After a week of mediated negotiations, representatives of the 28 Community Developmental Disability Organizations (CDDOs) across Kansas and their affiliates have reached an agreement with the state for serving persons who are developmentally disabled during state fiscal year 1999, which began July 1. Contracts now will be recommended for approval to each of the agency’s boards of directors.

Under the contracts, CDDOs will see an almost $25.5 million increase in overall funding over last year. Funding comes from a combination of state and federal funds. The total amount agreed to in negotiations was $155 million, up from $129.5 million at the beginning of state fiscal year 1998.

The increase involves an expected increase of about 1100 persons to be served in Kansas communities, and includes people leaving state mental retardation hospitals to live in the community. At the beginning of fiscal year 1998, CDDOs provided services to 6,159 people with developmental disabilities. At the beginning of fiscal year 1999, the CDDOs are projected to serve 7,259 people.

A ground breaking section of the contract involves a commitment to a process to measure efficiency of services. This process is meant to assure that as many people with developmental disabilities as possible are served and their preferred lifestyles are realized with funds available. Waiting lists for services would become possible after all funds identified in the agreement are spent.

"The CDDOs deserve a tremendous about of credit for their willingness in working with the state to review how resources are used to achieve preferred lifestyles of persons with developmental disabilities," said Connie Hubbell, commissioner of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001