Disability advocates are sounding the alarm over the funding and staffing crisis impacting care. They say the problem is so severe that the system risks an eventual collapse unless the state government takes immediate action.
Gary Blumenthal is the vice president of InVision Human Services, in Wexford and Reading, Pa., and his organization is advocating for an immediate increase in funding. He says to prevent a collapse of the care system, the state must do two things immediately.
First, increase pay to direct support professionals; some earn almost 40 percent less if they work in a non-state owned center. Second, the community programs must be staffed and stable for people using the services. Turnover of employees is so high that the programs suffer, as do the users.
Gary Blumenthal joins Smart Talk Tuesday to discuss these issues and how the state government has failed to review program costs. Joining him is Nancy Murray, Senior Vice President of Achieva and President, The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh.
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