Meeting Minutes Details
Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative
September 22, 2006-FINAL
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Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative Trust Fund
Meeting Minutes
September 22, 2006
Members Present
Terry Glenn Department of Corrections, Richmond
Doug Harris, J.D. State Health Commissioner Designee, Richmond
Gregory Helm, M.D., Ph.D. University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville
Teresa Poole Lakeview Neurocare, Roanoke
David Reid, Psy.D., Chair Comprehensive Health Systems, Fishersville
Jim Rothrock Department of Rehabilitative Services, Richmond
(ex-officio)
Members Not Present
Richard Bendall, Jr., M.D. Monelison Family Physician, Lynchburg
Staff
Kristie Chamberlain Department of Rehabilitative Services, CNI Program Administrator
Patti Goodall Department of Rehabilitative Services, Manager, Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Services
Guests
Tony Gentry, PhD, OTR/L Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Occupational Therapy
The Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative (CNI) Advisory Board met for a regular quarterly business meeting at 8004 Franklin Farms Drive, Conference Room 101, in Richmond, Virginia.
OPENING PROTOCOL
Dr. David Reid, Chair, convened the meeting at 9:12 a.m.
Public Comment Period
No public comments were offered.
Approval of June 28, 2006 Minutes
Commissioner Rothrock made a motion to approve the June 28, 2006 meeting with a correction on the date of the “Approval of the Agenda” item; Terry Glenn seconded; motion passed unanimously.
Approval of September 22, 2006 Agenda
Teresa Poole made a motion to approve the agenda of the September 22, 2006 meeting; Doug Harris seconded; motion passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
Presentation from Tony Gentry, Ph.D., OTR/L, Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Occupational Therapy
Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative (CNI) Trust Fund Grant #03-213:
Consortium for Handheld Technology
Dr. Gentry presented on the status of the grant, successes, delays etc. This grantee was awarded a no cost extension for 12 months, through December 2006. The no-cost extension was requested because of unforeseen delays on the grant: the Principal Investigator left for another job, and Dr. Fred Orelove, Executive Director of The Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), stepped in as PI. In addition, the VCU Internal Review Board process took longer than expected.
The intent of the grant is to use handheld computers to improve the functional performance of individuals with brain injury and autism. Grant administrators projected that 50 individuals would be served through the grant, and Dr. Gentry stated that the actual number will be 74. Dr. Gentry explained to the board that this is the first time anyone has ever reported a functional performance change with cognition and brain injury. He has given 56 presentations, as far away as California. A training piece will be added to the website during the last quarter of the grant. They are currently investigating disability-specific software applications.
Dr. Gentry recently opened, and is now operating, the VCU “Assistive Technology for Cognition Lab” (there will be an Open House in fall ’07). This lab will allow the Consortium to continue its efforts beyond the end of the grant contract. A website for the CNI grant, www.vcu.edu/partnership/pda will redirect individuals to a website at the VCU Department of Occupational Therapy once the grant funding ends.
He stated that grant staff have been searching diligently for financial resources to support the continuation of the program which he feels has been very successful. Fifty individuals across the Commonwealth are on the waiting list for services from the Handheld Technology project (Dr. Gentry receives about 5 calls/day and numerous emails asking for assistance).
Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative (CNI) Trust Fund Grant #05-309:
The Use of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) in the Workplace
The Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University received a one-year CNI grant to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) in the workplace. This grant was funded under the authority of the DRS Commissioner to fund research grants using unobligated funds from the CNI Trust Fund each year. VCU requested a nine-month no cost extension to complete the project due to delays in obtaining data. Dr. Gentry stated that 22 individuals came to a workshop to train “job coaches” in the use of PDAs on job sites and to support vocational performance by providing structure and guidance to a worker via an individually programmed PDA. Obtaining the job coaching data took longer than expected and grant staff also learned that PDA software can be successful for job coaches, but there are glitches that will need to be addressed. Dr. Gentry developed an on-line version of the “PDA for Job Coaches” workshop. The on-line training will remain in place even after completion of the grant.
