Let's Get Moving

Moving, that's what "transition" is all about!! Transition is the process that helps a person who currently lives in a Developmental Center to move into the community. It starts with the decision by the person, with help from his/her family, friends, or guardian to move into his/her own chosen home in the community. Some choices the person will make during the transition process include:

• Where do I want to live?
• Who do I want to live with, if anyone?
• What fun things do I want to do and how much money will I need to do it?
• Which community agency will provide residential supports and which agency will provide day supports?
• Which agency and person do I want to be my Independent Support Coordinator?
• Do I want to see my family and how will that take place?
• What new relationships do I want to develop in the community in which I will live?
• Do I need an advocate (defender)?

The Division of Mental Retardation Services (DMRS) has Regional Offices in each of the three regions of Tennessee - East, Middle, and West. People in these offices, along with staff at the Developmental Centers, assist the person and his/her relative in making these and other decisions. A "Transition Facilitator" can provide information about available resources and alternatives in the community along with a copy of A Transition Guide for Families. The guide goes over the transition process and describes the role of the family/guardian in the process.

Dispute Resolution

Sometimes during the transition process, there may be critical health or safety issues that people do not agree about. When people cannot agree even after talking about the issue(s) and specific concerns, then a dispute resolution process can be started. Dispute resolution is a formal process to receive - from an "outside person" - a decision about a critical health or safety issue. A family member, as well as the person, guardian, or an advocate may request dispute resolution.

The Transition Facilitator at the Regional Office will go over this process with the person and his/her family. The process is also described in the Transition Guide for Families.

The person who takes requests for dispute resolution is Ms. Janet Simons, the Tennessee Transition Dispute Resolution Coordinator. She is at the DMRS Central Office in Nashville and can be reached by phone at 1-800-535-9725 or 615-532-2918.

DMRS REPORTS AT THIRD STATUS CONFERENCE

The third quarterly status conference required by the conditionally approved settlement agreement was held on May 21, 1998.

Counsel for all parties and members of the Quality Review Panel were present. The state made an oral presentation regarding the status of the implementation of the settlement agreement.

The Quality Review Panel's report included a summary of the status of the review of transition plans and other review activities of the Panel, a summary of the institutional review at Greene Valley Developmental Center, and a summary of the actions taken to improve independent support coordination.

The Court did not make a recommendation regarding whether the state defendants were in substantial compliance with the settlement agreement at this time.

The Court and parties had not yet reviewed the written report of the Quality Review Panel regarding the institutional reviews of Clover Bottom and Greene Valley Developmental Centers.

There were some concerns expressed by the parties regarding their ability to determine whether the state defendants are in compliance based on the state defendants' reports, assessments and self-monitoring.

The state agreed to supply some additional information to the parties. In addition, it was agreed that the Quality Review Panel will have a stronger role in future quarterly status conferences. The next status conference will be held Tuesday, August 25, 1998 at 9:00 a.m.