Disabilities program turned back to state; jobs in question

By Cole Goodwin

Mid-Columbia Center for Living is handing back the Community Developmental Disabilities Program to the Oregon Department of Human Services due to funding. They are currently operating the program in Wasco, Hood River and Sherman counties.

The program provides eligibility determination, case management, licensure of foster homes, and protective service investigations for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 Mid-Columbia Center for Living will host a private Q&A meeting this Friday, Aug. 28, 2020 at 1 p.m. to discuss the end of their contract with the state and the transition of the program to another agency.

For 30 years, Center for Living has been contracted through The State of Oregon, Department of Human Services, Seniors and People with Disabilities to provide CDDP services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Center for Learning said program services are not being cut or eliminated in any way. But that MCFFL is financially unable to support these vital services and would, therefore, be handing these duties over to another agency, which will be assigned the contract by the state. 

There is concern over how this will affect those in need of disability services. 

Anne Lamb, a mother of a child with special needs, said the transition will affect the care her child receives.

"As a mom of a special needs child who's experienced barriers since birth, knowing that my child is comfortable with their case manager for years and then to have that security yanked away when it's already hard for them to have a voice, is cruel. This is taking their stability away.” 

In a press release dated August 21st, 2020, Gorge ReSisters called on the Center for Living to go through a public hearing process with comments from the public and a vote of their board before moving ahead with the transition. They also stated that as recently as June 2020, MCCFL had negotiated reimbursement rates that would cover the cost of the disabilities program. And ending the program will result in the lay-off of eleven Center for Living employees, 10 of whom are considered essential.

Columbia Community Connection reached out to the center of living today, Aug. 27 to find out if they intended to layoff employees. We had not received an answer as of 5:45 p.m.

The Mid-Columbia Center for Living stated that they do not have the authority to decide who the next provider would be, but the Department of Human Services already had interested parties.

“DHS has guaranteed us they will be able to transition the Case Management services from MCCFL to another like provider within 60-days,” The Center for Living MCFFL said in their press release. It also stated that the contract with DHS will not affect local brokerage, foster care or home care services that are under other contracts. 

Center for Living ended its press release by saying, “Our goal continues to be assisting in the transition of case management services for our clients, community partners, and the state system. We will continue to send updates as we gain more information. Thank you for your patience and understanding as MCCFL moves toward financial sustainability in these challenging times.”

 MCFFL regular board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 11 a.m. The meeting agendas and minutes can be found here on their website.