Last week legislators in Albany finished up this year's legislative session with critical
issues left unresolved. Specifically, they failed to address the pending staffing crisis
facing the non-profit human services agencies that support individuals with intellectual
and developmental disabilities.
At Empower, and in other non-profit human services agencies throughout the state,
caregivers called direct support providers are used to provide critical care to
intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals. These men and women are
dedicated, compassionate, and critical care workers performing a crucially important
job. They care for our brothers and sisters, our family and friends - their tireless work
ensures some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities have the
opportunity to live life to the fullest.
Unfortunately, this work has gone woefully under-funded by the state for countless
years and we now face a looming staffing crisis as direct service providers leave this
sector to attain a more livable wage. To address this pending crisis, we lobbied
legislators and the Governor to include a 8.5% COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) in the
FY24 budget to provide needed salary increases to our workers - especially during a
historic inflation crisis. However, providers were left short with only a 4% COLA in the
enacted FY24 budget - this simply fails to meet the needs of our providers.
To address this shortage, Senator Mannion and Assemblywoman Seawright, Chairs of
their respective Senate and Assembly Committees on Disabilities/People with
Disabilities, introduced a piece of legislation (S4127/A5268) which would provide a
$4,000 increase to direct service providers, or an average hourly rate increase of $2.20.
This legislation would be pivotal in securing staffing levels and attracting new individuals
into the field. Yet, despite calls from agencies and direct supervisors - legislators in
Albany let this legislation stay in committee, failing to ever bring it for a full vote in front
of either body.
Inaction puts vulnerable populations at risk of losing critical services. Families risk losing
specialized care for their loved ones. And dedicated professionals will have to move or
leave the profession they love. This care is critical - if our legislators in Albany continue
to ignore our calls and kick this can down the road, our individuals with intellectual and
developmental disabilities relying on non-profit human services agencies will cease to
have their needs met, will lose opportunities to grow and thrive, and will be at risk of
suffering serious negative quality of life and health effects.
This is no longer a problem that can be addressed next year, or next session, or after
the next election. Legislators must get serious immediately or face the consequences of
being responsible for critical care services being taken away from thousands of
individuals.
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