S.C.R. 5 Enrolled
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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor expresses support for
11 the master plan to serve Utahns with disabilities.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 . expresses support for the Utah State Development Center's master plan to provide
15 services for people with mental disabilities.
16 Special Clauses:
17 None
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19 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
20 WHEREAS, in 1929, the Legislature of the state of Utah established the Utah State
21 Training Center to assist with the care, protection, treatment, and education of people with
22 mental disabilities;
23 WHEREAS, the Utah State Training Center, later known as the Utah State
24 Development Center (USDC), was established during an era when relatively little was known
25 about the causes of mental disabilities;
26 WHEREAS, like other states, Utah built a public institution in a remote location and
27 within a broad perimeter of land that provided a physical barrier between the institution and the
28 nearest rural homes and communities;
29 WHEREAS, residents were supervised in large groups, with staff ratios as high as one
30 staff member to 60 residents;
31 WHEREAS, since its establishment in 1929, the USDC has evolved and improved with
32 each major change in thinking regarding what public services should be provided for persons
33 with mental disabilities and how to provide those services;
34 WHEREAS, since state governments first acknowledged a public interest in and
35 accepted some fiscal responsibility for citizens with disabilities, states have made sweeping
36 changes in the philosophy and practice of providing public services;
37 WHEREAS, these paradigm shifts have resulted from a growing knowledge about
38 disabilities, including their causes, prevention, interventions, and accommodations;
39 WHEREAS, also contributing to the paradigm shifts was an improving regard for
40 persons who experience disabilities, as evidenced by public laws that affirm and promote their
41 rights, an expansion of publicly funded services, and greater inclusion by their communities;
42 WHEREAS, in April 1999, Utah's Lieutenant Governor, Olene Walker, issued a set of
43 guiding principles entitled "Principles to Guide the Delivery of Publicly Funded Services for
44 People with Disabilities in Utah";
45 WHEREAS, these principles were developed by a group of individuals representing the
46 Governor's office, the state Legislature, state agencies, service providers, and parent advocates;
47 WHEREAS, the principles were distributed in the community and public comment was
48 received at a meeting conducted by the Lieutenant Governor on April 13, 1999;
49 WHEREAS, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health
50 subsequently adopted these principles to guide how they provide services;
51 WHEREAS, like providers of community-based services, USDC is currently working
52 to support and promote more person-centered services, a greater choice of services and
53 supports, and increased opportunities for inclusion of people with mental disabilities in the
54 community;
55 WHEREAS, today, Utah's citizens are served from across the entire state of Utah under
56 the direction of the Utah Department of Human Services and the Division of Services for
57 People with Disabilities;
58 WHEREAS, the USDC provides 24-hour residential care, is Utah's only state-operated
59 intermediate care facility for people with intellectual disabilities, and takes great pride in
60 serving these most vulnerable of Utah's citizens;
61 WHEREAS, as other providers in the state of Utah struggle to provide care for
62 individuals with complex emotional, medical, and behavioral issues, USDC is in the unique
63 position of providing most of the essential services needed in a single location;
64 WHEREAS, central to its present and future success in providing services for people
65 with mental disabilities is USDC's development of a master plan to guide its service;
66 WHEREAS, master plan development was facilitated and led by the competent,
67 respected, and trusted companies of Design Workshop, Stantec civil engineers, and Fehr &
68 Peers transportation planners, which have developed several successful master plans
69 nationwide;
70 WHEREAS, the master plan was developed in conjunction with an overall strategic
71 vision for the future use of the USDC;
72 WHEREAS, the strategic planning group included a wide range of stakeholders and
73 was vetted by conducting over 30 public meetings and planning sessions;
74 WHEREAS, input for the planning process was received from people living at the
75 USDC and their families; from neighborhoods, counties, and cities surrounding the USDC;
76 community advocacy groups representing people with disabilities; and community service
77 providers who regularly work with the USDC;
78 WHEREAS, the USDC master plan creates a long-term vision for undeveloped
79 property that is in accordance with the original purpose of the Legislature in creating this
80 resource for Utahns with disabilities;
81 WHEREAS, the master plan provides a long-term revenue source for people with
82 disabilities living in Utah, while preserving the original purpose of the land and maximizing
83 development potential;
84 WHEREAS, the master plan was created with a sustainable methodology, including a
85 balance between environmental sensitivity, community connections, artistic beauty, and
86 economic viability;
87 WHEREAS, USDC's mission is "dedication to providing an array of resources and
88 supports for people with disabilities with complex or acute needs in Utah";
89 WHEREAS, the USDC vision is to "provide an effective, efficient array of critical
90 services and supports that promote independence and quality of life for Utah's most vulnerable
91 people with disabilities in partnership with families, guardians and the community"; and
92 WHEREAS, by following the master plan, USDC is in a position to better assist people
93 with disabilities to achieve their highest potential in an atmosphere that preserves personal
94 dignity:
95 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
96 Governor concurring therein, expresses support for the Utah State Development Center's
97 master plan.
98 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah State
99 Development Center, the Utah Department of Human Services, and the Utah Department of
100 Health.
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