Our Programs The Suffolk Community Council promotes and organizes a wide variety of programs for Suffolk County residents and groups. The following list of major programs and efforts is a sampling of the work the Council is committed to perform. Overview of Major Programs and Efforts

Accessible Long Island

Increasing accessibility for all Long Islanders through the promotion and use of Universal Design in all new and renovated buildings and homes.  View the Accessible Long Island Brochure here...

If you would like to learn more about Universal  Design, please visit these external links:

The Center for Universal Design - www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/index.htm

Adaptive Environments - www.adaptiveenvironments.org

Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access -  http://www.ap.buffalo.edu/idea/Home

Network of Women with Disabilities (NWD)

Advocates for increased awareness and addresses issues concerning access to health care for all people with disabilities.  Read more...

NWD Committee Members

Directory of Community Services

This is the only printed directory of all human service agencies in Suffolk County.  The directory has an alphabetic listing as well as sections by services and towns. Download the Order Form...

Clearinghouse for Community Residences

The only project of its kind.  Created in 1981, the purpose of the Clearinghouse is to facilitate informed, coordinated planning of licensed community based residences in Suffolk County. Supported by New York State Office of Mental Health and Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities. Read more...

Mediation Project for Consumers in Community Residences / Supported Housing Units

Began in 1998/99 through the support of the Suffolk County Division of Community Mental Health. The project is the first of its kind in NY State.  Provides mediation services for consumers who reside in agency-sponsored mental health housing. Read More...

Single Point of Access (SPA)

Assists the County in the review of application for placing people in mental health residences in Suffolk County.

Volunteer/Community Service Registry

Working in partnership with United Way of LI and the LI Volunteer Center, this project lists volunteers and volunteer opportunities across the Island.   Visit the website at www.volunteerli.net

Educational Seminars

The Council holds seminars and trainings on current and pertinent issues.

Look for upcoming seminars on issues such as:

Other Services Offered

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Select Program Details

Network of Women with Disabilities

The Network of Women with Disabilities (NWD) began in 2006 when a group of diverse women brought their concerns about health care access to the Suffolk Community Council.  NWD is committed to increasing access to health care for people with disabilities; an issue that has been overlooked far too long.  This is not a small change - Suffolk County alone has approximately 166,038 people over the age of 5 years with disabilities who are affected by the issue of health care accessibility.

Our goals are: to provide information on health care by working with health care providers to create and distribute information on health related issues in alternative and understandable formats that are accessible to people with disabilities; to advocate and improve access to private practice physicians through modifications in office practices and procedures; to partner with medical schools and hospitals to develop a curriculum that includes awareness training for medical students and staff in hospital and clinic facilities throughout Suffolk County; to promote the use of medical equipment that better serves the needs of people with disabilities in hospitals and clinics; and to improve access to dental care through advocacy and education of the dental community.

In 2007 the Network created a Check List of Medical Offices to help them provide accurate information when a person with a disability calls as to the accessibility of that office.  We will be expanding distribution of this checklist in 2008 and seek to partner with other organizations to create medical information in accessible formats for persons with disabilities.  Our goal is to help provide information to people with disabilities so they can make informed decisions about their health care.

To become involved please call Doreen Fratello at the Council office, 631-434-9277       Extension 321.

View the NWD Brochure here...

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Clearinghouse for Community Residences

“Many of our mentally disabled can benefit from life in the community, working or being educated among us, and developing their skills and living up to their full potential. That is the philosophy behind the Padavan Site Selection Law, which sets up the procedure by which community residences, or group homes can be established in New York State.”

(Senator Frank Padavan, New York State Senate)

Clearinghouse is a project of the Suffolk Community Council, created in 1981 in response to the Padavan Site Selection Law.  It operates with full cooperation with New York State 0ffice of Mental Health (OMH), Office of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) and the Suffolk County Division of Community Mental Health Services.

The purpose of the Clearinghouse Project is to facilitate informed and coordinated planning for new community based residences in Suffolk County. This goal is accomplished through a step-by-step process. The Clearinghouse staff work in cooperation cooperation with OMH, OMRDD and local housing agencies to share information that can insure selection of the best possible locations. A comprehensive site information database is maintained by the Council on all community residences as well as a listing of prospective sites under consideration for development by any of those sponsoring agencies or entities.

Clearinghouse assists agencies and government representatives involved in the site development process. Housing agencies developing new homes or sites are required to contact Suffolk Community Council for assistance with this step in the planning process.

Clearinghouse can help:

- Locate prospective sites.
- Avoid over-saturation of facilities and neighborhoods.
- Reduce time delays involved in the establishment of homes

Computerized, comprehensive, up-to-date information on the locations of existing and planned residential facilities is available through Clearinghouse.

Nine broad categories are included: Large Institutions, Adult Homes, Nursing Homes, Health Related Facilities (HRF), Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF), Department of Social Services (DSS) Institutions, Group Homes, Supervised Community Residences (CR), Individual Residential Alternatives (IRA), Substance Abuse Residential Treatment Centers, and Family Care Homes (FC). Information is also collected on the locations of other relevant programs such as large foster homes, general hospitals, etc.

Through the Clearinghouse system, information on specific areas and sites is available to other service providers.  All requests for this service must be made in writing; they may be faxed to 631-434-9311.

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THE PROCESS:
There are two steps to start the mediation process:

Step I
In Step I the Consumer calls Janet Allen at Suffolk Community Council at 434-9277 to request the Mediation Service.   He/Shee will be asked to describe the situation.

Step II
In Step II the Housing Agency grievance procedure must be followed before mediation can take place. The Council can assist you in this procedure.

STEP I PRE-MEDIATION

1. If the Consumer has a grievance he or she must place it in writing addressed to the appropriate party. If you need help in writing the letter call the Mediation Project at the Council at (631) 434-9277. The agencies have agreed to reply in writing to the grievance within two weeks.

2. If the Agency does not reply in two weeks the Consumer should call Suffolk Community Council at (631) 434-9277 to inform them that they have not received a response. The Council will then follow-up with the Agency.

3. If the Consumer goes through the Agency grievance procedure and is not satisfied with the outcome—and the dispute involves a housing issue—a formal Mediation hearing will be scheduled.

STEP II REQUESTING MEDIATION

1. The Consumer can request mediation service simply by calling Janet Allen at Suffolk Community Council at (631) 434-9277.

2. The Consumer may have an advocate, parent or guardian call on his or her behalf.

3. Once the Consumer calls Suffolk Community Council, the request is reviewed to make sure the agency grievance procedure was completed. If the grievance procedure was not followed the consumer will be assisted in this process. Basic information regarding the Consumer and agency involved is documented including:
• Names
• Phone numbers
• Addresses
• A brief description of the conflict.

4. The Suffolk Community Council will call the Housing Agency to inform them of the consumer’s complaint. At this point a meeting may take place between the consumer and the housing agency. The consumer can bring an advocate or anyone he/she chooses to the meeting.

5. If the Housing Agency and the Consumer cannot come to an agreement then Suffolk Community Council can refer the request to the EAC’s Community Mediation Center.

Please Note: Mediation is an alternative to going to court but does not exclude it. Consumers can still seek further legal action if they are not satisfied.

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