Thirteenth annual

Opening

Richard Niedel, MSW, LSW, is a licensed social worker with a Masters of Social Work from the University of Connecticut with an emphasis on community organization and administration as well as a Bachelors of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA. He also holds a Neurolinguistic Program Certificate as an NCP Practitioner/Consultant. He has been with The Association For Community Living since 1975 where he is currently the Associate Director of Specialized Home Care serving adults with developmental disabilities through Shared Living and Adult Foster Care and children through intensive Therapeutic Foster Care. He also serves on the board of directors of the National Adult Family Care Organization where he strives to introduce best practices of the models to the nation. Mr. Niedel is a founding member of the Shared Living Conference who has provided numerous workshops and has acted as its chair and co-chairperson.

Welcome and Introduction

Jean McGuire PhD, Assistant Secretary, Disability Policy, EOHHS

Dr. McGuire brings a 30 year history of work in disability across public and private sectors. In her current role, she is responsible for six disability agencies' operations, policies and budgets, including the Department of Developmental Disabilities, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, the Massachusetts Commission of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind and the Chelsea and Holyoke Soldiers Homes and for oversight of the MassHealth Office of Long Term Care. Responsible for guiding all disability policy development across the EOHHS Secretariat including within the Departments of Public Health and Mental Health, and for providing guidance on disability policy and program improvements in the Commonwealth to the EOHHS Secretary and Governor. Dr. McGuire came to EOHHS from Northeastern University, where she served as Senior Clinical Professor at the Bouve College of Health Sciences. Prior to Northeastern, she served as Assistant Commissioner for the Department of Public Health from 1997-2003. Dr. McGuire's early work was in the field of mental retardation and developmental disabilities. She worked in special education in the mid-1970s and went on to develop adult rehabilitation, housing and social services for people with severe handicapping conditions. Later, Dr. McGuire's work included substance abuse treatment program management, mental health and elder community services development, and sheltered and other disability and employment efforts. For the last decade, she has been a major state and national leader in HIV prevention and care. Dr. McGuire received her PhD from the Heller School, Brandeis University, Pew Foundation Doctoral Fellow. She received her MSPH from Harvard School of Public Health, and her BA from Trinity College in Washington, DC. Active in disability public policy efforts since 1975, Dr. McGuire was an advocate for deinstitutionalization and community-based education and residential service access. In the late-1980s, she led significant parts of the national disability policy development in the Civil Rights Restoration Act, the Fair Housing Act Amendments, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Ryan White CARE Act.

Keynote

Jeffrey Strully

Jeffrey Strully, Executive Director of Jay Nolan Community Services, an agency supporting people with autism spectrum disorder and other challenging behaviors in California to live, work, play and learn in the community along side their non-disabled peers. With Jeff's leadership, JNCS has been transformed into an organization that provides an array of services in individualized and personalized ways so that people can live valued lives in the community. Jeff has been involved with people with developmental disabilities and their families for over 38 years in a variety of different capacities and environments and locations throughout the United States. He is a former Associate of the G. Allan Roeher Institute in Canada, and is a long-time Associate of the Centre for Inclusion and Community Education, also located in Canada. He has served on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of TASH, and has served on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of Autism National Committee. Jeff and his wife are the parent of three young adults with developmental disabilities. He has written numerous articles on a myriad of different subjects including friendship, inclusion in adult life, supported living, person-centered planning, inclusive education, parent empowerment, and monitoring quality services. Jeff has lectured throughout the United States, Canada Australia and the United Kingdom.

101. Commissioners' Roundtable

Elin Howe, Commissioner, Department of Developmental Services, began serving as the DDS Commissioner on July 1, 2007. Elin has more than 35 years of experience in the field of developmental disabilities, including four years as Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities where she was responsible for policy development, planning, financing, regulating, managing and providing services to more than 75,000 people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Since 2003, Elin has served as Vice President of Consulting Services at the Columbus Organization, which helps states and private agencies provide the highest level of services to people with developmental disabilities. The organization specializes in offering a full range of services to both state and private sector community service organizations. In addition, Elin has worked extensively with parents, consumer and advocacy groups, private sector providers, organized labor and in legislative relations.

