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Direct Service Workforce Shortage

ISSUE:

Public input provided by people with developmental disabilities, family members, and service providers identified the lack of qualified direct service workers as a major issue affecting quality of life and safety. A workforce crisis exists due to the lack of people entering the field and the inability of employers to provide workers with the wages and benefits they deserve. Even when staff can be found, the high turnover rate creates instability for the person with a disability.

During the 1999-2001 session, the Legislature increased the reimbursement rates for Medical Assistance personal care agencies. The funding increase, however, did not apply to agencies seeking to hire residential or vocational support staff, and to people with disabilities directly hiring qualified direct service workers.

Chronic underfunding of personal care, the Community Integration Program, and Community Options Program has created a crisis in the current support system for people with disabilities.

• There is a lack of people to provide supports as a result of inadequate wages and benefits.
• Many individuals are currently receiving inadequate services, which at times puts them and their families in serious jeopardy.

A survey of agencies providing residential, vocational, or personal care services was con-ducted in November of 2000. It identified a need for $30 million in state funds the first year and $60 million the second year to address the funding crisis faced by community service agencies. Without funding increases, many community service agencies currently struggling to survive will be forced out of business as costs increase and workers are lost from stagnant wages and benefits.

POSITION:

The Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities supports increasing wages and benefits to amounts sufficient to recruit and retain workers.

LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES:

• Increase of $30 million in state funds for January1, 2002 -June 30, 2002 and $60 million in state funds for July 1, 2002 -June 30, 2003 to address the community service funding crisis, maintain the service system, and recruit and retain fully trained and qualified direct service workers. The increase captures approximately $30 million in federal funds the first year and $60 million the second year.

Back to WCDD Home Page > Introduction

1. Introduction
2. Birth to Three
3. Campaign Finance Reform
4. Children's Long Term Care Redesign
5. Community Aids
6. Community Integration Program
7. Community Options Program
8. Dental Care Access
9. Direct Service Workforce Shortage
10. Education of Students with Disabilities
11. Employment
12. Family Care Program
13. Family Support Program
14. Independent Living Assistive Technology
15. Medicaid Card Services
16. Mental Health: Fairness in Insurance
17. Mental Health: Services & Supports
18. Protecting People with Disabilities from Abuse
19. Respite Care
20. Specialized Transportation
21. State Centers for the Developmentally Disabled
22. Voting Reforms
23. Welfare Reform & People with Disabilities