Eastern Region Fall Meeting
Dare Center
Manteo, NC
9/14/10

Attendance: Gail Sonnesso-GEM Center Angelo Sonnesso- NC Division of Services for the Blind Mineko Holloway Eastern Carolina AAA Catherine Smith- Eastern Carolina AAA Kim Emory- Upper Coastal Plains AAA Stephanie Bowers- Dare Respite Jody Riddle- Upper Coastal Plains AAA Mr. Kenny- visitor Phyllis Stephenson- ESUCP and NCRCC Jane MacLeod- ESUCP and NCRCC Phyllis welcomed everyone and introductions were made. Stephanie Bowers gave a presentation on the Dare Respite Program. Highlights: The number one requested service by residents for Dare County was respite. This program started in Hattaras Island. Now more service is provided in the central area of the county. Dare Respite received its original money from Duke Endowment. Now funds come from fundraising efforts and from the county for one salaried position. (Renata Macciarole has a program to serve young adults with disabilities called the Beach Club. Funding comes from Monarch, a local LME) Dare Respite has 12 volunteers serving 14 families. This program is housed with hospice, so sometimes there is crossover. There was discussion of how each group in the community is going to area churches for many services. Most of the promotion and success in respite is through churches or word of mouth. Church members’ life experience has made them want to be volunteers. Newspaper marketing for the respite program is not always successful since the local paper only is published 3 days a week. Gail Sonnesso of GEM includes the information from her program with Stephanie’s so it benefits both agencies. It was noted that the same issue arises here as in other areas of the state- people don’t understand what respite is. Dare Respite uses a volunteer application, has volunteers sign a commitment contract, a confidentiality contract, and receive HIPPA training. Questions that arose from the presentation: Are people who receive the service given a survey? Is there a whistle blower component? (i.e., a method for concerns that can come through anonymously so that people feel protected. A simple method can be implemented by providing a paper and envelope or a voice mail line that accepts calls when there are concerns.) Dare Respite volunteers receive training on elder abuse. Volunteers may also be surveyed to see if they are getting what they need from the program. Discussion followed the presentation about the program concerning fundraising ideas and sustainability. Ideas suggested included: a cooking demonstration and wine pairing. The local area of the Outer Banks has many creative fund raising events for various causes almost every weekend, such as a golf ball drop. It’s important to have creative ideas to keep interest in a program and generate additional funds. The discussion moved to Lifespan Respite grant topics: Phyllis talked about the new respite manual and items needed for it- costs involved, transportation issues, etc. Agencies must be sure to be all inclusive in following the practices spelled out in their agency guidelines. The manual is in revision now; this will be a guide to training volunteers. Discussion continued on the topic of a whistleblower component. Phyllis recommended developing a whistleblower policy for any program. This gives the program a safety net for any issues that could be damaging. Any program needs a way for outsiders to report something if they need to. (financial abuse, unethical behavior, etc.) Every agency should have a process because in every environment there is potential for abuse that could damage the program. People who have a concern can give their name or remain anonymous. In educating volunteers there should be a component that makes volunteers aware of the parameters of being a volunteer and that there may be circumstances that occur that make it so they may not able to continue as volunteers. Volunteer programs should have this made clear up front so there are no surprises. Gail Sonnesso suggested programs can sometimes start with a volunteer model and move to a paid model. A volunteer model can be one of an array of services. An example would be a business plan that includes a volunteer model as part of the plan even though it loses money. Agencies can look for larger entities to partner with. The state will be looking for new ways to do more with less. Mineko Holloway updated the group about the local chapter, Twin Rivers in the New Bern area. Methodist churches in the New Bern area are providing respite grants in their churches. Phyllis gave update from other regions of the coalition. There are challenges about engaging diverse populations: for example in the mountains there are different populations who may be resistant to outsiders providing or suggesting respite. The Outer Banks chapter needs help in rebuilding. They will evaluate this need over the next few months. There is a need for a welcome committee in the eastern region. Jody Riddle and Dawn Gartman will work on getting welcome packets for new members. It was noted that IPRS dollars in the LME that have been available for community respite have been cut severely in local budgets. Respite is a definition and comes out of local dollars. Agencies need to research what trends are coming and plan over a large time period because funding streams are changing all the time. Mineko Holloway talked about shelter child care and how might this be provided? She’s looking at a local college with a child education students. In Wilmington, we could explore this topic in the spring at our meeting since there is a church program there that provides this service. Little Andrews Nursery provided the child care in the Burlington area with a domestic violence shelter. Next meeting: Wilmington, Thursday March 31 or possibly the 29th. Mineko Holloway will contact Holly Henderson in Wilmington to explore the shelter child care program. Submitted by: Jane MacLeod NCRCC Program Coordinator