Union calls on state to rethink plans to close Monroe DC

ALBANY, NY (02/27/2012)(readMedia)-- ALBANY – Speaking at a press conference today in Rochester, Kenneth Brynien, president of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) which represents approximately 65 professional staff at Monroe Developmental Center, said he is very concerned about what is happening to its 125 residents with disabilities as the state moves them out and prepares to close it.

"The state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), which operates Monroe Developmental Center, is falling far short of its proclaimed mission of 'Putting People First,'" Brynien said. "In a headlong effort to save money, the agency is shoving these residents with disabilities, who require high levels of security, supervision and treatment, out of the center and into group homes or even sending them back to their families with inadequate services or professional support. The agency is on a fast track for closing residential facilities and transfering group homes it operates with state employees to private providers. It is separating families and uprooting the people with disabilities from the familiar therapeutic surroundings and care they know and need."

The process, which has already begun, is displacing individuals with critical needs for treatment and supervision, including some registered sex offenders. In addition, approximately 400 staff face transfer or job loss as a result of these facility closings. Monroe is scheduled to be closed by December 2013 and the 400 staff will be scattered to other locations or lose their jobs. Located at 620 Westfall Road in Rochester, Monroe is home to approximately 125 individuals with multiple disabilities and specialized health care needs.

"These people need specialized supports for their behavioral issues," said Randi DiAntonio, council leader of PEF Division 259 at Monroe. "Our members, who are doctors, nurses, psychologists, therapists, social workers and other professionals, are increasingly concerned about the safety and wellbeing of these individuals, their families and the communities where they are being sent. Some of those communities are hundreds of miles away and will be too far for their families to visit regularly. Meanwhile, other people with disabilities who have been living in the group homes for up to 20 years are now being uprooted to make way for those coming from the developmental center.

"Releasing residents with intensive needs from institutions into the community has been tried in the past. Some have succeeded in reintegrating safely, but experience has demonstrated that others have endangered both the community and themselves," DiAntonio said. "Judges ordered the civil commitments of some of these individuals to the developmental center because they were a danger to themselves, to the public, and sometimes to their own families."

DiAntonio said the union is calling on OPWDD to hold public hearings to allow greater discussion and better planning with all stakeholders before moving forward with its plans.

"Decisions such as this should be based solely on the treatment and safety needs of the individuals and not be made for political reasons," she said. "Otherwise, deeply regrettable results may ensue from our haste. We're just asking the state to really start putting people first."

The New York State Public Employees Federation, AFL-CIO represents approximately 54,000 professional, scientific and technical employees of New York State and other public and private employers. PEF represents approximately 65 staff at Monroe Developmental Center. For more information, please contact PEF Division 259 Council Leader Randi DiAntonio on her cell phone at 585-615-2465 or PEF spokesperson Sherry Halbrook at 800-342-4306, ext. 271, or on her cell at 518 396-8201.