Advocacy: Focus on Adult Services Program Rates

Latham President & CEO Anne McManus and other CEOs representing the Cape Cod Disability Network met last week with Senators Elizabeth Warren, Susan Moran, and Julian Cyr, and Representative Sarah Peake to discuss the critical need to increase the rate for direct support professionals. Issue summary:

We have joined with human services colleagues across the Commonwealth to request an increase in the amount the state pays our direct support professionals. This means an increase in Chapter 257 funding (rate reserve account), line item 1599-6903 – or the “human services workforce funding.”  We need Chapter 257 funding increased by $350 million to bring direct care staff to at least $20/hour.

The House did not increase Chapter 257 funding, but we still have opportunities to get the increase into the final Massachusetts budget. IMMEDIATE advocacy with the Senate is imperative! 

NPR ran a wonderful 4-minute story about the impact of the workforce crisis on Massachusetts families – this is excellent background information (transcript HERE).

Please get involved in the advocacy effort and invite friends and family members who are residents of Massachusetts to join us in calling their senators.