Your gift can help us Close The Gap!
THE PHOENIX RESIDENCE IS FACING AN URGENT & CRITICAL NEED
to invest in sustaining the services and supports required to enable the individuals we serve to live a life of choice. A severe workforce shortage in Minnesota of skilled Direct Support Professionals combined with ongoing changes to Medicaid reimbursement rates greatly impact our ability to compete for and recruit, retain, and compensate our Direct Support Professionals for the long term. It’s become critically important to seek other sources of funding to supplement a competitive salary and benefits package for our Direct Support Professionals. We need YOUR help.
The Phoenix Residence provides an array of important and essential services to individuals living with disabilities that enable them to thrive in their own homes or in group home settings. With the help of 230 Direct Support Professionals, we serve 300 adults in Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, & Washington counties. However, dozens of disability care providers like The Phoenix Residence are facing a growing threat to our ability to provide these services due to two serious issues: a workforce shortage of skilled Direct Support Professionals and ongoing changes to Medicaid reimbursement rates.
A Severe Workforce Shortage
Over 8,700 unfilled caregiver jobs across Minnesota mean individuals with disabilities are not receiving the care they desperately need. In addition, there is a high turnover rate in the industry and we must compete for what is a shrinking pool of qualified, skilled, and caring Direct Support Professionals. We must act to attract and retain skilled and caring Direct Support Professionals (for the long term).
Changes to Medicaid Reimbursement Rates
Medicaid reimbursement rates for home and community-based services are threatened by ongoing changes due to the increased aging population and the growing needs of people who rely on these services. We are actively engaged in working with sector advocates in seeking policy initiatives that will invest in health and human services to fund livable wages for Direct Support Professionals. While we hope ongoing advocacy work will influence the State Legislature to implement policy changes to address shortfalls in the reimbursement system, the funding system that supports disability services remains too low and will not sustain future growth in the program.
We need to rely on other revenue sources to keep our services strong.
We Need Your Help!
It has become critically important for The Phoenix Residence to seek funding to supplement the salaries we pay our Direct Support Professionals. Funding levels along with a workforce shortage, threaten staffing levels and our ability to keep and attract a skilled, caring, and talented workforce—those who are at the heart of carrying out our mission to provide a caring, person-centered environment for those we serve. We have launched the Close the Gap campaign to raise $150,000 to ensure we are able to attract and retain quality, skilled, and caring Direct Support Professionals. Close the Gap will enable us to increase competitive wages and benefits for our Direct Support Professionals.