GORHAM (NEWS CENTER Maine) — Hundreds of families of special needs kids are stuck on waiting lists for trained workers to help their children live more independently. But lawmakers could soon approve a pay raise which could help with the staffing shortage.
Luke Suleiman, 12, is on the autism spectrum and has limited communication skills. He is eligible to work with a Behavioral Health Professional known as a BHP 28 hours a week. In the past three years, there has only been enough staff to cover a few hours.
BHP helps teach kids with specials skills to help them function more independently at home and in public.
Agencies that hire BHPs say they can't offer wages to compete with health care and retail jobs. The Medicaid reimbursement rate for wages has not seen an increase in ten years.
"If they could raise the wages you will be able to get those college students – those people who want to work helping other people," said Luke's mom, Natasha Suleiman.
Lawmakers are expected to vote on a bill that would increase the wages for BHPs to $12 and 80 cents an hour, a 10 percent increase to what they are making now. Agencies say the boost in wages could increase staffing across the state.