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A Bill to Raise Salaries of Direct Care Staff

Nationally, with direct care staff salaries stagnating at an average of roughly $9 per hour, turnover rates have climbed as high as 75%! With fewer qualified staff available, the quality of services for people with disabilities is deteriorating. But thanks to the effective advocacy of the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), many federal legislators now recognize that the only solution to the continuing crisis in recruiting and retaining a stable, qualified workforce is to raise those shamefully low salaries.

The Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act, H. R. 1279, a bipartisan bill, has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives. (It was not passed last year, although it has 86 cosponsors) This bill would provide funds to states for a temporary increase in wages for many direct support professionals.

· This bill would provide five years of supplementary Medicaid funding for higher salaries and related benefits for target direct support professionals.

· States would choose whether to participate in this program. To participate, states would have to commit to maintaining the wage increase after the five years and to providing additional annual raises equal to the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Employment Cost Index.

We must get this legislation enacted! We need to get cosponsors for this bill in the House of Representatives. Once that is done, we’ll work to find cosponsors in the Senate.

How can you help? Email your member of the U.S. House of Representatives to cosponsor.

Congratulations!

Daniele Favre-Panayotatos, who has assumed the position of Director of Development.

Kristen DuMoulin, PhD, who has assumed responsibility of the Early Childhood In-Home Programs (SETSS, SEIT, EI) and the Preschool Evaluation Site.

Larisa Muratov, MSEd on her promotion to Assistant Director of the Preschool

Welcome!

Kevin Mattivi, Executive Assistant at the Manhattan Office

Anita Smith Scholarship Applications
Every year, QSAC awards a $1000 grant to a deserving college student in memory of Anita Smith, a former employee of QSAC who dreamed of becoming a teacher of children with autism.

To keep Anita’s dream alive, QSAC created the Anita Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund. If you or someone you know is working with children with autism and currently attending college, apply for the scholarship by OCTOBER 31^ST.

Applications are available by logging in at QSAC.com or by clicking here.

REMINDER: Report Child Abuse

Due to the fact that you work at QSAC, you are a New York State mandated reporter for child abuse and neglect. If you see an instance of child abuse, you must call the New York State Child Abuse and Maltreatment Register and inform your supervisor. If you are not sure if what you have witnessed is child abuse or neglect, discuss it with a supervisor.

NYS Child Abuse and Maltreatment Register: 1-800-342-3720

REMINDER: Healthcare Initiative Money!!!

Use your Healthcare Initiative Money!!!
Many employees have over $1000 in their accounts.
All unused funds will be lost on December 31st.