4. Transformation Project! Designing a System for us --Without Us.

5. ALERT!!!!  Your Individual Budget -- Currently called Individual Estimated Resources (IER) -- A Must Read

6. Action Needed NOW
 

 Now is the time for you to stand up and make legislative contact! The state budget is being prepared. The Governor will make his Budget Address early in February. The PA Waiting List Campaign and the Direct Care Salary Initiative are intricately intertwined. In order for waiting lists to be reduced, we need to attract more qualified people to provide supports and services. As family members we trust and rely on dependable, caring and considerate staff people who will provide high quality services and support for our sons and daughters. There is nothing more basic or needed than quality care. The main problem plaguing the provider community is the ability to attract and retain high quality professionals because of extremely low salaries, some salaries are below the poverty level. We need your support. Please call, write or email Governor Schweiker and your state legislators. The message is very simple: Hello, my name is __________, and state that you are a person who is a self advocate or a parent/friend/advocate of a person with a disability and you are calling to ask Governor Schweiker (or your sate legislator) to support funding this years Waiting Last Initiative for Mental Retardation (you must be specific as there are many waiting lists) and to support the Direct Care Salary Increase Initiative." We rely on each others support to make positive change happen. Without this years funding people won't come off the waiting list and without a budget increase to support direct care staff we will not have people who can continue to work or be attracted to work with our families. Make those calls and contacts! 16,000 people are counting on you!

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