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Several months ago it was pointed out to me that there has been funding for enhancements for direct care staff in the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities programs (OMRDD). This program was implemented three years ago and is referred to as Health Care Enhancements. These enhancements are utilized by direct care staff to help defray the cost of deductibles and co-pays and can be also used for health care accounts.

This stipend has been very successful in helping to keep quality staff in OMRDD programs. Depending on the agency, most individuals are receiving a yearly stipend of around $450. To date, OMRDD has provided over $70 million in funding. It is a great idea and greatly needed.

However, the question is why we not have anything similar in mental health. Through our member organizations, we know how critical direct care staff is in helping people with psychiatric disabilities move forward in their lives. We have proposed adding ten million in this year’s state budget to begin to fund health care enhancements for mental health workers. This will provide funding for over 31,000 direct care workers in mental health throughout New York State. This combined with a COLA will play a major role in helping to keep quality staff in the mental health system.

If you would like your agency to sign on to our coalition, please send me an e-mail at gliebman@mhanys.org.

Thank you very much.