Richard Cicero

The meeting agenda included an agency update from the Office of Mental Health (OMH) concerning board governance progress and updates on board priorities. A presentation from SED was postponed to the April board meeting. The OMH presentation focused heavily on integrated care work, including integrated outpatient services involving OMH, DOH, and Oasis, and expanding framework to include OPWDD for developmental disability specific services. Discussion detailed OMH's expectation for programs to serve individuals with co-occurring intellectual and developmental disabilities across all service levels. Training initiatives are being implemented in focused areas such as inpatient psychiatric units, children's mental health clinics, and CCBHCs. The presentation further detailed Enhanced Step Down Programs (ESDs) for adults exiting acute care settings to stabilize them, which include CTI team support and transitional residential settings. A similar transitional program exists for youth aged 11 to 17. The speaker noted the expansion of these step-down programs across various OMH regions.

This 2025 Annual Report provides an update on the progress of the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. The plan is structured around three core goals: strengthening the workforce, technology, and collaboration; transforming the system through innovation and change; and enhancing person-centered supports and services. Key initiatives include improving direct support workforce recruitment and retention, investing in data technology, promoting stakeholder engagement, expanding services for complex needs, addressing gaps in culturally and ethnically diverse communities, and advancing supported decision-making and quality improvement efforts.

The meeting included discussions on board governance, particularly the need for bylaws and a code of conduct to be developed in 2026 to set standards and processes for smoother operations. There was a presentation by Major Andrew Fowler from the New York State Police about the new autism awareness visor card program. Shelani Winston from the Ark Lexington discussed their transitions program, which aids young adults with autism in transitioning from high school to college and careers.

The meeting included a presentation and discussion on using data to support quality outcomes for people with IDD. The presentation covered OPWDD's data strategy, the IDD health home program, life plan development, quality and performance measurement, and the life plan data system. The discussion also touched on data governance, data sharing, quality strategy, and open data. The meeting addressed the components of the data strategy, including the data roadmap, data governance process, data sharing, quality strategy, and open data. Key areas of focus in the roadmap include enterprise data governance, innovation, data access and use, IT infrastructure, and security and privacy considerations.

The meeting included updates on state legislation and budget, federal updates by state agency partners. Discussion of autism acceptance month for 2026, broader board visioning activities, and public comment. The state budget provided funds to meet the needs of people who are new to the OPWD system and to meet the changing needs of people that are currently in the system. The budget also extended the workers with disabilities tax incentive program to qualified employers who hire people who are transitioning out of sheltered workshops and into regular employment. The governor proposed and the legislature accepted a $25 million in one-time capital funds to establish regional health clinics that will enhance access to health services for people with developmental disabilities.