March 2, 2010

New Jersey Association of Community Providers' Letter to Governor Christie About Fiscal Year 2010 Funding Cuts to Division of Developmental Disabilities

The New Jersey Association of Community Providers (NJACP) responded to Governor Christie's proposed mid-2010 funding cuts that would have eliminated a program to transition 15 people with developmental disabilities from developmental centers to community services. NJACP noted that eliminating funding for the program was ill-advised for several reasons. The individuals had completed all steps to transition. On the Division of Developmental Disabilities' promise of funding for the transition, provider organizations had prepared specially designed homes for the individuals; discontinuing the funding would severely affect the provider organizations. Additionally, by halting the transitions, the state forfeited a federal 75% Medicaid match for community support services provided to the individuals.