CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM

LIFE PROGRAMS

Position Announcement

 ACTIVITIES FACILITATOR PEER SPECIALIST

The position description is a guide to the critical duties and essential functions of the job, not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands, and work environment conditions. 

JOB TITLE:  Activities Facilitator Peer Specialist for LIFE PROGRAMS “OAK STREET CAFÉ” EVENING PROGRAM

DEPARTMENT: LIFE Programs located @ FEGS Multiservice Center in Copiague, NY 11726

REPORTS TO: Coordinator

JOB DESCRIPTION:  To develop, facilitate and promote social and recreational activities and outings for individuals with mental illness within the LIFE Programs, and the community.  Oak Street Café Peer Specialists are peers in recovery from mental illness who combine personal experience with learned skills to facilitate all activities.   

  The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Facilitate recreational groups, and various recreational activities

• Communicate effectively written and verbally with participants, colleagues, and contacts at other

   agencies                                                                                                                         

• Develop and/or follow instructions for activities.

• Assist OAK STREET CAFÉ guests with projects, activities, and/or travel.

• Work well as a team member.

• Record and maintain all required paperwork for reporting purposes on a timely basis

• Participate in trainings and supervision

• Serve as a mentor/role model for clients

• Other duties as assigned

  QUALIFICATIONS:  The qualifications for this job require a clean, valid driver’s license in order to perform ANY aspects of the position.  Experience in group facilitation and working with individuals with psychiatric disabilities preferred.  Good writing, reading, verbal communication skills, and excellent organizational skills required.  Must be a resident of Suffolk County and known to the Suffolk County Mental Health System.  The job duties must be performed in a manner that follows the Mission the of FEGS LIFE Programs. 

 TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, PLEASE SEND YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO:

Holly M. Beck, Coordinator of the FEGS LIFE Programs by Email: [email protected]  or By Fax to 631.264.3903.

 For any other questions regarding this position, please contact Holly Beck, @ 1-631-691-7080 ext. 332302

Holly M. Beck | LIFE Programs Coordinator

FEGS Health and Human Services System

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM

  LIFE PROGRAMS

  Position Announcement

  ACTIVITIES FACILITATOR/DRIVER PEER SPECIALIST

  The position description is a guide to the critical duties and essential functions of the job, not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands, and work environment conditions. 

  JOB TITLE:  Activities Facilitator/Driver for LIFE PROGRAMS “OAK STREET CAFÉ” EVENING PROGRAM

  DEPARTMENT: LIFE Programs located @ FEGS Multiservice Center in Copiague, NY 11726

  REPORTS TO: Coordinator

  JOB DESCRIPTION:  To develop, facilitate and promote social and recreational activities and outings for individuals with mental illness within the LIFE Programs, and the community.  Oak Street Café Peer Specialists are peers in recovery from mental illness who combine personal experience with learned skills to facilitate all activities.   

  The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to:

  • Facilitate recreational groups, and various recreational activities

  • Communicate effectively written and verbally with participants, colleagues, and contacts at other

     agencies                                                                                                                         

  • Develop and/or follow instructions for activities.

  • Assist OAK STREET CAFÉ guests with projects, activities, and/or travel.

  • Work well as a team member.

  • Record and maintain all required paperwork for reporting purposes on a timely basis

  • Participate in trainings and supervision

  • Serve as a mentor/role model for clients

  • Other duties as assigned

      QUALIFICATIONS:  The qualifications for this job require a clean, valid driver’s license in order to perform ANY aspects of the position.  Experience in group facilitation and working with individuals with psychiatric disabilities preferred.  Good writing, reading, verbal communication skills, and excellent organizational skills required.  Must be a resident of Suffolk County and known to the Suffolk County Mental Health System.  The job duties must be performed in a manner that follows the Mission the of FEGS LIFE Programs. 

  TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, PLEASE SEND YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO:

  Holly M. Beck, Coordinator of the FEGS LIFE Programs by Email: [email protected]  or By Fax to 631.264.3903.

