Latest news with #DepartmentofDevelopmentalServices
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As commissioner, Peterson sees DDS 'through a different lens'
BOSTON (SHNS) – Department of Developmental Services Acting Commissioner Sarah Peterson has been permanently installed to the post. Peterson, who served as general counsel at DDS from 2022 to 2024, took over at the agency in September following the retirement of Jane Ryder. DDS serves more than 49,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and acquired brain injuries, Peterson said at a recent budget hearing. In recent months, Peterson said she's prioritized visiting DDS group homes, community-based day programs, day habilitation programs and assistive technology center facilities. 'As a lawyer for DDS, I spent a lot of time behind the desk,' Peterson told the News Service on Thursday. 'And now, getting out in the field and meeting the people who we support, meeting their families and meeting our workforce has just been really wonderful for me to see the agency through a different lens, and hear firsthand a lot of the great work that we're doing that is causing improvements in people's lives and allowing them to access the community, or gain employment or be more independent.' DDS is grappling with surging demand from Bay Staters who need more complex care, including young adults in the Turning 22 program. The agency is in the process of consolidating group homes that had long-term vacancies to save costs and redirect resources. DDS is also bracing for potential federal funding cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits, which Peterson told lawmakers 'would have a devastating impact on people with disabilities.' DDS generates $1 billion in Medicaid revenue each year that flows into the state's General Fund, which Peterson said comes from reimbursements on home- and community-based waivers. 'We're just trying to really stay closely on top of that,' Peterson said. 'I meet weekly with some of my counterparts around the country, so we can all share information to make sure that we're staying on top of what's coming out of Washington and can kind of collectively prepare for it.' Disability advocates have called on lawmakers to significantly increase funding to the human services sector, with the aim of boosting pay for direct support professionals and paring down long wait lists for care. Peterson acknowledged the workforce 'continues to be an issue,' though she pointed to early signs of progress after last year's budget invested $390 million into human services provider rates. 'We've seen some data that the rate increases, the Chapter 257 rate increases that were rolled out by the Legislature last year, have already started improving things in terms of our workforce,' Peterson said. 'We've seen lower vacancy rates across provider agencies.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DDS chief: Group home consolidation won't mean service cuts
BOSTON (SHNS) – The Department of Developmental Services is preparing to consolidate residential group homes, as agency leaders prepare for growing caseloads from additional Bay Staters who depend on state-funded care, including young adults. DDS Acting Commissioner Sarah Peterson on Tuesday described the consolidation as a 'one-time right-sizing of our existing capacity, so that we can be really intentional about how we move forward for growth.' Still, Peterson stressed the agency is not cutting services for vulnerable residents. 'We discovered that there were a number of places where there had been vacancies, where there hadn't been new referrals accepted in, et cetera,' Peterson said during a budget hearing in Worcester. 'And so we asked our areas and regions to just take a close look and see if there were ways that we could shift things around so that people wouldn't lose services, but we could more efficiently use our existing capacity.' A Healey administration budget brief mentioned the effort, saying it is intended to 'more efficiently utilize existing housing and staffing infrastructure.' The brief said DDS 'will work closely with individuals and families to identify appropriate placements and carefully transition clients as needed to ensure continuity of care.' Sen. Jo Comerford, vice chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said the consolidation represents 'about a $19 million expected cut to the budget.' The Northampton Democrat pressed Peterson on how many group home residents will be affected. Peterson told Comerford she would follow up with data about affected individuals by region, though the acting commissioner pegged the total number at 'well under 100.' In another cost-saving measure, Peterson said DDS also updated a policy to ensure the state is no longer paying for 'extended vacancies' at group homes. 'I'm not talking about short-term absences. I'm talking about months — months and months-long vacancies in homes that are not being filled,' Peterson said. 'And we need to, you know, make sure that we're getting value for what we're paying for those services.' The restructuring comes as the administration eyes investments into other disability services. Gov. Maura Healey's proposed budget recommends $116 million for the Turning 22 classes, which supports young adults in their transition from special education to adult services, in fiscal 2025 and 2026, Peterson said. 'Each year, the Turning 22 program supports an increasing class of individuals, with the FY '26 class anticipated to be over 1,500. In addition to the increased enrollments, we've also seen an expansion in the number of individuals with a diagnosis of autism and increased acuity across the board,' Peterson said. 'The governor's House 1 proposal increases the adult autism line by 20% to support the significant expansion in the number of eligible individuals.' Peterson, in response to a question from Rep. Chynah Tyler, said Healey's budget recommendation would allow DDS to 'meet the needs of our service population.' Disability advocates with The Arc of Massachusetts called on lawmakers this month to inject more dollars into the Turning 22 account, as well as boost pay for direct support professionals, to tackle wait lists for services. 'I'm going to believe that the funding is adequate for the Turning 22 program,' Comerford said later in the hearing. 'I have to say that that is the greatest pain point in my district. Hands down, no question, that leap to 22 and the services that families are offered in Western Mass. has really been challenging.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
