WHEREAS:
AFSCME is the leading union representing employees working in institutional and community-based facilities serving mentally retarded, mentally ill and developmentally disabled people; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME has been a leading advocate of high quality institutional and community-based services for disabled people, and has led the fight against budget cuts and attempts to weaken quality standards; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME has continued to oppose states that abdicate their responsibility provide publicly accountable quality care by understaffing institutions, neglecting physical conditions and failing to upgrade services. By contracting out, and dumping individuals are sent into unprepared communities without planning and without providing comprehensive community-based services; and
WHEREAS:
There is considerable support among advocates and experts in the fields of mental health and mental retardation/developmental disabilities for a core institutional system as a part of a continuum of residential and treatment services.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME’s strong commitment to a continuum of publicly-operated services including both institutional and community based care would continue; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
SUBMITTED BY:
International Executive BoardRonald C. Alexander, President-Elect, Delegate
and International Vice President
OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11
Columbus, Ohio