The New York Office for People with Developmental Disabilities will provide over $1.5 billion in one-time American Rescue Plan Act funding to support recruitment efforts, retention incentives and vaccination bonuses for direct support professionals who provide support for people with developmental disabilities. Gov. Kathy Hochul made the announcement Thursday as "an effort to address workforce shortages in this field."
Hochul said the state submitted its initial draft spending plan for the funding to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on July 8 and CMS has since provided partial approval.
Approved is OPWDD's plan to target most of the funding to workforce initiatives, including bonuses and incentive payments to DSPs and family care providers. This includes a "Heroes Fund" to pay DSPs who worked during the pandemic and those who received the COVID vaccine, retention and longevity bonuses, as well as long-term recruitment and retention strategies that incentivize credentialing and skills building.
WBFO's Jay Moran talked with Mindy Cervoni, CEO of Community Services for Every1, and Rhonda Frederick, CEO of People Inc., about the infusion of funds.
