Fernald Final 14 Continue Holdout

EOHHS Seeks $10 Million Supplemental, and per client costs at $742,857 each

It wasn't supposed to take this long. Three years ago, in December of 2008, the Patrick Administration announced they would soon close four state institutions over four years, starting in FY 10 with the shuttering of the western hemisphere's oldest state institution, Fernald Developmental Center in Waltham.

The state's goal was to move away from an over-dependence on segregated state institutions and to improve the state's community infrastructure.  The Patrick Administration's vision was later clarified in detail in its Community First Olmstead Plan detailing the state's six point plan to:

• Help individuals transition from institutional care
• Expand access to community based long term supports
• Improve the capacity and quality of community based long term supports
• Expand access to affordable and accessible housing with supports
• Promote employment of  people with disabilities and elders
• Promote awareness of long term supports.

And as progress was made regarding institutional closure, state leaders promised that nearly $45 million saved from reducing institutional dependence would be reinvested into the community service sector.  Much to the disappointment of community providers, the recession has seen the state renege on this promise and instead cut funds going to the community.

So now, three years into a four closure plan, what's the status?  Fernald, has not closed, despite its target date having come and gone, though it's census has moved down over the last three years from 162 to 14 people. While the state is still intent on closing Fernald, and three other state institutions, the final closure date is uncertain as the last 14 families attempt to holdout, hoping against reality that they can force the state to reverse it's closure decision.    

Despite the families being offered "equal to or better services" per federal Court Orders, the last Fernald families are using every available delay option available, urged on by anti-closure ideologues who still think they can force the state to leave Fernald open for the lifespan of the remaining 14 individuals.   

The irony behind these objections is that study after study by disability experts shows that once people are moved to community settings, family satisfaction is often extremely high. (Conroy, 1999)

In the meantime, costs per individual served are skyrocketing at Fernald Developmental Center, with per client costs being amongst the highest in the nation at $742,857 per individual.  To fund this, the State is now seeking a $10 million FY 12 Supplemental Budget appropriation since the FY 12 Budget allocated no monies for Fernald in FY 12 (nor does the FY 13 Budget).   

When compared to the cost of other state run institutions, the Fernald costs per individual are staggering.  The other costs range from 177,000 to 485,000 per individual.  When compared to the average cost of community programs of $120,000 to $150,00 the differential is overwhelming.

ADDP and other supporters of community programs struggle with the reality that the off budget supplemental budget requests have a high probability of being funded while thousands of people with disabilities lose family support services (11,000 since 2009) and Turning 22 services go underfunded or unfunded.