People with Developmental Disabilities, Office for

Agency Web Site: http://www.opwdd.ny.gov/

Mission

The mission of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is to help individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities live richer lives. OPWDD’s vision is to ensure that individuals enjoy meaningful relationships with family, friends, and others; experience personal health and growth; live in homes of their choice; and fully participate in their communities.

Organization and Staffing

The Executive Budget recommends a year-end workforce target of 18,580 FTEs. The Budget assumes OPWDD's workforce will decrease by 32 FTEs through attrition as OPWDD reduces the number of administrative positions.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends significant investments in the OPWDD not-for-profit workforce. These investments include $80 million (an increase of $55 million) to support the minimum wage and related fringe benefit cost increases associated with movement to a $15 an hour living wage, and $191 million (an increase of $170 million) to support the 6.5 percent salary increase provided to direct care professionals (3.25 percent in January 2018 and 3.25 percent in April 2018) and clinical workers employed by not-for-profit organizations rendering mental hygiene services on behalf of OPWDD (3.25 percent in April 2018).

The FY 2019 Executive Budget recommends, in total, approximately $4.7 billion in All Funds appropriations, including $2.4 billion for Aid to Localities, $2.2 billion for State Operations and $96 million for Capital Projects, which represents a $190 million increase from FY 2018. The increase supports new investments in OPWDD program priorities, expansion of supportive housing capacity, salary increases for direct care and clinical staff at non-profit providers, increased costs related to the minimum wage, and anticipated agency operating costs. To conform the budgeting of program operations with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the FY 2019 Budget shifts appropriations and spending from the Mental Hygiene Program Fund and Patient Income Account to the General Fund. Spending for fringe benefits and indirect costs will be paid for centrally from General Fund appropriations; however, OPWDD will maintain appropriations for these expenses to ensure sufficient authority is available for statewide allocation purposes.

In total, OPWDD will utilize this funding to support a comprehensive system of care that serves 139,000 New Yorkers and their families. These resources will continue to support OPWDD's person-centered model, which delivers services through a network of State-operated and NFP-operated settings.

This budget continues the Governor's long-standing commitment to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities in the most appropriate community-based settings. Specifically, the budget will:

Make $120 Million Available for Program Priorities, Including New Service Opportunities. For the fifth consecutive year, the Executive Budget includes State resources that will leverage a total of $120 million in new funding on an annualized basis. This investment supports program reforms and will continue to meet the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families who require OPWDD supports and services, as well as individuals whose needs have changed.

Commit $15 Million to Develop Independent Living Housing. The Budget provides $15 million in capital funding to expand independent living housing capacity. This investment builds upon the agency’s successes in providing safe and accessible residential opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities capable of living in an apartment of their own. These funds are in addition to resources that will be available from the five-year, $20 billion affordable and supportive housing plan, which will also help support the development of residential opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Jointly Develop Specialized Adult Service Capacity with the Office of Mental Health (OMH). OPWDD will collaborate with OMH to develop a specialized program for adults dually-diagnosed with developmental disabilities and behavioral health issues. This new, transitional program will be located on the Bernard Fineson Campus in Queens, and will support people who are discharged from an OMH-certified inpatient setting, while they await access to appropriate OPWDD services in the community.

Invest Resources to Transition Medicaid Service Coordination to a Conflict-Free Care Management System. The Budget includes $39 million in FY 2019 to support the transition from OPWDD’s Medicaid Service Coordination program to a comprehensive care coordination model operated through several Care Coordination Organization/Health Homes (CCO/HHs), the first step in the transition to managed care. Rather than focusing solely on coordinating OPWDD services, CCO/HHs will be responsible for integrating developmental disability, health, and other services into an individual’s life plan to improve quality of life and other outcomes.

Continue the Blue Ribbon Panel for the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities on Staten Island. In FY 2019, the Blue Ribbon panel will continue its examination of the feasibility of transitioning some or all operational components of the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (IBR) from the OPWDD to the CUNY College of Staten Island (COSI). The panel includes prominent researchers, academicians, parents and political leaders, with recommended options expected in Calendar Year 2018.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Mental Hygiene (PDF)

Program Highlights

Residential Services: Residential programs are licensed by OPWDD to provide varying levels of housing and related services, and are operated by OPWDD or nonprofit agencies. Residential services include, but are not limited to: adaptive skill development; assistance with activities of daily living; community inclusion and relationship building; training and support for independence in travel; adult educational supports; and development of social, leisure, self-advocacy, informed choice and appropriate behavioral skills.

Day Programs: Day programs include day habilitation, community habilitation and employment type services, each focused on giving participants the personal, social and vocational supports needed to live in their community. Programming varies depending upon each person’s unique needs and interests. These services aim to assist individuals to acquire, retain or improve their self-help, socialization and adaptive skills, including communication, travel and other areas of adult education.

Clinic Services: Clinic Services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, speech and language pathology, medical/dental services and health care services. These services assist individuals with developmental disabilities to maintain the effectiveness of the treatment, enable the individual to remain in his/her current residential setting and enhance the individual’s quality of life.

All Other Services: These include a variety of different service options for individuals and families, such as self-direction, respite, care coordination, and family counseling.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/16/2018