BELOW IS THE EMAIL SEND ON AUGUST 20, 2015 BY NYC FAIR: (PDF FILES ARE AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE)

Good Morning NYC FAIR,

Below is a good description of the “Residential Wait List” process and survey. It was extracted from a detailed email from OPWDD. The link to OPWDD’s information is: http://www.opwdd.ny.gov/opwdd_about/commissioners_page/rrl/home .

Remember if you are NOT contacted you CAN register and complete the survey by calling 1-844-679-3369. If you have any problems or concerns, contact Emilie Wright, Lead person on this project at Emile.wright@opwdd.ny.gov

Please share the information below about the Residential Request List (RRL) review and telephone survey with EVERYONE you know.

Attached at the end on this email are English and Spanish language versions of:

• the letter to individuals/families describing the RRL review and telephone survey,
• the Caregiver survey that is included with the letter (original format in Spanish, updated format in English)
• the July letter to MSC agencies that serve people on the RRL
• the May letter to all MSC agencies telling them about the Residential Request List review

We hope this information answers many questions.

NYC FAIR, INC
NYC Family Advocacy Information Resource

Description the Residential Review List process and survey: 
Per OPWDD

“OPWDD is conducting a statewide review of its Residential Request List (RRL), formerly called the NYS CARES registry. Beginning in August, OPWDD will be calling families of individuals currently on the Residential Request List, or in some instances the individual if he/she made the request to be on the list, to talk about the OPWDD services you are now getting and those services you may be interested in getting. Special attention will be paid to residential supports you and your family may need now or in the future.

The information we get from these calls will be used to update OPWDD’s Residential Request List (RRL), and to help plan for future residential services individuals and families needs. This information will be made available in a report to the legislature that will include the residential needs people reported to OPWDD and a plan to address these needs. In addition to the information we receive from you, OPWDD will also be gathering information from other sources to help gain a full picture of residential needs.

You can help by talking to the OPWDD Caller and by answering the questions frankly. This will help us complete this important project. If you have any questions about the Residential Request List phone calls, please contact e-mail Residentialrequestlist@opwdd.ny.gov . Thank you for your interest in helping OPWDD to better meet your needs.

Some things to know about the calls:

1. Dates of Calls: The calls will begin in August and will continue through September.
2. How You Will Know the Caller is from OPWDD:
   1. The OPWDD Caller will tell you his/her first name and will tell you that he/she is calling for OPWDD about the review of OPWDD’s Residential Request List. The telephone number that will appear on your telephone caller ID is 844-679-3369.
   2. The caller will ask you to tell him/her your relationship to the individual with developmental disabilities and the date of birth of the individual with developmental disabilities on the list to confirm that they are talking to the right person. 
3. What We Will Not Ask: The OPWDD Caller will not ask you to give your Social Security number, Medicaid number, TABS number or any other identification numbers. The caller will not ask for any information about your income or benefits or your family’s income or benefits, or for any credit card information.
4. What the OPWDD Caller Will Ask about the individual with developmental disabilities:
   1.  Where the person is living now,
   2.  Who he/she is living with,
   3.  Who is helping him/her,
   4.  How old the helper or caregiver is and if the helper or caregiver has any issues that make it difficult to do everything that the person needs,
   5. Whether you think the person with developmental disabilities is getting the right amount of OPWDD services to support him/her where he/she is living now, and
   6.  What services you think the person with developmental disabilities will need in the future.
5. If you would rather call in to do the survey, you can do that by calling 1-844-679-3369, Monday through Friday between 8am and 4:30pm. This phone number will be answered beginning on August 10, 2015.
6. Planning for Services: The information you provide will help us plan for residential services individuals and families need across New York State and will not change your individual service plan. Please continue to work with your service coordinator and the OPWDD Regional Office to plan for your specific needs.
7. Your Participation is Voluntary: You are not required to talk to the OPWDD Caller and if you do not, you will not lose services. OPWDD is trying to determine what residential services are needed.

*the letter to individuals/families describing the RRL review and telephone survey:  RRL-Individual-Family-Info_Letter_FINAL_W_EW_SIGNATURE_073015,  RRL-Individual-Family-Info_Letter_FINAL_W_EW_SIGNATURE_073015_SP

*the Caregiver survey that is included with the letter (original format in Spanish, updated format in English)Survey CAREGIVER Individual-Familiy-Letter 081115, Survey_CAREGIVER_Individual-Familiy-Letter_073115_SP

*the July letter to MSC agencies that serve people on the RRL: RRL_MSC-Agency_UPDATE_LIST_Letter_AK_070315, RRL_MSC-Agency_UPDATE_LIST_Letter_AK_070215_SP

*the May letter to all MSC agencies telling them about the Residential Request List review: EM_COMMISSIONER_1st_LTR_TO_MSC_AGENCIES_070115, EM_COMMISSIONER_1st_LTR_TO_MSC_AGENCIES_070115_SP