  For any other questions regarding this position, please contact Holly Beck, @ 1-631-691-7080 ext. 332302

  Holly M. Beck | LIFE Programs Coordinator

  FEGS Health and Human Services System

As many of you know, the Affordable Care Act -- also known as Obamacare -- went live this week with online exchanges where you can compare the costs and benefits of various health care plans.

You can learn all about the new marketplace at Healthcare.gov, but FIRST we recommend reading our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we've received below. A recent study found that more than 70% of our generation still doesn't understand the Affordable Care Act (ACA), so please SHARE this graphic on Facebook to make sure your family and friends are informed. 

1.  How does the ACA affect me if I already have insurance?

If you have health insurance through your university, employer or parents, it won't likely affect you. You can keep your insurance the way it is.

2.  What if I don't have insurance right now or I won't soon?

If you don't have insurance you’ll be able to purchase different levels of insurance coverage options. The vast majority of uninsured millennials will be eligible for free or reduced-cost coverage -- depending on income level. Medicaid (which provides free or low-cost coverage for many low-earning Americans) is also being expanded, and nearly 3.5 million young people will be eligible for Medicaid coverage.

3.  What are some of the biggest changes from current health insurance plans?

Americans with pre-existing conditions won’t be turned down or charged more by insurance companies. Anyone who buys a plan from one of the exchanges will also have guaranteed coverage for mental health, prescription birth control, preventative care, and check ups.

4.  When do I have to enroll? What happens if I don't enroll?

You have from now (October 1, 2013) to March 31, 2014 to enroll in a healthcare plan. If you decide not to get health insurance, you'll be charged a fine of $95 per adult or 1 percent of household income, whichever is greater. If you opt-out and then get sick, you may have to wait months to signup for insurance, as the exchanges will be limited to a specific annual enrollment period.

5.  When do the actual plans start?

Americans who get health insurance through the new exchanges will have coverage beginning on January 1st, 2014. 

To learn more please go to Healthcare.gov.

We hope this helps a lot of you -- and that you will share this graphic on Facebook to spread the word to your friends. 

If you have more questions, tweet at us (@ourtimeorg), ask us on Facebook, or read more at Healthcare.gov.

The 13th annual Matthew Sapolin Memorial Wheelchair Basketball Tournament will bring the nation’s best wheelchair basketball teams to Manhattan College in the Bronx for two days of non-stop action. The tournament is one of the largest of its kind in the Northeast and has become one of the premier events on the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) schedule. Formerly known as the Mayor’s Cup, the event has been renamed to honor Commissioner Matthew Sapolin, who passed away in 2011 after leading the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities for nearly a decade.

Tournament Website: Updated schedules, rosters, results and pictures will be posted on Facebook.com/SapolinTournament.

Tournament Volunteers: Volunteering is a good way for individuals to gain experience in the sports industry and see how an event is produced, while also serving their community. For more information about this fantastic opportunity, please visit the Tournament Volunteer page. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Volunteer Coordinator Ben Ruiz at [email protected] or (212) 484-5427.

Do you have an idea for a business? Want to start your own company? Want to win up to $50,000 to help start it up? The Zahn Center incubator at City College is proud to announce the launch of both the Zahn Prize for Entrepreneurship ($20,000) and the Kaylie Prize for Hardware ($50,000), both of which will launch this Fall on Thursday, October 3, 2013.

Come to an information session that will be held at the Zahn Center in B-20 at the Grove School of Engineering on October 3rd from 12:30pm-1:30pm - pizza and refreshments will be served. Additional information sessions will be held on October 22nd and November 7th from 12:30 - 1:30pm. See attached poster for more info. 

We encourage everyone to attend to learn more about the competitions and how to apply. The competitions are open to everyone in all fields of study! 

Wednesday, October 9, 2013, 3:00 pm ET Mark Goldstein of Communication Mark

This webinar explains which data grantmakers are looking for, and where to present statistics and other information within the grant proposal.

