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Wyoming is facing the perfect storm when it comes to providing care for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This storm has been brewing for decades and the primary catalyst is the lack of adequate funding for direct support professionals that serve this vulnerable community. We need our state government and legislators to commit to providing increased funding for these services rights now. Without an increase in funding, the programs that serve this vulnerable population, and the work done by direct support professionals will eventually cease to exist.
Wyoming’s direct support professionals serve over 2,500 people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities. This program, like many others alike, struggles to find adequate
funding to hire and pay their essential workforce. Some have as few as zero days of available cash on hand, meaning without funding they simply cannot stay open. Asking front line staff to do more and more with less and less is simply not sustainable while leaving this voiceless community at risk which would be a tragedy.
The Wyoming legislature for two decades (with the exception of 2018) have consistently voted to underfund these essential programs. With extra money that is in the state coffers, now is the time to commit to funding the cost and continuing to support these vital programs. So here we are bracing for the storm that is surely heading our way.
Without appropriate reimbursement and additional funding to pay for the costs of these
services, the work done by the Wyoming Community Service Providers is threatened leaving thousands of Wyoming’s most vulnerable citizens at risk. Don’t let that happen. Please help us educate our legislators on the need to fund the cost of these services. Let’s Fund the Cost.
The seriousness of this dilemma cannot be stressed enough. Please contact your local
legislators and ask them to #FundTheCost for direct support programs throughout the state.
Hal Herron, Chairman
Community Entry Services
2441 Peck Avenue
Riverton, WY 82501