also on the note, I would include phone numbers for Elder Law of Michigan and Elder Law Center in Redford.

As a service coordinator, how would you handle this situation? Would you do things differently? Please comment and let me know your thoughts.

Comments { 4 }

Aging Services Consortium of Detroit Sept. 5th meeting

By admin on September 4, 2012 in Area Agency on Aging, General Aging Information, General information, Legal Services, Reference Information

Aging Services Consortium of Detroit Sept. 5th meeting

Ask Mike Simowski, below, for material related to the Wayne County Senior Millage and the need associated with that proposal from DAAA’s “Dying Before Their Time” study. Paul Bridgewater will be presenting on the millage and Katy Graham will be discussing the projects and services at Wayne County Neighborhood Legal Services at our September meeting.

The meeting will be held at 9 am on September 5th at Hannan House, 4750 Woodward, Detroit. We look forward to seeing you there and, if you have colleagues who might also wish to attend, please feel free to bring them along.
Mike
Mike Simowski Chair, Aging Services Consortium of Detroit
(734)495-9782 / home (734)740-5295 / cell
simowskim@aol.com

Comments { 0 }

Questions about the Home Heating Credit Claim?

By admin on August 29, 2012 in General information, Reference Information

The filing deadline for the 2011 Home Heating Credit Claim is due on September 30, 2012. As you are assisting members with completing their claims, questions about how to complete the claim form can be directed to a live representative at the Michigan Department of Treasury at the following number: 517-636-4486.

Comments { 0 }

Hannan Directory

By Renee on August 27, 2012 in General information, Hannan News, Reference Information

We can never have enough directories! Please see the attached files. This file includes maps, addresses, and work hours of Hannan PVM and CSI Service Coordinators. Naturally, not everyone’s hours are listed, but I will update as I get more information. Also, Presbyterian Villages of Michigan has shared a complete contact list for their service coordinators, which also includes days and hours worked.

Comments { 0 }

Monitor your monitoring

By Renee on August 13, 2012 in Company News, General information

As soon as you end a visit with a member, the clock starts ticking.

As service coordinators, we are obligated to see our “frail” and “at risk” members every 30 days. Those who are not “frail” or “at risk” must be seen every three months. This means that if we see a frail member on August 13, our next appointment should be scheduled before September 13.

In fact, Hazel Park Service Coordinator Alexa Lempert recommends using the following link to keep precisely up-to-date on client visits:

http://www.timeanddate.com/date/dateadd.html

The easiest way that I’ve found to keep track of client monitoring is by creating a simple spreadsheet. My spreadsheet consists of several different tabs that include various different lists.

You can create a tab in an Excel file by going to the very bottom of the spreadsheet. There, you can right click and voila! Rename the sheet to suit your needs.

To keep track of visits and contact with my “frail” and “at risk” clients then, I run a simple list in Excel. On the left side of the list are names, on the right side — you guessed it — the date when I had last seen him or her.

To some, Excel can be rather intimidating. However, in this instance, the program makes it pretty easy to track clients. In Excel, you can highlight names as well as add and delete entire rows. This can be particularly helpful as members become deactivated or when new members move in.

Additionally, you can run several different lists using Excel. My lists include: Enrolled Members, Active Members with Non-Participation Forms, Active Members who are Frail and At Risk, Active Members who are not Frail and At Risk.

At the very bottom of this post, you will find the word “Example” in blue. This is a link to a sample spreadsheet. If you are not familiar with Excel, please feel free to open the link (or open Excel on your hard drive) and play around with it a bit. It is quite a simple program, once you get used it.

By keeping these running lists, I know who’s who at all times — and so far, it’s worked for me!

Do you have any tracking tips?

Please share, and thanks!

Comments { 1 }