News

05/22/13
Partnering for Change: Key OPWDD Initiatives and the Road to Reform
On May 14, 2013, OPWDD, in partnership with several trade associations from across the state, presented a comprehensive review of the tools OPWDD is developing to assist New York’s system of supports for people with developmental disabilities. This event offered the opportunity for dialogue about the components of the design, and facilitated the opportunity for OPWDD and its nonprofit provider agencies to collaborate, discuss, and generate ideas on how providers can partner with OPWDD on its Road to Reform to make these key initiatives happen. The focus areas were: understanding housing...
05/22/13
Severe Weather Watches and Alerts: Thunderstorms and Tornados
A severe weather watch alerts people that severe weather is expected or that conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather. ...
05/20/13
Front Door Information Sessions for Individuals and Families
These sessions will offer participants an understanding of OPWDD’s mission and purpose; the process to become eligible for OPWDD supports and services; types of supports and services available; and where individuals and families can go to get assistance. More Information ...
05/14/13
Real Life Stories of Faith Community Inclusion
On May 14, 2013, students and administrators from Catskill High School and representatives and individuals from the Ulster-Greene ARC presented their video, Real Life Stories of Faith Community Inclusion, to Commissioner Burke and other OPWDD central office staff. The video project, funded through a grant obtained by OPWDD’s Faith-Based Initiative program from the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, features several individuals with developmental disabilities whose lives have been enriched by their involvement in the community, specifically at houses of worship in the Kingston...
05/02/13
NY Named a “Best Performing State” in UCP’s “The Case For Inclusion 2013”
Medicaid affects all of us: children and adults with disabilities, as we are age, as our family ages, and when the unexpected happens. UCP's annual report, The Case for Inclusion, ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC) on outcomes for Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). This year's report shows that: All states have room for some improvement, but some have consistently remained at the bottom of the rankings; Despite economic strains, many states have made real improvements in the quality of services being provided; There is still work to...
04/26/13
OPWDD Developing New NY START Program
OPWDD is developing the New York Systemic Therapeutic Assessment, Respite and Treatment (NY START) program, a new initiative to address the need for available community-based crisis prevention and intervention services to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and co-occurring behavioral health needs. The program will be advanced, in part, via a request for proposal and bidding process. Once funding has been allocated and the RFP process has been established, all questions and comments will be addressed on our website. At this time, we are not able to answer any...
04/03/13
OPWDD Road to Reform
OPWDD Road to Reform
04/03/13
Draft Transformation Agreement
03/26/13
NYS DOH Hosts Balancing Incentives Program (BIP) Webinar
New York State has been awarded a federal Balancing Incentives Program (BIP) grant in support of system restructuring that will increase access for Medicaid recipients to community-based long-term supports and services.  As New York’s BIP plan is developed, OPWDD will provide stakeholders with additional information about its participation in this important rebalancing program. The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) has already posted information related to this initiative at http://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/. NYS DOH will host a 90 minute webinar on...
03/21/13
Associated Press: NY agency reports decline in disabled abuse
By MICHAEL VIRTANEN, Associated Press March 18, 2013 ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The state agency responsible for care and services for 126,000 disabled New Yorkers reported Monday that abuse allegations declined by 22 percent in state-run facilities and by 9.5 percent at others operated by its nonprofit contractors. The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities cited reforms over the past two years, including better incident reporting and investigations, for the decline from 2011 to 2012. The agency recorded 10,572 abuse allegations last year, down from 12,169 the year before. "In...

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