House Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1274 Client Assistance Program
Requester:	Franklin Zavala-Velez		Organization:		Deaf Services Bureau, Inc.
Project Title:	Client Assistance Program		Date Submitted:		01/26/2000 5:51:49 PM
District Member:	Beryl Roberts		Service Area:		County
Counties Affected:	Dade
Recipient:	Deborah McQuitter Ally		Contact:		Franklin Zavala-Velez
	1320 South Dixie Highway , Suite 760		Contact Phone:		(305) 534-4750
	Miami, Fl 33146
Project Description:
Deaf Services Bureau, Inc. exists to provide services or access to services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. DSB provides information and referral, advocacy, and education in both the Deaf and Hearing communities, Interpreting services, as well as the distribution of communication devices. Services also include presentations, training, sign language information, classes, and workshops. Also DSB staff represent the agency at community meetings. health fairs and serve on various Boards. Topics of discussion include: ADA laws Deaf Culturee and deaf related issues. Our staff includes professionals (deaf and hearing). trained in American Sign Language who know the issues concerning the deaf community. Our main office location is in Coral Gables where the above services are provided to clients Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm and Friday from 8 am to noon. We distribute equipment in-house and once a month at satellite locations. The six locations are: The Miami Beach Senior Center, The Goodlet Adult Center (Hialeah), The Mussellwhite Senior Center (Homestead), The North Miami Beach Auditorium and all of the Keys.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
To ensure Deaf & Hard of Hearing people are not discriminated against in Miami-Dade County in accordance to the American with Disabilities Act. To assist clients and non clients in accessing and communicating with health and Social service providers as it relates to deaf issues. To assist clients in accessing and communicating with health care and social providers. To assist clients with telephone call through the Florida Relay Service. DSB provides almost all of the interpreting services for the deaf individuals in Dade County.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
To secure public funding for our agency in order to be equal partners in the community and better serve the Deaf/Hard of Hearing. To enable us to serve the unmet needs of individuals who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing,which makes up approximately 10% of our general population. To benefit the hearing and hearing impaired in all of our communities.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$400,000
Total cost of the project:		$400,000

Request has been made to fund:			Operations
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?					No
Was this project previously funded by the State?					No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?					Yes
	Amount:	$400,000
	Purpose for future year funding:			Recurring Operations
	Will this be an annual request?				Unknown
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?					No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?					No
Is there a documented need for this project?					Yes
	Documentation:	Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?					Unknown