Advocacy and Leadership Committee
DRAFT MINUTES
Thursday, February 11, 2016
1:15pm-3:00pm
Hilton Garden Inn Cary, NC

Members Present: Caroline Ambrose, Karen Armstrong, Rick Zechman, Lisa Byrd, Mary Edwards, Crystal Foreman, Katie Holler, Cheryl Powell, Clare Shocket

Members Absent:  Lourdes Fernandez, Michael Groves, Senator Tommy Tucker

Staff in Attendance: Melissa Swartz, Chris Egan, Yadira Vasquez

Guests:  Naomi Bell

Welcome and Introductions: Chairperson Caroline Ambrose called the meeting to order, welcomed all members and provided an opportunity for members to introduce themselves.

Approval of Minutes: Mary Edwards made a motion to approve the November 2015 Advocacy and Leadership Committee minutes. Cheryl Powell seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Informational Session:
The Advocacy and Leadership Committee had a fairly light agenda with only the motion to approve minutes needed by the committee.

Chris Egan, NCCDD executive director presented information about the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Medical Assistance Informational Sessions, collaboration activities among the NC Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) Network, and NCCDD Internship activities. Chris also led discussion about future initiative funding availability aligned with information shared during the state plan funding availability session.

Committee members discussed initiatives of the Advocacy and Leadership Committee in their final year of funding. Partners in Policymaking year 3 of 3 ends September 30, 2016 and the 24 month initiative Advancing Strong Leaders in the Developmental Disabilities ends December 31, 2016.  Available funds projections do not include these two initiatives and A & L Committee members are encouraged to consider future options for initiatives in the area of leadership training.

Chris shared details of discussions with the NC AIDD Network partner agencies, Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities (UNC CIDD) about collaborative efforts for advancing self-advocacy activities in NC.

Lastly, Chris shared information about the new NCDDD interns.  Both interns are students at University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG).  Denise Sumiel is a self-advocate participating in the UNCG Beyond Academics program and Mai Lee Vue is pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work at UNCG.

Motion to adjourn was made by Claire Shocket. The motion was seconded by Mary Edwards. The motion carried.