Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Expands Initiatives to Provide Resources for Community Placements and Programs
鈥淚ndividuals with disabilities are an important part of the fabric of our state, in the workplace and in every community and neighborhood. My firm commitment has been to move away from our state鈥檚 shameful history of institutionalization and to create empowerment and opportunity for our residents with disabilities,鈥� said Governor Christie. 鈥淎ccess to the opportunities afforded by a community-based setting - surrounded by all the things a home and community life include 鈥� is a basic right that relegation to an institution simply does not respect. That鈥檚 why this Administration will continue to expand initiatives for community housing and programs and my Fiscal Year 2014 Budget provides nearly $42 million of new State and federal funding to develop additional community placements and services.鈥�
Symbolizing that progress, the Christie Administration recently settled an eight year-old lawsuit filed by Disability Rights NJ, in which the advocacy group asserted that New Jersey was not complying with a Supreme Court decision requiring that individuals with developmental disabilities be able to live in the least restrictive environments.
More than $100 million in new funding has been allocated since Fiscal Year 2011 for community-based services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The expansion of services has resulted in a marked decrease in census at the state鈥檚 seven developmental centers.
Five women residents - with an average age of sixty - live at the Hilltop Group Home, a ranch-style house located on a quiet neighborhood cul-de-sac and operated by the Arc of Mercer. Two of the women are former residents of the North Princeton Developmental Center, which closed in 1998 and New Lisbon Developmental Center.
鈥淗illtop is a wonderful example of the community-based infrastructure New Jersey has in place and in development to support individuals with developmental disabilities and complex medical needs,鈥� said DHS Commissioner Velez. 鈥淭wenty years ago, a developmental center might have been a family鈥檚 only option; today, we have a framework in place that includes 126 licensed community providers with skilled, dedicated staff in every corner of the state.鈥�
There are more than 1,000 group homes located throughout New Jersey 鈥� operated by community providers that contract with DHS.
鈥淎rc of Mercer is proud to be a part of a growing system of comprehensive, community-based care for residents with developmental disabilities,鈥� said Board President Geoff Morris. 鈥淟ike many other providers, our business model has evolved to include health care, vocational training, day programs and respite. We鈥檙e incredibly pleased with the state鈥檚 support for community-based services and we appreciate Governor Christie鈥檚 commitment to this population.鈥�
Governor Christie鈥檚 Fiscal Year 2014 Budget reflects his ongoing commitment to provide critical programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, including:
鈥⒙營ncreasing Resources for Community-Based Care to provide $41.8 million of new State and federal funding to develop additional community placements and services, for a projected 788 individuals. An additional $21.3 million is proposed to pay for placements that occurred during Fiscal Year 2013 and a total of $19.7 million in new State and federal funding will support the Division of Developmental Disabilities鈥� Olmstead initiatives.
鈥⒙營ncreasing Funding for Support Services for Children with Developmental Disabilities through the continued integration of programs under the new Division of Children鈥檚 System of Care in the Department of Children and Families. An additional $1.5 million has been provided in the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget for placement services.
鈥⒙營dentifying, Diagnosing and Caring for Children with Autism by providing $86 million for the Early Intervention Program, aimed at identifying, diagnosing and caring for children from birth to age three with autism and other developmental disabilities.
鈥⒙燩roviding Transition Services for Adults. The Christie Administration has dedicated funding for young adults with developmental disabilities who age out of the Department of Education鈥檚 special education entitlement by ensuring a seamless transition to the Department of Human Services鈥� adult day-programming.
