RSA-227 for FY-2025: Submission #37

State name Northern Marianas

Report through date 09/30/2025

General Information

Designated Agency Identification

Name Northern Marianas Protection & Advocacy Systems, Inc

Address PO Box 503529

Address Line 2

City Saipan

State MP

Zip Code 96950

E-mail Address gborja@nmpasi.org

Website Address https://www.nmpasi.org/

Phone 670-235-7273

TTY

Toll-free Phone

Toll-free TTY

Fax

Operating Agency (if different from Designated Agency)

Name

Address

Address Line 2

City

Zip Code

State

E-mail Address

Website Address

Phone

TTY

Toll-free Phone

Toll-free TTY

Fax

Additional Information

Name of CAP Director/Coordinator Gregory Borja

Person to contact regarding report Elsie Tilipao

Contact Person Phone 670-235-7273

Contact Person E-mail Address etilipao@nmpasi.org

Part I. Non-case Services

A. Information and Referral Services (I&R)

1. Information regarding the vocational rehabilitation (VR) program 0

2. Information regarding independent living programs 0

3. Information regarding American Indian VR Service projects 0

4. Information regarding Title I of the ADA 0

5. Other information provided 0

6. Information regarding CAP 0

7. Total I&R services provided (Lines A1 through A6) 0

B. Training Activities

1. Number of training sessions presented to community groups and public agencies. 32

2. Number of individuals who attended these training sessions. 1006

3. Describe training presented by the staff. Include the following information: From October 16-17, 2024, CAP staff conducted Disability Rights & Etiquette Trainings to 15 employees of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation Warehouse Unit. During the training, CAP staff presented an overview of the NMPASI Program and Services. This was followed by a presentation on Disability Etiquette and Disability Laws, covering topics such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Titles I-V, the Accessible Parking Act, and P&A Enabling Laws—Access Authority. The etiquette portion included tips on using Person-First Language and best practices for interacting with individuals with disabilities. The main goal of the presentation was to raise awareness about employee rights for individuals with disabilities and to assist them in applying for or maintaining employment.

On June 9, 2025, CAP staff conducted an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) presentation for 20 management and staff of the CNMI Department of Labor. The training focused on increasing awareness of disability rights in the workplace, covering key provisions of the ADA, reasonable accommodations, and best practices for promoting inclusive hiring and retention. The presentation aimed to strengthen understanding of legal responsibilities under federal disability law and support the Department’s efforts in building a more accessible and equitable work environment. Real-life examples and practical scenarios were included to help participants apply these principles to everyday situations.

C. Agency Outreach

Describe the agency's outreach efforts to previously un-served or underserved individuals including minority communities. On March 27, 2025, CAP staff travelled to the island of Rota to present information to 10 students from the Rota H. Inos Junior/Senior High School on services available to them while moving into the secondary education system and into the post-secondary education system. Additionally, CAP staff conducted an exhibit booth at the annual Gilita Festival, passing out brochures related to the CAP program and disability rights to community members in attendance.

D. Information Disseminated To The Public By Your Agency

1. Agency Staff Interviewed or Featured on Radio and TV 13

2. Articles about CAP Featured in Newspaper/Magazine/Journals 2

3. PSAs/Videos Aired about the CAP Agency 0

4. Publications/Booklets/Brochures Disseminated by the Agency 1789

5. Number of Times CAP Exhibited at Conferences, Community Fairs, etc. 16

6. Other 0

Please explain below N/A

E. Information Disseminated About Your Agency By External Media Coverage

Describe the various sources and information disseminated about your agency by an external source. CAP personnel, in collaboration with other P&A programs, present information on NMPASI's monthly podcast, "Advocacy Amplified". This platform has become one of our most consistent and far-reaching methods for disseminating information. Each episode features in-depth discussions on disability rights, updates on federal and local laws, interviews with community partners, and conversations with subject-matter experts relevant to our advocacy work. The series has also spotlighted specific NMPASI programs, helped clarify complex legal protections in an accessible format, and provided timely information on emerging issues affecting individuals with disabilities in the CNMI.

