THE Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities will receive a preliminary grant award of $1.385 million from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to help the elderly and people with disabilities fully integrate into the community.
Thomas E. Hamilton, director for the Centers’ disabled and elderly health programs group, said the federal government is prepared to offer the grant award to the CNMI. Hamilton asked outgoing Council Executive Director Tom Camacho to inform the Centers about the CNMI’s interest to receive the grant by May 9.
“We are prepared to offer you a preliminary grant award in the amount of $1.385 based on your FY 2001 application for a Real Choice Systems Change grant…. Please reply no later than May 9, 2002 with regard to your continued interest in advancing this important state-federal partnership,” Hamilton said.
This fiscal year, the U.S. Congress has appropriated another $55 million to expand or improve community-integrated services. These resources would be spread to states and territories to help the elderly and people with disabilities.
“The additional resources will create further opportunities for states and other organizations to continue the momentum from last year,” Hamilton said.
