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Coalition secures MR/DD closure commission

Feb. 18, 2004 - Networking and coalition building with parents, community groups and legislators paid off huge recently for OCSEA when Governor Taft signed a bill into law that creates a closure commission whenever a closure of a developmental center is announced. Last year the Governor announced it would be closing Apple Creek and Springview DCs due to a budget shortfall.

“This is a monumental opportunity for us to shed light on a process that has been closed to public scrutiny,” said OCSEA President Ron Alexander.
The union has long criticized claims by the Department of MR/DD that care at the state’s DCs cost more than care in community settings.

what savings?  The Department says it will save money by closing Apple Creek and Springview and moving the residents into other settings such as nursing homes or apartments.

The union disputes ODMR/DD’s claim that it will save money. “We don’t understand where the Department is getting their figures, especially since they keep changing how much the savings will be,” said MH/MR/OVH Assembly President Monty Blanton.

“We also know that moving these hard-to-serve individuals from the DCs will simply create mandates to provide these services at other levels of government.”

panel review  Now, according to the new law, a six-member panel will decide if the savings are real. One of the six members will be an OCSEA member, one a parent and another a facilities expert. In addition, the Directors of ODMR/DD and Public Safety and a law enforcement representative will sit on the commission.

The law was given emergency status, which means that it will take affect immediately instead of the usual 90 days.

During the first step of the process, the Legislative Services Commission will conduct an independent study of the closures. LSC will study such factors as the impact of closing on the the health and safety of clients, the availability of alternative facilities, cost effectiveness and other factors. LSC has 60 days to complete their review.

commission examination  The second step involves examination of LSC’s study by the Closure Commission. The Commission has 60 days to recommend whether or not a facility should close. OCSEA leaders at Springview and Apple Creek have been busy gaining supporters ever since the Governor announced the closures.

“Not a day goes by when one of us doesn’t talk to a legislator, elected official, parent or community supporter,” said Angie Kerns, Springview Chapter President. “It’s just part of what we do now.”

“We’ve come a long way since the announcement last year. Now, it’s our hope that the process will work in our favor,” said Apple Creek Chapter President Merry Stokes.