metro
SARA AND MORRIS TUGMAN BAIS CHABAD TORAH CENTER
Now What? from page 8
OF WEST BLOOMFIELD
FORTY-FIRST
Help Bring
Rosie Home
A fundraiser was held May
3 at Friendship Circle in
West Bloomfield to raise
money for a service dog
for Moby, daughter of
Marlowe B'sheart. Moby
has been matched with
her prospective service
dog, Rosie, and additional
funds are needed to bring
Rosie and Moby
Rosie home. The dog will
help Moby, who has visual
impairment and sensory processing issues, develop independence and
begin navigating the world with increased mobility and confidence.
About $8,000 of the $12,500 needed was raised at the event. To
make a tax-deductible donation, visit the website www.youcaring.com/
medical-fundraiser/moby-s-service-dog-bring-her-home-/76359.
HONORING
MR. STUART & MRS. HELENE WEISS
Keser Sheim Tov - Crown of Distinction Award
DR. JEFFREY & MRS. VICKY KLEIN
Community Service Award
The man who exposed Helen Thomas
Wednesday May 20, 2015 2 Sivan, 5775
5:30pm Hor D'oeuvres 6:30pm Dinner
Young Israel of Oak Park
15140 West 10 Mile Road
Oak Park, Michigan
Couvert: S300 per couple
For ticket information or to place an ad in the souvenir journal, contact us at Bctc770@aol.com or call (248) 855-6170
10
May 7 • 2015
JN
Despite Kadima's starting salary of
$10.02 per hour for direct care workers,
the agency is expe-
riencing annual staff
turnover of 25-50
percent. According to
Adelman, the indus-
try average is about
50 percent.
"Especially for
Eric Adelman
our clientele, know-
ing them, the things
that trigger their mental health crises,
the techniques that calm them and
help them regain stability are of the
utmost importance
Adelman said.
"Turnover reduces stability and increas-
es the risk of mental health crises."
Ironically, the long-awaited improve-
ment in the overall economy, including
the increase in minimum wages by
employers such as McDonalds and Wal-
Mart, is having a negative impact on
the business of providing mental health
services.
"Why would someone work here
for $10 an hour, doing work which is
emotionally and physically demanding,
when they could flip burgers for the
same wage?" Adelman asked.
At JVS, which has not received an
increase from MORC, the agency's
major funding source, in 14 years, the
budget cuts have necessitated laying-
off some employees and reducing the
hours worked by others.
"Less hours means less time to plan
for the day because the employees
arrive a half-hour later than they used
to," said Kirk Jude Goddard, vice presi-
dent of habilitation services at JVS.
In addition to the challenge of main-
taining quality services with fewer
personnel, the agencies are coping with
declining employee morale and quality
of applicants, direct results of the bud-
get cuts.
According to Kaczander, the state-
wide average is $8 an hour for direct-
care providers. Even
with the premium
paid by JARC and
other local agencies,
caregivers are feeling
pinched, especially
after the recent salary
cuts.
"It's not really a liv-
Kirk Jude
ing wage for people
Goddard
who are providing
life-saving care,"
Kaczander said. "Most have second and
even third jobs to make ends meet."
Goddard, who acknowledged the
budget crisis has caused employee
morale to decline, worries about the
ramifications of future cuts, which will
likely mean increased caseloads for sup-
port service coordinators.
"Morale has suffered here; we're all
struggling to recruit and retain staff'
Goddard said.
Future Fears
Those experiencing the devastation
caused by the tsunami of funding cuts
fear the situation is likely to worsen
rather than improve in the near future.
There has been talk of more cuts for the
upcoming fiscal year, which starts in
October, including additional rebasing.
"One of the most significant impacts
is on parents who are waiting for ser-
vices," Kaczander said.
This includes Kaminer, who was hit
with a "double whammy" this year: In
addition to learning she may have to
keep Elana at home indefinitely, she
was told there may only be enough
funding for three days (per week) of
vocational programming, rather than
the five days she was counting on.
Now What? on page 12