DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS (DSP) WORK FORCE POSITION STATEMENT

Background
The Human Services Provider Association (HSPA), is a network of providers who support individuals with intellectual and
developmental disabilities (IDD), head and spinal cord injuries and autism throughout South Carolina. Our organization
represents over 35 providers that support over 25,000 individuals and employ over 7,000 staff.
We are fortunate that today individuals with IDD have opportunities to be active partners in their communities thanks to the
hard work and dedication of the Direct Support Professionals (DSP) who provide the much needed support each day.
However, with the changes in Federal Regulation over the years and the more recent changes from the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid (CMS) the need for qualified DSPs has grown enormously. In order to be responsive to these new requirements
and to be equipped to meet the increased demand for community based services there is a growing need to recruit and retain
qualified DSPs.

Current Problem
The ability to hire and retain qualified DSPs to provide the necessary supports has grown more and more difficult to
accomplish. While wages in other service industries have risen, the wages for DSPs have remained flat. This has resulted in
higher turnover and difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff. A 2014 study by the Human Services Research Institute has
identified that the average turnover rate is now approaching well over 40%. In addition, it is estimated that by 2022 more
than one million new DSPs will need to be hired. DSPs are critical to the success and stability of the South Carolina system
and are essential to assure the ongoing viability of existing services. While wages for DSPs are comparable to other entry
level positions, there are significant differences between job responsibilities, training requirements, skills, and expectations.
The job of a DSP is complex, requiring a broad range of skills and attributes often not found in other entry level types of
positions. Their role encompasses a broad range of skills and abilities of a skilled professional responsible for assuring the
health and wellbeing of some of our most vulnerable citizens of South Carolina.

Our Position
We are approaching a crisis in not being able to recruit and retain qualified DSPs. Current rates of $10.00 per hour are not
sufficient to attract the skills and expertise necessary to maintain a viable service system. We believe that at a minimum
DSPs need to be compensated at $12.00 per hour in order to attract the talent that our service system desperately needs.
In addition, there needs be a system that ensures annual increases to adjust for reasonable cost of living increases to assure
that wages do not fall behind again. The DSPs are the backbone of our service system. They needed to be recognized for
that and compensated accordingly.