LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

2007 ACL BUDGET/LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

COST OF LIVING INCREASE

FULLY FUND THE PROMISED COLA AND MAKE IT PERMANENT!

PRESERVE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS

REFORM EXISTING PROGRAMS

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

FULLY FUND THE PROMISED COLA AND MAKE IT PERMANENT!

• Funding has eroded over time because there have not been regular COLA’s in the mental health system.

• Increases have been minimal.

• Staff turnover has reached 50% – 100% in some programs.  This is a terrible burden for providers, consumers and families to bear. It negatively impacts quality of services.

• Licensed residential programs statewide are 27% behind nationally recognized Cost of Living increases – see attached chart.

• Unlicensed programs downstate are 15% behind nationally recognized Cost of Living increases – see attached chart.

• Unlicensed Programs upstate are 40% behind nationally recognized Cost of Living increases – see attached chart.

• Creative management can take cost cutting and efficiencies only so far without impacting the quality of services.

• Licensed programs are highly regulated and cannot cut costs that will impact their regulatory responsibilities.

• Programs have been asked to do more and more each year with minimal increases.  

• The needs of the most psychiatrically disabled people in the state have increased dramatically over the years, and the risks related to their care have equally increased. 

• Programs absolutely cannot afford a further erosion of the community based mental health system.