https://www.ancor.org/event/2024-policy-summit-hill-day/) brought together hundreds of providers – including Tim Neville, President and CEO of Echoing Hills – advocating to amplify awareness for those we serve and our team members. Tim and fellow ANCOR members are seeking support in the passage of the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act (H.R. 2941) to create a standard occupational classification for direct support professionals, to ensure comprehensive data collection of the workforce, and to help policymakers address the direct support workforce crisis. This is critical as we look to the future for those we serve and our team members.
ANCOR Policy Summit & Hill Day is an annual gathering that brings together leading advocates to bring awareness about what’s new, now and next, for disability services, especially at this pivotal time. The general election, ever-evolving regulations in our field, and an unprecedented set of challenges confronting the service delivery system make this an important moment.
For many decades, there has been a direct support workforce crisis (LINK: https://ehvi.org/dsp-direct-support-professional-shortage/) due to inadequate reimbursement rates set at the state level, which are too low to provide competitive wages and are often not updated to keep pace with rising inflation or the cost of living. As a result, providers such as Echoing Hills cannot offer competitive wages with other entry-level positions, such as fast-food, retail, and convenience stores. The effect can be seen in DSPs (Direct Support Professionals) high turnover rates. Without measures to strengthen the retention and recruitment of DSPs, millions of people will be left without access to critical community-based support.
We have seen victory already in S.1332 with support from the Senate, and during Hill Day, leaders met with the House to encourage support of the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act (H.R. 2941). (LINK: https://www.ancor.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/06.10.24_SOC-Fact-Sheet.pdf) The day was strategically planned, and each leader had an agenda with set meetings – either with Senators or Representatives. Tim Neville, Echoing Hills, met with four Senator/Representatives’ offices to bring awareness to the situation, and why support is vital.
Why is this so important? DSPs support millions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live full lives. They provide supports that are primarily funded by Medicaid and cover a wide range of habilitation services including support, and skill-building for activities of daily employment, transportation, and other supports that promote independence and community inclusion. Currently, Direct Support Professional is not recognized at the federal level because it does not have a unique Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code for data collection.
Why do we want support from the House of Representatives? SOCs are used to collect data and help all levels of government (local, state, and federal) identify employment trends. DSPs are often inaccurately and inconsistently incorporated into various SOCs, which do not capture their full spectrum of work activities. A SOC for DSPs will enable state and federal agencies to collect data on the high turnover rate of DSPs and inform policies to address the workforce shortage.
