Posts Tagged ‘Gina Macris’
Judge hails RI Developmental Disabilities progress, but calls for critical fixes- Gina Macris
by Gina Macris, Developmental Disabilities News For the first time since Rhode Island agreed a decade ago to correct civil rights violations affecting adults with developmental disabilities, people now routinely tell Court Monitor A. Anthony Antosh that their lives are better now than they were last year. That’s a sign of success, said Chief Judge…
Read MoreRI response to US Attorney charges due today. Bill promoting Olmstead Plan moving – Gina Macris
by Gina Macris, Developmental Disability News Photo: Pamela Bhatia, Artistic Images The Rhode Island Senate on May 21 passed a bill that would lead to an Olmstead plan for funding an array of community-based health and human services to prevent the unnecessary segregation of children and adults with disabilities. The bill is moving through the…
Read MoreDevelopmental Disability News: New US probe brings urgency to RI funding debate – Gina Macris
By Gina Macris, publisher, Developmental Disabilities News (Article was being developed as the US Attorney, Cunha, called his press conference to announce the civil rights violation of children with behavioral health disabilities) Private agencies providing health and human services to vulnerable Rhode Islanders stand to get far less money than recommended by the state Office…
Read MoreDevelopmental Disability News: Governor budgets $510.6M for needed RI DD services – Gina Macris
By Gina Macris, Developmental Disability News In a budget plan largely driven by the federal court, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee has proposed $510.6 million in overall developmental disabilities spending for the fiscal year beginning July 1, about $41.5 million more than the General Assembly enacted for the current fiscal year. Roughly 55 percent, about…
Read MoreDevelopmental Disability News: RI will miss 2024 deadline in 9-yr-old consent decree – Gina Macris
Rhode Island will get more time to comply with a nine-year-old consent decree intended to help adults with developmental disabilities lead meaningful lives, a federal judge said Aug. 1. Despite major progress, the state will miss the original deadline at the end of June next year. The new deadline has not yet been set. After…
Read MoreHistoric investment in Developmental Disabilities passes RI House – Gina Macris
by Gina Macris, Developmental Disability News UPDATE: The Rhode Island House of Representatives approved developmental disabilities reform as part of a $14-billion state budget on a 68-3 vote June 9, sending it to the Senate. The Rhode Island House of Representatives is expected to vote Friday, June 9, on a whopping $75 million for the…
Read More$20/hr start for direct care workers for adults with developmental disabilities – Gina Macris
By Gina Macris, Developmental Disabilities News, contributing writer The state agency overseeing Rhode Island’s services for adults with developmental disabilities is asking for a $20 minimum hourly wage for direct care workers, effective July 1. The hike was ordered by a federal judge in 2021 to go into effect by 2024, causing consternation in the…
Read MoreRI needs “major systemic change” to meet its DD consent decree deadline – Gina Macris
By Gina Macris, Developmental Disabilities News At the current pace, the state of Rhode Island will not meet a 2024 deadline for complying with a 2014 consent decree intended to integrate adults with developmental disabilities in their communities, a U.S. Justice Department lawyer said Monday. Amy Romero put the state on notice that it needs…
Read MoreJudge sets status hearing TODAY as state falls far short of DD consent decree goals – Gina Macris
By Gina Macris, Developmental Disability News, contributing writer It’s been eight years and eight months since Rhode Island signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to improve the lives of adults with developmental disabilities by ending their segregation in sheltered workshops and day care centers. But with 16 months remaining for the state…
Read More$8.1 million unused in RI Developmental Disabilities jobs program – Gina Macris
by Gina Macris, Developmental Disabilities News, contributing to RINewsToday Lack Of DD Jobs Program Adds To BHDDH Woes A total of nearly $8.1 million dedicated to employment supports for adults with developmental disabilities remains unused because the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH) hasn’t yet decided on a program for spending the…
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