Advocacy Needed: DHR Possible Restructure!

[Guest guest]

Dearest Advocates:

Governor Perdue announced via an Executive Order today creating a commission on restructing the Dept. of Human Resources (DHR). This WILL impact how things are run for individuals with disabilities and WE need a voice to heard during this process. Below is additional information regarding the announcement.

If you could please contact Governor Perdue’s office and endorse Greg Kirk (Executive Director of The Arc of Georgia) on being a part of this important committee. Greg has been a strong advocate for children and adults with disabilities and has recently taken over the role as ED at The Arc of Georgia. He would be a very helpful person on the committee to make sure our needs are represented during this change at DHR.

We as parents and providers need to be proactive during this change. Please send

Governor Perdue and email today: governor@...

United- We Will Make a Difference!

Sincerely,

Heidi

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Great Summary from Tom Crawford of Capitol Impact:

Perdue will look at busting up DHRby Tom Crawford on 2/4/2008

Gov. Sonny Perdue has appointed a special committee to recommend a dismantling of the Department of Human Resources, a sprawling state agency that handles child welfare, mental health, aging services, community-based healthcare, and a host of other human services.

Perdue said Monday he signed an executive order establishing a nine-person commission that will craft a plan to restructure DHR and combine or consolidate some of its functions at other agencies like the Department of Community Health (DCH) and the State Personnel Administration.

The committee will be looking for “the most efficient and effective way to administer the myriad of government services handled through DHR, an agency that helps citizens from the womb to the grave, Perdue said at a news conference.

The move to restructure DHR, which has a budget of nearly $3 billion and about 19,000 employees, had been rumored in capitol circles for the past few weeks. Another outcome of the committee study could be a change in management at DHR, where the current commissioner, B. J. , has been a target of criticism from some legislators unhappy with her performance.

When asked about s future at DHR, Perdue gave strangely contradictory answers, calling a competent, caring administrator in one breath and then admitting in the next that we are not as pleased as we could be with the operation of the agency.

It looks like to me we gave her a complicated, difficult job, Perdue said, but then added, I think she has done a wonderful job, and then followed that with the remark, we are not as pleased as we want to be in the area of mental health.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has been running a series of articles for more than a year detailing the deaths of dozens of patients in the states psychiatric hospitals who died under questionable circumstances.

Perdues study committee will have two members appointed by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, two by House Speaker Glenn , and five members selected by Perdue. Perdues chief operating officer, Jim Lientz, will chair the committee and the other appointees are chief financial officer Tommy Hills, planning and budget director Trey Childress, policy adviser Hannah Heck and deputy executive counsel Belinfante.

The commission is supposed to complete a report to Perdue and the General Assembly by July 2.

DHR was initially created during a reorganization of state government by Gov. Jimmy in the early 1970s; the first DHR commissioner was Harden.

The agency has frequently come under criticism from legislators and the commissioners position is considered to be one of the toughest jobs in state government because of the large number of services handled by DHR.

The first major restructuring of DHR occurred in 1999 when Gov. Roy pulled out Medicaid reimbursement and the State Health Benefits Plan and placed those programs under the control of a new agency, the Department of Community Health.

Perdue said that moving DHRs public health responsibilities to DCH is the kinds of things we are looking at.

The time is now, and now is about the future, Perdue said. He insisted there was no one single triggering factor that prompted him to make major structural changes in DHR at this particular time.

I think it is always a good idea to look at home the department is doing, said Normer , a lobbyist on child welfare issues who attended Perdues news conference. If aligning the priorities results in better services, we are certainly in support of it.

====================================================

Governor Perdue’s Executive Order Issued Today:

Governor Perdue Creates Commission on Restructuring the Department of Human ResourcesMonday, February 4, 2008 Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774 Committee to make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by July 2008ATLANTA Governor Sonny Perdue signed an executive order today creating a commission that will make recommendations on restructuring the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR). The commission will make its recommendations in a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by July 2, 2008.We must ensure that we are not just getting the best possible value for our investment in DHR but that we are also providing the best possible service for the people of Georgia, said Governor Sonny Perdue. Thats why today I have signed an executive order cr

eating a commission to make recommendations on restructuring DHR, to make sure Georgians receive the most efficient service at the least cost to taxpayers.The commission will recommend a plan to restructure DHR. Such a recommendation may include combining, consolidating or separating divisions within DHR as well as the Department of Community Health (DCH) and the State Personnel Administration (SPA).Governor Perdues executive order creates a commission of nine members: two to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, two by the Speaker of the House and five by the Governor. Governor Perdue announced his five appointees to the commission today. Jim Lientz, Chief Operating Officer for Governor Perdue will chair the commission. The other four appointees are:Tommy Hills, Chief Financial Officer, Office of the Governor Trey Childress, Director, Office of Planning and Budget Hannah Heck, Director of Policy, Office of the Governor Josh Belinfante, Deputy

