Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Developmental Disabilities Program, Florida Department of Children and Families

Report 00-17, November 2000




Report Summary

  • Although the performance of the Developmental Disabilities Program has improved in several areas, it is not meeting many of its legislative performance standards and its operations could be improved to better meet client needs and to reduce costs to the state. While the injury rate for residents at state institutions has declined over the past two years, it has continued to exceed legislative performance standards at three of the four state institutions. Many persons living in state institutions could be more appropriately served in community settings. While the quality of life of clients living in the community is improving, the program has not met its legislative performance standard. The program needs to better assess its clients to determine if they are capable and willing to become employed and live independently and the services they would need to do so. If one-half of the clients who work in sheltered workshops could be employed in the community, the department would save $14.4 million annually.
  • Many clients who currently live in state institutions and private intermediate care facilities could be appropriately served in less costly settings, saving about $35 million per year. Closing one or more of the state institutions could save another $4 million annually, although some investment in community-based services would be needed to expand services for these clients.
  • The current community service system does not ensure that clients receive services they need to achieve goals at the least cost to the state. While the department plans to develop a new client-centered service delivery system, it will need to overcome several challenges. The department will need to collect data on what services are needed by clients. It will need to recruit new providers or expand the service capacity of existing providers to meet these needs. The department will need to develop an effective system to monitor the performance of waiver support coordinators and other contracted service providers to ensure high quality and economical services to clients. The department will need to more effectively track individual client expenditures for program services to ensure that clients do not overspend their budgets.


Related Reports
  1. Progress Report: Developmental Disabilities Program Taken Action on Some Recommendations; Still Needs to Address Service Issues to Better Meet Its Client Needs
    Report 03-48 September 2003
  2. Progress Report: Developmental Disabilities Program Takes Steps to Improve Medicaid Waiver Systems and Controls
    Report 02-18 March 2002
  3. Legislative Options to Control Rising Developmental Disabilities Costs
    Report 02-09 February 2002
  4. The Home- and Community-Based Services Waiver Systems, Controls Should Be Improved
    Report 99-31 February 2000
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
social services, health,children and families, developmental disabilities, disabilities, disabled, Medicaid, mental retardation, community care, home-based care, intermediate care facilities, medicaid waivers