WCDD Home > What We Do > State Plan Intro

Direct Service Workforce

Vision/Goal:

Direct service workers will make a long-term commitment because they value the people they support. They can make this commitment because they receive the support, recognition, pay and benefits their work deserves.

Background:

Direct service workers provide day to day support to 38,000 Wisconsin citizens with developmental disabilities. This workforce is one of the state’s greatest assets. But, our state has not made an adequate investment in this resource. Workers are under-valued and under-paid.

Our 2003 wage and benefit survey showed that direct service workers earn only 76% of what the average Wisconsin worker earns. Some workers have a wage so low they qualify for food stamps and BadgerCare. Many workers are seeing their health insurance benefit erode. Health insurance premiums increased by 25% and three quarters of survey respondents reported an increase in co-payments.

A fair wage is important. But it is not the only issue. A 2002 survey of direct service workers found that the best thing about direct care was the relationship with the person supported. Despite low pay and low status, many workers make a commitment to the people they support. They do so when they feel their employer provides enough training and professional support.

Objectives

Objective 1: Improve wages and benefits

• Outcome: A statewide network of workforce advocates is mobilized to advocate for increased community waiver rates and health insurance reform.

Objective 2: Retain community direct service workers

• Outcome: Twenty-five direct service agencies report they incorporated information and strategies promoted by WCDD into their staff retention efforts. These efforts contribute to positive retention results.

Objective 3: Recruit community direct service workers

• Outcome: A statewide registry enables employers to list open positions and workers to list their availability for employment.

Funding:

• 2003: $90,000
• 2004: $85,000
• 2005: $58,000

Collaborators:

WI Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services, Survival Coalition, DAWN, Community Alliance of Providers of Wisconsin, People First Wisconsin, Wisconsin Counties Association, Developmental Disabilities Network, local workforce advocacy coalitions.

Strategies:

For Objective 1: Coalition building and advocacy.

• Organize people with disabilities, their family members, and their direct service workers into local workforce advocacy coalitions. Assist them in delivering the workforce advocacy message to elected officials and media.

For Objective 2: Training

• Provide training developed by WCDD and BDDS that contributes to enhancing relationships between workers and the people they support.
• Provide access to the national College of Direct Support. Fund agencies to pilot this web-based training program to standardize training, provide certification, and save money for agencies.

For Objective 3: Demonstration project

• Use the “Rewarding Work” model. This is a public relations campaign linked to an on-line and toll-free registry. Individuals can register for work. Agencies pay a subscription fee to search for candidates. People with disabilities can search for workers at no charge.

Resources

• DAWN Direct Service Workforce Shortage
• WCDD Workforce Grants
• Workforce in WCDD Legislative Platforms
• DAWN Workforce Grants