Welcome to the Olmstead Web Site

NOTICE: Public Comment Welcomed

Virginia’s Comprehensive Cross-Governmental Strategic Plan to Assure Continued Community Integration of Virginians with Disabilities has been updated and will be submitted to Governor Kaine by August 31, 2008 pursuant to Executive Directive 6 (2007). 

The updated Plan was developed by the Community Integration Implementation Team (including over 20 state agencies in four Secretariats; two statewide councils; and representatives of local government and local agencies) working in close collaboration with Virginia’s cross-disability stakeholder Community Integration Advisory Commission.  The Plan sets out specific goals, strategies and implementation actions designed to create additional community integration opportunities for all individuals with disabilities.

The Community Integration Advisory Commission invites you to comment on this Plan by:

• Submitting written public comment from June 16 ~ July 18, 2008 via:
  
  Email to:  olmstead.public.comment@governor.virginia.gov
  Fax to:  804-786-3389
  Letter to: Office of Community Integration
  1111 East Broad Street, 4th Floor
  Richmond, Virginia  23219

• Presenting oral public comment from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at the Virginia Housing Center, 4224 Cox Road, Glen Allen, Virginia  23060.  Comments will be limited to 5 minutes each.

This NOTICE and the Plan are available in alternative formats by request to the Office of Community Integration at 804-371-0829.

Please share this NOTICE with any interested groups or individuals.

2008 Meeting Schedules Announced

• 2008 Community Integration Advisory Commission Meeting Schedule.
• 2008 Community Integration Implementation Team Meeting Schedule.

Virginia launches website describing community living choice project for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Virginia is one of thirty-one states participating in a five-year, $1.75 billion Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration project designed to create a system of long-term services and supports that assist individuals to transition from certain long-term care institutions into the community. This project supports Virginia’s Olmstead initiative and complements the efforts of the recently awarded Systems Transformation Grant that aims to improve the infrastructure for community-based long-term supports. Virginia’s MFP project, administered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services, will make over $28 million in federal Medicaid funds available to support Virginia’s seniors and individuals with disabilities.

For more details and the most current information on the MFP project, please visit http://www.olmsteadva.com/mfp.

Own Your Future

No one ever said aging would be easy, but there are steps you can take to age well! Take time now to prepare for your long-term care needs. Long-term care refers to a broad range of supportive medical, personal, and social services required by people who are unable to meet their basic living needs for an extended period of time. Learn more about how you can Own Your Future by reviewing the resources available at www.vda.virginia.gov/oyf.

Executive Directive 6 issued by Governor Kaine

On May 18, 2007, Governor Kaine issued Executive Directive 6, directing five Secretariats, 22 state agences and 2 state Councils to continue their collaborative efforts with the Community Integration Advisory Commission, local governments and local agencies to complete and annually update a comprehensive, cross-governmental strategic plan designed to assure continued community integration of Virginians with disabilities. The Plan and annual updates are due to the Governor by August 31 of each year. Read the full document in word format.

Appointments to State Boards and Commissions

Are you interested in applying for an appointment to a Board or Commission? One of the functions of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth is to assist the Governor in his appointments of over 4,000 individuals to serve on Virginia's boards and commissions. That Office is deeply committed to the principle of including all segments of the Commonwealth's population into government, because this is what makes the theory of self-government a reality. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ed Turner, the Governor's Special Advisor on Disabilities, at ed.turner@governor.virginia.gov, or at (804) 371-2666.

• If you wish to serve on a board or commission, or recommend qualified candidates to serve, please visit http://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/

Emergency Management

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has a website with helpful information for Virginia’s citizens to prepare for and deal with a variety of potential emergencies. Information that is specifically helpful for people with disabilities is included.

   

Tim Kaine	Marilyn B. Tavenner	Patrick O. Gottschalk	Pierce R. Homer	Dr. Thomas R. Morris
Virginia Governor	Secretary of HHR	Secretary of Commerce & Trade	Secretary of Transportation	Secretary of Education