Suggestions for the use of increased home and community-based services (HCBS) funding available under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA):

Recruitment and Retention: It is critical that providers have a trained and skilled workforce to provide the services. Use funds to support workforce development activities to recruit and retain this essential workforce, such as:

• The development of career pathways that provide Direct Support Professionals an opportunity to increase competency and professionalism.
• Workforce training programs for Direct Support Professionals so that trained workers can meet local workforce needs.

With the need and push to clear the DD waiver waitlist, we cannot effectively provide services to all individuals in need if providers don’t have the capacity (the staff to do so). Please consider:

• Start-up grants for providers to expand/move into underserved areas. 
• Streamlining licensing to support providers with fast tracking to open new sites.
• Allocating more resources to support providers with fast tracking to open new sites.

Provider Rates: Significantly increase reimbursement rates for agencies that employ Direct Support Professionals to provide HCBS. Providers need an increase in the reimbursement rates for waiver services to attract and retain high quality staff, provide high quality services to as many people as possible, and sustain operations and recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 
Didlake, Inc