On December thirteenth, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul introduced that the brand new Ombuds for the developmental disabilities’ service system, headed by Neighborhood Service Society of New York, is now open and able to settle for New Yorkers’ calls in want of help navigating providers, resolving complaints, offering training and making the fitting connections.
“Folks with developmental disabilities and their households deserve each useful resource accessible to assist them advocate for providers — that’s why we’re taking steps to supply a extra personalised and responsive expertise that connects New Yorkers with essential wants,” Governor Hochul mentioned. “By partnering with the Neighborhood Service Society of New York, we’re making a system that may present folks with unbiased illustration to allow them to navigate the complexities at hand and finally get providers they want.”
New York State Chief Incapacity Officer Kim Hill Ridley mentioned, “As Governor Hochul’s Chief Incapacity Officer, I commend the implementation of the state’s Ombuds Program to supply an unbiased voice for New Yorkers with disabilities. This new workplace is an instance of the Governor’s dedication to bettering the lives of all New Yorkers and shall be a essential device for advancing fairness and guaranteeing profitable service supply.”
The brand new Ombuds program will function independently from the Workplace for Folks With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). This system has been developed to help these with developmental disabilities and their households in resolving and navigating the OPWDD service supply system. This contains service entry and high quality, higher understanding their rights, and help all through the method of discovering the perfect avenue for what fits their wants.
Neighborhood Service Society of New York has a demonstrated historical past of working with folks with developmental disabilities and confirmed expertise in implementing statewide ombuds applications. They’re consultants in offering essential help to weak communities, indicating they are going to be profitable serving as New York’s new unbiased ombuds for folks with developmental disabilities.
OPWDD Appearing Commissioner Willow Baer mentioned, “Advocacy is a central pillar of the complete service system, and everybody will profit from the help of this goal ombuds program. Because the Ombuds, Neighborhood Service Society of New York will assist educate folks about their rights, present a course of that enables for well timed and unbiased decision of considerations associated to the entry to or supply of providers, and supply data-driven suggestions to OPWDD to assist us proceed to enhance our service system.”
Neighborhood Service Society of New York Vice President of Well being Initiatives Elisabeth R. Benjamin mentioned, “The Neighborhood Service Society of NY is delighted to accomplice with the Workplace of the Folks with Developmental Disabilities and New Yorkers with mental and developmental disabilities to make sure that individuals are in a position to entry the helps and providers they want.”
In final yr’s fiscal price range, Governor Hochul included a $2M appropriation to ascertain the ombuds program by way of a aggressive procurement course of and included extra annual funding for ongoing help of this system. The Governor is laser centered on offering for our most weak communities the sources that they should thrive in New York. The objectives of the brand new ombuds program are to:
- Set up a statewide ombuds community to establish, examine, refer and resolve complaints associated to entry to or supply of providers;
- Present folks with developmental disabilities and their relations training on providers and rights, assist folks full types/paperwork, entry data, and hook up with authorized providers as needed;
- Implement complete neighborhood training to extend consciousness and use of ombuds providers by folks with developmental disabilities; and
- Acquire and analyze knowledge on ombuds program actions and use that info to help ongoing high quality assurance and enchancment actions.
To contact the brand new ombuds program for help, folks with developmental disabilities or their relations can name 1-800-762-9290. For extra info, go to the CSSNY web site.
The New York State Workplace for Folks With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) offers high-quality person-centered help and providers to folks with developmental disabilities, together with mental disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum issues and different neurological impairments. OPWDD offers providers straight and thru a community of over 400 not-for-profit suppliers. OPWDD’s mission is to assist folks with developmental disabilities stay richer lives that embody significant relationships, good well being, private development, and a house inside their neighborhood. For extra info, go to www.opwdd.ny.gov or join with us on Fb, X (previously often called Twitter) and Instagram.
The Neighborhood Service Society of New York (CSS) has labored with and for New Yorkers since 1843 to advertise financial alternative and champion an equitable metropolis and state. We energy change by way of a strategic mixture of analysis, providers, and advocacy to make New York extra livable for folks going through financial insecurity. By increasing entry to well being care, reasonably priced housing, employment, alternatives for people with conviction histories, debt help and extra, we make a tangible distinction within the lives of hundreds of thousands.
This text was initially printed on December thirteenth, 2024, and will be discovered right here.
