Legislative Focus

Budget and Policy Priorities for Fiscal Year 2007
Presupuesto y Prioridades de Política para Año Fiscal 2007

The following represents the current legislative campaign supported by Arc Massachusetts, Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change, Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong and other advocacy groups. These groups will be working with the legislature and with policy makers to increase funding in the following areas and to impact policy in these areas. It is very important that you develop an understanding of these issues and their impact on your family.

These priorities are consistent with the implementation of Olmstead, allowing people with disabilities to live in their own communities:

Turning 22:

The student pool has grown over the past six years. If students don't receive adequate supports (day/work, transportation and community access), demand for more costly residential services will increase. Young people with disabilities who are turning 22 today are in a unique position in history. They represent a generation who have grown up in their communities, have lived with their families, have developed relationships with other children and community members and have attended local public schools. Many of these young people have been active in their communities and have had work experience. Some are looking forward to continuing their education in some form.

Our state system of services is also in a unique position in history. There is an opportunity to capitalize on the education and experience of these young people by providing sufficient Turning 22 funding so that individuals can continue to progress as they move into adulthood. There is also an opportunity to continue to support families so that ALL young people with disabilities can grow up in their communities and take advantage of a public school education.

Family Support at the Department of Mental Retardation and other State Agencies:

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.

Supporting the preservation and expansion of flexible Family Support services across the disability community is a key focus of MFOFC. Most people with disabilities in Massachusetts are cared for at home by their families who need flexible supports designed to supplement their natural ability to provide this care. Family support is a proven and cost-effective service that dramatically undercuts the potential costs to the state for out-of-home placement. Family support services currently represent a tiny percentage of EOHHS funding and are not broadly available across the disability spectrum. Funding for flexible family support services needs to be significantly expanded and made available to many more families in the Commonwealth.

Workforce:

Staff retention and development within community services purchased by the Department of Mental Retardation must be addressed. Community staff (direct support and supervisors) earn 25% less than their state-employed counterparts.

Quality supports for our family members are dependent on the people who work with them. Human Services workers should be recognized and compensated fairly for the important work they do.

Medicaid Waivers:

The Department of Mental Retardation is developing a new set of Medicaid Waivers to access federal reimbursement for their services to individuals and families. While the Department's goal is laudable, the development of these waivers will have an impact on individuals and families currently receiving services and those waiting for services. Attention to the development of the waivers is crucial so that there is no loss to those receiving services and there is a plan to provide services to those without. The waivers can do much good but again, it is essential that they be written to address issues not create more issues.

MFOFC, Arc Massachusetts and other advocacy groups have been involved in providing input to the Department as well as providing education on the waivers during this development stage.

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