Member Advocacy
Your voice is crucial in our efforts to defend the health, services, and wellbeing of the people we support.
Advocate Today
Southern Tier Connect’s members with intellectual and development disabilities and their families rely on Medicaid, a service system in dire need of updating. People are stuck on waiting lists, the direct care workforce is underpaid resulting in system-wide staff shortages, and too often, unpaid family caregivers fill in the gaps. The COVID-19 pandemic magnified these problems and exposed cracks in the OPWDD infrastructure that supports people with disabilities.
Recent changes in funding, advocacy, and legislative activity in Albany and Washington DC are heading in a positive direction. Learn more about these new opportunities for members and families below.
A Unified Effort
The seven CCOs/HHs have unified our efforts for advocacy by founding the Care Management Alliance of New York. Please sign up for CMANY alerts on their website to stay informed of future CCO advocacy issues.
Key Talking Points
When writing your letter, be sure to:
- Use your full name
- Say where you live
- Make it known if you are a voter in their district
- Explain what you want your legislator to do
- Explain why this issue is important to you, giving real-world, compelling examples of how these services are vital to you or your loved one
Advocacy Tools
Find and Contact Your Elected Officials
header photo / cliff booth 2020
capital photo / david renken 2020