THE SENATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY

 2009 Regular Session
Senate Resolution 165Thursday, March 26, 2009

A RESOLUTION honoring the leadership, strength, vision and service of Bluegrass Regional Mental Health-Mental Retardation Board, Inc. ("Bluegrass"), including the Board of Directors, former President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph "Joe" A. Toy, and the dedicated and hard-working management and staff at the Communities at Oakwood ("Oakwood") who diligently care for our Commonwealth's most vulnerable citizens on a daily basis.

WHEREAS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") terminated federal funding for Oakwood effective September 14, 2005; and

WHEREAS, under the most dire of circumstances, in November of 2006, the Commonwealth contracted with Bluegrass to assume the management and operation of Oakwood; and

WHEREAS, Bluegrass understood that recertification from CMS is rarely accomplished, yet the Commonwealth believed and trusted in Bluegrass's long track record as a quality provider and responsible agent of community services to lend expertise and stamina to the unprecedented challenge; and

WHEREAS, the achievements and outstanding work of the Bluegrass Mental Health-Mental Retardation Board have been recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and federal funding has been restored to three of Oakwood's four units with the fourth unit on a positive path to the same recertification; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of Bluegrass, resident safety, overall treatment and care, cooperative and effective relationships with parents and guardians of residents, and effective and efficient implementation of community transition plans have all improved remarkably; and

WHEREAS, Bluegrass has been integral in effectuating the extraordinary improvements at Oakwood and transforming the facility into one of the preeminent systems of care for individuals with intellectual disabilities in the United States;

NOW, THEREFORE,

Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: