June 1, 2011
Today, I am pleased to announce the members of the Steering Committee that will guide the development of the People First Waiver. Over the coming months, this committee will oversee a comprehensive planning process in which a wide range of interested parties—self advocates, family members, public officials and staff, service providers and experts in health care and long-term care—will together develop a proposal to the federal government for a new administrative and fiscal structure for our developmental disabilities service system. The Steering Committee will examine current policy issues and shape the work of distinct design teams that are focused on key elements of the system. The members of the Steering Committee bring a breadth of expertise and will serve New York State with excellence as we advance this service system to greater standards of quality, effectiveness and efficiency.
Courtney Burke
Commissioner
New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
New York State People First Waiver Steering Committee
Individual & Family Members
Mary Jo Hebert, MSC Outreach and Training Coordinator, Parent to Parent of New York
Clint Perrin, Self Advocate, Self Advocacy Association of New York State
Margaret Puddington, Parent Advocate
Michael Rogers, Self Advocate, Self Advocacy Association of New York State
Lisa Severino, Self Advocate
Yvette Watts, Parent Advocate, New York Association of Emerging & Multicultural Providers, Inc.
NYS Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council (MRDDAC)
Nick Cappoletti, Executive Director, Advocates Incorporated
OPWDD Provider Agencies and Provider Associations
Wafa Abboud, Chief Executive Officer, Human First, Inc.
James M. Boles, President and CEO, People Inc.
Marc Brandt, Executive Director, NYSARC, Inc.
Susan Constantino, President and CEO, Cerebral Palsy Association of New York State
Ann Hardiman, Executive Director, NYS Association of Community and Residential Agencies
Edward Matthews, Chief Executive Officer, United Cerebral Palsy of New York City
Hanns Meissner, Chief Executive Officer, The ARC of Rensselaer County
Peter Pierri, Executive Director, Interagency Council of Developmental Disabilities
Steven Vernikoff, Executive Director and CEO, The Center for Family Support
Outside Experts
Kate Breslin, President and CEO, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy
Katharine Briar-Lawson, Dean, School of Social Welfare, University at Albany
Jo-Ann Costantino, Chief Executive Officer, The Eddy
Joanne Cunningham, President, Home Care Association of New York State
Harvey Rosenthal, Executive Director, New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services
Stephen B. Sulkes, Director, Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, Golisano Children’s Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center
Rick Surpin, President, Independence Care System
Elizabeth Swain, Chief Executive Officer, Community Health Care Association of New York State
James A. Yonai, Director, (and MRDDAC member), Madison County Mental Health Department
New York State Government
Courtney Burke, Commissioner, NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
Bruce Feig, Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYS Office of Mental Health
William Gettman, Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYS Office of Children and Family Services
Jason Helgerson, NYS Medicaid Director, New York State Department of Health
James Introne, NYS Deputy Secretary for Health and Director of Healthcare Redesign
William Panepinto, Director, Bureau of Housing, New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
Michael Peluso, Coordinator, Interagency, Legislative & Community Relations, NYS Education Department