February 21, 2013

The Honorable Stephen M. Brewer, Chair
Senate Committee on Ways and Means
State House, Room 212
Boston, MA 02133

The Honorable Brian S. Dempsey, Chair
House Committee on Ways and Means
State House, Room 243
Boston, MA 02133

Dear Chairman Brewer and Chairman Dempsey:

Line item 5920-2000 of Chapter 139 of the Acts of 2012 requires for the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to submit an annual report to the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means on the projected use of funds encumbered or expended for the “Turning 22” program. 

Chapter 688 (better known as the “Turning 22” law) was enacted in 1984 to provide a planning process for young adults with severe disabilities as they leave special education and transition into the adult service system. Each year, DDS transitions hundreds of young people into the Department’s adult service system. One of the Department’s most significant challenges is to continually meet the needs of these young people coming to DDS from Special Education when their school entitlement services end. 

Figure 1 displays the number of individuals leaving Special Education and entering DDS services since Fiscal Year (FY) 1998. As noted in the chart, there have been steady increases in the number of “graduates” each year.  Historically, there has been a cumulative average of 19 additional students seeking DDS supports from the previous year. Since FY 07, the number has grown and DDS has experienced an average of 28 more students than the previous year. In addition, the Department is experiencing a higher number of individuals with complex clinical profiles who have intensive support needs due to medical or behavioral challenges.

Figure 1
DDS Turning 22 Census by Fiscal Year

Figure 2 displays the annualized legislative appropriation into the #5920-5000 line item.  

Figure 2
5920-5000 Legislative Annual Appropriation 

It is important to note this line item no longer funds the annualization of services provided to the Turning 22 population as it did in prior years. Figure 3 represents FY10 and onward as this appropriation only accounts for the first year of funding for services for some of the members of the Turning 22 class and it does not account for the funding necessary to annualize these services. The FY13 appropriation for the #5920-5000 account was $6 million, an increase of $1 million from the previous year.

Figure 3
5920-5000 Legislative 1st Year Appropriation 

For FY-13, DDS has identified 731 young people eligible for Turning 22 services. Line-item 5920-5000, the Turning 22 account, supplemented the cost to serve 228 of the 731 young people who were identified as needing Community Based Residential Services as they leave special education gradually over the course of this fiscal year. DDS allocated $5 million for their residential supports in a wide range of living arrangements in their community including small individual settings and group living situations. State and private vendors contracted with the Commonwealth to manage these services. Appropriate vocational and transportation services are also arranged for this group. Figure 4 presents the number of those individuals receiving Community Based Residential Services by region.

Figure 4
DDS 5920-5000 Residential Census

REGION	Central/West	Metro Boston	Northeast	Southeast	TOTAL	
#	67	50	52	59	228	

As for the remaining 503 students, FY13 continues to be a challenging year to serve those living at home as they enter the DDS system. Figure 5 represents the remaining number of FY13 Turning 22 students by DDS region. The $1 million increase appropriated in FY13 was allocated to supplement the day supports for 12 “medically fragile” individuals who are living at home and require special services.  The balance of this additional money was appropriated to serve 377 individuals who are also living at home to supplement their day supports. Although, the allocation did not cover the entire cost of their day supports, DDS was able to facilitate options for these individuals. Many of the other individuals availed themselves of their entitlement to MassHealth state plan services, such as day habilitation.
Figure 5

REGION	Central/West	Metro Boston	Northeast	Southeast	TOTAL	
#	151	126	132	94	503