 |
Patrick's FY 15 Budget Last Chance to Fund His Goal of Employment First
For several years Governor Deval Patrick has been held up by disability advocates as true leader for the disability community.
He has earned positive accolades for a number of accomplishments including:
- Protecting disability services during the Great Recession
- Endorsing and enacting a rate reform law
- Establishing Community First and Employment First as state policy
- Closing excess state institutions and expanding community residential programs
 However, the key to the Governor's success record is his ability to propose and enact with the support of the Massachusetts Legislature, the needed funding to implement his notable goals.
Governor Patrick has been distinguished from other governors for his visionary Employment First policy, however unless the Governor includes funding for Employment First in his FY 15 Budget Recommendation (House Two Budget Bill), his policies will be viewed as more aspirational than actual implemented policy.
Without funding to implement policy, goals have the potential to be more hallow than substantive achievements.
In the case of DDS Employment, the Patrick Administration has stated for the last five years that it wants to close its sheltered workshops and move people with developmental disabilities into either Community Based Day Services or more inclusive Supported Employment Programs.
Community providers have worked diligently with current funding resources and have provided honorable and caring services in sheltered workshops in response to the available funding and the interests of program participants. These providers understand that the state and disability community now wishes to move into a more inclusive and diverse employment model and have worked with DDS and The Arc of Massachusetts to present the Patrick Administration with a "Blueprint for Success: Employing Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in Massachusetts.
To make the transition to a new system, which has been part of Governor Deval Patrick's Employment First Agenda, the Governor will need to demonstrate resolve, determination and leadership by including an $11 million ($5.5 million in state general funds, another $5.5 million will be matched by the federal government) in his FY 15 House Two Budget Recommendation.
Unless the Governor includes this funding, there will be little if any success in his Employment First Policy.
Governor Patrick's disability record continues to be positive. In late November he came through by approving a 9.722% increase for day hab programs and on April 1, 2014, his Administration has committed to raising DDS & MRC Residential Rates at the rate set by the Center for Health Information and Analysis. His Administration has also committed to including full funding of that CHIA recommendation in his FY 15 budget.
 Governor Patrick's FY 15 House Two Budget Recommendation will be released on or before Wednesday, January 29, 2014. Advocates in the disability community wait patiently and with anticipation to see his admirable policy goals implemented by its needed funding.
|
