We need to educate our legislators and ask DSHS and DDD Questions

I am writing to you as a plea to look at the data that I’m presenting and to realize that the information that The Department of Social and Health Services and The Division of Developmental Disabilities have presented has been very misleading in the information that they present.

There are many advocates working extremely hard for our citizens with developmental disabilities and due to the inaccuracies of DDD, these advocates are basing much of their work on false information. This has maybe not created the crisis but has certainly added to it and unless DDD begins to report the data more accurately and truthfully, this crisis will just continue.

As the 2013 legislative session begins and as many new legislators step into positions, it is critical to educate and inform. Two committees – Senate Health Committee and House Early Learning and Human Services Committee – have already had overviews presented by the Division of Developmental Disabilities. There have been some excellent questions and comments by members of both of these committees and I will be sharing the letters and documents which I write to the legislators who are involved.

Ruth Kagi – concerning Respite Services

January 25 House Early Learning DDD updates

House Early Learning and Human Resources Attachment

January 25 Maureen Walsh DDD Services Utilization

January 25 Roger Freeman CPS issues connect ed with DDD

DDD is inaccurately reporting the cost of care for high acuity residents when they move from the RHC into a supported living arrangement (see attachment for data). There may be many issues related to this but whatever the issues are they are not benefiting anyone in our state but actually causing harm and it needs to be addressed.

We have already had one citizen who was transferred from Frances Haddon Morgan Center die.

Contrary to what Secretary Dreyfus may say, this was not an accident. Yes, there are accidental deaths but when it is truly an accident are 2 staff people fired and 2 more forced into “resignation?”

We hear about how our state has successfully transferred people out of the RHCs in a smooth transition.

I just learned yesterday that the remaining residents who had been at FHMC are only in temporary housing until the 3 houses that will be built for them are started and completed – when is that going to be? I don’t consider moving people who do not transition well in the first place into temporary housing while their new home is being constructed a smooth, thought out transition.

I heard that Secretary Dreyfus toured Rainier School and “saw” many people who she didn’t think should be there.

Looks can be very deceiving and basing this assessment of who belongs and who doesn’t by one quick walk through is far from being able to know which environment is best for that person.

Did Secretary Dreyfus do an assessment on these people and talk with their caregivers and learn their history before making her judgment about if they belonged there or not? I really doubt it and for her to make a statement such as that indicates to me that she is in the wrong profession.

Another example is that Secretary Dreyfus told me personally when I questioned her about prohibiting youth under 21 from admission to an RHC and she “assured” me that parents will still have that choice – they can send their child “out of state.” Is this the type of leadership we need in a program that is supposed to work to help our most vulnerable citizens and their families?

Please ask DDD where the results of all their Quality Assurance assessments are –

We hear about what is being done but there are no results. Where are the crisis beds located and how do people access them? We hear about the funds for these beds and the teams but we don’t hear about where they actually are or how they are functioning. That’s because they don’t exist

This is not a system that I consider “functioning well” – in fact, I see this system as a system that is hurting and harming the people who it is supposed to be helping.

Please join me in asking DDD these questions. These are the questions that need to be asked and these are the questions that will help us to realize that what DDD has been doing has not been working and will be causing more crisis unless someone starts to ask them these questions and get truthful answers.

Please, I’m asking for not only our citizens with developmental disabilities but for our whole state. The issue does not only affect those with DD but touches every single person in our state.

DD EMIS Data for Everyone to See – look here to see averages for programs and services on the 4 Waivers – check out highlighted aeas and special arrows and stars

Cost Comparison from DDD and DSHS presentations and compared to the EMIS data

DD EMIS Waivers July 2010 through August 2011 Original Data

From Don Clintsman and Mark Eliasion (DSHS) – Daily Residential Costs for 30 highest cost clients in community

Critical Information to ask – compares real data with DDD reports they present – see for yourself the millions of dollars per month they ignore in their presentations.

Letter to Scott Livengood, Community Residential Services Association Legislative Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Supported Living

What are Waivers – shows the various HCBS Waivers, what is included and the costs for each Waiver. You can see the data that DDD ignores in calculating their “average” cost of care. Their “average” is less than just the residential cost alone for a Supported Living resident or SOLA Resident. Using this as an indicator of cost is quite irresponsible on their part.

Letter to Lisa Weber (DSHS) regarding Proviso Costs as reported and errors in that report and the fact that it was never completed. Also regarding the RDA Paper regarding resident acuity in various residential settings. The key points as written are not supported by the data in the report yet DDD uses the “Key Points ” as the definitive data.

From DSHS – Shows all the DSHS Programs and services with DDD clients utilize and the numbers and percentages of each service

Nursing Care for DD Clients

Letter to The Arc, DDC and DRW regarding lack of efforts to recruit and retain Direct Care Providers

Letter to Mark Stroh of Disability Rights Washington regarding Protection and Advocacy