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SOC

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Yesterday, August 12, RCPA submitted comments to the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on why direct support professionals (DSP) need their own Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. Without one, the unique work that DSPs do will not be captured, and the historically low wages that DSPs make will remain the norm. An SOC will allow for the gathering of legitimate data around wages and for the professionalization of the DSP workforce.

In June, OMB published the Federal Register notice announcing review of the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual for possible revision in 2028 and soliciting comments. This notice started the process of reviewing and possibly changing the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual for 2028. OMB is analyzing items such as how jobs are classified, the rules for coding them, the main groups of jobs, specific jobs such as public safety tele-communicators and care workers, and adding new types of jobs to the classification system.

We hope that these efforts produce an SOC that captures the essence of the multifaceted work that a DSP does on a daily basis. If you have any questions regarding the comments, contact Carol Ferenz.

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Image by Werner Moser from Pixabay

ANCOR has shared that the first step to revise the Standard Occupational Classification process has begun. Today the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), on behalf of the Standard Occupational Classification Policy Committee (SOCPC) — which is the committee that makes recommendations to OMB for potential revisions — announced it is beginning the review of the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual for revisions to be made for 2028, and that it is soliciting public comment.

This is an opportunity to write comments in support of revisions to the SOC, in particular for the creation of a code for direct support professionals. In its notice for comments, OMB specifically notes that it “solicits and welcomes comments related to any aspect of occupational classification, especially comments concerning . . . whether to consider the addition of new detailed occupations or occupational groups, including specifically care workers.”

The public comment period is open until August 12, 2024. ANCOR will be submitting comments and providing additional guidance and tools to submit comments in the coming weeks.

For more information, the notice is available on the Federal Register website.

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Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

The PA Department of Human Services and PA Care Partnership are excited to announce the 21st Children’s Interagency Conference is scheduled for April 22 – April 25, 2024, at the Penn Stater Hotel, State College, PA. The conference theme is “Shine The Light on Mental Health – Building Youth Wellness & Resilience.”

Hosted by the PA Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health Services and the PA Care Partnership, the conference brings together Pennsylvania’s Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) and System of Care (SOC) partners providing behavioral health services. The conference will provide an excellent opportunity for providers, county administrators, youth, family members, practitioners, and educators to learn about changing trends, promising and best practices, resources, and various system of care activities across Pennsylvania. The conference will also add a national perspective on a variety of issues, including government, family peer, early childhood, youth leadership, and school-based mental health.

See the Save the Date flyer, and please share it with your contacts and invite them to attend. Visit the conference website for additional information. For questions or more information, contact our contract meeting planner Katrina Harris at 610-494-8044 or via email.

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Message From ANCOR:

In a notable development, the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act has progressed to the committee markup stage in the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC). The Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act has been a key legislative priority for ANCOR. This legislation aims to establish a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Its passage would officially recognize direct support as a profession and tackle the recruitment and retention crisis that has impacted the availability of professionals supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in home and community-based settings.

ANCOR, along with its coalition partners, has been a steadfast advocate for the establishment of a SOC for DSPs and wrote a statement of support to HSGAC on this significant legislation. The workforce crisis in community disability services has resulted in alarming turnover and vacancy rates, leading to limited access to crucial and often life-saving services for individuals with I/DD. According to the latest data from National Core Indicators, DSP turnover stood at 43.3% at the end of 2021, with 16.5% of full-time direct support positions and 20.3% of part-time positions remaining vacant.

The establishment of a distinct SOC for DSPs would enable the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to accurately capture employment and wage data specific to this profession. This, in turn, would support state and federal agencies in making informed policy decisions concerning the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services program. Furthermore, it would facilitate the development of precise payment rates, addressing the negative and enduring effects on DSP workforce retention and recruitment. Shannon McCracken, ANCOR’s vice president for government relations, emphasized, “When we eventually see the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act become law, we will look back on it as a pivotal moment in the history of our service delivery system—a moment when we made a collective choice to stop undervaluing the services that connect people with I/DD to their communities.”

The bill was introduced by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) in the Senate, along with Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Joe Morelle (D-NY) in the House. Their bipartisan efforts reflect the importance of addressing the workforce crisis and improving the support provided to people with I/DD.

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Message from ANCOR:

As you may have heard, the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act was reintroduced in Congress! This Act would direct the Office of Management and Budget to establish a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) for direct support professionals (DSP). With a SOC for DSPs, we can begin to capture more accurate employment and wage data, which helps in developing more precise payment rates. We need your support to ensure that this crucial bipartisan legislation is supported by your congressional members and passed this Congress!

ANCOR members and our allies have already been doing an amazing job in just the past two days — Over 3,500 messages have been sent to Members of Congress! In case you have a competitive streak and are curious which states are leading the pack, members from New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Massachusetts have sent the most messages to Congress this week! Let’s keep the momentum going!

Take action and contact your legislators today to support DSPs and share it with your friends and family. Remember, you can take the action alert every day! Let’s make a difference for our Direct Support Professional Workforce.

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