Hello, Fellow CAP Members,
In a recent Op-Ed published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: An opportunity to stabilize Pa.’s disability care system (published Feb. 22), they echo our calls for additional investment we’ve been issuing for years. As you know well, the human services field is trapped in a dangerous cycle: more people need support today than ever before, but annual turnover rates for people who care for them are at an all-time high (more than 130%). What’s more, right now, there are thousands of Pennsylvanians with intellectual disability and/or autism who are not receiving supports they should be getting through Medicaid – and those who are currently supported are at risk of losing it altogether. Providers are under immense pressure, and it’s crucial that we bring attention to these issues.
We have sent a letter to Governor Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Davis asking for an opportunity to meet and discuss our concerns and we are currently working with the Lt. Governor’s office for an April meeting. But we need your help. Your story, the stories of employees and of the people receiving critical supports, are important. To better help connect us with stories of real people living in our region affected by policy and funding concerns, we are urging you to share your story through a form on our website: https://alleghenyproviders.org/stories/ .
As you can see, we are asking for four key pieces of information: your organization. name, email, and a brief description of what you would like to share. This will go directly to our private email inbox and will not be shared anywhere publicly without your permission. Once your story reaches our inbox, we may reach out to connect with you if we need more information or clarification. We intend a selection of these stories to be shared in a variety of ways, including on social media, with journalists and through other advocacy efforts.
These essential stories might be from the perspective of an employee, a family caregiver, or directly from someone who receives supports. To help you get started, we have provided brief examples below:
“Working as a Direct Support Professional the last eight years has been rewarding. But recently, my job has gotten more difficult. Many of my coworkers are relocating to higher paying jobs, which has left me to pick up extra hours. My workdays are long and experience burnout quite often but knowing I’m making a difference in the lives of those I support helps me realize how important my job is. I just wish we could get more employees in the door to relieve some of the workload.”
- Jane Doe, JDoe@email.com, Organization Name
“My son has been receiving supports from ‘Organization Name’ for over 10 years. The growth we have seen through his participation in their programs has been immense. Without these supports, my son may not be here with us today. Without funding, the programs are at risk. I am very passionate about this issue, and I would be willing to speak to the media.”
- John Smith, JSmith@email.com, Organization Name
Please consider sharing this with anyone who might want to participate. We look forward to hearing from you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Susan Coyle & Gretchen Kelly
