People with Developmental Disabilities, Office for
skip breadcrumbsAgency Web Site: https://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
OPWDD has a Central Office in Albany, which oversees State and Local programs. OPWDD has six State Operations offices, which are responsible for State-delivered programs and services. OPWDD also staffs five Regional Offices that oversee the provision of community-based services delivered by not-for-profit providers. The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 18,942 FTEs for OPWDD, reflecting no change from FY 2023.
Budget Highlights
The FY 2024 Executive Budget recommends approximately $7.4 billion in All Funds appropriations, including $4.9 billion for Aid to Localities, $2.4 billion for State Operations and $119.5 million for Capital Projects, which represents an increase of $188.8 million from FY 2023. The year-to-year increase is primarily due to additional Medicaid costs, the 2.5 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA), and the continued investment in new service opportunities.
OPWDD will utilize this funding to support a comprehensive system of care that serves nearly 131,000 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 not-for-profit (NFP)-operated settings.
The Budget honors the State’s pledge to support individuals with developmental disabilities in the most appropriate community-based settings. Specifically, the Executive Budget will:
- Establish a Statewide Ombudsman Program. The Executive Budget includes $2 million to establish an ombudsman program, which will provide client advocate services for individuals eligible for OPWDD services. The program will provide an independent advocate for individuals who are not able to speak for themselves and provide training and support to those who can make their own decisions to help them achieve greater independence. This program will be available across the entire OPWDD service system.
- Expand Intensive Treatment Opportunity (ITO) Capacity. The Executive Budget includes $11.7 million in capital funding to develop additional ITO units at the former Finger Lakes Developmental Center campus. Once operational, these units will have the capacity to serve 39 individuals who require this level of support. ITOs are inpatient treatment settings that are certified as Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs). Currently, there are ITO units operated at Sunmount in Tupper Lake and Valley Ridge in Norwich.
- Conduct an Independent Study on the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (IBR). The Executive Budget includes an investment for a two-year independent study focused on how IBR’s functions align with OPWDD’s strategic goals and the feasibility of revitalizing the facility.
- Continue Investments in New Service Opportunities. The Executive Budget continues to invest State resources to support OPWDD priority program reforms that ensure individuals receive the support they need. This includes individuals who are entering the system for the first time and seeking access to services, and individuals already receiving services, but whose needs have changed.
- Commit an Additional $15 Million to Develop Housing. The FY 2024 Executive Budget continues to expand independent living opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since FY 2016, the State has invested $110 million in capital resources to develop safe and accessible residential opportunities, and the Executive Budget raises this investmetnt to a total of $125 million. These funds are distinct from, and in addition to, resources that are available from the five year, $25 billion affordable and supporive housing plan, which is also helping support the development of residential opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Evaluate an OPWDD Transition to Managed Care. The State continues to assess the potential effectiveness and sustainability of the proposed delivery system to ensure individuals continue receiving appropriate services in the most cost-effective manner. The State is evaluating how managed care could assist OPWDD in improving services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Work is being done to analyze existing research, data and implementation trends, and stakeholder feedback to assess whether other service delivery models, including managed care, should be pursued to advance the stated goals and objectives of the OPWDD Strategic Plan.
- Provide Flexibilities for Delegated Nursing Tasks. The Executive Budget includes legislation that would allow greater flexibility for the performance of certain nursing tasks by unlicensed employees of providers certified by OPWDD in non-certified community-based settings. This would allow more individuals to transition into more independent settings, decreasing the reliance on certified residential settings.
For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:
https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy24/ex/book/briefingbook.pdf
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 in maintaining the effectiveness of the treatment, enabling the individual to remain in his/her current residential setting and enhancing 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.
