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CSEA Leg islative a nd Politica l Ac tion Dep artm ent

2013ExecutiveBudgetProposal

CSEAMemorandumonO.P.W.D.D.Overthepast30yearsNewYorkStatehasbeenreducingitsresponsibilitiesinproviding

servicesforthedevelopmentallydisabledandpushingthemtoprivatenotforprofitproviders.

Thishascreatedapatchworkofprovidersintheprivatenotforprofitsectorthathavelittle

accountabilityandpublicoversight.

Amajorthemefromlastyearwasthehailedcreationofajuvenilejusticecentertostrengthen

oversightandaccountabilityinordertopreventandpunishthosewhoabuseandneglect

individualswithdevelopmentaldisabilities. Thefurtherprivatizationofstateoperatedservices

proposedbythe20132014executivebudgetwillmakeitthatmuchharderforthejustice

centerto

not

only

do

its

job,

but

it

will

increase

their

business

as

the

quality

of

care

will

suffer

greatly.

Thisblatantmovetoeliminatestateoperatedservicesforthedevelopmentallydisablednot

onlyjeopardizesthequalityofcareforourmostvulnerable,itremovesthestatefromcritical

carechoices,administrativeprerogativesandoversightofthisvitalpublicservice.Inaddition,it

eliminatesqualitymiddleclassjobsfromlocalcommunities.

Itisawellknownfactthatthequalityofcareisgreatlyaffectedbytheconsistencyofthecare.

Aregularrecognizablecaregiverwhocanestablishtrustanddependabilityiscriticaltoabetter

qualityof

care

as

well

as

ahigher

quality

of

life

for

the

developmentally

disabled

individual.

Privatenotforprofitproviderspaysubstandardwages,providelittleornobenefits,have

unregulatedworkenvironments,andarecommonlyastartingpointforotherjobsand

opportunities. Theturnoverrateforstaffatprivatenotforprofitprovidersinthe

developmentallydisabledfieldtops40%,anunacceptablelevelwhenitcomestothecareand

qualityoflifeforthedevelopmentallydisabled.

Furthermore,thecontinuedassaultonthepublicsectorworkforcethroughprivatization

schemeshasbeenproventimeandtimeagaintobeineffective,costly,andregretful. Taking

middleclass

jobs

away

from

experienced,

dedicated,

and

caring

state

employees

and

replacing

themwithprivatenotforprofitproviderswhofailtopaytheirdirectcareworkersalivingwage

hurtslocaleconomiesandthequalityoflifeforallNewYorkers,notjustthosereceivingcare.

7/29/2019 CSEA: OPWDD Memo and Talking Points (2-2013)

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CSEA Leg islative a nd Politica l Ac tion Dep artm ent

2013ExecutiveBudgetProposal

CSEATalkingPointsO.P.W.D.D. TheStateofNewYorkhasdrasticallyshiftedservicesforpeoplewith

developmentaldisabilitiestotheprivatenotforprofitcommunity.

Thequalityofcaresuffersgreatlywhenalargeportionofresponsibilityforthosewithdevelopmentaldisabilitiesisprivatized. Stateemployeeshave

foryearscaredfortheseindividualswithprideandcommitment.

Notforprofitshaveovera40%staffturnoverratewhichisunacceptablewhenitcomestocaringforindividualsinneedofcontinuityandastable

andsecureenvironment.

Thelossofmiddleclassjobsinlocalcommunitieshasanaddeddevastatingaffectdisplacedstateemployees,theirfamilies,andtheirlocal

communitieswhosufferwhendecentpayingjobsdisappear.

CSEAisopposedtotheoutrightprivatizationofservicescurrentlybeingprovidedbystateemployeesoftheOfficeofPeoplewithDevelopmentalDisabilities.CSEAstronglyurgesthelegislaturetorejectthispolicyandforcetheexecutivetoceaseanyandalleffortstocloseordiminishservicescurrentlybeingprovidedbyOPWDD.Notforprofitemployeesarepaidatamuchlowerlevelthenstateemployeesforthecareof

individualswithdevelopmentaldisabilities. Thiscreatesexcessiveturnoverratesamongstaff

whichisdetrimentaltothoseinneedofcare.

Currentactionsbythestatearedivestinglocalcommunitiesofgoodpayingjobs,hurtingboth

thoseinneedofqualitycareandmiddleclassfamilies,mostlyinupstateNewYork.

Thecontinuedprivatizationofstateservicesforthosewithdevelopmentaldisabilitiesfailsto

recognizetheprofessional,caring,andstableworkforceoftheStateOfficeforPeoplewith

DevelopmentalDisabilities. Continuingthispracticedoesadisservicenotonlytothe

consumersbutthehardworkingstateworkforce.