Friends of Wyoming Life Resource Center

News and Updates from Friends of Wyoming Life Resource Center

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Very important for all guardians to complete!! For the DOH survey!! Only one survey for each resident please.

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Wyoming Department of Health planning Riverton meeting to discuss changes in Disability Waiver Programs. Read more here:

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House Bill 68

This all started back in November when the Casper Star Tribune published the article "Study would examine downsizing Lander health care facility" and one of our board members sent out this:

The study bill is only one aspect of what happened at the meeting,  All of the committee members except John Schiffer voted to override the recommendations of the Department of Health and deepen cuts to Lander.  We need to mobilize and contact the governor before he prepares his final budget recommendations due December 1.

 The time is now.   We need to improve our contact list and get moving.  We need letters to the editor at the CST and all levels of communication with the Governor.  Please do not ignore this plea. 

The study was, in the beginning, very biased. Here is the original bill text:

HOUSE BILL NO.  HB0068 

Life resource center. 

Sponsored by:  Joint Labor, Health and Social Services 

Interim Committee 

A BILL 

for 

1  AN ACT relating to the administration of government; 

2  directing a study of transitioning life resource center 

3  clients to community service providers; directing the 

4  contents of the study; requiring a report; and providing 

5  for an effective date. 

6 

7  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

8 

9  Section 1.

10 

11  (a)  The department of health shall conduct a study of 

12  the possibility of transitioning some or all clients of the 

13  Wyoming life resource center to community based services.  

14  The study shall include: 

15 2013 STATE OF WYOMING 13LSO-0339.E1

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1  (i)  Development of a proposed plan for the 

2  transition; 

3 

4  (ii)  A report on the current and a ten (10) year 

5  historic trend of the numbers of clients served at the life 

6  resource center and the cost of services provided to those 

7  clients under the Medicaid program, under private pay 

8  arrangements or under any other third party payor.  To the 

9  extent practicable, costs shall be itemized to identify 

10  separately those costs that reflect the direct provision of 

11  client services and the costs of the physical plant 

12  maintenance that do not directly support client services; 

13 

14  (iii)  An estimate of the costs of providing 

15  community based services or services in other settings, 

16  including nursing homes, to the same clients receiving 

17  services as of March 1, 2013; 

18 

19  (iv)  An estimate of the  cost savings, if any, 

20  that would be realized by transitioning some or all life 

21  resource center clients to community based services or 

22  services in other settings, including nursing homes; 

1  (v)  An estimate of one-time costs to implement 

2  the transition; 

3 

4  (vi)  A determination of whether there are 

5  sufficient service providers in the state who are 

6  appropriately certified, capable and willing to provide 

7  necessary services in the community to the clients of the 

8  life resource center; 

9 

10  (vii)  A comparison of operational costs with 

11  similar facilities in other states on a per client basis; 

12 

13  (viii)  An analysis of potential forms of 

14  management on the current life resource center operations; 

15 

16  (ix)  Consultation with parents, guardians and 

17  family members of current clients about the matters 

18  described in paragraphs (i) through (viii) of this 

19  subsection. At least two (2) informational meetings and 

20  opportunities for parents, guardians and family members to 

21  provide testimony shall be held by the department.  The 

22  department shall provide written notice to parents and 

23  guardians of each current client at least two (2) weeks 

24  prior to each meeting. 2013 STATE OF WYOMING 13LSO-0339.E1

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1 

2  (b)  The department shall submit a written report of 

3  its study to the joint labor, health and social services 

4  interim committee and the joint appropriations interim 

5  committee by October 1, 2013.  The report shall include the 

6  department's recommendation of a model for the provision of 

7  services to clients of the life resource center who are on 

8  the Medicaid child or adult developmental disability waiver 

9  program or the acquired brain injury waiver program, 

10  considering the needs of the clients and efficiency of 

11  service delivery. 

