People with Developmental Disabilities, Office for

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Agency Web Site: https://opwdd.ny.gov/Link to External Website

Mission

The mission of the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is to help individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities live richer lives. OPWDD’s vision is to ensure that individuals enjoy meaningful relationships with family, friends, and others; experience personal health and growth; live in homes of their choice; and fully participate in their communities.

Organization and Staffing

The Executive Budget recommends a year-end workforce target of 18,572 FTEs.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2020 Executive Budget recommends, in total, approximately $4.8 billion in All Funds appropriations, including $2.5 billion for Aid to Localities, $2.2 billion for State Operations and $99 million for Capital Projects, which represents a $121 million increase from FY 2019. The increase supports new investments in OPWDD program priorities, expansion of supportive housing capacity, increased costs related to the minimum wage, investments to support OPWDD’s transition to managed care and anticipated agency operating costs.

OPWDD will utilize this funding to support a comprehensive system of care that serves nearly 140,000 New Yorkers and their families. These resources will continue to support OPWDD's person-centered model, which delivers services through a network of State-operated and NFP-operated settings.

This Budget continues the State’s pledge to support individuals with developmental disabilities in the most appropriate community-based settings, and reflects a 2.6 percent annual increase in appropriation. Specifically, the Executive Budget will:

Make $120 Million Available for Program Priorities, Including New Service Opportunities. For the sixth consecutive year, the Executive Budget includes State resources that could leverage up to $120 million in new funding on an annualized basis. This investment supports program reforms and will continue to meet the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families who require OPWDD supports and services, as well as individuals whose needs have changed. OPWDD has leveraged new funding and other resources to:

  • Expand the Availability of Certified Housing Supports in the Community. OPWDD oversees and operates one of the largest community-based residential programs in the nation, ensuring some of New York’s most vulnerable residents have safe and affordable places to live. Both the State and its network of not-for-profit provider agencies offer residential opportunities that provide 24/7 supervision as well as homes that offer less intensive staffing supports. In total, OPWDD currently supports more than 37,000 individuals in certified community-based residential programs that use $5.1 billion in public resources annually.
  • Support More Independent Living. OPWDD also supports people who reside on their own by providing rental subsidies to individuals who wish to live in an apartment in their community. Since FY 2013, OPWDD has more than doubled the number of people who are authorized to receive rental subsidies, bringing the total to more than 5,900 individuals.
  • Provide More Day Program and Employment Options. Day and employment services are a crucial aspect of offering participants the personal, social, and vocational supports needed to live in their community. OPWDD has invested significantly in these services, steadily increased community-integrated supported employment opportunities and enhanced the array of available employment readiness programs over the past five years. There are currently almost 77,000 enrollments in day and employment supports.
  • Increase Respite Availability. Respite services provide temporary relief to family caregivers, helping people with developmental disabilities live at home with their families for longer periods. Over the past five years, the State has increased the number of enrollments in respite services by over 17 percent to nearly 45,000 current enrollments.

Commit an additional $15 Million to Develop Housing. Building on prior investments, the Budget provides another $15 million in capital funding to expand independent living opportunities. Cumulatively, the State has invested $65 million to support OPWDD's effort to develop safe and accessible residential opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live independently. These funds are in addition to resources that will be available from the five-year, $20 billion affordable and supportive housing plan, which is also helping support the development of residential opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Support OPWDD’s Transition to Managed Care. With the successful transition in July 2018 to an enhanced care coordination model through the development of regional Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs), the multi-phase transition of the OWPDD service delivery system to managed care is underway. Enrollment on a voluntary basis will begin in FY 2020. The Budget applies ongoing Department of Health (DOH) Global Cap resources to support the initial costs of transitioning the OPWDD service delivery system to managed care, with long-term savings expected through improved efficiency in the coordination and delivery of services. In addition, the FY 2020 Budget includes a targeted investment of $5 million in new resources to improve provider readiness for managed care through the development of best practices and performance measurement and outcome monitoring tools.

Promote More Efficient Use of State Resources. In FY 2020, OPWDD will seek to leverage Medicaid funding, and other supplemental aid where available, to more cost-effectively support the provision of person-centered programs.

Fund Non-Profit Provider Minimum Wage Increases. The FY 2020 Executive Budget includes additional funding to leverage $167 million, an annual increase of $88 million, to support the minimum wage and related fringe benefit cost increases associated with the movement to a $15 an hour living wage.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Program Highlights

Residential Services: Residential programs are licensed by OPWDD to provide varying levels of housing and related services, and are operated by OPWDD or nonprofit agencies. Residential services include, but are not limited to: adaptive skill development; assistance with activities of daily living; community inclusion and relationship building; training and support for independence in travel; adult educational supports; and development of social, leisure, self-advocacy, informed choice and appropriate behavioral skills.

Day Programs: Day programs include day habilitation, community habilitation and employment type services, each focused on giving participants the personal, social and vocational supports needed to live in their community. Programming varies depending upon each person’s unique needs and interests. These services aim to assist individuals to acquire, retain or improve their self-help, socialization and adaptive skills, including communication, travel and other areas of adult education.

Clinic Services: Clinic Services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, speech and language pathology, medical/dental services and health care services. These services assist individuals with developmental disabilities in maintaining the effectiveness of the treatment, enabling the individual to remain in his/her current residential setting and enhancing the individual’s quality of life.

