Georgia Forms a Microboard
Association!
This is a report from the Advocacy Office in Georgia.
MICROBOARDS IN GEORGIA
Saturday, February
9th 9:00 AM - Noon
The Georgia Advocacy Office
(Miscellaneous notes taken by S. Commito, AAAFDD
Recording Secretary
Ruby Moore, Executive Director of the Georgia Advocacy
Office, welcomed everyone and introduced guest speakers: Ruthie-Marie
Beckwith, Executive Director of the Tennessee
Microboard Association and Mark Friedman, Ph.D. Organizational
Structures, who has created over 100 non-profit entities.
GUEST SPEAKER
Dr. Beckwith explained that a microboard is a small,
non-profit organization created to provide natural and/or paid supports and
services to an individual with a disability or someone who is elderly.
It is a managed care and support program where a board of
directors is appointed to receive funds for one disabled individual, and takes
full responsibility for the hiring of personal attendants and all associated
payroll responsibilities. Although family members are encouraged to
participate, there are no restrictions as to who may be part of the board
support group. All board members agree to meet on a regular basis to help the
person with a disability create a plan, implement the plan, and overcome any
obstacles.
Dr. Beckwith said, "Funding flows to your microboard
organization and you decide what accountant, insurance company, attorney, and
support staff to hire".
Some of the benefits included: a better care plan for
the disabled, a personal support network, lobbying strength, business
management, emergency back-up, sharing resources in dealing with bureaucracy,
exploring new ideas, creativity, creating a broader audience and an increased
voting base.
[Carmine Vara and members of his Microboard were at the meeting
and what struck this attendee was the fact that every board member said they
were honored to be selected, willingly gave their time, and offered Carmine
and his family much in the way of new and practical ideas. While parents might
be hesitant to ask others for assistance, Carmine's board was obviously very
proud because they knew they were playing an important role and making a
difference in this young man's future.]
The Purpose of a Microboard
Dr. Beckwith said, "One of the primary objectives of a
microboard is to control who comes in the front door of a disabled individual's
home".
The board of directors is an unpaid circle-of-support whose
goal is to create and implement a plan that will keep the disabled person
safe, on track, and to preserve assets and financial resources to meet any
unexpected needs. Board members may not be paid and the by-laws of the
organization determine the length of time each board member is eligible to
serve. The original board may shrink or expand as the disabled individual's
needs change and the group takes in new members.
A Person-Centered Plan is created by the Board using the
PATH process
Dr.
Beckwith explained that PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) is a
planning tool developed by a group in Canada
that helps individuals with disabilities and their families develop positive
goals for the future and identifies practical steps to implement them.
What if the Microboard
Wants to Provide Paid Services?
Three additional steps
are required if the microboard wants to provide paid services:
- They
must complete an application to become a paid provider of services and
supports for Medicaid home and community based waiver programs
- The
microboard then develops the management and oversight needed to operate as a
paid care provider
- The
microboard must continue to help the individual carry out his or her PATH.
How Long Does it Take?
The time needed to establish a microboard varies depending on
the circumstances of the individual and his/her supporters. It
can take a year or more for a microboard to become approved as a provider of
paid services and supports. After approval,
additional time will be required to prepare for operation as a business and to
put in place systems needed to meet waiver requirements.
What Does It Cost?
The Tennessee
Microboard Association charges each microboard a technical assistance fee for
helping to start a microboard; the fees vary by the type of microboard desired
and include membership in the association. Basic establishment costs include
incorporation fees and background checks. What the
individual microboard could be paid to provide supports depends upon the
approved individual budget for services he or she currently is or might be
eligible to receive.
What are the Benefits of Forming a Microboard?
Disabled individuals build long-term relationships with family
and friends who are on the microboard and make significant progress on
completing activities identified on their PATHs. They control who comes in
their front door and how much they are paid to provide supports.
What Are the Challenges?
Many developmentally disabled individuals begin with a very
limited social network. Some need to build self-confidence and a belief that
they are in control of what happens in their lives. Some are in crisis and
need to resolve the crisis in order to have the energy to dedicate themselves
to the microboard, others do not want to take the time to complete the steps
required.
What Makes a Successful Microboard?
