Notable News

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) provide essential, life-supporting services for New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Unfortunately, for the last decade, consistent underfunding of nonprofit I/DD provider agencies has led to a workforce crisis, as wage stagnation has undercut staff retention efforts and driven workers from the field. The staff vacancy rate remains 42 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels, an unsustainable trend and status quo for our state. This shortage causes direct harm to New Yorkers who rely on DSP support and have the right to live lives that the rest of us take for granted.

These economic stresses force many DSPs to leave the field and the people they love. The annual turnover rate for agencies statewide is a staggering 30 percent. Workers are leaving to work in retail, fast-food or home care, and many other sectors, which provide higher pay and require less training.

The Arc of Monroe currently has 110 DSP openings which represents a 35% vacancy rate. The quality of candidates that we are receiving is extremely poor. We experience 75% no call, no show for interviews that are scheduled, and our first year turnover rate for DPS’s is currently trending at 80%.  

While we are grateful for the 4.5% COLA included in the 2024 NYS Budget, it fell short. We needed at least 8% to make up for years of underfunding while trying to fund pay increases to be competitive and retain staff. We strive to partner with our legislators who can make a difference for people with I/DD. It's not just about giving disability service providers like The Arc more money. We are always searching for innovative ways to attract and retain staff, including partnering with local colleges, trying new recruitment strategies, and educating people about the benefits of supporting people with I/DD. 

We are grateful for any help you can offer in our fight to provide a living wage that honors the incredible work our staff do every day. 

Thank you, Assemblymember Meeks!

Arc of Monroe Contacts

Tracy Petrichick
President/CEO
(585) 672-2233
tpetrichick@arcmonroe.org

Mike Zazzara
Chief Operating Officer
(585) 271-0660 x 1014
mzazzara@arcmonroe.org

Kathryn Davidson
Job Path Employment Services
(585) 256-7330 x2529
kdavidson@arcmonroe.org
http://jobpathrochester.org/

Mike Catalano
Vice President of Business Services, ArcWorks
(585) 698-1334
mcatalano@arcmonroe.org
https://arcworksrochester.org/

Tracy Crosby
Executive Director, Arc Foundation of Monroe
(585) 672-2228
tcrosby@arcmonroe.org

Christen Smith
Director of Marketing & Communications
(585) 773-8535
chrsmith@arcmonroe.org

Overview Hiring and Tax Incentives for Employers

DSP Stats at The Arc of Monroe (as of August 2023)