Issues Affecting Developmental Disabilities

Marin Ventures strives to keep its constituency informed of statewide issues that affect the clients of Marin Ventures. This section will give you brief synopses of these issues and give you links to more information.

Wages for Direct Care Staff

The number one problem affecting the quality of services for persons with developmental disabilities is the inability to retain quality staff because of the extremely low wages offered. Marin Ventures works continually with other agencies to improve pay and working conditions. The legislative attempt to rectify this problem can be found at the CRA website.

Issue Links

We have located a number of resources on the Internet relating to issues affecting persons with developmental disabilities. If you would like to learn more, please see our Resources page.

Recommended Reading:

Contra Costa ARC has written several outstanding papers:

• Realizing the Vision: This 1994 paper discusses the movement towards consumer rights, consumer choice and self-determination and the importance of linking system change with sound fiscal planning and a common value base.
• Recognizing the Reality: This 1995 paper looks at programmatic changes underway in the system and the growing tension between consumer choice and the state's fiscal limitations.
• System Reform, Managed Care, and the Myth of a Free Market in California's Developmental Disabilities System: This 1996 paper talks about California's strong commitment to a "consumer driven" system with a clear "balance of power" among the consumer, government agencies and corporate entities involved. The paper describes how Managed Care concepts now threaten California's commitment to it's citizens with developmental disabilities.