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Bethesda Among Agencies Reviewing Direct Support Professionals Bill

070426/02

The message of a 2006 Department of Health and Human Services report to congress could not be more clear. Lower wages, longer hours and often difficult working conditions for direct supports professionals (DSP) is an equation destined to fail. These factors present significant problems for service providers that must recruit and retain educated, motivated and ethical front-line staff if they are to stay in business.

Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc. and other private service providers are challenged everyday by the entangled problems of low average salaries for DSP's, and a high rate of DSP turnover and extended job vacancies.

As a legislative response to this national workforce problem, Representatives Lee Terry (R-NE) and Lois Capps (D-CA) introduced H.R. 1279, the Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act of 2007. If enacted, the legislation would be a first important step in stabilizing the direct support workforce, a measure necessary to ensure that people with developmental disabilities will receive the quality supports and services they need from private providers and that state and federal funders require.

There is widespread agreement that the DSP workforce situation is broken and must be fixed; however, the “best” way to enhance DSP wages remains a matter of debate.

Bethesda, along with the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) and the Lutheran Services Association (LSA), supports the objective of H.R. 1279 to enhance the wages of the DSP workforce. By uniting the voices and resources of Bethesda, ANCOR, LSA and other interested parties, a more effective lobbying effort to affect national public policy and improve the position of DSP’s can be made, and the awareness of the American people can be raised and their support gained.

Now in its second century of service, Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc. provides services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities throughout the country and throughout the world. It is Bethesda’s mission to support the needs of the individual—both physical and spiritual—and as a result, Bethesda offers many different types of services for the individual and their family, including a variety of residential facilities, supported-living programs, outreach services and secular training workshops. For more information on Bethesda’s services and support programs, call the public relations office at 800.369.4636, ext. 3817, or email: pr@blhs.org.