Charles Carr, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission - Secretary of Health and Human Services Judy Ann Bigby, MD, appointed Charles Carr as Commissioner for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) in July 2007. The MRC provides comprehensive services to people with disabilities that maximizes quality of life and economic self-sufficiency in the community. He began his new role in early August 2007. Mr. Carr is an advocate, manager, and public policy leader who has dedicated his career to advancing independence for people with disabilities through social and economic policies and programs. He has been instrumental in eliminating the institutional bias that, historically, relegated people like him to institutional life. As Commissioner, he will use many iof the same strategies to strengthen community living and pursue an ambitious employment agenda that will help people with disabilities work out of poverty and into the mainstream workforce. Mr. Carr, who was paralyzed in a diving accident at 14, has been an advocate for disability policies and programs for more than 30 years and has a national reputation for his leadership in the independent living movement. From 1980-2007, Mr. Carr was Founder and CEO of the Northeast Independent Living Program, a non-profit providing advocacy and services supporting independent living; the successful employment program he developed there has been used as a national model. In 1974, Mr. Carr founded the Boston Center for Independent Living, only the second of its kind in the nation.

Angelo McClain, Commissioner, Department of Children and Families - Secretary of Health and Human Services Judy Ann Bigby, MD, appointed Anthony "Angelo" McClain, PhD, as Commissioner for the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in July 2007. Dr. McClain brings to his work as Commissioner an established reputation as a results-driven, seasoned child advocate. His strong clinical skills and commitment to creating systems of care that are responsive to those in need will ensure that the Department of Children and Families makes meaningful interventions in people's lives. For the past five years, Anthony "Angelo" McClain, PhD, served as Executive Director of ValueOptions New Jersey, the Contract Systems Administrator that provides the centralized administrative infrastructure for the state's $424 million behavioral health delivery system. In his role, Dr. McClain managed the development, implementation and oversight of the division's reform effort for an effective statewide system of care. One of his many accomplishments was the establishment of standardized assessment protocols for youth in the child welfare, mental health and juvenile justice systems. From 1997 until 2002, Dr. McClain served as Vice President for Network Management and Regional Operations at the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership, where he worked to develop and maintain a provider network capable of delivering high quality, responsive services to 450,000 MassHealth memebers. His extensive experience in child welfare issues also includes work as Senior Supervisor and Director of Training at Roxbury Children's Services from 1987-88 and as Supervisor of the Child Sexual Abuse Unit in the Texas Department of Human Resources. Dr. McClain previously served the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as Program Manager (1988-91) and later Director of Program Management (1991-94) for the Child/Adolescent Division of the Department of Mental Health's Central Office. Dr. McClain earned his PhD in Social Work from Boston College.

Janet LaBreck, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind - Governor Patrick appointed Janet LaBreck as Commissioner for The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind on August 1, 2007. She served as Regional Director for MCB from 2001-2007. Janet has been employed with MCB since 1985 as a CAP Counselor, Independent Living Case Coordinator and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. She obtained her Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Springfield College in addition to being a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Janet was awarded a national and international award for "Outstanding Talk Show" for her work as a talk show host for the Audio Journal (a radio reading service program for individuals who are blind or print handicapped). Additionally, she has been recognized as a leader in the area of working to increase employment opportunities for persons who are blind through her association with the Council on State Administrators for Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR). In September 2007, Janet coordinated the first "Smart Solutions" forum which was held in Boston, MA. The forum was designed to partner public vocational rehabilitation with business partners with the goal of increasing early work experience through internship opportunities with the goal of securing competitive employment for individuals who are blind or disabled. As an Adjunct Professor at Assumption College, Janet is responsible for designing a graduate level course titled Rehabilitation of the Blind in addition to teaching Case Management to graduate students who are preparing to work in the rehabilitation field. In 2008, New England College of Optometry selected Commissioner LaBreck to deliver the first commencement address in the history of the college to be delivered by a person who is blind. She was awarded with the first honorary doctoral degree to be given to a legally blind recipient as a result of her commitment to partner with the low vision community to impact low vision services for persons who experience a loss of vision. Commissioner LaBreck is developing a network of low vision providers with the goal of working toward educating future optometrists and ophthalmologists to partner with public and private rehabilitation agencies to design a coordinated system that links the medical community with agencies servicing persons who are visually impaired or blind. The low vision network also maximizes the potential to create a proactive agency that addresses the rehabilitation and low vision services required by persons who are blind.

Ann L. Hartstein, Secretary of Elder Affairs oversees the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, which promotes the independence and well-being of Massachusetts' elders, and supports elders and their families in need of social and other supportive services. Elder Affairs maintains a continuum of services responsive to the needs of its constituents, their families and caregivers. For the past five years, Ms. Hartstein has served as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Older Americans. Ms. Hartstein returns to the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, having first served a Director of Special Projects and then as Assistant Secretary for Policy and Program Development between 1998 and 2004, during which time she received the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Citation for Outstanding Performance Award. She has been a strong advocate for the elder community for over 30 years. In both 2003 and 2008, she was named as the "Advocate of the Year" by the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging and Senior Center Directors, and received the Manuel Carballo Award for Excellence in Public Service as a member of the Prescription Advantage Development Team in 2001. In 2009, she received the Betsy Ross Fliegel Award for Social Policy and Change from the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Ms. Hartstein hold a Master of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts in Gerontology, as well as a Masters in Management of Human Services from Brandeis University.