12 

13  Section 2.  This act is effective immediately upon 

14  completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law 

15  as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming 

16  Constitution. 

17 

18  (END) 

After many miles traveled by many different people, numerous testimonies, and countless conversations with House and Senate members that build the past and is awaiting the Governor's signature. I do not have a copy of the typed final bill but I have uploaded the engrossed copy with mark-ups. You can download the document by clicking here.

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The Outcome of Yesterdays Committee Meetings

The outcome of yesterdays Committee meetings were over-all good. The discussion was good and many questions were asked about our organization. 

1. For an independent, non-biased board be appointed by the governor to conduct the study.

2. For all parents, guardians, and families to be involved with the study and be included. This would allow their comments and concerns to be attached and entered into the record of the study that will be submitted to the Legislative body. This will also have provision for a pre- and post-study interview with ALL guardians, parents and family members. 

The first request was denied because of the timing and because the Department of Health Stated they would not need any monies appropriated as it could be conducted in-house, within their current budgets.

However, the second was approved and added to the bill which will go before committee.

This study, however, is still dangerous because transitioning clients out of WLRC and into the community WILL save the state money but can be detrimental to many clients and families who are ill equipped to provide the level of care needed. 

The time is now to contact your legislators and ask them to kill this bill, and not allow it to move past the next committee meetings. You can find your legislators contact information on our website and we will be revising our petition to the legislators soon.

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Here is a letter that we have sent to Governor Mead by email and USPS

Sunday, December 09, 2012

Governor Mead

State of Wyoming

State Capitol, 200 West 24th Street

Cheyenne WY 82002-0010

  Dear Governor Mead:

The Friends of Wyoming Life Resource Center is a group of parents, guardians, family, friends, concerned citizens and businesses who have come together to support clients residing at Wyoming Life Resource Center in Lander, WY. The Friends of Wyoming Life Resource Center is a non-profit organization formed to help provide support and a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Wyoming Life Resource Center provides exceptional care for our loved ones, and the Friends of WLRC want to support the cause of care for all those associated with Wyoming Life Resource Center -- the residents, the care providers, and the families.

  As a group, we understand the need for budget cuts and keeping things balanced, especially in the economy we find ourselves in today. As a small business owner, I understand, support and applaud your efforts. Your purposed budget for Wyoming Life Resource Center is very responsible and we want to thank you for your efforts in working with the staff at Wyoming Life Resource Center to preserve the funding needed to ensure client care and safety is not compromised. 

  Thank you for your continued care, equality and responsibility to the health, wellness, and safety of the residents of our State and the Residents of Wyoming Life Resource Center.

  We would also like to extend the most sincere holiday wishes to you and your family.

  Sincerely,

    Paul DeBock

Board President

Friends of Wyoming Life Resource Center

  cc:Friends of Wyoming Life Resource Center Board

Virginia Wright, Superintendent Wyoming Life Resource Center

  Attachment:Petition and Signatures

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The Dock

During a three-day period Sid Sharon and Paul, tore out the old dock and completely replaced it with a completely new one with donated materials from Nature's Own Composite and flow Bloedorn Lumber.

Thankfully the pond is drained each winter and not filled till late April or early May. Although the bed of the pond was still very muddy and wet it was much easier than what could have been.

The dock was built in compliance with ADA standards for wheelchair accessibility and many other safety features including chain gates, foot rails, ramp, and storage box for the fish food.

There were supplies that had to be purchased, and without the support of our membership this would not have been possible.

In the coming months there will be a plaque affixed to the dock naming and dedicating it to the memory of Sydney A. Humberson. Sid wanted the dock named after his sister-in-law, who is a resident at the Wyoming Life Resource Center. The dock will most likely be named the Humberson – Carr Fishing Dock but the board will make final decisions on the name in the coming months after consulting the administration. We thank Virginia Wright for her suggestion of including Sid's name on the plaque.

Multiple staff members have reported that the clients that they are in charge of have enjoyed using the fishing dock on many occasions during the summer months. One reason why this was so important is because of the pond and docs proximity to many of the residential housing buildings as the other pond is quite a distance away. Rebuilding the stock has allowed for greater usage and enjoyment by the residents and staff.