HOUSE MEMORIAL 56

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Jeff Steinborn

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITY OF COORDINATING OR CONSOLIDATING TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE STATE FOR DIRECT CAREGIVERS ACROSS ALL DISABILITY PROGRAMS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE STATE AGENCIES.

     WHEREAS, many individuals with disabilities rely upon direct caregivers such as home care aides, attendant care workers, personal assistants, personal care attendants, habilitation technicians, respite care workers, certified nursing assistants and classroom aides; and 

     WHEREAS, a number of different agencies provide training for direct caregivers to work with individuals with disabilities; and

     WHEREAS, with the various training programs there are varied standards and educational requirements for direct caregiver training; and

     WHEREAS, training curricula for direct caregivers depend upon the clients' needs, state requirements, federal requirements and a number of other factors that give rise to widely disparate forms of training; and

     WHEREAS, consolidation of direct caregiver training programs could potentially save money, provide uniform standards and lead to better-trained direct caregivers; and

     WHEREAS, the college of direct support offers a model of an online training resource that provides training, using a standardized curriculum, to direct caregiver trainees in twenty-five states; and

     WHEREAS, House Memorial 37, passed in 2009, directed experts in the field to form a legislative task force to plan and develop a training and education program that leads to the credentialing of direct caregivers in the state; and

     WHEREAS, the legislative task force found that duplication likely exists within agencies providing education, training and credentialing for direct caregivers; and

     WHEREAS, the legislative task force recommended that a core curriculum common to all direct caregivers be defined, from which discipline-specific or subspecialty training could be built; and

     WHEREAS, the legislative task force recommended that resources for educating and training direct caregivers be consolidated;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to convene a task force to examine the possibility of coordinating or consolidating training programs in the state for direct caregivers across all disability programs and their respective state agencies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force assess the economic savings, if any, that may result from coordinating or consolidating direct caregiver training programs across all disability programs and their respective state agencies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include representatives from the department of health, the higher education department, the human services department, the children, youth and families department, the aging and long-term services department, the developmental disabilities planning council, the arc of New Mexico and disability rights New Mexico; three New Mexicans with a disability, or their legal representatives; and other members chosen on an ad hoc basis as the secretary of health deems necessary; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force research direct caregiver training models that are in use in other states, as well as the merits of models such as the college of direct support; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, by November 1, 2010, the task force report to the legislative health and human services committee its findings and recommendations regarding the possibility of coordinating or consolidating training programs for direct caregivers across all disability programs and their respective state agencies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health; the secretary of higher education; the secretary of human services; the secretary of children, youth and families; the secretary of aging and long-term services; the executive director of the developmental disabilities planning council; the public policy director for the arc of New Mexico; and the executive director of disability rights New Mexico.

- 4 -