About Us

    MRA, established in 1975, is an association of parents, guardians, family members and friends of clients and employees in North Carolina's Developmental Centers.  MRA involves advocacy, the study of national issues and legislation, and direct communication with state legislators, the Department of Health and Human Services and Division of Mental Health/Developmental Disablilties/Substance Abuse personnel through letter writing, e-mail, telephone, visits and newspaper articles.

    Since 1994, as downsizing of state facilities has taken place, MRA members have participated in the North Carolina Developmental Disabilities Consumer Advisory Committee (NCDDCA) annual monitoring of each Developmental Center to assure that quality services are being maintained.

Guiding Position Statement
We Believe:

• That choice should be the guiding philosophy of the delivery system.
  

• That a full array of services required to meet clients needs be made available.
  
  
• That a uniform assessment instrument should be used to determine such needs.
  
  
• That client placement should be determined by need and availability of services at time of need.  Quotas, averages, social positions, political issues should never be a determining factor.  Client family/guardians should be informed of available resources and residential settings and allowed to choose from these options.
  
  
• That Developmental Centers provide a vital service in the continuum of care alternatives.  They should continue to provide this service, which includes medical care and training for center residents.
  
  
• That Developmental Centers should continue to provide specialty services, outreach medical care, training, respite services, and research for areas where such services are not available.
  

MRA holds active memberships in the national organization The Voice of the Retarded and in state organizations the Developmental Disabilities Consortium and The Coalition.