NEW YORK – Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) has completed a five-year strategic plan to help strengthen supports and services for New Yorkers.
Stakeholders made a significant contribution to the development of the plan over the course of 18 months. The 2023-2027 Strategic Plan identifies and organizes the agency’s critical priorities to guide the delivery of services for people with developmental disabilities across the state for the next half-decade.
“The New York dream should be a reality for everyone in our state, including people with developmental disabilities,” Governor Hochul said. “This five-year plan provides a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen statewide supports and improve services for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, helping to build a more inclusive and equitable state for all.”
The plan organizes the agency’s priorities identified by stakeholder input, which was collected over 18 months starting in 2021.
The plan identifies three general objectives of the agency with goals and a variety of initiatives that will support the agency’s mission:
- Strengthen technology and workforce collaboration
- Transforming the agency through innovation and change
- Improvement of person-centered supports and services
The plan identifies strengthening the direct support workforce as a top and urgent priority. The plan also includes improving the way the agency uses and shares data; make improvements to media and services; and ensure that the unique needs of New Yorkers served by the agency are met throughout their lives.
“I am very proud to publish the agency’s strategic plan which will serve as a guide to improve the experience people with developmental disabilities and their families have within our system and in their lives,” said Kerri, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Persons with Developmental Disabilities. Neifeld said. “The final plan represents the top priority goals and objectives of our stakeholders that the OPWDD must pursue and will direct the agency’s attention for years to come. I look forward to working together to make the system fairer,” sustainable and responsive to the needs of the people I support.
The plan meets a requirement under the state mental health law that requires the OPWDD to prepare a guide for the agency’s activities with input from the public. The OPWDD will report annually to stakeholders on progress in achieving the stated goals and objectives of the plan, seeking their input on success, areas for improvement and any changes in priorities.
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