HOUSE MEMORIAL 76

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Danice Picraux

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT AND DISABILITY TO CONDUCT A PROGRAMMATIC, LEGAL AND FISCAL ANALYSIS OF CURRENT PROGRAMS SERVING INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENHANCED TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.

     WHEREAS, the university of New Mexico health sciences center hosts the center for development and disability, a university center for excellence in developmental disabilities education, research and service; and

     WHEREAS, the university of New Mexico center is one of sixty-seven such centers in the United States, and these centers are authorized by the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act; and  

     WHEREAS, the stated purpose of these centers is to build capacity in states and communities to respond to the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities; and

     WHEREAS, the center for development and disability in New Mexico offers numerous programs and projects funded by a variety of federal and state agencies and private partners; and

     WHEREAS, the programs and projects of the center are intended to foster and support innovative, collaborative and interdisciplinary education, distance learning, applied research and analysis, dissemination of information and direct client services; and

     WHEREAS, in 2009, the center provided clinical services and training and technical assistance in virtually all of New Mexico's thirty-three counties; and

     WHEREAS, the 2009 annual report provides information about these programs, services and projects, including sources of funding but excluding amounts of funding; and

     WHEREAS, the complexity of the organization and financing of the center suggests that a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the center, including a review of all programs, legal requirements and funding streams, is needed to ensure that the mission of the center is being met; and

     WHEREAS, the mission of the center is to support "full inclusion of people with disabilities and their families in their communities by engaging individuals in making life choices"; and

     WHEREAS, this mission is to be accomplished through partnerships with communities to build resources and improve systems of care; and

     WHEREAS, the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of the many and varied programs and projects in light of the mission, and of determining whether these programs and projects are actually touching the lives of the individuals and families that the center intends to serve, cannot be overstated;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the university of New Mexico center for development and disability be requested to conduct a programmatic, legal and fiscal analysis of current programs serving individuals living with developmental disabilities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the center, using the findings of the analysis, make recommendations for enhanced training and educational opportunities to promote independent living for individuals living with developmental disabilities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the center coordinate the analysis with the department of health, the public education department, the higher education department, the developmental disabilities planning council and others that partner in serving the educational and services needs of individuals and families living with developmental disabilities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a report of the findings and recommendations of this analysis be presented to the legislative health and human services committee no later than October 2011; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretaries of public education, higher education and health, the director of the developmental disabilities planning council and the director of the university of New Mexico center for development and disability.

- 4 -