060603 - Convention Resolution - 086 - SUB - Residential Habilitation Centers

Resolution in Support of keeping open

 Washington State’s network of Residential Habilitation Centers

 and reversing the Department of Social and Health Services’

 policy of restricting admissions to the centers

 WHEREAS, it is the Constitutional obligation of the State of Washington to “foster and

 support” its Residential Habilitation Centers (RHCs) for people with developmental disabilities,

 and

 WHEREAS, Washington State law “permanently established” the State’s five RHCs, including

 Fircrest School in Shoreline, Frances Haddon Morgan Center in Bremerton, Rainier School in

 Buckley, Yakima Valley School in Selah and Lakeland Village in Medical Lake, to “provide

 services to persons with developmental disabilities,” and

WHEREAS, Washington State’s network of RHCs are an essential component of the full

 continuum of care provided for its citizens with the highest needs, and

WHEREAS, the five RHCs meet and exceed the very highest requirements of patient care and

 have set the bar to which other care facilities aspire, and

WHEREAS, by Federal law, families and guardians have the right to choose RHC care, and

WHEREAS, the number of residents at RHCs has declined because of the Department of Social

and Health Services’ de facto moratorium on admissions and not because the need for their

services has diminished, and

WHEREAS, the Department of Social and Health Services, circumventing the Washington State

 Constitution and the State Legislature, has made it clear that it intends to close Fircrest School,

 and ultimately all of the RHCs in Washington State;

 WHEREAS numerous studies have shown that significant savings are clearly not possible by

 forcing individuals to move from RHCs into community placements, and

 WHEREAS, numerous studies have shown that forcing RHC residents to move would cause

 real harm to real people by greatly increasing their likelihood of dying;

 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Fircrest School in Shoreline and all of the RHCs must

 remain open and remain a viable choice by families and individuals, and Washington State’s

 network of RHCs be funded to provide professional services to people with developmental

 disabilities who live in the surrounding communities, and

060603 - Convention Resolution - 086 - SUB - Residential Habilitation Centers

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Washington State Democratic Party go on record a41 s

 opposing the closure of any of Washington State’s RHCs and that admissions to the centers be

 reopened to those families and guardians who choose these services.

 Submitted by the by the 32nd Legislative District Democrats to the Washington State Democratic

 Party for consideration at its June 3, 2006 convention in Yakima (Date Submitted 5/10/2006).

 The Washington State Democratic Party at its State Convention on June 3, 2006 in Yakima

 referred this resolution to the WSDCC Resolutions Committee for review at its September 9 –

 10, 2006 meeting in Ellensburg.

 The WSDCC Resolutions Committee amended this resolution and recommended a “Pass” at its

 September 10, 2006 meeting in Ellensburg. The resolution will be forwarded to the WSDCC at

 its next meeting on September 29 - 30, 2006 in Tacoma.

 Passed by the WSDCC at its meeting on September 30, 2006 in Tacoma.