Willow Baer, nominated by Gov. Kathy Hochul to lead the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), told a joint session of the Senate Finance and Disabilities committees that she would prioritize workforce recruitment, family engagement, health access and services for an aging population as she was approved for the post.

Baer, who has been serving as acting commissioner and previously was OPWDD executive deputy commissioner and general counsel, told senators she had “hired a team of people with developmental disabilities” to identify obstacles in the service system and said, “This is more than just a job to me. It is a commitment to do better for the people that we all care about.” She said she has visited day programs, residences, clinics and met with self-advocates, families and front-line staff across the state.

Why it matters: OPWDD oversees services used by tens of thousands of New Yorkers with developmental disabilities and their families. Lawmakers pressed Baer on worker shortages, recent state investments, the effects of potential federal funding cuts and gaps in health and dental care — areas senators said directly affect safety and access to community-based services.

Key commitments and context

- Workforce: Baer said OPWDD rolled out a statewide marketing campaign funded with one-time federal dollars to recruit direct support professionals (DSPs), and that the agency has partnered with SUNY and the National Alliance on Direct Support Professionals on credentialing and training. She described recent rate increases and inflationary adjustments and cited “an investment of $850,000,000 across our service system” that she said has supported wage increases for provider staff; she gave an example of staff who recently received a $4-an-hour raise.

- Housing and residential services: Baer said the state operates the largest certified residential system for people with developmental disabilities in the country and that OPWDD moves about 1,000 people into that system each year. She described efforts to expand noncertified community supports so people can remain with family or in independent housing and said the agency is pursuing affordable-housing strategies and provider-supported housing options.

- Health and dental care: Baer acknowledged gaps in preventive health care and dental services for OPWDD participants and said OPWDD has launched a dental task force and a Regional Disability Health Clinic Initiative (supported in this year’s budget by $25,000,000 in capital grant funds) to improve access and clinic capacity.

- Aging: Baer said life expectancy for people with developmental disabilities has increased substantially and said OPWDD has created a Commissioner’s Task Force on Aging, co-hosted by the Developmental Disability Advisory Board, to produce system-specific recommendations on memory care, aging-in-place and related services.

- Innovation and waivers: Baer described technology-focused pilots and a new “home enabling supports” waiver service intended to support people living on their own. She said OPWDD has a state plan amendment pending with CMS (not a waiver) and that a broader waiver amendment to change rates and self-direction features is planned but is on a longer, roughly four-year trajectory.

Questions from senators

Senators pressed Baer on several specifics: how the $850 million is being monitored for impact on overtime and staffing levels; what options exist for higher funding for medically complex group homes (citing Angel’s House as an example); how OPWDD is increasing family engagement after families reported feeling excluded during COVID-19; and what OPWDD is doing to reduce reliance on labor-intensive models through technology and independent living supports.

On monitoring wage and staffing results, Baer said the agency will review annual cost reports and has heard anecdotal reports of improved recruitment after recent increases. On medically complex homes, she said higher-rate licensing options exist (including Department of Health pediatric nursing tiers) but that she was open to statutory, regulatory or waiver changes if required. On family engagement, Baer said the agency has been holding listening sessions, expanding languages and meeting more families in person and said the agency is formalizing a family advisory group to ensure feedback can translate into policy changes.

Confirmation vote and follow-up

After questioning, the joint committee took a vote to confirm Willow Baer to the paid position of commissioner of OPWDD. Committee members voted in favor; several senators recorded a “without recommendation” on other, unpaid appointments considered at the same time. The committee also discussed temporary suspensions and closures of some state-operated programs and said capital repairs and hiring initiatives are on OPWDD’s plan to restore impacted sites.

Looking ahead, Baer said she will continue to pursue data improvements so OPWDD can be more outcome-driven, expand cross-system collaboration with agencies serving people with co-occurring mental health and health needs, and press for funding and regulatory changes when needed.

Ending

Baer finished by reiterating that the post is a personal and professional commitment. With the committee’s confirmation, she would continue as OPWDD commissioner, tasked with implementing the agency initiatives she described during the hearing.