| Category | Available FY 2023 |
Appropriations Recommended FY 2024 |
Change From FY 2023 |
Reappropriations Recommended FY 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 2,299,683,000 | 2,357,125,000 | 57,442,000 | 2,673,000 |
| Aid To Localities | 4,821,118,000 | 4,945,653,000 | 124,535,000 | 3,171,637,000 |
| Capital Projects | 112,600,000 | 119,450,000 | 6,850,000 | 543,791,000 |
| Total | 7,233,401,000 | 7,422,228,000 | 188,827,000 | 3,718,101,000 |
| Program | FY 2023 Estimated FTEs 03/31/23 |
FY 2024 Estimated FTEs 03/31/24 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Coordination and Support | |||
| General Fund | 1,178 | 1,178 | 0 |
| Community Services | |||
| General Fund | 15,198 | 15,198 | 0 |
| Capital Projects Funds - Other | 385 | 385 | 0 |
| Institutional Services | |||
| General Fund | 2,087 | 2,087 | 0 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | |||
| General Fund | 94 | 94 | 0 |
| Total | 18,942 | 18,942 | 0 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2023 |
Recommended FY 2024 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Funds | 2,657,000 | 2,657,000 | 0 |
| General Fund | 2,295,154,000 | 2,352,596,000 | 57,442,000 |
| Internal Service Funds | 348,000 | 348,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 751,000 | 751,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 773,000 | 773,000 | 0 |
| Total | 2,299,683,000 | 2,357,125,000 | 57,442,000 |
| Program | Available FY 2023 |
Recommended FY 2024 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Coordination and Support | |||
| General Fund | 141,132,000 | 140,062,000 | (1,070,000) |
| Internal Service Funds | 348,000 | 348,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 751,000 | 751,000 | 0 |
| Community Services | |||
| General Fund | 1,655,014,000 | 1,707,307,000 | 52,293,000 |
| Institutional Services | |||
| Enterprise Funds | 2,657,000 | 2,657,000 | 0 |
| General Fund | 470,133,000 | 475,582,000 | 5,449,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 502,000 | 502,000 | 0 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | |||
| General Fund | 28,875,000 | 29,645,000 | 770,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 271,000 | 271,000 | 0 |
| Total | 2,299,683,000 | 2,357,125,000 | 57,442,000 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 83,569,000 | 1,092,000 | 82,915,000 | 1,098,000 |
| Community Services | 1,510,654,000 | 48,126,000 | 1,368,863,000 | 52,646,000 |
| Institutional Services | 359,100,000 | 2,533,000 | 343,704,000 | 2,996,000 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 26,492,000 | 212,000 | 26,151,000 | 223,000 |
| Total | 1,979,815,000 | 51,963,000 | 1,821,633,000 | 56,963,000 |
| Program | Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried) |
Holiday/Overtime Pay | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 489,000 | 0 | 165,000 | (6,000) |
| Community Services | 1,792,000 | 0 | 139,999,000 | (4,520,000) |
| Institutional Services | 1,061,000 | 0 | 14,335,000 | (463,000) |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 0 | 0 | 341,000 | (11,000) |
| Total | 3,342,000 | 0 | 154,840,000 | (5,000,000) |
| Program | Total | Supplies and Materials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 56,493,000 | (2,162,000) | 2,072,000 | 65,000 |
| Community Services | 196,653,000 | 4,167,000 | 77,040,000 | 2,410,000 |
| Institutional Services | 116,482,000 | 2,916,000 | 69,865,000 | 2,186,000 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 3,153,000 | 558,000 | 1,333,000 | 42,000 |
| Total | 372,781,000 | 5,479,000 | 150,310,000 | 4,703,000 |
| Program | Travel | Contractual Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 2,268,000 | 71,000 | 48,195,000 | (2,422,000) |
| Community Services | 5,656,000 | 177,000 | 89,295,000 | 808,000 |
| Institutional Services | 1,694,000 | 53,000 | 32,757,000 | 296,000 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 6,000 | 0 | 1,651,000 | 511,000 |
| Total | 9,624,000 | 301,000 | 171,898,000 | (807,000) |
| Program | Equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 3,958,000 | 124,000 |
| Community Services | 24,662,000 | 772,000 |
| Institutional Services | 12,166,000 | 381,000 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 163,000 | 5,000 |
| Total | 40,949,000 | 1,282,000 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 1,099,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Institutional Services | 3,159,000 | 0 | 383,000 | 0 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 271,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 4,529,000 | 0 | 383,000 | 0 |
| Program | Nonpersonal Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 1,099,000 | 0 |
| Institutional Services | 2,776,000 | 0 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 271,000 | 0 |
| Total | 4,146,000 | 0 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2023 |
Recommended FY 2024 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 4,821,118,000 | 4,945,653,000 | 124,535,000 |
| Total | 4,821,118,000 | 4,945,653,000 | 124,535,000 |
| Program | Available FY 2023 |
Recommended FY 2024 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Services | |||
| General Fund | 4,821,118,000 | 4,945,653,000 | 124,535,000 |
| Total | 4,821,118,000 | 4,945,653,000 | 124,535,000 |
| Comprehensive Construction Program | Available FY 2023 |
Recommended FY 2024 |
Change | Reappropriations FY 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community and Institutional Services Program | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 41,600,000 | 41,600,000 | 0 | 70,687,000 |
| MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds | 15,000,000 | 20,850,000 | 5,850,000 | 80,469,000 |
| Design and Construction Supervision | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 6,000,000 | 6,000,000 | 0 | 30,374,000 |
| MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds | 7,000,000 | 7,000,000 | 0 | 19,222,000 |
| Facilities Maintenance and Operations | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 43,000,000 | 44,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 34,532,000 |
| Institutional Services Program | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,010,000 |
| MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 98,043,000 |
| Non-Bondable Projects | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 954,000 |
| State-Operated Community Services Program | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,115,000 |
| MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 90,397,000 |
| Voluntary-Operated Community Facilities | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22,598,000 |
| MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 89,390,000 |
| Total | 112,600,000 | 119,450,000 | 6,850,000 | 543,791,000 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 02/01/2023