Dear Friends and Colleagues:
When I was appointed commissioner of OPWDD in March 2011 by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, I was tasked with developing and implementing a system-wide transformation in partnership with individuals with developmental disabilities, families, advocates, nonprofit providers, employees, and others. We have accomplished much together in these past two years. Here are just a few highlights:
· We submitted the People First Waiver to the federal government to provide more integrated supports and services.
· A transformation agreement was reached with the federal government to increase self-directed services, employment, and community living.
· Our Front Door is open to help empower people in choosing services.
· We have better highlighted the important role of direct support professionals (DSPs) through the introduction of a DSP advisory board, core competencies, and a code of ethics.
· Fewer than 1,000 people are now living in campus-based institutions operated by OPWDD.
· The use of physical interventions is down and staff are implementing positive, proactive, supports.
· Allegations of abuse and serious incidents have decreased.
While there is still work to be done, our transformation agenda is in place, and our system is clearly on the road to reform. The ongoing input of individuals with developmental disabilities, families, advocates, providers, and employees has been tremendously valuable, and I will miss working directly with all of you. I recently have taken on a new role in the administration. Governor Cuomo has appointed me to the position of deputy secretary for health, where I am overseeing OPWDD, as well as the Department of Health, the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, the Office for the Aging, the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, the Office of Mental Health, the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, and the newly formed Justice Center.
The governor has named Laurie Kelley acting OPWDD commissioner, and she will begin in her new role on July 26. As many of you know, Laurie has served as the executive director of Ulster-Greene ARC since 2002. She joined the nonprofit agency in 1999 after more than 20 years as a health care executive. In addition, she founded a local eating disorders education and advocacy coalition, mentors women at risk, and serves on human service-related boards in Ulster and Greene Counties. She has the knowledge, experience, and passion to lead the agency forward.
I look forward to working with Laurie and all of you to further OPWDD’s mission of helping people with developmental disabilities live richer lives.
Sincerely,
Courtney Burke