Delaware’s Direct Support Workforce: Empowering and Supporting Persons with Disabilities Fiscal Year 2007 Prepared by the Workforce Subcommittee of the Governor’s Commission on Community- Based Alternatives for Persons with Disabilities

Winter 2006 Workforce Subcommittee of the Governor’s Commission on Community- Based Alternatives for Persons with Disabilities Page 2 Importance of Direct Support Professionals Direct Support Professionals: provide support to more than 10,000 persons with mental health disorders, cognitive disabilities, physical disabilities, and persons with substance abuse problems.provide support to more than 10,000 persons with mental health disorders, cognitive disabilities, physical disabilities, and persons with substance abuse problems. provide the support and services necessary for persons to work, participate in their community and to be as independent as possible.provide the support and services necessary for persons to work, participate in their community and to be as independent as possible. are often the difference between a person’s living in the community and living in an institution.are often the difference between a person’s living in the community and living in an institution.

Winter 2006 Workforce Subcommittee of the Governor’s Commission on Community- Based Alternatives for Persons with Disabilities Page 3 The Need for Better Wages Direct Support Professionals: are one of the lowest paid groups of service providers in Delaware.are one of the lowest paid groups of service providers in Delaware. average $9.75 per hour (about $20,000/yr.)— sometimes with benefits, often without.average $9.75 per hour (about $20,000/yr.)— sometimes with benefits, often without. are often eligible for food stamps and other government support programs.are often eligible for food stamps and other government support programs. are often the heads of their households and support two other family members (usually children).are often the heads of their households and support two other family members (usually children).

Winter 2006 Workforce Subcommittee of the Governor’s Commission on Community- Based Alternatives for Persons with Disabilities Page 4 The Need for Better Wages, cont. The turnover rate is 67% annually for newly hired Direct Support Professionals. Only a minority of residential and day care workers (9% and 13 % respectively) remains in the field for more than five years (Solano, 2003).The turnover rate is 67% annually for newly hired Direct Support Professionals. Only a minority of residential and day care workers (9% and 13 % respectively) remains in the field for more than five years (Solano, 2003). Recruitment of new support personnel is a continuous job for persons with disabilities, families and agencies. At the present time, sufficient wages to promote retention are not possible; this often results in recruiting DSPs with less qualifications than benefits consumers and families.Recruitment of new support personnel is a continuous job for persons with disabilities, families and agencies. At the present time, sufficient wages to promote retention are not possible; this often results in recruiting DSPs with less qualifications than benefits consumers and families.

Winter 2006 Workforce Subcommittee of the Governor’s Commission on Community- Based Alternatives for Persons with Disabilities Page 5 Impact of Direct Support Professionals Without the Direct Support Professional workforce in Delaware: More than 10,000 individuals would not receive the necessary services and supports to ensure their health, independence and ability to work;More than 10,000 individuals would not receive the necessary services and supports to ensure their health, independence and ability to work; over 50,000 family members would be affected and would need to provide the supports and services themselves;over 50,000 family members would be affected and would need to provide the supports and services themselves; thousands of persons with disabilities and long-term health concerns would be cared for in institutional settings at a cost of two to five times the cost of direct support care in the community.thousands of persons with disabilities and long-term health concerns would be cared for in institutional settings at a cost of two to five times the cost of direct support care in the community.

Winter 2006 Workforce Subcommittee of the Governor’s Commission on Community- Based Alternatives for Persons with Disabilities Page 6 Negative Consequences of Not Supporting Direct Support Professionals Continued turnover at an annual rate of 67% for new hires and a cost of $16.5 million per yearContinued turnover at an annual rate of 67% for new hires and a cost of $16.5 million per year Emergency and stop-gap care will be families’ responsibilities, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in lost work productivityEmergency and stop-gap care will be families’ responsibilities, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in lost work productivity Increases in institutionalization of persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses, costing the state millions of addition dollars in care and support servicesIncreases in institutionalization of persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses, costing the state millions of addition dollars in care and support services The quality of care to persons with disabilities and persons with long-term health concerns will adversely effect their health and independenceThe quality of care to persons with disabilities and persons with long-term health concerns will adversely effect their health and independence A large disparity in pay across the field for the same direct support work continues to prevent worker retentionA large disparity in pay across the field for the same direct support work continues to prevent worker retention

Winter 2006 Workforce Subcommittee of the Governor’s Commission on Community- Based Alternatives for Persons with Disabilities Page 7 Positive Outcomes of Supporting Direct Support Providers Decrease in the likelihood of institutionalization for persons with disabilities and with chronic illnessesDecrease in the likelihood of institutionalization for persons with disabilities and with chronic illnesses Stronger local economies and better support for the families of DSPsStronger local economies and better support for the families of DSPs Reduction in DSP turnover resulting in higher quality support for persons with disabilities and their familiesReduction in DSP turnover resulting in higher quality support for persons with disabilities and their families Stronger families of persons with disabilities; allowing them to continue to work without fear of needing to be the primary care provider for their family members with disabilities or long-term needsStronger families of persons with disabilities; allowing them to continue to work without fear of needing to be the primary care provider for their family members with disabilities or long-term needs Higher degrees of independence for persons with disabilities and chronic illnessesHigher degrees of independence for persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses Decreases in the disparity between state and community-based employeesDecreases in the disparity between state and community-based employees

Winter 2006 Workforce Subcommittee of the Governor’s Commission on Community- Based Alternatives for Persons with Disabilities Page 8 Proposed Supports for DSPs and People They Serve Establish a minimum entry-level wage requirement of $10.50 an hour, based on the FY 2007 ICAP Rate System, for all direct support professionals;Establish a minimum entry-level wage requirement of $10.50 an hour, based on the FY 2007 ICAP Rate System, for all direct support professionals; Increase the funds for the Consumer-directed Attendant Services program from approximately $.6 million per year in FY 06 to $2.0 million per year. This will provide individuals with disabilities the flexibility to hire their own support professionals and increase their independence and employability;Increase the funds for the Consumer-directed Attendant Services program from approximately $.6 million per year in FY 06 to $2.0 million per year. This will provide individuals with disabilities the flexibility to hire their own support professionals and increase their independence and employability; Ensure that all Direct Support Professionals are eligible for the state health care benefits plan;Ensure that all Direct Support Professionals are eligible for the state health care benefits plan; Create a certificate of study for all newly hired Direct Support Professionals in line with consumer choice that ensures quality of support; andCreate a certificate of study for all newly hired Direct Support Professionals in line with consumer choice that ensures quality of support; and Revise the state funding annually to ensure that Delaware’s compensation to DSPs is equitable with the compensation for DSPs from surrounding states.Revise the state funding annually to ensure that Delaware’s compensation to DSPs is equitable with the compensation for DSPs from surrounding states.