Barbara Leadholm, MS, MBA Commissioner, Department of Mental Health - was named Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) in September 2007. Commissioner Leadholm has an extensive background in the behavioral health field including six years at the Department of Mental Health in the 1990s as well as service in the departments of Medicaid and Welfare for the Commonwealth.

Under Commissioner Leadholm's leadership, DMH is focused on consumer voice and choice and her commitment to assuring mental health is seen as an integral part of a holistic and integrated approach to health care. She often discusses that treatment works and the critical importance of encouraging people to seek help.

Commissioner Leadholm's vision for the Department of Mental Health is one of transformation. "Recovery Through Partnership" is the guiding principle that supports Community First for adults, children, adolescents and families with serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance. Through her work, she is a champion of people's right to live as independently as possible in the community, and the Department's responsibility to support their recovery and success.

Commissioner Leadholm believe in open communications among stakeholders in the mental health community.

102. Aging

Rose Abbruzzese, MSW, LICSW, received her Masters Degree in Social Work from Rhode Island College (RIC) in 1999 and a Master of Arts in Agency Counseling from RIC. She utilizes an eclectic humanistic skills-training approach to therapy. As the Director of Clinical Services at Alternative Unlimited in Whitinsville, MA, she developed and oversaw the implementation of the agency-wide risk management system serving clients with serious persistent mental illness and developmental disabilities.

Debra Kortecamp, RN is currently the Adult Family Care nurse for the Shared Living program at Alternatives Unlimited. For the last three years she has advocated for individuals during medical appointments and provided the necessary training to shared living providers, staff and individuals to maximize optimal health. In addition to attending medical appointments, Debra provides regular home visits to ensure the health and well-being of individuals served through Alternative Unlimited. Previously, Debra worked at Milford Regional Medical Center on a medical surgical/telemetry unit monitoring the medical status of patients.

103. Adjusting to Family Life

Donna Macleod-Prior, B.A. is currently the Director of Individualized Support Services at Alternatives in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. Donna has extensive residential experience working with individuals in a wide variety of program models including Supported and Shared Living. She also oversees a day habilitation program for elderly adults. Prior to her 16 years at Alternatives, she worked at a school for children in London, which specialized in seizure disorders. Donna was educated in Edinburgh and grew up in the Western Isles of Scotland.

Lisa Hella has worked for Alternative for over 14 years in the position of Manager/Developer who oversees Supported Living, Shared Living and Residential programs. Lisa is very involved with screening potential providers as well as matching people together based on an individual's preferences and interest.

Gail Hisiore has been in Shared Living for over seven years. Last year, she met Karen and Darin who became Gail's Shared Living family. Since the move, Gail, Karen and Darin have formed a special connection that has enabled Gail to express herself and pursue her passions. Over the last year, Gail has settled in and considers the couple as family. A few months ago, baby Grace was born, Gail is a very proud aunt.

Richard Earley is enjoying all of the responsibilities and activities of belonging in a family. For many years Richard lived with foster parents and eventually in a residential home. Over the last nine years, Richard has lived with Helen and Eldridge who have included him in all aspects of their life and provided him with a place to call home.

104. Interactive Workshop

Mentor

Patricia King is truly a joy to work with-her Mentor coordinator is envied by her fellow coordinators because there is absolutely no Mentor in the area who can hold a candle to Pat in all areas of performance. Pat embodies all the best qualities of a care provider (not to mention a human being). She has been with us for 11 years. There are two fortunate individuals, Judy and Raina, who live with Pat. (Although Pat would tell you she is the fortunate one). Judy has been with her for 11 years, Raina for 10. During Pat's years as a Mentor, she has been asked to deal with some extraordinary client medical issues which are never-ending. She also juggles with some challenging client emotional issues. She has somehow managed to never let anyone down--not the individuals she serves nor the people who work as part of the team for these individuals. She's got a lot on the ball so she manages complicated medical issues that would muddle many medical professionals. She is always so responsible and competent. She dedicates her life to giving the individuals a wonderful quality of life. And she even manages to de every scrap of paperwork we ask her to do.

