SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Developmental Services released the following statement from Director Nancy Bargmann in response to the Little Hoover Commission report:
“The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) welcomes this report from the Little Hoover Commission. Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve a better system of care and support; a better coordinated, consistent, modernized system anchored in equity and empathy.”
“We are committed to facing the shortcomings identified in this report. We have made it our priority to identify and remove the obstacles that prevent access to services from being uniform across regions, income brackets, race, and culture.”
“This work is central to who we are as a department, and this report will bolster and strengthen our efforts moving forward.”
The Little Hoover Commission conducted a serious examination of the complexities that challenge California’s efforts to provide quality services to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The report is a valuable reminder that collectively we have much more work to do to realize our vision of a whole-person, datacentered, and equity-focused system. The past two state budgets have made significant strides in advancing reforms to improve access to quality services and supports that are culturally and linguistically responsive to Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. However, there is much more work ahead of us.
Work Continues
Our work is especially focused on individuals with significant service needs requiring increased attention, as well as young children entering the system who can benefit from early intervention services. Additionally, through an extensive stakeholder process the Department has recently finalized Phase I of the Quality Incentive Program, which includes seven measures linked to provider payments. The measures advance the vision of a developmental services system in the areas of prevention and wellness, employment, access to services, and workforce capacity, while also focusing on the delivery of high-quality, outcome-based services.
What Comes Next
Despite historic investments and initiatives focused on improved service access and equity, it is our obligation to hold ourselves and our system partners accountable, while ensuring that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive community-based services and supports that embrace choice and allows them to live with purpose and dignity. We look forward to working with consumers, families, regional centers, and providers to further iterate and improve on our work to ensure that we address the shortcomings identified in the report. Additionally, we will continue to partner with the Legislature on necessary system changes that deliver on our vision for a 21st century developmental services system in California.
Read the report: A System in Distress: Caring for Californians with Developmental Disabilities
