Dear Friends and Colleagues:
Two years ago, when I was nominated by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and confirmed as commissioner of the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities by the New York State Senate, OPWDD was tasked with implementing a system-wide transformation, and through the partnership of individuals, families, nonprofit providers, employees and others, we have made a difference.
Our two-year report, issued this month, is a testament to all we have accomplished together. Here is a small portion of what we have been able to achieve:
· Submitted the People First Waiver to the federal government on April 1, which allows for development of a specialized managed care system to meet the unique needs of individuals with developmental disabilities.
· Decreased the number of individuals with developmental disabilities living in institutional settings operated by OPWDD by 19% between April 2011 and February 2013.
· Saw an overall 21% decline in allegations of abuse and serious incidents at state and nonprofit provider agencies when comparing the most recent six-month period ending March 1, 2013 to my first six-months at OPWDD.
· Increased by 670% the number of abuse cases brought to arbitration in 2011-2012 as compared to 2009-2010.
· Embarked on a culture change initiative designed to impact OPWDD at every level, with a focus on person-centered planning.
· Reduced the use of physical interventions in state-operated programs by 19% in the six-month period from August 2012 to January 2013 as compared to the previous six months.
· Trained more than 400 OPWDD staff members on how to provide positive, proactive supports; 36 change teams around the state have developed action plans to implement at least one positive outcomes project in their work locations.
· Trained more than 1,500 direct support professionals from the state and nonprofit sectors in the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals’ Code of Ethics.
· Created a new eligibility, assessment, and service plan development process known as the Front Door, which is not only consistent statewide, but ensures the availability of individualized and self-directed service options to as many people as possible.
· Reorganized the agency with a focus on creating and fostering more person-centered services while creating efficiencies, improving quality oversight, and streamlining service delivery.
These accomplishments could not have been achieved without all of you. In the months ahead, we will continue to transform New York’s system into one that is more person-centered and sustainable. Our transformation work teams will begin meeting soon and will help us achieve goals such as increasing opportunities for employment and self-direction, moving people into more integrated settings, allowing providers flexibility and opportunities for reinvestment, and creating habilitative models of care management that value life outcomes for people. I look forward to working together to create a stronger and better system for the people we serve.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Burke
P.S. Communication is critical to our collective success, and OPWDD’s Facebook page is a great place for individuals, family members, employees, advocates, and other stakeholders to exchange thoughts and ideas. Please feel free to join the conversation.