Related resources:

Getting the Grant Linda Lysakowski, LLC

Why Your Best Funders Support You Bristol Strategy Group

Successful Grant Writing - A Check List Graceful Fundraising, LLC ($5)

Many students from the CUNY Coalition for Students  with Disabilities (CCSD) had the opportunity of being ushers at the 2012 National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) Breakfast  at Baruch College.  

The planning committee has requested the service of  CCSD students for the 2013 NDEAM Breakfast because of their success  last year.The breakfast will take place in the Baruch College  Conference Center.  The Conference Center is located on the 14th floor of the Newman Vertical Campus.  

UNICEF is pleased to invite you to an Academic Symposium on Childhood Disability organized in collaboration with Columbia University. The symposium will take place in New York on 25 September 2013, from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm (NY time).

  This event is one in a series of Columbia University Epidemiology Scientific Symposia which are dedicated to exploring cutting edge scientific topics in epidemiology and population health. This symposium will bring together national and international research and policy leaders for a full day of talks and discussion addressing such topics as: why childhood disability should be an international priority; building capacity for data collection; and taking to scale interventions to identify and support children living with disabilities.

  Attendance is free, but all those who plan to attend must register in advance at www.CUESS.org. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided to registered guests. The location is wheel chair accessible. For details, check the CUESS.org website.  Sign language and closed captioning will be provided. 

Disability Studies is an emerging academic field that explores disability from multiple perspectives, including the social sciences, humanities, science, and the law.

The CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers three groundbreaking, fully-accredited programs within Disability Studies including:

B.A. in Disability Studies (Courses offered online)

The first bachelor's degree program of its kind in the country

Provides the necessary skills to improve the lives of people with disabilities

Concentrations offered in: Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Mental/Behavioral Health; Interdisciplinary Disability Studies

M.A. in Disability Studies (Courses offered in-person and online)

The first stand-alone program of its kind in the country

Utilizes a "person-centered" approach to studying disability

Incorporates social sciences, humanities, science, social policy and the law to examine disability

Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies (Courses offered in-person and online)

Acquire a deeper understanding of disability studies, including its philosophy, importance in disability research, influence on public policy and impact on service delivery

Credits can be applied toward the M.A. in Disability Studies

The Disability Studies programs are especially designed for service provision employees, disability advocates, people with disabilities, parents and researchers. The programs will prepare you to further or begin a career working with or for people with a wide range of disabilities.

CUNY SPS welcomes you to learn more about their Disability Studies programs by attending an information session on Wednesday, October 2nd at 6pm EDT either in-person at 365 Fifth Ave, Room C201/2, in NYC, or online.

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone whom you believe might benefit from these programs.

New York State once again cut home care rates this summer, so it is painfully clear there will not be money to pay for increased wages, much less time-and-a-half.  The situation isnt any better around the country.

  Thats the problem with the proposed changes to the companionship exemption and the states have said it themselves.  Without the funds to pay time-and-a-half, attendants will have their hours capped.  Many of us are concerned that attendants whose earnings would consequently be cut wont be able to make ends meet.  Capping attendant hours will also make managing attendant services far more difficult, particularly for people with the most significant disabilities and likely result in the institutionalization of some individuals.

  Department of Labor Secretary Perez brought disability groups together in a listening session, while the rules remained at the Office of Management and Budget.  So far, there has been no indication that the rules are being returned to DOL for further work.  In fact, the opposite seems to be happening which means the entire listening session was a sham.

  Its time to hear from those who will be adversely affected by proposed changes to the companionship exemption. And instead of carrying on

business-as-usual, its time to LISTEN, TOM!

  TK Small:  http://youtu.be/pSZSfsj2Cbg

  Sally Johnston: http://youtu.be/eKyUkF-oT9w

  Phillip Bennett, Attendant: http://youtu.be/7QCStZt-ufI

  Marilyn Saviola: http://youtu.be/vuRbhlvKTVw