Judy Smith has shared a home with Pat King for 11 years. Judy is a social woman who is very involved in the goings on in her town on th Cape. Every day she walks independently in the village, visits neighbors, and drops in at the local variety store which is kind of the social center for the village. She assists the owner of the store with some of his tasks, and if he has to step out of the store for just a minute, he trusts Judy to keep an eye on things for him. Judy has a volunteer job as her local library, and she works every week with a literacy tutor there to improve her academic skills. Judy is a cat lover and she has rescued a number of cats from a local shelter. Her instincts always draw her to the most needy, the most hurt of all the cats, the ones that need rescue the most and might otherwise not be adopted, and she tenderly cares for them and gives them a wonderful life. Pat supports her in all her endeavors.

Raina Johnson has been sharing a home with Pat for nearly 10 years. Raina enjoys her life on the Cape, she gets around to many of the events and attractions the area has to offer. She goes to a lovely program where she makes crafts and especially enjoys the parties and dancing and other fun stuff they do. Raina has a boyfriend who lives some distance away, but she manages to maintain the relationship with him in spite of the distance. Raina struggles with a number of health issues and she has extraordinary courage and patience in the face of it all. Pat is there for her every step of the way which certainly helps, but it is in Raina's nature to be a survivor, to cope well with whatever life throws at her. Everyone who meets Raina is moved by her quiet strength and wisdom.

Seven Hills

Peter Wyman has been a shared living provider since 1994 for a man with autism. Peter and his home mate have built a solid relationship based on trust and respect. Peter's thorough understanding of the benefits of the shared living concept and communication skills have been invaluable to Seven Hills Family Services.

People Inc.

Heather Dextradeur

Taylor Cleare

Maria Royer

201. "When we say all people, do we mean all people?

202. Basics of Legal Special Needs Planning

Frederick Misilo, Jr., Esq., MEd is the director with the law firm of Fletcher, Tilton & Whipple, PC, which has offices in Worcester and Framingham. He practices in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the areas of estate planning, trust and estates, elder law, probate and real estate. Mr. Misilo is a former Deputy Commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation and Executive Director of Harbor Area Community Services, Inc. of Boston. Mr. Misilo holds a law degree from Suffolk University Law School; a Master's Degree from Harvard University; and a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

203. Adult Family Care - A Community Based Living Option

Lisa Prince, MS, LSW, received a Master's degree in 1999 from Worcester State College in Nonprofit Management. She has been involved with the Adult Foster Care program for over 11 years and serves as an Adult Foster Care program Manager for Tri Valley, Inc. Lisa is also the President of the Massachusetts Council for Adult Foster Care, a position she has held for over five years.

Beth Shelton has an MBA from Boston University's School of Public and Nonprofit Management. She worked in the Housing Department at the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, licensing Assisted Living facilities and assisting municipalities to develop affordable supportive housing. In 2007, she began working at MassHealth Office of Long Term Care as the program manager for Adult Day Health and Adult Foster Care.

204. Stress Management for Caregivers

Douglas Hughes, LMHC, MA earned a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Massachusetts. Doug has over 20 years experience in human services, working with people who have developmental disabilities. His experience includes Behavioral Medicine, Health Psychology, focused in chronic pain management and stress management. Currently, Doug is a Clinical Services Manager at Lifestream and a Mental Health Counselor/Pain Specialist at St. Ann's Hospital.

204. Empowering Providers - Partnering for Program Success

Joanne Malise, LCSW came to The Mentor Network with 30 years of experience working with people with developmental disabilities. From working direct care in the former State Institution at Ladd Center to independent plan writing for personal choice/self directed Medicaid waiver services she brings a wealth of information about person centered services. As Program Manager of Rhode Island Mentor Shared Living she has been able to create a unique program of individualized supports and services where all voices are heard and all help direct service delivery. Joanne holds a BA from Ohio Wesleyan University in Human Development and Family Studies as well as a MSW from Rhode Island College.

Patricia Romeo has 12 years of experience in human services. Pat has always had a passion for helping people. She has been a care giver to the elderly and then she moved her passion to working with people with disabilities. She did job placement and coaching but she wanted to do more. Pat was approached about doing shared living and has shared her home for more than six years. She loves what she is doing but most of all she loves to see the personal growth in the woman she has supported for the past three years through Rhode Island Mentor Shared Living. "We have formed a family through the love and care we share." Pat is a mentor coach and an active member of the PSI Group.

Cathy Pierce began her career working for RICLAS (State directed services) over 25 years ago. Over the years both she and her husband Dennis developed a close relationship with one of the group home residents. Anticipating that when they retired "Ed" would come and live with them, they fortunately decided "Why wait!" and Ed moved into their home three years ago. When asked about the experience, Cathy proudly states "We get more than we give" and she has been a strong advocate for shared living providers. Seven months ago a second gentleman joined their household. Cathy is active with PSI.