Governor Charlie Baker is about to submit his supplemental budget request to the legislature for funding in education and higher education. We believe no dollars are projected for our workforce and related needs.
This proposal and hopefully the legislature’s revamped Economic Development package are both vehicles to advance our shared workforce priority.
We hope to see further investment in education and developing tiers for direct support professionals in our field. One example is the certification partnership with DDS and UMass that you can find here. This program includes internships at community programs across the state.
Another example of ongoing education and support for DSPs is the conference held biennially or annually in the southeast that also honors are much needed professionals. This year, it is being held on October 24 and 25 at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in Falmouth. We hope many hear about and are able to register by connecting to amycornell@newmasketgroup.org (Amy). Thank you to Jack Yates and colleagues for their leadership in bringing this event to life and sustaining it!
These and other efforts by agencies need to be multiplied and resourced through public support while we address the salary gap for our staff.
