West Virginia Advocates, Inc. (WVA)
Fiscal Year 2008 Priorities and Objectives
Year 3 of 3 Year Priorities
Board Approved 07/14/2007
Priority 1:
Stakeholders are aware of and understand WVA's mission and how to access its services, with emphasis on un-served and under-served populations.
Objective 1:
Develop and conduct outreach to unserved and underserved areas of the state and minority populations (see footnote 2) as identified by existing data. Outcome will be measured by documentation maintained in WVA's database relative to the number of individuals contacted and printed material disseminated.
Objective 2:
Participate and conduct outreach at WV disability-related conferences and events. Outcome will be measured by documentation maintained in WVA's database relative to the number of individuals contacted and printed material disseminated.
Priority 2:
People with disabilities are free from abuse and neglect.
Objective 1:
Investigate all allegations of abuse and neglect that are reported to or discovered by WVA in which there is a possibility of death or serious injury (see footnote 3). Outcome will be measured by documentation maintained in WVA's database.
Objective 2:
Monitor all investigations conducted by primary investigatory agencies (see footnote 4) that are reported to or discovered by WVA and conduct secondary investigations pursuant to WVA case selection criteria (see footnote 1). Outcome will be measured by documentation maintained in WVA's database.
Objective 3:
Investigate, monitor, and act upon all alleged abuse during acts of seclusion, restraint, and use of aversive techniques in various settings. (see footnote 5). Outcome will be measured by documentation maintained in WVA's database.
Objective 4:
Investigate, monitor and act upon all alleged use of seclusion, aversive techniques and abuse of restraints used upon individuals with developmental disabilities.
Objective 5:
Advocate for appropriate medical/psychiatric treatment, including properly prescribed and administered medication to be available to incarcerated individuals of all ages with disabilities that come to the attention of WVA. Outcome will be measured by documentation maintained in WVA's database.
Priority 3:
Children and youth with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.
Objective 1 :
Intervene on behalf of students with disabilities relative to suspensions, expulsions, out-of-school environment and alternative education placements for up to 30 individuals (see footnote 6) requesting services from WVA who meet the case selection criteria (see footnote 1) and take corrective action.
Priority 4:
People with disabilities have equal access to programs and public buildings.
Objective 1:
Advocate for up to 25 people (see footnote 6) with disabilities who meet WVA's case selection criteria (see footnote 1) to have physical and/or program access to locations and programs covered by the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as Amended, HAVA and the Fair Housing Act.
Priority 5:
People with disabilities are able to live in the community setting of their choice with individualized supports, services, and protections.
Objective 1:
People with disabilities will have quality service coordination that is effective and responsive to clients' expressed wishes and needs. Outcome will be measured by documentation maintained in WVA's database.
Objective 2:
Work in conjunction with other advocacy organizations to eliminate barriers for people with disabilities who want to live in their home communities.
Objective 3:
Investigate, monitor, and act to assure the availability of services and supports up to 25 individuals (see footnote 6) who choose to live in the community rather than an institution, including but not limited to transitioning out of institutions, group homes, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, or congregate care facilities.
Priority 6:
People with disabilities have equal access to employment and employment-related services.
Objective 1:
Provide services to all individuals who call WVA for assistance who are receiving/applying/eligible for services from WVDRS, a Center for Independent Living, supported employment programs and other programs funded under the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.
Objective 2:
Provide services to all individuals who call WVA for assistance who are SSI/SSDI beneficiaries and who want to work but encounter barriers per the priorities established by the Social Security Administration.
Priority 7:
People with disabilities who require assistive technology have access to it.
Objective 1:
Provide advocacy for up to 25 people (see footnote 6) with disabilities who require assistive technology and related supports.
Objective 2:
Provide outreach and training to various groups and individuals on how to access assistive technology. Outcome will be measured by documentation maintained in WVA's database relative to the number of individuals contacted and printed material disseminated.
Priority 8:
People with disabilities who are institutionalized in state psychiatric hospitals, including diversion hospitals, are aware of and able to exercise their rights.
Objective 1:
WVA will open a service request for all individuals who call from state psychiatric hospitals, including diversion hospitals, requesting advocacy services.