Financial Report
Kristie Chamberlain provided a comprehensive overview of the CNI Trust Fund finances. Since its inception in 1998 through August 30, 2006, the Trust Fund has awarded a total of $12,209,176.11 in grant awards, and has expended $297,742.42 on administrative services (which began in FY ’03). The fund currently has an obligated balance (i.e., funding that has been awarded to grant proposals) of $1,730,067.04. The Trust Fund receives approximately $105,000 per month. When new grant awards under Option-A RFP are funded, the Fund will continue to carry an “obligated” balance.
Award of New State Funded Brain Injury Services Contracts
DRS was awarded funding by the General Assembly for the development / expansion of brain injury services in unserved and underserved areas of Virginia: $285,000 in the governor’s budget for direct case management services in Southwest Virginia; $150,000 to expand case management services; and $725,000 for brain injury services across the state. The Virginia Alliance of Brain Injury Services Providers (VABISP) and the Virginia Brain Injury Council (VBIC) jointly identified underserved areas in the state and the Council, per language included in the budget amendment, submitted funding recommendation to DRS. Thirteen proposals were received and seven recommended for funding, with negotiation of terms and conditions with five applicants. Services to be funded included regional resource coordination; case management; and day / clubhouse programs. DRS Brain Injury & Spinal Cord Injury Services, which manages the state contracts, anticipates a start-up date of mid-October for all funded contracts.
Release Date for Option-A Research Request for Proposals (RFP)
The Board discussed the release date of the Option-A Research Request for Proposal (RFP). Jim Rothrock made a motion that DRS release an Option-A RFP in January 2007 (staff to determine the exact date), with an effective contract start-up date of July 1, 2007; Terry Glenn seconded the motion; motion passed unanimously.
Timeline:
Release- January 30, 2007
Due- March 30, 2007
Reviewers Score- April 6, 2007-May 11, 2007
Board meeting- May 25, 2007 (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
Staff Create Contracts/MOU’s from May 25-June 30, 2007
Start date of July 1, 2007.
The Board discussed at length the possibility of identifying or including specific priorities in the Option-A RFP. Terry Glenn made a motion to issu
Return to Main Listing Details:
Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative Trust Fund
Meeting Minutes
September 22, 2006
Members Present
Terry Glenn Department of Corrections, Richmond
Doug Harris, J.D. State Health Commissioner Designee, Richmond
Gregory Helm, M.D., Ph.D. University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville
Teresa Poole Lakeview Neurocare, Roanoke
David Reid, Psy.D., Chair Comprehensive Health Systems, Fishersville
Jim Rothrock Department of Rehabilitative Services, Richmond
(ex-officio)
Members Not Present
Richard Bendall, Jr., M.D. Monelison Family Physician, Lynchburg
Staff
Kristie Chamberlain Department of Rehabilitative Services, CNI Program Administrator
Patti Goodall Department of Rehabilitative Services, Manager, Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Services
Guests
Tony Gentry, PhD, OTR/L Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Occupational Therapy
The Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative (CNI) Advisory Board met for a regular quarterly business meeting at 8004 Franklin Farms Drive, Conference Room 101, in Richmond, Virginia.
OPENING PROTOCOL
Dr. David Reid, Chair, convened the meeting at 9:12 a.m.
Public Comment Period
No public comments were offered.
Approval of June 28, 2006 Minutes
Commissioner Rothrock made a motion to approve the June 28, 2006 meeting with a correction on the date of the “Approval of the Agenda” item; Terry Glenn seconded; motion passed unanimously.
Approval of September 22, 2006 Agenda
Teresa Poole made a motion to approve the agenda of the September 22, 2006 meeting; Doug Harris seconded; motion passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
Presentation from Tony Gentry, Ph.D., OTR/L, Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Occupational Therapy
Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative (CNI) Trust Fund Grant #03-213:
Consortium for Handheld Technology
Dr. Gentry presented on the status of the grant, successes, delays etc. This grantee was awarded a no cost extension for 12 months, through December 2006. The no-cost extension was requested because of unforeseen delays on the grant: the Principal Investigator left for another job, and Dr. Fred Orelove, Executive Director of The Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), stepped in as PI. In addition, the VCU Internal Review Board process took longer than expected.
