Dear Friends and Colleagues:
After strengthening the agency’s focus on health and safety through critical reforms to its hiring practices, employee oversight and training, and investigations process, I am pleased to announce an organizational overhaul that will place the agency’s focus more squarely on service and quality improvement, and help ensure oversight and accountability statewide.
OPWDD’s reorganization will:
· Bring a consistent approach and culture to all OPWDD services, whether at state or nonprofit provider agencies, with a greater focus on quality improvement.
· Ensure that person-centered approaches are incorporated throughout the future service system.
· Bring greater efficiency and consistency to all back office operations, such as finance, human resources, training, and services statewide.
· Transition management of back office functions to OPWDD’s central office, so Developmental Disabilities Services Offices (DDSOs) across the state can focus on service delivery and improvement.
· Help implement the 1115 People First Waiver, which will move the system to individualized supports and services instead of the one-size-fits-all approach currently available to the more than 126,000 individuals with developmental disabilities in New York State.
I have also created the Office of Strategic Planning and Performance Measurement to track progress and identify trends. Deputy-level commissioners are charged in the areas of service delivery, workforce and talent management, and quality improvement, as well as the new divisions of Person-Centered Supports and Enterprise Solutions.
Division of Quality Improvement
Formerly the Division of Quality Management, this name change recognizes that care and service must continue to improve, and that the agency cannot accept the system meeting only basic standards. The division has dedicated resources and a focus on oversight and accountability to strengthen the system. The Division of Quality Improvement performs audits of state and nonprofit provider operations, in the areas of governance and safety practices. The division also oversees adoption of corrective action plans, when necessary, approves nonprofit providers to OPWDD’s Compass initiative for delivering the highest quality services, and can take appropriate actions with providers that endanger the health and safety of individuals they support.
Division of Person-Centered Supports
The Division of Person-Centered Supports is focused on improving quality community-based living, with staff and resources devoted to the four outcome areas of home of choice, work or contributing to the community, meaningful relationships, and good health. The division also oversees adoption of the 1115 People First Waiver, which will make the system more focused on the individualized needs of people with developmental disabilities.
Division of Enterprise Solutions
This division oversees many of the administrative operations that keep OPWDD running, such as the agency’s fiscal and budget services, informational technology, rate setting, billing, property supports and services, and revenue support. The Division of Enterprise Solutions also will be responsible for overseeing, restructuring, and standardizing the agency’s 13 DDSO business offices.
Thank you for your continued partnership to move our system forward with stronger and more efficient services.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Burke