Letter
Brothers and Sisters:
Throughout the history of the deinstitutionalization movement, AFSCME, has fought to protect the rights of disabled and mentally ill individuals and the workers who care for them. AFSCME is committed to building the best continuum of care — from institutional to community care — provided by organized public and private sector workers.
Unfortunately, in many instances, as institutions were downsized and closed, some governors and state legislators viewed privatization as a method of escaping the financial and legal responsibilities of services for people with mental illness and developmental disabilities. Poor planning, unrealistic expectations and inadequate funding led to substandard care in the community. Many state officials began to review and reconsider the wisdom of wholesale deinstitutionalization and relying completely on private providers for community services. They have acknowledged the significant advantages of relying on public employees who have solid experience with serving people with severe mental illness and developmental disabilities and the need for a balanced system of publicly and privately provided care.
For the last thirty years, AFSCME International has assisted numerous councils and locals which have pursued the development of publicly-operated community-based services. Similarly, AFSCME has assisted councils who have received organizing requests from private sector workers in community settings.
We are proud of the leadership that AFSCME has provided in demanding a quality continuum of care. This publication was developed by AFSCME’s Public Policy Department to assist our leadership and membership and to answer many of the questions which arise when workers face the transition of moving from institutional to community care. We hope you find it a useful tool and look forward to our continued progress in caring for disabled and mentally ill individuals.
In Solidarity,
Gerald W. McEntee
International President
William Lucy
International Secretary-Treasurer