The microboard should have a sufficient number of members to
carry out the work and the willingness to add members as time goes on or the
individuals needs change. The successful microboard has clear support for
managing the funds they receive, makes sure that one person is not responsible
for doing all of the work, develops an effective system for managing required
paperwork, and develops an effective working relationship with funders.
Creating a Microboard Association
Dr. Beckwith said that The Tennessee
Microboard Association is a 50lc6 not-for-profit (trade) association that is
exempt from most federal income taxes. Their primary role is to provide
planning assistance, education, and guidance to individuals throughout the
state who wish to set up microboards. Donations to The Tennessee
Microboard Association are welcome, but do not qualify as charitable tax
deductions.
The Tennessee
Microboard Association provides technical assistance to its members at each
step of the development process. The Association provides basic information
about microboards, assists in the PATH process, trains the board of directors
and helps with the incorporation of the new microboard organization. In
addition, they are available to do crisis intervention and arbitration
whenever necessary.
The Association monitors strict adherence to the basic values
and mission of microboards in the US, obtains and disseminates information
about changes in rules and regulations, and provides opportunities for
networking and sharing information with existing and newly formed microboards.
She said that there are state standards that must be met, and the government
does a quality review annually.
Dr. Beckwith said that the Tennessee
Microboard Association is in its seventh year of operation. Her efforts began
with a proposal submitted to the Council on Developmental Disabilities and an
initial grant was approved and received in 2001. Since
then, they have created 85 microboards in Tennessee;
40 of them are fully active, and 30 are funded through waivers. She said that
the Tennessee
Microboard Association is the most sophisticated and the best run in the
country, with microboards that consistently maintain 90 to 95% quality
assurance ratings.
Dr. Beckwith said that there is a national push to put families
in the drivers seat with self-directed service and support options, and by the
end of this year, she believes that the microboard concept will take root in
Georgia. She is committed to making that dream a reality, but she stressed
that creating a microboard for a disabled individual requires leadership,
commitment, collaboration and perseverance.
Mark Freidman said, Early adopters are risk takers who are open
to new and exciting ideas; people who can dream and can think outside the box.
A Microboard Association is in the unique position of being able to interface
with the state, and through connectivity, individual microboards can share and
learn from each other. The mission and goal of the
Microboard Association is to clarify roles and legalities with state
guidelines, and to create useable documents and forms that enhance efficiency.
Where are Microboards Operating in the United States?
Colorado,
New
Hampshire, Nevada
and Oregon
have some microboards; whereas,
Tennessee
and Virginia
have operating Microboard Associations. (Only Tennessees
association is helping microboards become operating providers, and they are
currently helping to establish microboards in both Iowa
and Georgia.)
Creating a Microboard Association in Georgia
Drs. Beckwith and Freidman announced that the Tennessee
Microboard Association has received a grant from the Governors Council for
Developmental Disabilities in the amount of $10,000 to help defray the cost of
travels back and forth from Tennessee
to Atlanta
so that we can begin investigating the possibility of setting up a Microboard
Association in Georgia.
They asked for volunteers who would be willing to serve on a
Microboard Association Planning Committee and requested the names of anyone
who should be invited to attend. A sign-up list was circulated and several
members of the audience asked that Greg Kirk, Executive Director of the Arc of
Georgia, be extended an invitation.
The meeting was adjourned.
For more information, contact Ruthie-Marie Beckwith, Executive
Director, Tennessee
Microboard Association at 615-898-0300
or email empfanatic@aol.com
MARCH CONFERENCE OPPORTUNITY
Tennessee
Microboards Association, Inc. and People First of Tennessee,
Inc.
Will host:
MicroConference 2008
Friday, March 14-Saturday, March 15th
Holiday Inn, Brentwood, TN
Keynote Speaker: Nancy Ray, Ed.D., Court Monitor for the Arlington
Class
Break-out Topics Include:
Board and leadership training
Local Chapter Fundraising
Personnel Management
Non-Profit Budgeting 101
Home Ownership
Special Needs Trust
How to File a Service Appeal
Advisor Training
Very Special Arts
For information: People First 615-898-0075
TN Microboards Assn 625-594-5899
Return
to TN Microboards Home Page