I am a concerned parent and caregiver and oppose the plan to shift parents who are paid caregivers away from Consumer Directed to become an employee of an agency. My son has autism which includes problem behaviors such as aggression, stereotyped behavior,  property destruction, and sexual behavior which is arising for his age.  Finding caretakers for my son has been significantly difficult. If I can find one, no person can stay more than one month. I am the only person who knows my son and be able to handle him strategically and safely manner. It is very tiring however it is more difficult to train another person to do this. Moreover, I have not successfully found any person who can handle this job with the level of pay. 

I also found that in the past the agency caretaker has not trained for my son's behavior and the caretakers that were sent previously did not have the vitality to work with my son. 

Please keep the consumer direct service for parents to be a caretaker for minor children. 

Thank you

Sincerely