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 people with developmental disabilities live richer lives. The agency’s vision is to ensure that people with developmental disabilities enjoy meaningful relationships with family, friends, and others in their lives; experience personal health and growth; live in homes and fully participate in communities of their choice.

Budget Highlights

The 2015-16 Executive Budget recommends approximately $4.4 billion in All Funds appropriations ($1.7 billion General Fund; $2.7 billion Other Funds) for OPWDD, including $2.2 billion for Aid to Localities, $2.1 billion for State Operations and $18 million for Capital Projects. The year-to-year appropriation decline of $31 million is associated with a decline in required capital projects appropriations. In total, OPWDD funding will be used to support a comprehensive system of care that serves 126,000 New Yorkers with developmental disabilities 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 institutional and community-based settings.

The Executive Budget recommends a year-end workforce target of 18,637 full time equivalents (FTEs). As OPWDD transitions more individuals to appropriate, community-integrated settings, OPWDD's staffing complement is adjusted to reflect higher staffing levels in community-based service settings (e.g., group homes) and lower staffing at the State's institutions. The Budget proposes to increase OPWDD's FTE ceiling by a net of 50 FTEs when compared to 2014-15 projected fill levels.

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 include:

• Investments from the Balancing Incentive Program (BIP) that enable the State to engage a broad network of providers, advocates, and community leaders in developing systematic improvements to delivery systems for individuals with developmental disabilities and enhance community integration. BIP funds will be used to support vital providers in the transition to managed care; make strategic investments to transform non-institutional long term services and supports; increase employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities; and implement electronic health record systems.
• Funding to provide new service opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities that will be allocated based on OPWDD's person-centered planning processes. This includes an individualized needs assessment to ensure the provision of required supports and services. These new resources will support expanded services throughout OPWDD’s continuum of care, including residential opportunities, day programs, employment services, and respite services for qualifying individuals.
• Consistent with the Olmstead Cabinet report and Federal CMS requirements, this budget includes funding to transition individuals from segregated settings, such as developmental centers and intermediate care facilities to more integrated, community-based support systems. As part of this effort, OPWDD will utilize not-for-profit and State-operated services (including expanded pilots using State workers) to deliver appropriate community-based services specific to individualized needs.
• Funding to support a 2 percent salary increase for direct care and clinical not-for-profit workers.

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)

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2015

Click for additional detailed appropriation tables