About The Campaign
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What is Georgia's Unlock The Waiting Lists! campaign?
The campaign is a targeted effort by a coalition of Georgia disability organizations to educate the public and change public policy. The mission is to reduce and/or eliminate waiting lists for thousands of people with disabilities, the frail elderly, and their families who need home and community-based services.
What are waiting lists?
Georgians with significant disabilities need essential services to remain with their families and in their communities. These services have not been adequately funded, and therefore individuals with disabilities and their families have been placed on waiting lists. The Georgia Department of Human Resources and the Georgia Department of Community Health keep lists with the names of those people, young and old, who have a disability and have requested help from the state in providing them with services. These lists have grown to crisis proportions.
Who are the people on these lists?
People in your community - your neighbors, friends, colleagues, or people in their families - are among those on waiting lists. They are people who have mental retardation or developmental disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or who are frail and elderly. They may be young children, middle-aged adults, or older people. While people living in facilities such as nursing homes and institutions are not included on these lists, they also need our help. In addition, each year the lists grow with families falling into crisis, caregivers passing away, and with the addition of over 500 students aging out of the school system with no services in place for them.
What waivers are available in Georgia?
A Waiver is an agreement between Georgia and the Federal government to serve a
specific population with services beyond what is required under Medicaid. As we
learned that services could be better offered in the community, these agreements
"waived" the requirement to serve these people in an institution or nursing
home. Many of do not understand our selection of waivers are available in
Georgia. This summary was created specifically for policymakers to better
understand which waivers are available in Georgia. Please feel free to download
it and send it to your legislator.
Summary of
Waivers in Georgia
What kind of help do they need?
They need home and community-based services, such as:
- assistance with personal hygiene; bathing needs; toileting; dressing and eating or help transferring in and out of a wheelchair or bed
- assistance with daily routines and community activities when independence isn't possible
- support getting and keeping a job
- other Family Support services - support to help families stay together, such as community help for challenging behaviors, home and vehicle modifications, and assistive technology and transportation.
Are home and community-based services cost effective?
Home and community-based services are far more cost effective than institutionalization. According to the Department of Medical Assistance's Fiscal Year 1997 Annual Report, Georgia taxpayers saved $110 million.
Whom does "Unlock The Waiting Lists!" represent?
Supported by more than 338 organizations statewide. Representing over 5,600 members, and another
5,465 waiting on lists, the coalition is well over 10,000 strong. The "Unlock the Waiting Lists!" coalition's Steering Committee is
- The Georgia Advocacy Office
- The Arc of Georgia
- The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
- The Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia
- People First of Georgia
- Service Provider Association for Developmental Disabilities
- The Institute on Human Development & Disability at the University of Georgia
What has the "Unlock The Waiting Lists!" campaign accomplished?
As a result of the Campaign's advocacy and since 1999, almost 1,900 people are now receiving long awaited services. But we haven't kept pace with the growing population of our state! Today these lists have surpassed
6,600 people waiting for help.
What are "Unlock The Waiting Lists!" goals?
"Get me out, keep me out, don't put me in!"
- To implement a multi-year funding plan for home and community-based services that includes transitioning of individuals from nursing homes and institutions as called for by the Olmstead decision.
- To halt the growth of waiting lists through funding crisis prevention services such as Family Support and Day Supports/Supported Employment.
- To insure that providers can pay direct care staff fair and adequate wages, provide training, and assure quality services.
For More Information
Dave Blanchard, Director of Public Policy
Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities
(404) 881-9777 x215
dave@aadd.org
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