Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

Michigan Made Arts Crafts Jewelry Show & More!

From Michigan Arts Crafts Show:

First Friday Every Month 2012
June 1, July 6, Aug 3, Sept 7, Oct 5, Nov 2, Dec 7

FREE admission
FREE parking
FREE LUNCH 1 Shopper every hour, no purchase required
FREE CONCERT 6:15

Indoors, Handicapped accessible, underground parking

See some of the most artistic, creative and unique arts, crafts, jewelry
and other products all Michigan Made.

If you are a crafters, or know of any, we would love to have them in our show and hope you would pass our information along to them.  We rely on word of mouth advertising to get the word out. If you could print out or email our posters we would really appreciate it.

Below is a summary of what the show is all about.
 
Who:
Anyone in Michigan that makes hand crafted items. We are featuring hand made items from people with disabilities.  We have contacted over 200 agencies that assist people with disabilities including: Community Network Services, Oakland County Community Mental Health Agency, Wayne County Mental Health, Macomb County Mental Health, JVS, Easter Seals, Goodwill, MORC.  See some of the most artistic, creative and unique items not seen anywhere else.

Attached our new show poster along with a proclamation from the State of Michigan recognizing the Therapy Choir of Michigan.
 
The choir will be performing at our June 1st 2012 show and we will also be offering Face Painting from the disability agency Community Choices of Westland; and a free lunch raffle every hour during the show. Show admission and parking are free to the public.

Where:
Atrium Of Novi 43155 Main Street Novi Michigan 48375.
From I-696 exit Novi Road, go south, cross Grand River Avenue.                                                                            Turn left 1 block south of Grand River Avenue on Main Street.
Parking and underground parking behind the building.  Totally handicapped accessible.

First Friday Every Month in 2012

 June 1st-July 6th-August 3rd-September 7th-October 5th-November 2nd &December 7th
Why:Show and sell Michigan Made hand crafted items.  Support Michigan artist and crafters.
Featuring many items Michigan Made by people with disabilities.

How:

Send an email to:  MichiganArtsCraftsShow@gmail.com
or visit our website:

http://www.michiganartscraftsshow.com

Support Michigan Made Products
Please email this information to everyone you know.
Put poster on your Facebook.
Print poster put up in your office, business, churchs, stores, restaurants.

June 1 2012
Exhibitors $20 space only,
bring your own table, chair, table cloth, first 20 vendors before May 27 2012

Motorcyclist without helmet killed in Eastpointe accident; pickup driver may have been drinking

Excerpt from The Oakland Press: (click for entire article)

A 43-year-old motorcyclist from St. Clair Shores was killed early Tuesday morning when he was struck by a pickup truck driven by a 27-year-old Eastpointe man.

He was not wearing a helmet.

Eastpointe Detective Lt. Dave Ernatt said a preliminary investigation indicates the driver of the pickup truck had been drinking. His blood alcohol registered .11 percent on a breathalyzer, Ernatt said.

The motorcyclist was traveling eastbound on 10 Mile Road toward Gratiot Avenue at 2:40 a.m. when the pickup truck attempted to turn onto Dodge Street. Ernatt said the pickup truck struck the cyclist pinning him under the truck.

Schuette Announces Charges for Northern Michigan Foreclosure-Rescue Fraud

Excerpt from Attorney General Bill Schuette: (click for entire article)

Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced charges against a Holly woman for her role in a foreclosure-rescue fraud operation that scammed at least 60 victims across the state out of $250,000.  Tashia Winstanley, 38, of Holly, and her company, TLW Mortgage Solutions, face criminal charges for collecting upfront fees and impersonating a mortgage modification company.

             "Foreclosure rescue scam artists attack Michigan homeowners who are struggling financially and fighting to stay in their homes," said Schuette.  "Instead of helping families stay above water, these criminals push them back under.  We are working hard to dismantle these predatory operations and connect victims with free foreclosure assistance."

                The criminal charges come as the result of an investigation by the Attorney General after complaints against the company were filed with Attorney General Schuette's Consumer Protection Division.  The investigation revealed that from September 2009 through January 2012 Winstanley allegedly operated TLW Mortgage Solutions as a mortgage modification business.

Over 1,000 people will be stuck in Michigan Nursing Facilities Next Year

From the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition: (click for entire article)

The Nursing Home Transition Initiative (NFTI) is part of the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver program.  NFTI is a cutting edge program that has gained national attention for successfully transitioning people in nursing homes who want to leave but face barriers.  Barriers can include losing their home, not having an accessible home, and needing services and supports to stay at home.  Last year, over 1,600 people were transitioned; data suggest that every year about 3,000 people in nursing homes are candidates for NFTI.   

NFTI saves the state money because it targets people on Medicaid who cost an average of $172/day in a nursing home, compared with an average of $60/day in their own home.  It is estimated that $25 million will be needed next year to transition another 1,600 people.

