By Kristi Daugherty
In recent years, the Texas Legislature has made historic investments in mental health programs. While these efforts are commendable, services for individuals with IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities) remain critically underfunded, creating a crisis that threatens the well-being of one of our most vulnerable populations.
As the CEO of Emergence Health Network, which serves as both a Local Mental Health Authority and a Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority in El Paso County, I have witnessed firsthand the impact of these funding gaps. EHN, along with partners throughout the state that provide similar services, have identified service gaps that require urgent legislative attention to ensure the IDD community in Texas can thrive.
LIDDAs like EHN are the point of entry for publicly funded IDD programs. We are responsible for enrolling eligible individuals into Medicaid programs, including intermediate care facilities, home and community-based services, and Texas home living, and employ direct care workers who are essential in providing these services.
Direct care workers are the backbone of our community-based IDD services. They play an essential role in supporting individuals with IDD, assisting them with daily tasks such as managing medications, cooking, and housekeeping. Their work enables individuals with IDD to lead fulfilling lives, learn new skills, and actively participate in their communities.
However, despite their crucial role, direct care workers in community settings face a stark wage disparity compared to their counterparts in state-supported living centers. While the Legislature’s recent adjustments raised state direct care workers’ wages to $17.71 per hour, community DCWs saw their wages adjusted to only $10.60 per hour.
El Paso Matters and Emergence Health Network are hosting a conversation about the needs of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at El Paso Community College Administrative Services Auditorium A, 9050 Viscount Blvd.
El Paso Matters CEO Robert Moore will talk with Emergence CEO Kristi Daugherty; state Rep. Joe Moody; Lee Johnson, CEO of Texas Council on Community Centers; and Armando Salas and Demi Castrellon, parents who raised children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The event is free. RSVP here.
Although at EHN we are able to supplement salaries for our staff, this significant disparity hampers the LIDDAs’ ability to attract and retain qualified staff, exacerbating an already severe workforce crisis.
The consequences of this workforce shortage are dire. Providers often struggle to deliver basic services, and understaffed residential settings can lead to increased errors and compromised care. Many providers across the state have been forced to close homes, relocating individuals to inadequately equipped settings. Others are limiting the services they provide, despite legislative funding intended to support thousands of individuals.
El Paso is one of the few regions that has not seen a reduction in services. However, the challenges we face are mirrored throughout the state, where the quality of care may be at risk, and providers are overwhelmed. Without adequate support, the public safety net that community centers provide will unravel, forcing individuals with IDD and their families to seek services outside their communities, often with devastating consequences.
As we prepare for the 89th legislative session, I urge our legislators and community leaders to recognize the critical state of community-based IDD services. We must address the wage disparities for direct care workers, increase funding for community services, and ensure that every individual with IDD has access to the services they need.
EHN is building a coalition of IDD providers to advocate for these changes, but we cannot do it alone. We need the support of our entire community to create a sustainable, equitable system that values and uplifts those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our El Paso state delegation for their early engagement and unwavering advocacy, which has been instrumental in supporting our efforts to improve community-based IDD services. Together, we can bridge the gap and ensure that every individual with IDD in Texas receives the quality care they deserve.
Let us work toward a future where our community-based services are strong, our direct care workers are valued, and our most vulnerable citizens are supported with dignity and respect.
Kristi Daugherty is CEO of Emergence Health Network.
The post Opinion: Texas must do more for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities appeared first on El Paso Matters.
Read: Read More