Priority 9:
People with disabilities are able to exercise their right to vote.
Objective 1:
Monitor, investigate, and act to assure equal access for all eligible individuals with disabilities to participate in the voting process, including polling places, voting equipment, and voter registration. Outcome will be measured by documentation maintained in WVA's database and written reports.
Objective 2:
Educate at least 25 people with disabilities about their right to vote, are trained in the voting process, and have the opportunity to register and vote. Outcome will be measured by documentation maintained in WVA's database relative to the number of individuals contacted and printed material disseminated.
Objective 3:
Educate at least 25 public officials and guardians about the rights of people with disabilities to register and vote. Outcome will be measured by documentation maintained in WVA's database relative to the number of individuals contacted and printed material disseminated.
Priority 10:
Participate in grass roots coalitions of consumers and stakeholders in order to facilitate a consumer driven service system.
Objective 1:
WVA will continue to form an information network composed of consumers and stakeholders located throughout the state.
Objective 2:
WVA will actively participate on various committees, coalitions, and other types of groups with grassroots advocacy missions.
Programs
Client Assistance Program (CAP):
Serves individuals who have applied for or are receiving services from DRS, a Center for Independent Living, supported employment programs, and other programs funded under the federal Rehabilitation Act.
Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT):
Serves children and adults with disabilities who need assistive technology devices and related support services to maintain or increase their skills, independence, and community integration.
Protection and Advocacy for Benificiaries of Social Security (PABSS):
Assists individuals who receive SSI or SSDI break down barriers to employment.=
Protectiona and Advocacy for Developmental Disabilities (PADD):
Serves individuals with developmental disabilities or a severe & chronic mental or physical impairment that begins before age 22 and investigates abuse & neglect complaints on their behalf.
Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI):
Serves individuals with significant mental illness or emotional impairment and investigates abuse & neglect complaints on their behalf.
Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR):
Serves individuals with disabilities that substantially limit one or more major life activities and who are not eligible for advocacy under any other federal program.
Protection and Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI):
Serves individuals with traumatic brain injury who are significantly limited in activities of daily living.
Protection and Advocacy for the Help America Vote Act (PAVA):
Carries out the mandate of the "Help America Vote Act", legislation passed to ensure that individuals with disabilities can fully participate in the electoral process.
Potomac Center
Under a contract with DHHR, provides advocacy services to 24 designated residents of Potomac Center, a residential ICF/MR in Romney, WV.
Footnotes
- Criteria used to select cases for direct representation are:
- in agreement with the WVA's mission;
- the vulnerability of the client or the potential to effect policy or systemic change;
- consistent with ethical standards and possesses sufficient legal merit;
- funds/resources must be available.
PABSS has its own case selection criteria based on Social Security Administration regulations. PAIMI has its own case selection criteria for individuals in state hospitals.
Non-priority case compelling - These service requests may raise issues that meet federal funding eligibility and that WVA may want to address, but which do not fall within the agency's priorities and objectives. These service requests may include emerging issues and any other matter that WVA deems important enough to address.
- Minority is defined as individuals other than white, non-Hispanic.
- "Serious injury" is defined as physical harm, injury or death to an individual with disabilities and includes, but is not limited to acts such as: rape or sexual assault; striking; the use of excessive force when placing an individual with disabilities in bodily restraints; or use of restraints not in compliance with state and federal laws.
- Primary investigatory agencies may include, but are not limited to, the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources and it's various divisions, the West Virginia Department of Education and local education agencies, law enforcement agencies, etc.
- Various settings include, but are not limited to locations or entities that provide services to individuals with disabilities.
- Numbers used in objectives are solely for the purpose of reporting outcomes to federal funders. They do not limit the number of individuals actually served. Actual numbers served beyond the targeted number will depend upon agency resources.
- WVA is currently working under three year priorities, with Fiscal Year 2008 being year 3.
Acronyms
- ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
- DHHR: West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources
- WVDRS: West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services
- HAVA: Help America Vote Act
- ICF/MR: Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Mental Retardation
- SSDI: Social Security Disability Income
- SSI: Social Security Income
- WVA: West Virginia Advocates, Inc.
