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BROOKLYN — Chandra Brown begins preparing for her workday at 3 a.m. and is never sure when her day will end. In recent months, Brown, a direct support assistant (DSA) based at a state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities group home in Brooklyn, has been mandated to work two, three, and sometimes even four consecutive shifts by her supervisors. Tired and frustrated, she mostly worries about the time spent away from her 4 year old daughter, and not being able to give the individuals she cares for on the job the quality care they deserve. “My daughter is at a young and impressionable age,” said Brown, 39, who drives from her Bronx home to Brooklyn after dropping her daughter with a caretaker to take her to her Pre-K class. Brown’s daughter has already missed five days of school due to her mother’s hectic work schedule. Brown and many of her co-workers are facing similar scenarios throughout the state. A report released by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli in 2016 listed OPWDD as the state agency with the highest number of overtime hours at 4,566,814, with nearly 45 percent of its workers receiving $150 million in overtime pay. Workers say mandatory overtime and time away from their families is becoming the norm. Because of minimum staffing levels at OPWDD residences and group homes that have replaced many centralized care facilities, workers have been told that they can’t leave the premises on their lunch breaks. “We cannot work below our minimum staffing levels,” said Brooklyn Developmental Center Local President Faye Wilkie- Fields. “It doesn’t leave room for Chandra Brown prepares a meal for individuals residing at the Brooklyn group home where she works. anyone to get a day off or even get out for lunch because the minimums are strictly enforced.” Making a bad situation worse Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2017- 18 state budget proposal makes things even worse on OPWDD workers, who are already stretched too thin because of understaffing. The governor is proposing to cut about 250 full-time positions in the agency through attrition. While many of the cuts stem from the upcoming closure of Bernard Fineson Developmental Center in Queens, those who care for our state’s most vulnerable individuals are being unfairly asked to do more with less once again. Bernard Fineson’s impending closure, as well as last year’s closure of Brooklyn Developmental Center, are part of OPWDD’s plan to close many of its larger care facilities and transition care to community-based services, “I can’t see the individuals being happy and I can’t see them getting the right and adequate amount of care. Our workers are suffering from fatigue. How can they offer their best?” often provided by not-for-profit corporations. As a result of policies at the state level over the last few years, the delivery of care for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness is dramatically changing. Under the guise of the U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead decision, which holds that individuals in need of services must receive the least restrictive care option that is appropriate to one’s needs, the state has been reducing services it provides to this vulnerable population and relying on community organizations and nonprofits to provide care the state has traditionally provided. OPWDD workers fear an increase in mandatory overtime, while families worry that the high level of care provided to their loved ones at state OPWDD facilities may be disrupted or reduced as the state transitions services. Many workers have also expressed concerns over onerous and arbitrary disciplinary practices being meted out by the state’s Justice Center. In many cases, workers who had been suspended or disciplined have been vindicated and made whole. In the meantime, the huge number of workers who get cited on a regular basis means fewer workers at OPWDD facilities, which translates into mandatory overtime. Brown said she has always worked some mandatory overtime since starting at Brooklyn Developmental Center in 2010, but never at the present levels. “I don’t mind working,” she said. “I know that I can do it on some weekends, but during the week, it’s hard because of my child care.” Citing some of the burdens our members and the individuals have had to endure since the closure of Brooklyn Developmental Center, Wilkie- Fields said workers are angry and tired. “We are in such a deplorable situation,” said Wilkie-Fields. “I can’t see the individuals being happy and I can’t see them getting the right and adequate amount of care. Our workers are suffering from fatigue. How can they offer their best?” — David Galarza February 2017 The Work Force 11


Work_Force_February_2017
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