The R.E.A.C.H. Project

REGISTRY TO END ABUSIVE CAREGIVER HIRING

Protecting people with developmental disabilities through streamlined, accessible abuse reporting

Background: In California, over 220,000 individuals with developmental disabilities receives care in residential and day programs, independent and supported living, and at-home, private care. “Sadly, these individuals are 2 – 5 times more likely to experience severe, long-lasting, and repeated abuse than the non-disabled…in the very settings responsible for their well-being.”

Alarming Statistics: Individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) are …

  • 11 times higher risk of being sexually assaulted
  • 13 times higher risk of being robbed
  • Higher risk for being re-victimized. Two studies found that 50% of sexually assaulted, DD woman had been victimized 10+ times.

The Problem:

44% of abusers make contact with their victims as unlicensed, direct care workers. If caught, investigated, and/or fired, many abusers move to another agency…because they can! Current California privacy laws prevent prospective employers from accessing information about abusers. Without such knowledge, employers continue to hire abusive caregivers and the cycle continues.

The Solution:

Create a registry that tracks cases of substantiated abuse and flags care givers that have established patterns of inconclusive abuse to be accessible by prospective employers. Currently, registries are available for children and the elderly in California but are absent for individuals with developmental disabilities. Why leave this vulnerable population any more vulnerable?

There are 13 other states with abuse registries protecting the developmentally disabled; all 50 states have abuse registries protecting children and elderly.

In 2008, my wife Laure and I testified at the State Capitol in front of the Assembly of Health and the Assembly of Human Services on behalf of AB 1983, a bill to create a Registry to End Abusive Caregiver Hiring, (R.E.A.C.H.) The bill was passed unanimously by both committee assemblies; however, due to the weakened economy in California and the initial cost to the State to establish this much needed registry the Assembly Appropriations Committee placed AB 1983 on the Suspense File with no further action.