The state budget is currently filled with worthy initiatives to benefit our community through regional center funding increases and other initiatives through other departments. If I can find enough people to bet on those, I can fund Imagine at that level.
In mid-month, the Governor’s May revised budget should be out and much soberer. As mentioned before, the Imagine budget assumes no new rate increases, and that represents not a surplus of caution but a minimum.
Additionally, the California Health and Human Services Agency has begun a “Master Plan” (See photo) for Developmental Services. During my career, state-led root and branch reform efforts are a sign that a positive fiscal environment is ending and not particularly a source of system change. It is, however, a good opportunity to learn more about trends in thinking among the advocates and policymakers in our system and for the therapeutic sharing of concerns. The working group has been generous with accepting public comment, and I do advise participation for those with time, proximity, and something to say. I also advise low expectations for consequences.
As always, thanks to Marty Omoto of CDCAN for amplifying the transparency and circularity of information between the community and policy-makers. If you would like to receive CDCAN’s extensive reporting, write to Marty. CDCAN’s work is entirely funded by the donations of those of us who benefit. Write to me or to Marty if you’d like to kick in. In the photo are Alex Omoto, Marty’s son, and my friend, at the Master Plan kickoff meeting, giving events their due.
-Submitted by Doug