CDCAN REPORT #024-2011: Department of Developmental Services releases important online survey for public input

• Department of Developmental Services Releases Online Survey As Part of Process for Public Input To Develop Statewide Regional Center Purchase of Services Standards
• Imposing Statewide Standards Part of Governor’s Proposed $750 Million Reduction in State General Fund Spending for Developmental Services – Deadline For Public To Participate In the Online Survey Is Feb 15th

SACRAMENTO, CALIF  (CDCAN) [Updated 01/27/2011 – 03:30 PM  (Pacific Time)] – The Department of Developmental Services, - the state agency responsible for the developmental services budget that includes the 21 non-profit regional centers and also the state owned and staffed developmental centers that serves over 240,000 people with developmental disabilities – released an online survey for public input on one of the Governor’s proposals to cut spending within the developmental services  budget.  The Department of Developmental Services also is the lead agency that administers the State’s early intervention program – called “Early Start” that provides critical servies to infants with developmental delays and their families.  Regional centers coordinate those services locally.

The online survey, can be found at www.dds.ca.gov/survey  and covers eight topics: 

1. Behavioral Services;
2. Day Program, Supported Employment, and Work Activity Program Services;
3. Early Start Services;
4. Health Care and Therapeutic Services;
5. Independent Living and Supported Living Services;
6. Residential Services;
7. Respite and Other Family Supports; and
8. Transportation Services.

This survey is completely anonymous and will be available on the Department’s of Developmental Services website until February 15, 2011.

Online Survey Called “Survey Monkey”

• The online survey – called a “Survey Monkey” – seeks public input on the Governor’s proposal to develop and implement statewide “purchase of services” standards for children and adults who use regional center funded community-based services. 
• That proposal is meant to significantly reduce State general fund spending and is part of the Governor’s overall $750 million reduction in State general fund spending proposed for the developmental services budget for 2011-2012. 
• The regional center purchase of services budget funds community-based services and supports to over 240,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Notice From Department Director Regarding Online Survey

The following is the complete notice from the Department of Developmental Services director Terri Delgadillo regarding the release of the online survey:

Thank you for your continued commitment to California’s developmental disability services system.  The Department looks forward to working with you, especially during these difficult budget times, to preserve services under the Lanterman Act.

Today the Department posted a survey on its website to get ideas from our community on statewide service standards.  I am contacting you to encourage your organization to share the survey with your community.

The online survey, found at www.dds.ca.gov/survey, covers eight topics:

• Behavioral Services;
• Day Program, Supported Employment, and Work Activity Program Services;
• Early Start Services;
• Health Care and Therapeutic Services;
• Independent Living and Supported Living Services;
• Residential Services;
• Respite and Other Family Supports; and
• Transportation Services.

This survey is completely anonymous and will be available on the Department’s website until February 15, 2011.

The Department is seeking input broadly from consumers, family members, service providers, regional centers, advocates, policy advisors, and the general public.  We hope you will assist us in reaching out to the community by providing a link to the survey on your website and including the survey address in communications with members of your organization.

I greatly appreciate your assistance and look forward to our continued collaboration.  If you would like to discuss this request or have any questions about the survey, please don’t hesitate to call either me at (916) 654-1897 or Julia Mullen at (916) 654-2716.

TERRI DELGADILLO
Director

Governor’s Proposal Calls for $750 Million Cut in State General Fund Spending To Developmental Services Budget

• Part of the Governor’s proposal to reduce $750 million in State general fund spending in the developmental services will be achieved by increasing new federal matching funds, fund shifts, continuation of an existing 4.25% reduction in payments to most regional center providers and regional operations, and implementing new provisions dealing with accountability, transparency and oversight. 
• No dollar amounts in savings to the general fund (or reductions from the developmental services budget) that the Brown Administration believes will be achieved due to the new accountability, transparency and oversight measure have yet been released – so it is not possible yet at this point to determine how much the reduction in State general funds that the proposed statewide purchase of services standards will need to achieve.  However the Department indicated the amount tied to imposing statewide purchase of services standards would be “significant”

Department Outlined Process For Public Input, Development of Draft Statewide Purchase of Services Standards

• The online survey is one piece of a larger process to receive public input and to develop and submit a statewide purchase of services standards document to the Legislature sometime in May or June. 
• The Department of Developmental Services earlier outlined a process to receive public input, form several workgroups composed of stakeholders who would review the survey results and provide recommendations. 
• The Department of Developmental Services would then develop a draft statewide purchase of services standards.
• The Department of Developmental Services said it would conduct a series of public forums to receive input on the draft before it submitted it to the Legislature – probably sometime in May or June. 
• Once a final document is submitted to the Legislature by the Department of Developmental Services, the Legislature is expected to hold budget subcommittee hearings to review it and receive public comment – and take final action on it. 
• The Assembly and Senate budget subcommittees are holding hearings on the Governor’s proposed cuts to developmental services on February 3rd and 10th – but a major part of the reductions – the portion covered by imposing statewide purchase of services standards – had no detail and will be submitted later either in May or June.  The subcommittees and Legisalture are likely to approve a dollar amount reduction – either the amount proposed by the Governor ($750 million reduction in general fund money) or some other amount – with details to be provided later in the process.