The Importance of Governor Shapiro's Budget Proposal

"If it wasn’t for them [CADES staff], I don’t know how I would live every day.” -Joanne Spaziani, sister of Mary Agnes McFarland, an individual who has been involved with CADES since she was two years old.??

Article by Amy Smith, CADES Communications Associate

Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and Senator Tim Kearney stopped by one of CADES’ community living arrangements (CLA) to discuss the life-changing impacts that could potentially result from Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal for 2024-25. The residence is located on Waverly Terrace in Morton and is home to three individuals who receive 24-hour care. It is one of thirty-two places in Pennsylvania that serve as homes for community members with disabilities. The passing of this budget would benefit not only those who rely on the ID/A services that CADES provides but also the staff that work tirelessly to make these programs possible.??

Many adults with disabilities are in need of a place to call home in their community. People like Mary Agnes can receive care from programs like our CLAs, but others must join a lengthy waitlist. Governor Shapiro’s proposal strives to minimize the number of people unable to find a program that meets their individualized needs by ending the Emergency waiting list for adults in Pennsylvania.???

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Direct Support Professionals and ID/A service providers take on various crucial, complex roles and deserve more support than they are currently being given. Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget can also help to empower these workers through an increase in their living wage and additional training. Regardless of the challenges they have faced and the lack of adequate compensation, the staff in our CLAs have shown an unwavering commitment to helping adults living with disabilities preserve their dignity. Joanne spoke very highly of DSPs Frankie, Suki, Roseline, and the rest of the staff at Waverly Terrace, illustrating how impactful their roles are.?

The sacrifices made by those who commit their lives to caring for people with ID/A can go overlooked by other members of the community. In 2020, as the world experienced a global pandemic, these DSPs at Waverly Terrace, and other staff members across CADES, selflessly left their families and moved in to ensure the safety of the residents of this home and others throughout our organization. As she expressed, Joanne Spaziani feels comforted knowing that her sister is receiving care from a group of compassionate, hard-working individuals. However, this feeling should not be so hard to come by for people with loved ones with disabilities. The proposed $483 million in federal and state funding toward vital resources has the potential to transform communities for the better.?

As of July 8th, Gov. Shapiro's budget did not pass, however both he and state legislators are confident that a deal will be reached.?