California Association of Public Authorities

California Association of Public Authorities
Name	California Association of Public Authorities
Formation	1980s
Type	Nonprofit association
Headquarters	Sacramento, California
Region served	California
Membership	Regional public authorities

California Association of Public Authorities is a California-based nonprofit association that represents regional public authorities administering consumer-directed services under state legislation such as Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, federal statutes like the Americans with Disabilities Act and programs funded through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, serving adults and children with developmental disabilities across counties including Los Angeles County, California, San Diego County, California and Sacramento County, California. The association interfaces with state agencies such as the California Department of Developmental Services and legislative bodies including the California State Legislature and the Governor of California's office, and collaborates with advocacy organizations like The Arc of California and research institutions including the University of California, Berkeley and California State University, Northridge.

History

The association emerged in the 1980s amid policy discussions following the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act and administrative shifts from institutions exemplified by closures influenced by decisions similar to those surrounding Agnews Developmental Center and Sonoma Developmental Center, and in dialogues with federal actors like the Social Security Administration and oversight by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Early convenings brought together representatives from county-level entities such as San Francisco County, California and Orange County, California public authorities, advocates from Disability Rights California and planners from academic centers like the University of Southern California, shaping a statewide network responsive to changes in Medicaid in the United States policies and court decisions including Olmstead v. L.C..

Mission and Goals

The stated mission aligns with implementation of consumer-directed models promoted by federal initiatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and state reforms initiated by the California Welfare and Institutions Code reforms, aiming to advance person-centered supports referenced in reports by the Institute of Medicine and guidance from the Administration for Community Living. Goals include supporting local public authorities in complying with regulations from the California Department of Public Health, improving service quality measured by methodologies used by the RAND Corporation and Kaiser Family Foundation, and promoting workforce strategies similar to recommendations from the California Health Care Foundation and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Membership and Structure

Membership comprises regional public authorities, county-level entities akin to those in Alameda County, California and Riverside County, California, and organizational partners such as Independent Living Centers and provider associations like the California Association of Health Facilities. The governance model parallels structures used by consortia like the California State Association of Counties with an executive committee, board of directors and standing committees reflecting models from National Association of Counties and Association of County Commissioners of California; administrative operations are often supported by staff with ties to academic partners including University of California, Davis and California State University, Chico.

Programs and Services

Programs include technical assistance reminiscent of training curricula developed by the Kaiser Permanente Institute for Health Policy and data systems interoperability work informed by standards from Health Level Seven International and the National Information Exchange Model. Service offerings encompass workforce development initiatives drawing on research from the RAND Corporation and pilot projects similar to Money Follows the Person, quality assurance frameworks inspired by the Joint Commission and program evaluation partnerships with entities like Public Policy Institute of California and Pew Charitable Trusts.

Governance and Funding

The association operates under nonprofit bylaws comparable to organizations registered with the California Secretary of State and fiscal practices aligned with standards from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and audits by firms familiar with California State Controller's Office reporting. Funding streams include membership dues from county public authorities, grants from philanthropic bodies such as the The California Endowment and federal demonstration grants administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and contracts with state agencies including the California Department of Developmental Services and workforce development programs coordinated with the California Employment Development Department.

Advocacy and Policy Activities

Advocacy work engages with policy processes in the California State Legislature, rulemakings at the California Department of Developmental Services, and integration of federal guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services and court settlements influenced by Olmstead v. L.C.. The association files position papers, participates in stakeholder advisory groups alongside organizations like Disability Rights California and The Arc of California, and contributes testimony to legislative committees such as the California Senate Committee on Human Services and California Assembly Committee on Health.

Partnerships and Impact Studies

Partnerships include collaborations with universities such as University of California, Los Angeles and San Diego State University, research nonprofits like the University of Southern California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics and national bodies including the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services. Impact studies have evaluated service outcomes using methodologies from the National Quality Forum and have been compared against benchmarks used by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Urban Institute to assess cost, access and quality across counties including Ventura County, California and Santa Clara County, California.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Sacramento, California Category:Disability organizations based in California