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North Country Assemblywoman calls for increased reimbursements to non-profit care providers like NYSARC

Posted 10/25/16

North Country Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, says it is a necessity to increase reimbursements to not-for-profit agencies that are providing direct care to the developmentally disabled. …

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North Country Assemblywoman calls for increased reimbursements to non-profit care providers like NYSARC

Posted

North Country Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, says it is a necessity to increase reimbursements to not-for-profit agencies that are providing direct care to the developmentally disabled.

She made her comments after listening to direct care workers - and the mom of a daughter with special needs - share their stories about the challenges posed by working to provide quality care to their clients while having to work two to three jobs to earn a living wage.

Russell’s “River District” includes all St. Lawrence County towns along the St. Lawrence River plus the towns of Canton, Potsdam, Rossie, Macomb, and DePeyster, and part of Jefferson County.

"It's absolutely a crisis we need to deal with in next year's budget. We have vacancies and high turnover, and we know the demand is only going to continue to grow," Russell said.

"This is a budgetary issue. The rest of the economy has driven other wages up, but that has not carried over to people who take care of people with disabilities. It's important for us to understand these workers are way behind on the wage scale," she stressed.

"We know we have to raise our reimbursements so our agencies can increase their wages for their direct care staff. Just because these workers are dedicated and have a sense of commitment to their clients doesn't mean they should have to live in poverty or work multiple jobs just to make ends meet," according to Russell.

She made her comments after listening to stories from direct care workers from Oneida Lewis NYSARC and St. Lawrence NYSARC. Direct care workers from several not-for-profit agencies in Jefferson County had shared similar concerns with Russell last month as part of the bFair2Direct Care 300 Days to Better Pay campaign.

Jennifer Cole-Warner, a St. Lawrence NYSARC employee and mom of two young adults receiving services from her agency, said she has seen the strain placed on direct care workers.

"We've had a lot of great people in and out of the program. They work so hard. You can see it, the gains they make with these kids. It's really hard to see them have to work two or three jobs. We need even more direct care staff, and it is difficult to retain the staff we already have," she said, flanked by her daughter, Hannah, at the event Monday afternoon in Watertown.

Cole-Warriner said high turnover in direct care staff impacts clients as well as their families.

"It's hard for parents, having a lot of turnover. When you have turnover, it is hard for parents to start trusting again," she suggested.

Beth Thompson said she works full-time for NYSARC working with children and youth in the Massena area and then provides respite care on a part-time basis for another not-for-profit in St. Lawrence County.

"We don't begrudge the fast food workers, but we would like to make as much as they are. There are weeks I am working as many as 80 hours," she said.