FACTS
Left Behind in Florida
Facts About Florida's DD System
What do we need?
How to get help from APD
The current criteria getting off APD's Waiting List and getting help is for a parent to abuse their child and to then throw their child into the street i.e. “abandon” them. (In a statement (words to this effect) by David Robinson Administrator for APD Area 1, at the Family Care Council meeting, in Pensacola Fl, in August 2008)
Governor Charlie Crist and 160 state legislators (40 State Senators and 120 State Representatives) control the Florida State budget. It is necessary to get at least a majority vote in each house to pass a budget. Therefore, we need 21 State Senators and 61 State Representatives to vote for full funding for the DD system in Florida.
The Costs
The Florida State budget in 2009, for the Agency for People with Disabilities is about $1.2 billion dollars. APD is serving about 30,000 people with a developmental disability. It will cost another $500 million dollars to add the 20,000 people with a developmental disability people waiting for services. APD's services are provide via a program called the Medicaid Waiver, in which the State of Florida pays 45% of the costs, which is matched by the Federal Government which pays 55% of the costs. Therefore, when the State of Florida pays $175 million dollars for our children, it is matched by the Federal government which pays $325 million dollars.
How will the State of Florida pay for full funding of the DD System?
The first question that must be asked is:
If the state legislators wanted to fully fund the DD System it would be funded. Our job as advocates is to change their minds. We must be prepared to encourage them, educate them, nurture them, support them, give them options and when all of this fails (which it will) we must ADVOCATE. Everybody and their brother have been doing the above in a politically correct fashion. We need to hold these state legislators accountable. For example before the legislature funds illegal aliens' health care or criminals in prison recreation, they must fully fund the DD system.
Left Behind in Florida's Proposal for Fully Funding for the State DD System
In the event that doe not occur, LBIF suggest that each legislator in Florida find a little bit more than $1,000,000 in the state budget. This would raise about $175 million which would generate $325 million federal match. This would raise enough money to eliminate APD's waiting list.
The Problem
In Florida, 20,000 people with a developmental disability (diagnosis of Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Epilepsy, Spina Bifida, and similar conditions) are on the Agency for People with Disabilities, (APD) Waiting List for services. Many of these people with disabilities have been on this wait list since 2003 or longer and they are being told that they cannot expect to get any help from APD until 2012, if then. Currently, Florida provides APD services for 30,000 people with a developmental disability, and the state is threatening to cut back these services. Two out of five or 40% of all people with a developmental disability are living at home alone are waiting for help, some of that help may be life prolonging or even life saving.
Our families on APD's Waiting List have almost nothing. Some of our families need help with 24 hour care. Our children are forced to sit home (at times alone), everyday. Our children do not have opportunities for social interactions. Our children are not able to live independently. Even our families who want to be their guardian are charged exorbitant court related fees just to stay involved with their adult child. Our children do not have access to work training or day program experiences. Our children do not have transportation to get to these activities. Our children need help from physical therapists and behaviorists and other professionals to allow them to function at their maximum potential. In many cases, our children have been cared for by our families alone for 40 years or more with no help. Our families get no respite. Yet living next door to our families on APD's Waiting List, are the lucky few, who are getting all the help listed above from the Agency for Person with Disabilities.
Decision Makers
Do our State Legislators want to pay for full funding for the DD System?
There is the possibility that President elect Obama's stimulus package will include a change in the Medicaid formula. If they change the formula to 41% state and 59% federal match, $900 million new dollars will be available in Florida which would more tha eliminate APD's Waiting list. This would eliminate APD's waiting list at not additional cost to the state.
Contact Person: Mike Coonan 850 478 2558 mikecoonan@cox.net