STATE OF MICHIGAN

RICK SNYDER GOVERNOR

DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS LANSING

STEVEN H. HILFINGER

DIRECTOR

Memorandum DATE: 4/25/2011 TO: Community Partners FROM: Sheryl Emery, Director DODHH SUBJECT: Thank You As many of you are aware the DODHH faced a potential crisis, with over 200 renewals becoming due June 30th and only 2 staff to process them, plus review applications for testing, provide testing, advocacy, sponsorship approvals, technical assistance, rules writing and a myriad of other duties that perform. Primarily due to the efforts of our Advisory Council and members of the community this potential crisis has been averted. On behalf of the DODHH, I want to take a moment to express overwhelming gratitude to our advisory council members and members of the community who advocated with state government officials to ensure the capacity of DODHH to provide critical services continues. Particularly we would like to recognize Dan McDougal and Brenda Neubeck for their efforts. At no prompting by DODHH, Dan initiated conversation with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) that truly brought us together for much needed dialogue and relationship building. Brenda with the approval of Mel Whalen; composed and acquire advisory council support to submit a letter to MDCR and DELEG detailing the staffing and needs of DODHH. These combined efforts along with a letter and card writing campaign initiated by Marcy Colton and the board of Deaf C.A.N!, truly brought the needs of DODHH to the forefront. We are also grateful for the support of Sorenson, CAC, AT&T who met with MDCR on our behalf and the many individuals and organizations who sent cards and letters to both departments, the governor, and their legislative representatives. As a result of these efforts, we were able to sit and strategize both short term and long term potential solutions to staffing issues at DODHH. I am pleased to announce MDCR and DELEG have agreed to allow DODHH to obtain a temporary contract person to assist us with processing registration, renewals and testing! This means that there should be no interruption to these services this summer especially during our heaviest renewal period.

The staff of MDCR has urged you to continue with your advocacy efforts by contacting members of the appropriations committee and members of the legislature to make sure the permanent staffing needs of DODHH are known as the budget is being created. Please note that the transition of DODHH to MDCR has begun. We have a new website location: http://www.michigan.gov/mdcr/0,1607,7-138-58275_28545---,00.html More details of our transition will be shared as they are released to us. Again, thank all of you so much whom advocated on our behalf.

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