The Governor’s budget allocates $11 million to serve people on the MI Choice waiting list, but only $3.1 million for NFTI, enough to continue the program for only two months.  This would mean over 1,000 people would be forced to remain in nursing homes when they could live in the community at a much lower cost to the state.  An additional $22 million is needed for NFTI in fiscal year 2013.   

Legislators are now crafting the state’s FY 2013 budget, and the final decisions will be made by joint House-Senate Conference Committees.  We need to convince committee members to approve the Governor’s request for $11 million to serve the MI Choice waiting list, and also provide the $25 million in funding necessary to transition 1,600 people from nursing homes next year.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Click here to send a letter to your legislators thanking them for their past support of MI Choice and nursing facility transitions, and asking them to approve $11 million for the MI Choice waiting list and $25 million for nursing facility transitions in the MI Choice budget for FY 2013.

Would you like to meet other girls with disabilities from across the state of Michigan?

Excerpt from Her Power! Her Pride!: (click for entire article)

Then you need to register TODAY for Michigan’s girls with disabilities event,  Her Power • Her Pride • Her Voice.

As a group, we will explore what it means to be a girl teen with a disability, in today’s world.  You will challenge stereotypes and shatter myths about what it means to be a girl with a disability.  The media and some adults are continually telling us how we are supposed to act, who we are supposed to be, and what we are supposed to look like.

Michigan Medicaid Program Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Services

Excerpt from the attached information sheet:

Assistance with transportation to receive medical care may be covered by Medicaid –

• Payment for transportation may only be authorized –

o   to receive a Medicaid covered service
o   if it is not otherwise available at no cost
o   for the least expensive available transportation that is suitable to the individual’s needs

• Individuals that can provide their own transportation or receive transportation from a family member, relative or friend are expected to do so without reimbursement. Reimbursement is only approved in cases of extreme circumstances or hardship.

• The physician or other health care provider may be required to verify the medical appointment and need for transportation.

Download Medicaid Transportation Services

Schuette Announces Charges for Southeast Michigan Foreclosure-Rescue Fraud

Excerpt from Attorney General Bill Schuette: (click for entire article)

Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced charges against a Westland man for his role in an extensive foreclosure-rescue fraud operation that scammed at least 360 victims out of $800,000.  Rickey White, 46, of Westland, and his company, Braunstein & Associates, face criminal charges for collecting upfront fees and impersonating a mortgage modification company.

 "Foreclosure rescue scam artists attack Michigan homeowners who are struggling financially and fighting to stay in their homes," said Schuette.  "Instead of helping families stay above water, these criminals push them back under.  We are working hard to dismantle these predatory operations and connect victims with free foreclosure assistance."

The criminal charges come as the result of an investigation by the Attorney General after complaints against the company were filed with Attorney General Schuette's Consumer Protection Division.  The investigation revealed that from December 2009 through May 2011 White allegedly operated two companies that were marketed as mortgage modification businesses: Braunstein & Associates and Expert Financial.

Community Foreclosure Response Toolkit

Excerpt from Michigan Foreclosure Response: (click for entire article)

This toolkit is intended for any individual, group or organization that wants to respond effectively to the foreclosure crisis in their own backyards. It is filled with Michigan-specific foreclsoure-related information, resources, strategies for mortgage and tax foreclsoure prevention and response, as well as best-practice models from around the state. It also includes resources for at-risk homeowners and advice on organizing a local, community foreclosure response effort. This online toolkit is searchable, interactive and continually updated, providing the opportunity for Michigan communities to learn from one another as they address the foreclosure crisis.

Medical home guidelines expand focus to specialty practices

Excerpt from PGIP Matters: (click for entire article)

BCBSM along with provider organization leaders from across Michigan have expanded the PGIP PCMH Interpretive Guidelines to include concepts from the Patient-Centered Medical Home-Neighbor model endorsed by the American College of Physicians.

Patient-centered medical home is an approach in which patients take an active role in their own health care, working closely with their primary care physicians (pediatricians, internists and family practice doctors). Doctors coordinate patients' health status, manage chronic conditions, track all medications, offer extended office hours and practice ongoing health management to keep patients healthy and prevent complications.

Dompierre family to testify in Lansing

Excerpt from The Mining Journal: (click for entire article)

The Ishpeming family embroiled in a controversy with the Michigan High School Athletic Association is heading to Lansing to tell their side of the story.

Dean and Jill Dompierre, along with their 19-year-old son Eric, will testify before the Senate Education Committee about the MHSAA's current age eligibility rule, which prohibits anyone who turns 19 before Sept. 1 from participating in high school sports.

Eric will be a senior next year at Ishpeming High School, and will be too old to play sports under the current rule. Eric has played high school basketball and football in previous years. He also has Down syndrome, which kept him in elementary school longer than most other children.