California’s 2021 budget reflects years of hard work by our members to address needs within the intellectual and developmental disability community. For more than a decade, the service coordinator ratios at Regional Centers have been out of federal and state compliance, leaving our members with caseloads of 90 families or more. In addition, a 2019 rate study identified the vendor system as underfunded by $1.4 billion. Our members have fought hard on both issues over the years and this year’s budget addresses both.

“After years of lobby visits, with strong support from the SEIU State Council, and working closely with our community allies, SEIU workers who support people with Developmental Disabilities (DD) finally have a California budget win that will help both Regional Center and provider agency workers improve services to the DD and stabilize the workforce. The fight isn’t over, but this is a heartening start.  Many thanks to our SEIU brothers and sisters who have worked so hard for this win!”  said Eric Stern, Chair of the SEIU California DD Council.

What do we do next? Learn how you can take action.

• Participate in DSP Training focus groups to give input on training needs, training delivery preferences/needs, and the need for credit for longevity, in order for SEIU to give feedback and guidance on how this money will be allocated. To participate in upcoming DSP Training focus groups, contact: d_mulvey@hotmail.com & sternbychoice@gmail.com
   
• Thanking our elected officials. Our goal is for members from every chapter to develop ongoing relationships with their elected officials in order to safeguard this funding and services to the DD, contact: d_mulvey@hotmail.com & sternbychoice@gmail.com to be included in upcoming DD lobby visits. 
   
• Support the Federal Better Care Better Jobs Act. Urge your members of Congress to support the $400 billion in funding to strengthen and expand the Medicaid HCBS infrastructure and workforce.

Check out what’s in the final budget agreement we secured for developmental disabilities

• Beginning in 2022-2023, $61.8 million in ongoing funds will be allocated to hire 921 service coordinators in Regional Centers to reduce caseloads and bring ratios into compliance. 
   
• Contains a 5-year phase-in for rate reform, identified by the 2019 rate study, focused on quality benchmarks, metrics, and outcomes to assure person-centered service delivery for individuals with developmental disabilities. $89.8 million is allocated in 2021-2022, rising to $1.233 billion in 2025-2026. 
   
• Eliminates the suspension of the 8.2% Provider Supplemental Rate Increase and lifts the implementation of the Uniform Holiday Schedule, $309.6 million in 2022-2023. 
   
• Invests $2.9 million in 2021-22 to establish a training and certification program for direct service professionals (DSPs) tied to wage differentials. Beginning in 2023-24 ongoing cost increases to $51 million with the intent to professionalize and diversify the workforce. 
   
• $4 million earmarked in 2021-22 for the Performance Incentive Program to create an outcome-focused regional center operations funding program. 
   
• $24 million dedicated to eliminating frozen rates for Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (ICF/DD) and Pediatric Subacute Facilities. 
   
• Restores social recreation, camping services and educational services and allocates $19 million in 2021-2022, $31.6 M in 2022-23, and $36.8 million General Fund in 2023-24 and on-going to fund these services.
   
• Codifies directives put in place during the pandemic for crucial Regional Centers that allow our members to continue to provide remote services, virtual meetings, and remote Early Start Services at the request of the families. 
   
• Provides $5.6 million in ongoing funds for implicit bias training for all service coordinators at Regional Centers. 
   
• Dedicates $10 million in ongoing funds to establish an intensive caseload ratio (1:40) to improve service delivery to consumers in underserved communities and for individuals with low to no purchase of services within the regional center system.
   
• Devotes $3.6 million in total funds (including federal dollars) with $2.2 million for establishing a verification process for bilingual competency and providing a wage differential to Direct Service Professionals (DSPs) to increase the availability of staff who are bi/multilingual. Beginning in 2023- 24, ongoing costs increase to $6.5 million.