The intent of the grant is to use handheld computers to improve the functional performance of individuals with brain injury and autism. Grant administrators projected that 50 individuals would be served through the grant, and Dr. Gentry stated that the actual number will be 74. Dr. Gentry explained to the board that this is the first time anyone has ever reported a functional performance change with cognition and brain injury. He has given 56 presentations, as far away as California. A training piece will be added to the website during the last quarter of the grant. They are currently investigating disability-specific software applications.
Dr. Gentry recently opened, and is now operating, the VCU “Assistive Technology for Cognition Lab” (there will be an Open House in fall ’07). This lab will allow the Consortium to continue its efforts beyond the end of the grant contract. A website for the CNI grant, www.vcu.edu/partnership/pda will redirect individuals to a website at the VCU Department of Occupational Therapy once the grant funding ends.
He stated that grant staff have been searching diligently for financial resources to support the continuation of the program which he feels has been very successful. Fifty individuals across the Commonwealth are on the waiting list for services from the Handheld Technology project (Dr. Gentry receives about 5 calls/day and numerous emails asking for assistance).
Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative (CNI) Trust Fund Grant #05-309:
The Use of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) in the Workplace
The Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University received a one-year CNI grant to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) in the workplace. This grant was funded under the authority of the DRS Commissioner to fund research grants using unobligated funds from the CNI Trust Fund each year. VCU requested a nine-month no cost extension to complete the project due to delays in obtaining data. Dr. Gentry stated that 22 individuals came to a workshop to train “job coaches” in the use of PDAs on job sites and to support vocational performance by providing structure and guidance to a worker via an individually programmed PDA. Obtaining the job coaching data took longer than expected and grant staff also learned that PDA software can be successful for job coaches, but there are glitches that will need to be addressed. Dr. Gentry developed an on-line version of the “PDA for Job Coaches” workshop. The on-line training will remain in place even after completion of the grant.
Financial Report
Kristie Chamberlain provided a comprehensive overview of the CNI Trust Fund finances. Since its inception in 1998 through August 30, 2006, the Trust Fund has awarded a total of $12,209,176.11 in grant awards, and has expended $297,742.42 on administrative services (which began in FY ’03). The fund currently has an obligated balance (i.e., funding that has been awarded to grant proposals) of $1,730,067.04. The Trust Fund receives approximately $105,000 per month. When new grant awards under Option-A RFP are funded, the Fund will continue to carry an “obligated” balance.
Award of New State Funded Brain Injury Services Contracts
DRS was awarded funding by the General Assembly for the development / expansion of brain injury services in unserved and underserved areas of Virginia: $285,000 in the governor’s budget for direct case management services in Southwest Virginia; $150,000 to expand case management services; and $725,000 for brain injury services across the state. The Virginia Alliance of Brain Injury Services Providers (VABISP) and the Virginia Brain Injury Council (VBIC) jointly identified underserved areas in the state and the Council, per language included in the budget amendment, submitted funding recommendation to DRS. Thirteen proposals were received and seven recommended for funding, with negotiation of terms and conditions with five applicants. Services to be funded included regional resource coordination; case management; and day / clubhouse programs. DRS Brain Injury & Spinal Cord Injury Services, which manages the state contracts, anticipates a start-up date of mid-October for all funded contracts.
Release Date for Option-A Research Request for Proposals (RFP)
The Board discussed the release date of the Option-A Research Request for Proposal (RFP). Jim Rothrock made a motion that DRS release an Option-A RFP in January 2007 (staff to determine the exact date), with an effective contract start-up date of July 1, 2007; Terry Glenn seconded the motion; motion passed unanimously.
Timeline:
Release- January 30, 2007
Due- March 30, 2007
Reviewers Score- April 6, 2007-May 11, 2007
Board meeting- May 25, 2007 (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
Staff Create Contracts/MOU’s from May 25-June 30, 2007
Start date of July 1, 2007.
The Board discussed at length the possibility of identifying or including specific priorities in the Option-A RFP. Terry Glenn made a motion to issu
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