NYAPRS Note: The following piece looks at the appointment of Jeff Wise to head New York State’s new Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Jeff will kick off this April 25-6’s NYAPRS Executive Seminar program with an update and a forecast about the direction the Center will take. See Seminar schedule details at http://www.nyaprs.org/conferences/executive-minars/documents/ExecutiveSeminarAgenda2013.pdf and register at https://registration.nyaprs.org/.
New leader at Justice Center
Nominee Is a Longtime Advocate For Those With Special Needs
By Rick Karlin Albany Times Union March 19, 2013
Gov.Andrew Cuomohas quietly tapped a longtime advocate to head the newJustice Center for the Protection of Peoplewith SpecialNeeds.
Jeffrey Wise, who was nominated earlier this month, formerly worked as CEO of the stateRehabilitation Association, which represents organizations serving thedisabled.
The Justice Center, which is still being set up in anticipation of starting operations June 30, will field complaints about abuse and neglect of people withdisabilities.
Cuomo and lawmakers created the center last year in the wake of a series ofNew York Timesstories about abuse and neglect of the disabled. The new center will include a special prosecutor and inspector general to investigate problems in both state-run and private, state-regulated centers that serve thedisabled.
While coming from the industry that he will now oversee as a watchdog, others in the rehabilitation and disability field said they were pleased with the choice, citing Wise’s long resume, starting with his work as a homelessadvocate.
“I think he’s a great choice,” remarkedHanns Meissner, who runs theRensselaer County ARC.
“He was always above the fray of trying to defend his members,” addedHarvey Rosenthal, executive director of the stateAssociation of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services.
ButMichael Carey, whose autistic son, Jonathan, died under state care, said he believes Wise is too close to the system that he’ll beregulating.
“He’s been too silent,” Carey said, explaining that he believes too much abuse and neglect has gone unreported over theyears.
The new Justice Center has its work cut out for it. Planners, for instance, have been struggling with public sector unions to settle on the levels of punishment when workers abuse or neglect the disabled in their care. And the center has been criticized because it will be a state agency controlled by the governor, with some saying oversight should come from outside the statebureaucracy.
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/New-leader-at-Justice-Center-4364971.php#ixzz2O4IZBO34