Last year, during Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address, he gave voice and visibility to the intellectual and developmental disability community. I listened, with hope, as he spoke about the sleepless nights experienced by families with loved ones with IDD – families like mine. Hope turned to disappointment because last year’s budget moved through the political process failing to make any investment into Direct Support Professional wages.
Despite last year’s budget outcome, Gov. Shapiro has persisted by proposing a historic investment into IDD services this year! I cannot express enough how important staff stability is in the lives of my sons. Good people have left this profession because they had to financially provide for their families. How many would come back if they were paid a family sustaining wage? Pennsylvania has the responsibility of setting the reimbursement rates that fund wages for DSPs. Raising wages in a tight labor market is a critical first step in retaining this essential workforce.
Workforce stability can increase with additional steps. Removal of educational requirements, as Gov. Shapiro has done for state jobs, are equally applicable in this field. Legislation should pass that would require the use of a nationally recognized market-index in the rate setting process. Rates should be refreshed more frequently. Innovative incentives including college certificate programs, tuition forgiveness, or stipends, similar to the recent student-teacher program, should be developed.
Thank you, Gov. Shapiro for championing this non-partisan issue! May this budget initiative pass with success! Let’s get more “stuff” done for DSPs!If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.
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