SILC-NET Presents… A National Teleconference & Webinar

SILC-NET Presents…A National Teleconference & Webinar Strengthening the Partnership Between SILCs and DSUs September 27, 2012 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT Presenters: Liz Pazdral Megan Juring 0

SILC-NET Presents…A National Teleconference & Webinar Strengthening the Partnership Between SILCs and DSUs September 27, 2012 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT Presenters: Liz Pazdral Megan Juring 1

You will learn • The statutory requirements related to developing working relationships with your DSUs. • Avenues for collaborating with DSUs for planning and developing your next SPIL. • Examples of best practices for SILC-DSU partnering.

Statutory requirements—developing working relationships with your DSUs Section 705: The Council shall— (1) jointly develop and sign (in conjunction with the designated State unit) the State plan required in section 704; (2) monitor, review, and evaluate the implementation of the State plan;

Statutory requirements—developing working relationships with your DSUs, cont’d. (3) coordinate activities with the State Rehabilitation Council established under section 105, if the State has such a Council, or the commission described in section 101(a)(21)(A), if the State has such a commission, and councils that address the needs of specific disability populations and issues under other Federal law;

Statutory requirements –developing working relationships with your DSUs, cont’d. 2 And, The Rehabilitation Act34 CFR 361.17 Requirements for a state rehabilitation council... (b) (i) At least one representative of the Statewide Independent Living Council, who must be the chairperson or other designee of the Statewide Independent Living Council;

Identify True or False as it relates to your current SILC resource plan • The Council and DSU work cooperatively to prepare the SILC resource plan. • The DSU assists the Council in identifying other allowable sources of funding. • The DSU The DSU provides DSU staff support to assure a sufficient resource plan. • The resource plan, including staff and personnel, is sufficient to carry out the functions of the council (i.e., meetings, hearings, . . .)

Identify True or False as it relates to your current SILC resource plan, cont’d. • The DSU and SILC agreed upon accounting mechanisms and controls to assure the SILC can be responsible for the proper expenditure of funds and resource use. • The DSU responsibly awards and manages subcontracted funds in support of the activities of the Council and of the goals of the State Plan without unduly influencing the independence of the SILC or the funding priorities of the plan.

Identify True or False as it relates to your current SILC resource plan, cont’d. 2 • The Council has the sole responsibility to supervise and evaluate staff and other personnel as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council. • The DSU or any other agency or office the State refrains from assigning duties to the Council or the Council’s staff that may create a conflict of interest.

Statutory requirements—developing working relationships with your DSUs, cont’d. 3 Financial autonomy security: Section 705 SILC resources: The Council shall prepare, in conjunction with the designated State unit, a plan for the provision of such resources, including such staff and personnel, as may be necessary and sufficient to carry out the functions of the Council under this section, with funds made available under this chapter, and under section 110 (consistent with section 101(a)(18)), and from other public and private sources. The resource plan shall, to the maximum extent possible, rely on the use of resources in existence during the period of implementation of the plan.

Statutory requirements—developing working relationships with your DSUs, cont’d. 4 • Each Council shall, consistent with State law, supervise and evaluate such staff and other personnel as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council under this section. • While assisting the Council in carrying out its duties, staff and other personnel shall not be assigned duties by the designated State agency or any other agency or office of the State, that would create a conflict of interest.

Statutory requirements—developing working relationships with your DSUs, cont’d. 5 • For the Resource Plan, federal regulations [34 CFR 364.21 (i)(3 & 4)] also state • No conditions or requirements may be included in the SILC’s resource plan that may compromise the independence of the SILC. • The SILC is responsible for the proper expenditure of funds and use of resources that it receives under the resource plan.

Questions and Answers • Use the chat window on your screen to type in your questions • Or press the number 7 on your telephone keypad to signal the operator

Having power, sharing power, using power • Rehabilitation Act fixes financial control and responsibility with the DSU • Not a relationship between equals • Resource planning a frequent source of challenge and opportunity • In everyone’s best interest to build collaboration

Principles of Negotiation • Always give your opponent due respect. Try to understand her/his motives behind each position and show respect for these positions. Good chance it will be reciprocated. • Informal (not superficial) small talk and relationship building. • Develop a plan for sequential concessions.

Principles of Negotiation, cont’d. • Reciprocity is a major asset in negotiations • Linkages among issues: if it is difficult for you to concede on one issue, tie it to concession on others. • Avoid bluffing for bluffing’s sake. • Don’t let your opponent feel exploited. • Keep track of what is important and what is secondary—be tough on important issues and more flexible on less important.

How you work with a potentially adversarial partner • Any pilot, whether trained in the military or privately, has the mantra, “First, fly the airplane.” What is your responsibility? What do you need to get done? • Respect and credibility are valuable commodities. • Never reduce yourself to hostile tactics. • Keep your composure and use the facts.

How you work with a potentially adversarial partner, cont’d. Being part of the “checks and balances” is by definition an adversarial process. However, “adversarial” does not equate to “acrimonious.” If you maintain high standards of courtesy and professionalism, it will ultimately be recognized and appreciated. You will also likely find at the end of the day that you respect yourself and have no regrets at staking out and holding the high ground.

How you work with a potentially adversarial partner, cont’d. 2 Keep communicating! Maintain your commitment to work it out.

We get along well with our DSU. . . • What does that look like?

Promising practices for SILC - DSU collaboration • DSU (VR Agency) leadership is present at SILC meetings, hearings and forums. • SRC leadership is present at SILC meetings, hearings and forums. • SILC leadership is present at DSU (VR Agency) meetings, hearings and forums. • SILC leadership is present at SRC meetings, hearings and forums.

Promising practices for SILC - DSU collaboration, cont’d. • Conjointly produced memos, letters, documents • Events and hearings co-sponsored by both entities • DSU provides SILC with quarterly (or better) financial statements regarding 7B funds • On-going policy discussion on all funding streams at regularly scheduled SPIL committee meetings. • *EVERY* product or effort tied back to SPIL—high SPIL awareness throughout Independent Living Network

Your Turn • What examples do you have of SILC-DSU partnerships that are working? • Use the chat window on your screen to type in your examples • Or press the number 7 on your telephone keypad to signal the operator

Other ideas for SILC - DSU collaboration • DSU works with SILC to simplify pathways to goal funding: ask how solicitations and application processes can be improved • DSU and SILC provide technical assistance to the Independent Living Network to help meet funding requirements. • Promote information sharing and mutual support between community organizations and DSU staff. • Determine through impact studies whether, and to what extent, the SPIL projects have had their intended effect.

Questions and Answers • Use the chat window on your screen to type in your questions • Or press the number 7 on your telephone keypad to signal the operator

For Further Info Contact Liz Pazdral liz@calsilc.org Megan Juring Megan.Juring@dor.ca.gov

Wrap Up and Evaluation Click the link below now to complete an evaluation of today’s program found at: https://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/12291g50e7e

SILC-NET Attribution Support for development of this Webinar/teleconference was provided by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration under grant number H132B070003. No official endorsement of the Department of Education should be inferred. Permission is granted for duplication of any portion of this PowerPoint presentation, providing that the following credit is given to the project: Developed as part of the SILC-NET, a project of the IL-NET, an ILRU/NCIL/APRIL National Training and Technical Assistance Program.

SILC-NET Presents… A National Teleconference & Webinar