I Want To Start A Movement: If We Value the Role, It’s Time to Figure Out How to Pay

Last week, we celebrated everyone working in a direct support professional (DSP) role through DSP Recognition week. Did you know this position carries more duties and responsibilities than a certified nursing assistant, yet those supported by DSPs have greater independence than most those receiving nursing assistance?

We expect staff who do this work to understand complex service plans, as well as follow state, federal, and local regulations. We expect them to study, pass tests, demonstrate skills, and work nights, weekends, and holidays. We expect patience, kindness, and warmth with the individuals, as well as with their coworkers, families, and neighbors. All in all, it’s a tall order. At KenCrest, we have over 1,300 people who have signed on for this duty to serve our neighbors.

In the United States, the average direct care worker makes a little over $10.25 per hour. They receive health insurance with some co-payment, but their dependents are likely eligible for public benefits like CHIP. Living wage has been studied by more than one public interest group, yet not everyone agrees with the definition of a living wage. Without a true defining amount, some would argue that we have no reason to believe there is a problem. I was happy to discover that one study defined living wage as the amount of money needed to cover all bills for one month for a family of four with two adults and two children. Obviously all families are not the same, but having some base is needed for discussion. The amount needed to support a family of four was an annual income of $90,000. So what hourly rate would be needed for each adult to make $45,000 a year? That amount is $21.63/hour. A direct care worker making $10.25 per hour would need to work 40 hours straight, then an additional 30 hours a week in overtime to accrue such a salary. How reasonable is it to work a 70-hour week? How does someone raise their children, sleep, enjoy free time, and manage their everyday life (eat, shower, cook, clean, shop, etc.) when he/she is working almost double the hours of a regular work week?

For most of my years in service leadership, we have been advocating for better pay. Many approaches were tested; here are a few:

· — Several movies were produced depicting the nature of DSP work from the client and the worker’s perspective

— Stories have been told about people who left the field for more financial security

— Celebrations are held to raise awareness of the position, like Direct Support Professional Recognition Week

— Studies explaining vacancies and turnover have been presented at national and state conferences

— Many visits have been made to elected officials about the dire shortages

So here we are — still advocating and still frustrated. Now the demographics of our country indicate that we have an even smaller number of possible workers to engage in the role of DSP. We need some new ideas here! Let’s remember why we do this work — to help people to have a meaningful life. How can we in one breath tell the clients they get a meaningful life, and in another, tell the staff that they do not? If we need to make changes in the way we deliver service — whatever that may be — to get these critical staff a decent hourly rate, I think they will help make it happen.

As a society we need to value work with dollars and cents, and provide financial security for the pursuit of everyday life dreams for the staff and the people in need of supports. We need to put all our dollars on the table, all our needs on the table, and finally figure out a way to meet both. Rumor is — that the direct care crisis is well known. We are all aware that we’ll face budget shortfalls from the coronavirus pandemic; the easy fix in the minds our funding entities will be cut overhead, but they’ve tried this before only to realize the overhead in this industry is low. Quick fixes aren’t the solution. As ingenious Americans who are resilient, creative, and inspired by democracy; we need new ideas, and to get going on them now. It’s time to come together to fix things once and for all, are you ready?