Part II. Individual Case Services

A. Individuals served

1. Individuals who are still being served as of October 1 (carryover from prior year) 9

2. Additional individuals who were served during the year 5

3. Total individuals served (Lines A1+A2) 14

4. Individuals (from Line A3) who had multiple case files opened/closed this year. 2

5. Individual still being served as of September 30 (Carryover to next year. This total may not exceed Line A3.) 3

B. Problem areas

1. Individual requests information 0

2. Communication problems between individual and VR counselor 1

3. Conflict about VR services to be provided 1

4. Related to VR application/eligibility process 0

5. Related to assignment to order of selection priority category 0

6. Related to IPE development/implementation 12

7. Related to independent living services 0

8. Other Rehabilitation Act-related problems 0

C. Intervention Strategies for closed cases

1. Short Term Technical Assistance 0

2. Investigation/Monitoring 11

3. Negotiation 0

4. Mediation and other methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution 0

5. Administrative / Informal Review 0

6. Formal appeal / Fair Hearing 0

7. Legal remedy / Litigation 0

8. Total 11

D. Reasons for closing individuals' case files

1. All issues resolved in individual's favor 10

2. Some issues resolved in individual's favor 0

3. CAP determines VR agency position/decision was appropriate for the individual 0

4. Individual's case lacks legal merit 0

5. Individual chose alternative representation 0

6. Individual withdrew complaint 0

7. Issue not resolved in clients favor 0

8. CAP services not needed due to individual's death, relocation, etc. 0

9. Individual not responsive/cooperative with CAP 1

10. CAP unable to take case due to lack of resources 0

11. Conflict of interest 0

12. Other 0

(Please explain below) N/A

E. Results achieved for individuals

1. Controlling law/policy explained to individual 0

2. Application for services completed 0

3. Eligibility determination expedited 0

4. Individual participated in evaluation 0

5. IPE developed/implemented/Services Provided 10

6. Communication re-established between individual and other party 1

7. Individual assigned to new counselor/office 0

8. Alternative resources identified for individual 0

9. ADA/504/EEO/OCR complaint made 0

10. Other 0

(Please explain below) N/A

Part III. Program Data

A. Age

1. Up to 18 0

2. 19 - 24 7

3. 25 - 40 5

4. 41 - 64 2

5. 65 and over 0

6. Total (Sum of Lines A1 through A5. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 14

B. Gender

1. Females 7

2. Males 7

3. Nonbinary or Another Gender 0

4. Unknown 0

5. Total (Lines B1+B2+B3+B4. Total must equal Part II Line A3.) 14

C. Race/ethnicity of Individuals Served

1. Hispanic/Latino of any race 0

2. American Indian or Alaskan Native 0

3. Asian 7

4. Black or African American 0

5. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 7

6. White 0

7. Two or more races 0

8. Race/ethnicity unknown 0

D. Primary disabling condition of individuals served

1. Acquired Brain Injury 0

2. ADD/ADHD 2

3. AIDS/HIV 0

4. Amputations or Absence of Extremities 0

5. Arthritis or Rheumatism 0

6. Anxiety Disorder 0

7. Autism Spectrum Disorder 1

8. Autoimmune or Immune Deficiencies 0

10. Other visual impairments 0

11. Cancer 0

12. Cerebral Palsy 1

13. Deafness 2

14. Hard of Hearing/Hearing Impaired 2

16. Diabetes 0

17. Digestive disorders 0

18. Epilepsy 0

19. Heart and other circulatory conditions 0

20. Intellectual Disability 0

21. Mental illness 1

22. Multiple Sclerosis 0

23. Muscular Dystrophy 0

24. Muscular/Skeletal Impairment 1

25. Neurological Disorders/Impairment 0

26. Orthopedic impairments 0

27. Personality Disorders 0

28. Respiratory Disorders/Impairment 0

29. Skin Conditions 0

30. Specific learning disabilities (SLD) 3

31. Speech Impairments 0

32. Spina Bifida 0

33. Substance abuse 0

34. Other disability 0

35. Total (Sum of Lines D1through D34. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 14

E. Types of Individuals Served

1. Applicant of VR 1

2. Individual eligible for VR services currently on a wait list 0

3. Individual eligible for VR services not currently on a wait list 0

4. Applicant or individual eligible for Independent Living 0

5. Transition student/High school student 0

6. All other applicants or individuals eligible for other programs or projects funded unther Rehabilitation Act 13

Part IV. Systemic Activities and Litigation

A. Non-Litigation Systemic Activities

1. Number of non-litigation systemic activities not involving individual representation that resulted in the change of one or more policy or practice of an agency. 0

2. Describe the systemic activities conducted by CAP during the fiscal year and its impact on other agency's policies or practices. No activities were conducted by the CAP in the area of non-litigation systemic activities in FY 2025.

B. Litigation

a. Number of cases requiring litigation involving individual representation filed during fiscal year. 0

b. Number of on-going cases pending at start of fiscal year (carryover from prior fiscal year). 0

c. Number of cases resolved through litigation during fiscal year. 0

2. Describe the agency's on-going and completed systemic litigation activities involving individual representation. No activities were conducted by the CAP in the area of litigation activities in FY 2025.

