The Arc and ADDP are hard at work advocating for disability services for the upcoming budget. Echo our budget request. We can’t do it without you! The Governor’s budget, typically released on the third Wednesday of January, is organized by line items that cover program areas. The budget request assumes maintenance funding for all line items in the DDS budget and other disability line items. Increases reflect unmet needs of persons or families and/or an inflation factor that covers salaries or increases in health benefit premiums or other costs. The Operational Services Division (OSD) releases an annual inflation rate that is applied to Chapter 766 schools. We use this tool since there is no other tool to apply for expenses in community services. The OSD rate has been applied to all the line items in this chart except for Turning 22, DESE/DDS and Salary Reserve.
DDS Programs:
Autism, line item 5920-3010 – Serving 157 children with autism ages 0 – 8 years old of the 600 families who applied in FY’11, this program provides various support services so children with autism can remain in their homes. The inflation rate and 80 additional program recipients validate that $5,819,951 is needed to fund this program.
Community Residential DDS, line item 5920-2000 - Serving 10,466 people with disabilities, this program provides servicesto those living in group homes or supported housing. In 2012, nearly 170 persons turning age 22will need full funding in 2013, and funding for Community First efforts (nursing homes/state schools) brings the total to $802,916,776.
Day & Employment Services DDS, line item 5920-2025 - This community program provides an opportunity for 9,194 people with disabilities to earn money through employment and day activity services for some participants. The request addresses those who turned age 22 during this fiscal year (2012), and the start of the conversion ($3M) to full supported employment for a total of $136,314,908 to fund this program.
Family Preservation Support DESE/DDS, line item 5948-0012 and 7061-0012 - This program focuses exclusively on keeping youth with their families. Currently, 350 families utilize this service; however, 193 families are on a waiting list. There is a wait list for this program and we request restoration to the 2009 total at $8,500,000.
Respite and Family Support DDS, line item 5920-3000 - Serving almost 11,000 families, this program provides flexible and cost-effective services. This program helps avoid utilization of costly residential and emergency services, saving the state millions of dollars. Currently, 20,107 adults with disabilities live with their families. Adding in the inflation rate and restoring $10,000,000 cut from fiscal 2009, this program must be funded at $56,473,235 in fiscal year 2013.
Service Coordination/Admin, line item 5911-1003 – All DDS Administration and case management staff.
State Operated Homes 5920-2010 – Serving approximately 1400 individuals, these homes were established through agreements with state institution unions. The homes are under the direction of DDS regional offices.
State Schools, line item 5930-1000 – This line item funds remaining institutions. Savings from closure have gone to address potential DDS cuts. We hope to retain further savings for wait list and cost of living needs.
Transportation 5911-2000 – This line item covers part of the transportation to ensure that persons can go from home or staff-supported setting to their jobs or day programs. It’s an essential part of service delivery.
Turning 22, line item 5920-5000 - This program provides first year funding to special education graduates for adult services. Residential or day and family support services are needed (195 for residential & 520 for latter). This annual service cost per person without residential is $22,000, plus increasing numbers require $10,500,000.
Other Programs or Line Items:
Early Intervention - DPH – Assists infants birth to 3 years old to develop maximally, EI Consortium leads advocacy
Employment, MRC – Community Based Employment Program assists individuals who require continued support
Day Habilitation, Adult Family Care, Adult Day Health – funded through MassHealth, Day Hab serves over 7,000 individuals as only clinical day program; Adult family or foster care supports individuals at their family homes or provides stipends to those who share their home with a person with a disability. Day Health is designed for elders and used by persons with disabilities who are retired and who need less clinical support.
Salary Reserve, EOHHS
Funding would provide the human service workforce a pay increase that is long overdue. It is anticipated that about $14-$15M of this line item would funnel through DDS to private human service providers. This line item funds all purchase of service contracts through Health and Human Services.
Please note there are other important line items for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For example, circuit breaker for special education and nursing servcies. We will add information about other line items over time.