Executive Counsel, Office of the Governor In the past three years, several legislative study committees have looked at Georgias delivery of health and human services, including committees chaired by House Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin and Representative Donna Sheldon. "The members of the General Assembly take seriously our charge to ensure that state government is responsive to the needs of Georgians in both a compassionate and cost-effective way," said Chairman Ben Harbin. "We look forward to working with Governor Perdue in this effort to see that DHR evolves to better fulfill its mission."We know that such changes in the framework of state government are necessary from time to time to keep our agencies as effective as possible, said Senator Jack Hill, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. This isnt a change we take lightly and were committed to doing this the right way with expert input and creative solutions. DHR is the states hum

an services agency. It was created in 1972 by the General Assembly and is comprised of four divisions: Aging Services; Public Health; Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases; and Family and Children Services. DHR employs 19,000 people and has an annual yearly budget of approximately $2.8 billion.The text of the executive order is below:Whereas: The Georgia General Assembly created the Department of Human Resources in 1972; andWhereas: The Department of Human Resources currently serves Georgians through four divisions: (1) Aging Services; (2) Public Health; (3) Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases; and (4) Family and Children Services; andWhereas: Through the four divisions, the Department of Human Resources touches the lives of all Georgians by providing programs that ensure their health and welfare; DHR manages programs that control the spread of disease, enable older people to live at home longer

, prevent children from developing lifelong disabilities, protect children from abuse and neglect, provide families with a variety of financial and non-financial supports, train single parents to find and hold jobs, and help people with mental or physical disabilities live and work in their communities; andWhereas: The Department of Human Resources has made great strides in various areas, including customer service, as evidenced by the awarding of the Governor's Customer Service Agency of the Year Award; andWhereas: Access to quality state services, health care and a modern public health infrastructure are vital to the citizens of the State of Georgia; andWhereas: Efficiencies, synergies and improvements could be realized by examining the missions of the various divisions within the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Community Health and State Personnel Administration; and Whereas: I wish to collaborate with members of the Gener

al Assembly and collectively build upon the work of two legislative study committees that reviewed the duties of the Department of Human Resources and made recommendations for reform; andWhereas: I believe that a review of the duties of the Department of Human Resources is warranted and should include consideration of:The fiscal and substantive interrelation between the divisions within the Department of Human Resources; Whether Georgians are best served with the divisions remaining in the Department of Human Resources, within another agency of state government or as a stand-alone agency or agencies; and Means to best integrate health delivery and prevention services within the State of Georgia. Now, Therefore, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Georgia, It Is HerebyOrdered: That a Health and Human Resources Commission be create

d to undertake a study of the issues addressed in this Executive Order or related thereto. The Commission shall, as needed, seek the advice and counsel of Georgias agencies, constituencies, and experts, including, but not limited to: the Commissioners of the Department of Human Resources; the Department of Community Health; the State Personnel Administration; and the division directors within the Department of Human Resources. It is furtherOrdered: That the Commission shall conduct meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this Executive Order. The Commission is further authorized to retain the services of individuals or firms as determined appropriate by the Commission, as well as to call any party to testify and to r

equire the attendance of witnesses and the production of non-confidential books, records and papers. The Georgia Department of Human Resources shall serve in an administrative capacity to assist the Commission.It is furtherOrdered: That the Commission be composed of nine members: two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; four persons with knowledge of the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Community Health and the State Personnel Administration, appointed by the Governor; and chair of the Commission, to be appointed by the Governor. It is furtherOrdered: That the Commission recommend (1) a plan to restructure the Georgia Department of Human Resources to provide the most efficient and effective delivery of services available; (2) recommend a structure that emphasizes the importance of a coordinated and integrated health de

livery and prevention services; (3) a structure that will provide the best means to protect Georgias children; (4) whether to combine, consolidate or separate divisions within at least the Georgia Department of Human Resources, the Department of Community Health and State Personnel Administration. The Commission shall make a report to the General Assembly and the Office of Governor on or before July 2, 2008. The Commission shall stand abolished on December 3, 2008.This 4th day of February, 2008.

--Heidi J. (Proud Mother to - 8 years old with Down syndrome & - 6 years old) For more information about how Heidi can help you maximize your child's potential, please go to www.heidijmoore.com "Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!" The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal representative. For previous advocacy email's, please go to the following website: http://www.lgtinc.org/authors/41/Heidi-J.-. To see how you can advocate for your child go to www.kidshealthcarega.org.