To:
Members of the Public Health Committee
From: Ben Shaiken, Public Policy Specialist, CT Community Nonprofit Alliance
Re:
Public Health Public Hearing on H.B. 5128: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES
Date:
February 16, 2016
Good afternoon distinguished members of the Public Health Committee,
My name is Ben Shaiken, Public Policy Specialist for the CT Community Nonprofit Alliance. The CT Nonprofit Alliance
represents more than 550 community nonprofit organizations and associations across the state and is the largest
advocacy organization representing community nonprofits in Connecticut. Our members serve more than 500,000
Connecticut residents each year.
I’m here to testify in support of H.B. Bill 5128, An Act Concerning Funds Appropriated to the Department of
Developmental Services.
In these challenging times, community nonprofits have demonstrated that they are part of the solution to budgetary
problems. They provide effective, quality services and are models of operating efficiently and maximizing limited
resources.
Over the past several years, state agencies have been tasked with making significant cuts. As DDS changes how they do
business to save money, however, those savings are not passed on to increasing capacity in the system.
It has been a decade since the rates that are paid to community nonprofits serving the DDS population have increased.
Thousands of people are waiting for services.
Make no mistake: There is extraordinary potential for significant savings to be achieved within the DDS budget.
However, without reinvesting that savings in community-based services, there can be no hope of creating a service
delivery system in Connecticut that serves its recipients well, or alleviates the burden that the waiting list places on
families.
Community nonprofits are part of the solution. We welcome the opportunity to work with you to make the DDS system
work better for the citizens of Connecticut. I urge you to support House Bill 5128.
Hartford Office: 75 Charter Oak Avenue, Suite 1-100 Hartford, CT 06106 | 860.525.5080 | Fax: 860.525.5088
Rocky Hill Office: 35 Cold Spring Road, Suite 522 Rocky Hill, CT 06067 | 860.257.7909 | Fax: 860.257.7777