From the Desk Of...

Here you'll find articles written by EPI staff on issues facing EPI and the human services industry.

Feel free to share your comments about these articles with us by emailing communications@episervice.org.

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Chris Sparks
Executive Director

"Thanks for Giving"

November 16, 2011 -- All too soon we'll turn our attention to all things red and green, plump and jolly and all other beautifully wrapped notions.

Before we get completely swept away by the big holiday, we want to pause to recognize what we call "thanks for giving"...

• To the families we serve, thanks for giving EPI the opportunity to serve your loved one. We know experience matters - that's why in each interaction we strive to provide our best.
  
  
• To our donors, thank you for investing in persons with a disability. Each year a few of the services provided by EPI are significantly under-funded (learn more). Yet, we refuse to give up and therefore we enlist your help and year after year you match our commitment with your loyal contributions....Because of you, after an extensive three month search, Lorraine recently found a job at the Isle of Capri. Thank you!
  
  
• To our board members, past and present, we thank you for giving so tirelessly of your ideas, time, resources, and experience to help shape the quality service EPI provides.
  
  
• To our talented and compassionate staff, we thank you for giving of yourself. We know for many, you consider your work more than just a job. We see the personal investment you make daily - and more importantly the persons you serve see and feel this investment too.
  
  
• To our volunteers, you give in countless ways - mending and repairing, helping with office work, coordinating events, developing relationships with individuals served and the list goes on. We're stronger because of you and we thank you for all you do.
  
  
• To each individual we serve, we cherish the relationship we have with you and are thankful for the joy you bring to our lives.

As you count your blessings this holiday season know we're counting you as one of ours. Thank you for your interest in EPI and the lives we strive to touch.

Katie Slade
Communications & Development Director

Filling the Need by Raising Funds

November 16, 2011 -- The fact is each year there are a few vitally important programs at EPI just simply under-funded - Children's Respite Services, Employment Services, Multiple Sclerosis Services have made this list in the past.

We refuse to give up on these services and we ask you to do the same. Therefore, we are working to raise $125,000 this year to support these under-funded programs.

• Refuse to let lack of funding stand between a person with a disability and their dream to work in the community. A gift of $12 would fund one hour of supported crew employment while this person learns valuable employment skills.
  
  
• Refuse to let families go without respite - or a break in caregiving. A gift of $30 would nearly fund two hours for one child to attend group respite with trained staff while caregivers take a much needed break.
  
  
• Refuse to let funding stop persons with Multiple Sclerosis from receiving the counseling they need. A gift of $50 would fund one hour of counseling for a person to get the the help they need learning to live with a chronic illness.

Please consider making a donation today. Simply click here to be taken to the Exceptional Persons Foundation secure PayPal donation site. Thank you in advance.

Chris Sparks
Executive Director

Call to Action --- Protect Medicaid and individuals with disabilities; Reject proposals that would drastically undermine Medicaid coverage.

What’s at Stake?
Among people with disabilities, 44.6% depend on Medicaid

More than 2.8 million individuals with disabilities and the elderly receive Medicaid services that allow them to stay in their home or community

Please contact members of Congress and share your story today.

(locate your Representative & Senator)

Legislative Corner

June 23, 2011 -- A proposal to convert Medicaid into a block grant fundamentally restructures program.

The legislative climate is changing at a rapid pace. So fast, we hesitate to write an update for fear it will be outdated. Nonetheless, we want you to be aware of discussions currently underway that have significant impacts for persons with disabilities.

Since Medicaid’s inception in 1965, the federal government has helped states pay for the basic health care and long-term services/supports of low-income Americans in need.

A proposal adopted by the House fundamentally restructures Medicaid (a comparison is found below). As the comparison shows, instead of the federal government “picking up” a fixed share of each state’s Medicaid costs as it does today, the block grant would provide each state with a fixed dollar amount (based on the general population with no regard for changes in enrollment or specific segments of the population) —with states responsible for all remaining Medicaid costs.

The block grant plan would cut the current Medicaid program by $771 billion over the next 10 years (or 22.4 percent compared to current law). If the block grant had been in effect starting in 2000, Iowa would have seen cuts of 30% or more per year.

This and many other topics are before our legislators concerning individuals with disabilities. Please be aware and contact your legislators with your concerns.

Katie Slade
Communications & Development Director

April 14, 2011 -- EPI is partnering with Relay for Life of Black Hawk County to “Pack the Bus for Hope Lodge”. Hope Lodge, in Iowa City, offers lodging at no cost for cancer patients receiving treatment in Iowa City. All operations and resources provided by the Hope Lodge rely on donations from the community. Since most of the guests at the Hope Lodge come from communities like ours we wanted to take part in giving back.

Please bring any and all “Pack the Bus For Hope” donations to the American Cancer Society office at 2101 Kimball Ave. Ste 130, Waterloo, IA 50702 by April 27th. If you have any questions, please call 319-272-2880.

Chris Sparks
Executive Director

Defining Courage

February 8, 2011 -- Here we are - fiscal year 2010 now behind us. As we pause to evaluate we can see the well worn road we climbed through challenging financial times. While the fiscal year is behind us, the challenges persist.

In the last fiscal year we faced a significant and lasting Medicaid rate cut coupled with a lean economy. Unfortunately, in response, services such as our Exceptional Bargains training center closed and wages for staff were frozen.

Today, traditional funding sources remain uncertain. We know the enhanced Federal Medicaid Assistance Program (FMAP) will end June 30, 2011 - as will other funding avenues. As the legislature meets, we keep a watchful eye on the bills being presented and the reach these will have on our current service delivery structure.

Through it all we remain motivated to support persons with disabilities to fully participate in life.

In doing so, we draw strength from a modest word - courage. A word which embodies a world of different meanings: faith, conviction, spirit, tenacity and, yes, even an element of defiance.

Defiant in that we won’t let these challenges stand in our way of making a positive difference in the lives of persons with disabilities. Instead, we face them head on and actively seek ways to overcome.

Therefore, we are currently arming ourselves with tools we believe we’ll need to do just that. We are staying well informed and creating an environment of nimbleness - keeping us flexible and ready to move our organization quickly once funding direction becomes clear and new opportunities form.

We’ve re-committed ourselves to our mission. Please join with us - commit yourself to being that positive difference persons with disabilities need.

Katie Slade
Communications & Development Director

Your Donation Helps Fill the Gaps

February 8, 2011 -- Our economy continues to struggle and rebound from the largest downturn since the great depression. All publicly funded organizations, like EPI, have been evaluating critical services and absorbing funding cuts.

As funding becomes more limited, we are concerned vulnerable people will go without critical support needed for them to live successfully - like help finding a job, support to live independently in the community, support to participate in meaningful activities and much more.

We know you share a common desire with us to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities. That’s why we brought this need to you last fall and asked for your help in raising $100,000 to begin filling these gaps.

Right away Mike Peterson of Peterson Genetics, Inc., volunteered a matching gift pledge of $25,000 for new or increased gifts to jump start the giving.

Hundreds followed wasting no time stepping in with a
donation or pledge lending their strength to the fight to see that individuals with disabilities continue to receive the valuable support they need.

Thankfully this year’s goal to raise $100,000 has been met. These dollars will go to the programs individuals with disabilities rely on which are most in need of a boost to remain financially healthy and available.

In other words, you’ve just helped an individual with a disability feel like “someone special.” This is how having a job makes one individual with a disability feel. A feeling made possible because donors helped fill the gap left when funding ran short in the supported employment program.

Words fail when we try to express our gratitude so we simply say “thank you” for investing in persons with disabilities and helping them realize their dreams.