The Service System
Two governmental offices in New York City, The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD), have chief responsibility for the planning, development, funding, and monitoring of services to people with developmental disabilities and their families. Other governmental agencies are involved as well; they include the New York State Education Department (SED) and its Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), the New York City Human Resources Administration, the New York City Board of Education, and the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD). Additionally, the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC), whose members are appointed by the Governor, plans and administers Federal funds for a substantial number of innovative pilot projects.
The New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities has responsibility, under State Law, for the comprehensively planned care, treatment and rehabilitation of New York State's citizens with mental retardation or developmental disabilities. OMRDD certifies, regulates, operates and contracts for a variety of programs for persons with developmental disabilities. These programs include a full range of residential, day and family support services.
The NYCDOHMH, through its Division of Mental Hygiene, is responsible for the planning, development and funding of a range of day and support services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in New York City. The services are provided primarily by voluntary agencies in contract with the department and include work readiness, transitional employment, specialty clinics, socialization/recreation programs for children and adults and information/referral programs.
In New York City, the range and scope of voluntary service providers vary greatly. Many serve only individuals with developmental disabilities while some serve a number of different populations. Some agencies are comprehensive service providers, offering a full line of residential, day and family support services while others offer just one or two types of service, e.g. residential or day services only. Some agencies serve individuals with a range of developmental disabilities, others serve individuals with a particular developmental disability such as autism or epilepsy.
The Department works collaboratively with all the components of the service community. A distinguishing feature of this partnership is that consumers of services, including the families of people with developmental disabilities, are an integral component.
There are five Borough Councils that function as a primary organizational mechanism for the service system. The Councils, which are part of the Department's Federation advisory structure, serve as forums for the exchange of information and discussion of issues at the local level. They also provide direct input in some basic system tasks, including planning, establishment of priorities and proposal review.
Until about 30 years ago, the prevailing method of providing care for people with developmental disabilities was to place them in large institutions for life. Parents of newborns with disabilities were advised to "give the children up" to the care of professionals. Since the early 1970's, as a result of the settlement of the class action lawsuit related to the inhumane situation at Willowbrook, there has been a transition to the community-based system of services, which exists today. The Department has played an active role in the development of this system and continues its involvement as one of the system's key participants.
