The Arc of Massachusetts' Budget Priorities for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007

These priorities are consistent with the implementation of Olmstead, allowing people with disabilities to live in their own communities. Need is based on the number of people eligible for services from the Department of Mental Retardation who are considered unserved or underserved in each category: Turning Twenty Two, Family Supports and the DOE-DMR agreement. Investment in these areas will allow individuals and families to enhance existing support services, address the workforce that serves this population and provide capacity to insure health and safety needs. These funds are eligible for federal reimbursement through federal financial participation (FFP) at 50%.

Turning 22 and Family Support at the Department of Mental Retardation

• a. Turning 22 Line item 5920-5000:
  The student pool has grown over the past six years. At the Department of Mental Retardation, Turning 22 applications this year total 620 students versus 450 students a decade ago, while funding has actually declined during this period. If students don’t receive adequate supports, (day/work, transportation and community access), demand for more costly residential services will increase. Ensure at least $21,000 per year per graduate for employment or day, transportation and support services.
  Increase from $6.467 million to $10.5 million (increase annualization from $13.7 million to $21.6 million).

• b. Family Support Line Item 5920-3000
  A growing group of children with medical needs and autism in addition to the existing population has resulted in a greater demand for Family Support allocations. Early supports in the home increase development and skill learning. If the Commonwealth doesn’t respond with a series of cost-effective strategies, families will eventually request more expensive alternatives such as pediatric nursing homes, residential schools, and intensive home supports. Based on an average of $3,000 per family, almost 1,700 new families will be served, assisting over 5,000 individuals.
  Increase from $51,289,967 to $56,289,967.

• c. DOE-DMR Collaboration, Line Item 5948-0012:
  This line item originated as a way to allow children with severe disabilities who were living in residential schools, the opportunity to move back with their families. Funding is now used to prevent children with similar disabilities from going into private residential schools. By giving families intense supports, it prevents them from going into crisis. This program was initially given $7,500,000 in 1996 and was level funded until $500,000 was added in the FY ’06 budget. Currently there is a waiting list for the DOE-DMR funding and as a result, children are being placed in residential schools who may have been able to stay home if additional supports were provided. Adding an additional $4,000,000 will clear the waiting list.
  Increase from $8 Million to $12 Million

Workforce

• Salary Reserve Line Item 1599-6901
  Staff retention and development within community services purchased by the Department of Mental Retardation must be addressed. Community staff (direct support and front-line supervisors) earn 25% less than their state-employed counterparts. By funding H.2930 and S.1154, this discrepancy can be reduced over 5 years. This would involve a two step process: 1. Continue $20 million EOHHS salary reserve of which $10 million would be earmarked for 18,000 FTEs compensated by DMR. 2. Supplement this total with an additional $12 million per year over 5 years until the discrepancy is eliminated. During each year, the discrepancy between staff employed by community services providers and those at state operated programs would be reduced by 20% until the disparity is eliminated in 2011. These state dollars would all be reimbursed at a rate of 50% through federal financial participation (FFP). $20 million, 50% ($10 million) of which is earmarked for DMR funded-staff.

  NEW Line Item 1599-6903, for additional funding of DMR salaries: $12 million.

Â