NYSACRA

In This Issue

Open Your Eyes! Watch it Now!

COMMISSIONER RITTER ISSUES BUDGET LETTER

CQC QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY

AGENCY INFORMATION FORMS

Open Your Eyes! Watch it Now!

Greetings NYSACRA Members!

·  COMMISSIONER RITTER ISSUES BUDGET LETTER

Commissioner Diana Jones Ritter issued a letter regarding NYS' budget shortfalls, in which she reiterates the Governor's directive that we reported on last Friday to cut the State budget by an additional 7% (for a total of 10% for this year).  Below is an excerpt of her letter, available online in PDF form as well:

Governor Paterson has charged each State agency with instituting "core mission budgeting," and to forward to the Division of Budget (DoB) by August 22, 2008, a clear description of each of its services and to prioritize how each service is directly connected to the agency's core mission.  That's a challenging task.  Everything we do supports individuals who have developmental disabilities in leading richer lives.  But this very real budget situation demands a harder look and very real refocusing of where we invest available dollars and other resources.  Your partnership with OMRDD and your leadership will work for the good of the state overall, and also for the good of those who need OMRDD supports.

I am confident that, without a doubt, the OMRDD that grows out of this effort will be a better one. But, it will not be without impact on our current expectations and business practices.  All that the agency does will be examined and prioritized - and some things may fall away.  If this happens, we will find another way to make sure that these mission-driven benefits continue in some other planned way.  This is really what OMRDD's transformation has been about since the beginning.  The budget requirements are putting our feet to the fire, but not changing our course.  Today's very urgent accountability will lead to more swift and bold change and to a more enhanced performance than might have been achieved in better times.

Diana Ritter

 Full PDF text: http://www.omr.state.ny.us/document/hp_budget_com munication.pdf.

·  CQC QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY

Please help the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (CQCAPD) with their quality of life survey.  CQCAPD wants to learn from people with disabilities and their families about their quality of life.  "Do you think your life is meaningful?  Are you happy?  What are the challenges faced by people with disabilities to have a good quality of life?"  Please feel free to reach out to Mindy Becker (518-388-1280), Karen Malcolm (518-388-2834) or Davin Robinson (518-388-2836) if you have any questions, or need assistance in any way.  You can access the brochure and questionnaire on the CQCAPD website at: http://www.cqcapd.state.ny.us/Brochures/QualBrochure. pdf and http://www.cqcapd.state.ny.us/Brochures/QualityQuestio nnaire.pdf.

·  AGENCY INFORMATION FORMS

If you haven't already done so, please complete and return the agency information that was both mailed and e-mailed to you last month.  This information is crucial to our being able to provide NYSACRA updates to the appropriate person in your agency and for inclusion in the membership directory.  If you need another form, please e- mail Ann Genaro at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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:: http://www.nysacra.org

:: 518-449-7551