Part V. Agency Information

A. Designated Agency

1. Agency Type (select only one option): External-Protection and Advocacy agency

2. Name of designate agency: Northern Marianas Protection & Advocacy Systems, Inc

3. Is the designated agency contracting CAP services? No

4. If yes, name of contracting agency: N/A

B. Staff Employed

1. Provide a description of all CAP positions CAP Director (Gregory Borja) – The CAP Director oversees the CAP program. The CAP Director reviews financial and program information as needed. The CAP Director oversees all CAP staff.

· CAP Programs Manager (Elsie Tilipao) – The CAP Programs Manager oversees and assigns all CAP cases. The CAP Programs Manager approves outreach and training under the CAP

program. The CAP Programs Manager supervises the CAP Projects Specialist and CAP client advocate.

· CAP Programs Coordinator (Cleowyn Nening) – The CAP Programs Coordinator assists with coordinating CAP events. The CAP Programs Coordinator provides information on the fiscal standings of the CAP events. The CAP Programs Coordinator supervises the CAP Program Aide.

· CAP Projects Specialist (Tiava To’omata) – The CAP Projects Specialist works directly on CAP and provides advocacy and direct client services and representation. The CAP Projects Specialist conducts training and outreach under the CAP program to all sectors of the community.

· CAP Client Advocate (Magdelene Reyes) – The CAP Client Advocate works directly on CAP cases and provides advocacy and direct client services and representation.

· CAP Program Aide (Preston Saralu) – The CAP Program Aide provides technical assistance as needed to all CAP staff.

· CAP Legal Counsel (Jeanne Rayphand) – The CAP Legal Counsel is responsible for offering legal advice and representation services as required.

CAP Intake Specialist – TINIAN (Jennilyn Cruz) – The CAP Intake Specialist conducts intakes for potential CAP cases on the island of Tinian.

CAP Intake Specialist – ROTA (Robert Mendiola) – The CAP Intake Specialist conducts intakes for potential CAP cases on the island of Rota.

Part VI. Case Examples

Case Examples

Provide some examples of some interesting cases during the past fiscal year. 24-CAP-013: A CAP case was opened for a 22-year old deaf male, living on Saipan to assist in obtaining Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) services, including but not limited to American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter which is needed for his class at the Northern Marianas College (NMC). After staffing the case with the Legal Counsel, necessary documents were requested and received from OVR. A Resolution Dispute was initially considered due to concerns about limited ASL hours, but later deemed unnecessary once services were confirmed and maintained. CAP advocates continued monitoring to ensure services remained in place, and the client completed the semester with all accommodations provided. Changes in the NMC Disability Support Services (DSS) staffing were noted, and communication was maintained with both the new director and the client’s family to ensure continued support. The client successfully registered for the next semester and remained engaged in school, even participating as a guest speaker. The client and his mother reported satisfaction with services and support from NMPASI and agreed to close the case. CAP advocate confirmed the client’s Individualized Plan for Employment is current and reflective of his needs, informed the family of future contact options, and will proceeded with case closure.

25-CAP-001: A CAP case was opened for a 55-year old male diagnosed with hard of hearing, living in Tinian to assist with obtaining, negotiating, and understanding Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) services in his Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). The client initially sought support in navigating OVR communication regarding a scheduled medical exam for hearing aids. While he reported no issues with OVR, he requested that the case remain open until he received and tested his hearing aids. CAP staff maintained regular check-ins to monitor his progress and ensure service satisfaction. By February 2025, the client confirmed that the hearing aids were helping significantly, especially with his job at the Office on Aging. During a follow-up in-person meeting in March, the client expressed continued satisfaction, noting minor adjustments via the app but no major concerns. When the client inquired about the duration of check stub submissions required by OVR, TT followed up with the VRC, who confirmed the follow-up period would end in May and the client’s case would transition to successful closure (Status 26). Our client acknowledged that services requested have been provided and agreed close the case, expressed gratitude for NMPASI’s support, and acknowledged that he may reach out again if future issues arise.

Certification

Reports are to be submitted to RSA within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report. Please be reminded that you can enter data directly into the RSA website via the internet. Information on transmittal of the form is found on pages 19 and 20 of the reporting instructions.

Name and Title of Authorized Certifying Official

I agree to submit this form by electronic means. By signing this form electronically, I certify under penalty of perjury that my answers are correct and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that an electronic signature has the same legal meaning and can be enforced in the same way as a written signature.

Full Legal Name of Signer: Gregory Pat Borja

Certifying Official Title Executive Director

By checking this box and typing my full legal name above, I am electronically signing this form. Yes

Date Certified (mm/dd/yyyy) 2025-12-16

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