Building and maintaining connections - 2022 Virtual Day at the Capitol followup
The most powerful messages to legislators are those where families and programs craft their own stories, sharing their own situations and then weave in some specifics about the solutions found in the bills (please customize). This year, there are three sets of bills, each with a Minnesota House and Senate version.
The letter templates offered here can be helpful as you share your appreciation for meetings, phone or virtual calls and email responses from state senators and reps. Please edit as you like and make them your own. Leaders take note of prompt action and often assign greater importance to issues where more responses are received. We have purposely not included an email subject line, hoping that you will craft your own in relation to the content of your letter.
Two samples follow the links to the full letter templates. The files contain are three templates for families and two for disability service providers. Microsoft Word and text file formats are offered. Please click to open or right click/click and hold and save to your system.
Family thank you letters
MS Word | Text
Service provider thank you letters
MS Word | Text
Family letter sample 1
Date
Senator or Representative __________
Capitol address
St. Paul, MN 55155
Dear Senator/Representative [last name],
I wanted to take a few moments to express appreciation for hearing my concerns about the workforce shortage in disability services. Without quality staff, my [son/daughter] would not have the quality of life that [he/she] needs and deserves.
The disability services system is under a great deal of stress right now due to the workforce shortage, and that directly flows down to the individuals with disabilities who rely on day and employment services. There are thousands of people on waiting lists for services for whom providers simply do not have staff.
That’s why I wanted to continue to urge your support for (HF 3100 or SF 2771). This Best Life Alliance proposal calls for ongoing and regularly scheduled updates to the Disability Waiver Rate System (DWRS). These would use more current economic data, allowing for much needed increases in wages and benefits for Direct Support Professionals.
If we as a state value Minnesotans with disabilities living full and meaningful lives, our state set reimbursement rates have to allow for the level of wages and benefits needed to recruit and retain the staff supports necessary to make this possible. Please work to pass HF3100/SF2771.
Thank you for remembering us and our loved ones.
Sincerely,
Name
Address with Zip code
Phone, email address
Service provider letter sample 1
Date
Senator or Representative __________
Capitol address
St. Paul, MN 55155
Dear Senator/Representative [last name],
Thank you for connecting with our agency, [__________,] in [city or county] to hear our concerns about people with disabilities struggling to access services due to a crisis-level workforce shortage. Many industries are having a hard time finding qualified people, but social service providers are especially struggling due to state set reimbursement rates that control the wages and benefits we are able to offer.
That’s where three proposals [House Files 3100, 3268 and 3157 | or Senate Files 2771, 2968 and 2773] come in. The first would update the Disability Waiver Rate System (DWRS) on an ongoing basis with more current economic data, allowing for a much-needed increase in the wages and benefits of the critical Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) providing these hands on disability supports.
The second bill offers short-term help with scholarships, childcare relief and one-time retention payments to DSPs. And, the third covers “Employment Exploration” service rates which need to be updated so staff are paid at a market rate based on similar job types.
All of these employees are the heart and soul of our organization and the people we serve.
Our staff perform specialized, complex work to meet human needs that are felt across families and many others in our area. The simple reality is that our wages and benefits cannot compete with fast food and entry level retail pay rates in our community which are putting us out of the running for many workers and even causing some to leave us. A long-term solution is needed.
We realize there are many voices competing for funds this session, but we hope you will make this a priority. From individuals with many complex support needs to those who need a little help in getting and keeping a job, [agency] is there to assist. That help is limited right now, due to staff shortages, and this needs to change.
Please prioritize taking action on the crisis level disability services workforce shortage this session. Minnesotans with disabilities are living more isolated and less full lives as a result, and our state must take action. Thank you for listening and taking these realities into consideration.
Sincerely,
Name
Address with Zip code
Phone, email address