Partnership in Action
Research, Updates, News, and MoreWorker Portability Efforts Moving Forward
Personal Support Specialists (PSS) and Direct Support Professionals (DSP) are the first essential care & support workers to benefit from streamlined and updated training and certification. We are happy to provide this update on the State’s progress in rolling out these new training programs.
Looking Ahead to Year Four of the Partnership
Year four is underway with some exciting new initiatives at the same time the Partnership will be grappling with the setbacks we experienced in the long session of the 132nd Maine Legislature. While the session was certainly challenging, here are a few things we were able to accomplish, and a look to what this Fall and beyond will bring.
Final Days of the Long Session of Maine’s 132nd Legislature
The results of this legislative session were a setback for Maine’s Essential Care & Support Workforce and the people they serve. We were able to mitigate some of the worst impacts and look forward to continuing to fight for wages and working conditions this essential workforce deserves.
Insufficient Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) Jeopardize Progress
COLAs are an important tool to ensure that every person who needs care and support services in Maine is able to receive consistent and predictable care and support from a well-trained and appropriately-compensated workforce. We lost ground this session.
Speaker Fecteau’s Bill Carried Over – What’s Next?
Members of the Partnership have been and are continuing to meet with legislative leadership to urge them to prioritize the restoration of COLAs, and reject language that destroys the progress we’ve made on our MaineCare Rate Setting System, and ensure that LD 977 is fully funded.
Day in the Life Videos: Careers with a Purpose
The Direct Care and Support Professionals Advisory Council, the Maine Departments of Labor (MDOL) and Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and Broadreach Public Relations have created three excellent “day-in-the-life” videos for which members of the Partnership have been advocating.
Partnership Urges Legislature to Restore Progress in Next Round of Budget Negotiations
Members of the Partnership have been meeting with legislators to urge them to prioritize the restoration of COLAs and reject language that destroys the progress we’ve made on our MaineCare Rate Setting System. We are urging the legislature to restore the remaining budget cuts to the workforce in their continuing work on a comprehensive budget.
Working Groups Look to the Future
While the Partnership continues to fight for at least the status quo in the midst of the unraveling budget situation in the State House, the Working Groups are looking to the future by picking up their Phase Two Work.
Budget Proposals Unravel Years of Progress
UPDATED MARCH 15, 2025: Going into this legislative session, The Partnership was working to build on the progress it has made over the past few years. Unfortunately, we have been spending the first months of this session fighting to hold the gains we have made. We are working hard to minimize the damage that will be done if we cannot find the will to increase investment in our essential care & support workforce and our long term support services.
Partnership Members and Others Come Together to Push for the Reinstatement of MaineCare Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs)
At the end of January, the Legislature deliberated on the Governor’s proposed Supplemental Budget. In this article, we summarize the fight to insure the State meets their requirements in the legislated Rate Setting System.