CAPITAL REGION, NY (WRGB) — Chances are you may know someone who has a developmental or intellectual disability; for the last 70 years ARC New York has worked with that someone on everyday tasks.
Currently the non-profit and other organizations serving this population are seeing critical staff shortages.
“We have a number of vacancies and we have had vacancies; you know one in five positions is open. we can’t take folks out into the community; we can’t provide basic care,” said Kathryn Jerian, COO of ARC New York. “People are having to move to support other residences that have staff. it’s truly a crisis of epic proportions.”
To combat those challenges, New York disability advocates group rallied at the state Capitol to get more support in this year’ budget. They requested an 8.5% increase in cost-of-living adjustment to balance inflation and a direct wage enhancement.
Those requests were not fully met, only getting a 4% cost of living increase.
“Disappointment is probably not a strong enough word to characterize how we feel. We’ve been very vocal and felt like we got good reception both from the legislature and from the governor’s office about the understanding of the deep workforce crisis that we are in and have been in for a period of time,” Jerian added. “There hasn’t been investment in the field in quite some time.”
Frustration also comes as state employees receive raises over the last year; state facilities help 15% of New Yorkers with disabilities.
“The state workforce has received a 13% increase over the last year and we have not, and we’re already paid less than them. So, it’s very difficult to keep up, we’re losing staff, nurses, etcetera to them regularly,” she went on to say.
This week the state launched the ‘HELP’ program to temporarily fill positions for more than 100 direct care, health and human services titles across state agencies.
The program temporarily removes the civil service exam requirement for a 12-month period.
New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Kerri Neifeld said earlier this week,” Building back our workforce is a priority for the agency as we work to improve access to services and fulfill our mission of community acceptance and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.”
New York ARC leaders say the program on top of the already higher wages will continue to drive the staffing shortage gap nonprofits are seeing.
“We have a million stories of people who can’t leave their house for the day because they have no one to take them out and do things. Their behaviors are becoming more challenging because they are feeling isolated, right, and can’t get out to do the things they need to do. Even just basic skills for bathing, showering, those are all things these positions support and if you don’t have enough staff to do those things, you know, basic needs can’t be met.”
An internet search shows a direct support provider in the Capital Region non-profit has a starting salary of about $32,000—where the same position at a state facility starts at a $49,000 salary.