All Other Services: These include a variety of different service options for individuals and families, such as self-direction, respite, care coordination, and family counseling.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category Available
FY 2019
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2020
Change From
FY 2019
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2020
State Operations 2,197,639,000 2,244,027,000 46,388,000 2,380,000
Aid To Localities 2,405,835,000 2,478,267,000 72,432,000 2,117,841,000
Capital Projects 96,400,000 99,400,000 3,000,000 545,648,000
Total 4,699,874,000 4,821,694,000 121,820,000 2,665,869,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2019
Estimated FTEs
03/31/19
FY 2020
Estimated FTEs
03/31/20
FTE Change
Central Coordination and Support
General Fund 623 623 0
Community Services
General Fund 14,537 14,537 0
Capital Projects Funds - Other 377 377 0
Institutional Services
General Fund 2,906 2,906 0
Research in Developmental Disabilities
General Fund 129 129 0
Total 18,572 18,572 0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
Enterprise Funds 2,657,000 2,657,000 0
General Fund 2,193,232,000 2,239,620,000 46,388,000
Internal Service Funds 348,000 348,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 751,000 751,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 651,000 651,000 0
Total 2,197,639,000 2,244,027,000 46,388,000
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) To
Employee Relations, Office of
General Fund 747,000
Appropriated FY 2019 2,198,386,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
Central Coordination and Support
General Fund 106,485,000 109,103,000 2,618,000
Internal Service Funds 348,000 348,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 751,000 751,000 0
Community Services
General Fund 1,431,065,000 1,460,049,000 28,984,000
Institutional Services
Enterprise Funds 2,657,000 2,657,000 0
General Fund 627,340,000 641,498,000 14,158,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 502,000 502,000 0
Research in Developmental Disabilities
General Fund 28,342,000 28,970,000 628,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 149,000 149,000 0
Total 2,197,639,000 2,244,027,000 46,388,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Central Coordination and Support 51,480,000 1,664,000 50,820,000 1,643,000
Community Services 796,959,000 21,739,000 747,352,000 20,386,000
Institutional Services 321,362,000 10,245,000 302,075,000 9,630,000
Research in Developmental Disabilities 16,756,000 534,000 16,398,000 523,000
Total 1,186,557,000 34,182,000 1,116,645,000 32,182,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Temporary Service
(Nonannual Salaried)
Holiday/Overtime Pay
Amount Change Amount Change
Central Coordination and Support 489,000 16,000 171,000 5,000
Community Services 1,813,000 49,000 47,794,000 1,304,000
Institutional Services 532,000 17,000 18,755,000 598,000
Research in Developmental Disabilities 0 0 358,000 11,000
Total 2,834,000 82,000 67,078,000 1,918,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Central Coordination and Support 57,623,000 954,000 637,000 29,000
Community Services 663,090,000 7,245,000 45,443,000 2,058,000
Institutional Services 320,136,000 3,913,000 41,803,000 1,893,000
Research in Developmental Disabilities 12,214,000 94,000 820,000 37,000
Total 1,053,063,000 12,206,000 88,703,000 4,017,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Central Coordination and Support 2,136,000 98,000 20,047,000 908,000
Community Services 5,327,000 241,000 85,985,000 3,894,000
Institutional Services 1,596,000 72,000 31,563,000 1,429,000
Research in Developmental Disabilities 6,000 0 1,108,000 50,000
Total 9,065,000 411,000 138,703,000 6,281,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment General State Charges
Amount Change Amount Change
Central Coordination and Support 3,728,000 169,000 29,763,000 0
Community Services 23,230,000 1,052,000 475,211,000 0
Institutional Services 11,459,000 519,000 209,028,000 0
Research in Developmental Disabilities 154,000 7,000 9,679,000 0
Total 38,571,000 1,747,000 723,681,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Special Departmental Charges
Amount Change
Central Coordination and Support 1,312,000 0
Community Services 27,894,000 0
Institutional Services 24,687,000 0
Research in Developmental Disabilities 447,000 0
Total 54,340,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Central Coordination and Support 1,099,000 0 0 0
Institutional Services 3,159,000 0 289,000 0
Research in Developmental Disabilities 149,000 0 0 0
Total 4,407,000 0 289,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Central Coordination and Support 1,099,000 0
Institutional Services 2,870,000 0
Research in Developmental Disabilities 149,000 0
Total 4,118,000 0

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
General Fund 2,405,835,000 2,478,267,000 72,432,000
Total 2,405,835,000 2,478,267,000 72,432,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
Community Services
General Fund 2,405,835,000 2,478,267,000 72,432,000
Total 2,405,835,000 2,478,267,000 72,432,000

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change Reappropriations
FY 2020
Community and Institutional Services Program
Capital Projects Fund 31,400,000 31,400,000 0 37,514,000
MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds 15,000,000 15,000,000 0 47,865,000
Design and Construction Supervision
Capital Projects Fund 6,000,000 6,000,000 0 12,068,000
MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds 7,000,000 7,000,000 0 13,798,000
Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Capital Projects Fund 37,000,000 40,000,000 3,000,000 21,927,000
Institutional Services Program
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 7,358,000
MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds 0 0 0 170,092,000
Non-Bondable Projects
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 954,000
State-Operated Community Services Program
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 8,512,000
MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds 0 0 0 113,100,000
Voluntary-Operated Community Facilities
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 23,070,000
MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds 0 0 0 89,390,000
Total 96,400,000 99,400,000 3,000,000 545,648,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/15/2019