FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 19, 2024

Contact: [email protected]

Urging Texas Legislature to Support Community-based IDD Services

AUSTIN, TX – Time To Care: Save Texas Caregivers Now is proud to announce that Houston-based The Center for Pursuit has joined the coalition, further strengthening the statewide movement urging the Texas Legislature to support community-based services for Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

For decades, direct support professionals (DSPs) who serve Texans with IDD have been chronically underfunded, with an hourly reimbursement rate set by the Texas Legislature of just $10.60. At a time when inflation is soaring and the cost of living continues to rise, the compassionate men and women who care for vulnerable Texans are struggling to make ends meet. As a result, community-based service providers are facing unsustainable staff vacancy rates and closures, undermining their ability to provide quality care for the most vulnerable Texans.

“The Center for Pursuit is honored to collaborate with the Time To Care Texas Coalition in advocating for equitable pay for Direct Support Professionals,” said Center for Pursuit President & CEO Charles Njuguna. “These dedicated caregivers play a crucial role in enabling individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live with dignity, safety, and independence. However, their compensation does not adequately reflect their importance, leaving many facing financial challenges. Ensuring fair wages for these professionals is crucial to upholding the high level of care that the IDD community requires and deserves.”

Since March 2024, the coalition has urged state leaders to authorize an emergency appropriations request through the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) to raise the salary for DSPs from $10.60 to at least $15 an hour. While emergency funding can help address the immediate workforce crisis facing DSPs, there is more work to be done to ensure Texans with IDD are not left behind.

Coalition spokesperson Carole Smith expressed profound gratitude for The Center for Pursuit’s partnership, stating: “The addition of the Center for Pursuit to our coalition is a strong demonstration of the strength that our growing community of support has cultivated around the critical issue of enhancing state support for Texans with IDD and those who serve them. We look forward to continuing our work to ensure the Texas Legislature prioritizes funding for community-based IDD services, and we thank the leadership at the Center for Pursuit for their commitment to this important effort.”

The Center for Pursuit’s mission is to promote the pursuit of choice, growth and independence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism or similar conditions. To learn more, visit https://thecenterforpursuit.org/

Time To Care: Save Texas Caregivers Now is a coalition dedicated to securing competitive wages for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who provide essential care to Texans with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). Through collaboration and grassroots efforts, the coalition strives to enact meaningful change at both the legislative and community levels. Learn more about how to get involved at https://timetocaretx.org/

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