* Gov. Pritzker was asked today if he felt like there was a “safety crisis” inside the state’s developmental centers, including Choate. Here’s part of his response…
These facilities often are located in places where it’s very hard to find the qualified labor that you’re looking for. We have terrific people that we attract, but it’s also very difficult to fill positions when we don’t have enough people with the kinds of credentials that are necessary to do this work.
This is hard work. The people who work there deserve to be compensated properly, and they deserve to be rewarded and recognized for good work that’s done. But if we can’t attract more people like that, then the provision of health care that’s necessary isn’t going to be up to the standard that we like.
This is a problem we’re all trying to solve. It’s not an easy one, because people are not willing to drive 100 or 150 miles to a job every day. And so where are we going to find those quality workers in an environment by the way where there’s a labor shortage, too? So we’re working on all those problems simultaneously, they won’t be solved immediately.
What we can do immediately is resolve the complaints to determine if there is actual wrongdoing, and then address that wrongdoing, hold people accountable.
Discuss.
- The Dude Abides - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 2:12 pm:
His comments remind me of the numerous articles about rural hospitals/medical facilities having similar issues. A number of younger talent has significant student loan debt, yet employers expect that the lower CoL means that they can pay less.
You want the talent? Pay up.
- NIU Grad - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 2:17 pm:
This is the core issue for both the developmental center and DOC staffing crisis. For the former, they are unable to be moved closer to populated areas that would have more candidates (primarily the Chicagoland region) because they need to be closer to family. For DOC, they are already predominantly far away from visiting family members and the only thing keeping them where they are is their role as employment centers.
I’m not sure how to solve this problem while keeping both of these valuable services where they are at currently. For DOC, another prison closer to Chicagoland in a jobs-depressed area (think south suburbs or north Lake County) could help.
- Captain Obvious - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 2:19 pm:
A good grasp of the problem. No solutions. We’re working on it just doesn’t cut it. He’s had 4+ years to work on it and the problems are worse, not better. Do I have solutions? Nope. But guess what? I ain’t the guy charged with finding them. Just one more area where Jay Bob gets a complete fail.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 2:24 pm:
===A number of younger talent has significant student loan debt, yet employers expect that the lower CoL means that they can pay less.
You want the talent? Pay up.===
The real cost of education as a long term debt with rural areas waiting quality AND quantity of people in position, labor costs *to* an area versus labor costs *to* the specialty of service is the gap needed to be filled.
The rest is making the rural life or life outside an urban area enticing for those maybe unfamiliar with his great it is.
But it can be sunshine and lollypops, but the bills, those are still the same for those loans.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 2:35 pm:
The governor (and some here) is spot on.
Rural communities always want economic development, but not infrastructure costs or competitive wages. You also have to offer things todo in your community, but far too many don’t want to pay the bill for that.
Investments in your community usually pay off.
- Chicagonk - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 3:05 pm:
So build something closer to where people live? Maybe it is politically uncomfortable to close a facility, but Pritzker needs to lead on this.
- DuPage - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 3:19 pm:
===You want the talent? Pay up. ===
Tier2 pensions don’t help attract applicants.
Tier2 employees look forward to paying more into the pension system then they will ever get back unless they live many years longer than average. Additionally, if they worked elsewhere under Social Security, they would likely lose most of their Social Security benefits to WEP/GPO because of their State pension. Bring back Tier1 pensions, give good employees a reason to stay and make it a career.
- T.S. - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 3:51 pm:
Qualifications- High School Diploma or GED, no criminal record. DSP Certification takes 2 weeks which is completed by the employer. Please explain where there is a shortage of workers qualified with these qualifications?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 3:52 pm:
===Qualifications- High School Diploma or GED===
For a nurse? A social worker? A top administrator? C’mon. Get real.
- AD - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 3:55 pm:
Starting pay needs to be higher. Step 8 pay is great if you’re a PSA, but most young people aren’t patient enough to wait 8 years.
- T.S. - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 4:00 pm:
===For a nurse? A social worker? A top administrator? C’mon. Get real.===
For a Direct Service Personnel, that is the requirement. Southern Illinois University could be a great partner to recruit the degree style positions.
- really - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 4:01 pm:
I can understand the point being made but it over simplifies things and place too much blame on rural areas. He blames a lack of qualified people in these rural areas however Corrections continues to run short staffed and most those position need to qualifications, a GED and no felony convictions. Most employers are struggling to find workers, but why is the state, in all regions struggling to find staff? That is not a rural problem.
- Southern Dude - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 4:05 pm:
=== Tier2 pensions don’t help attract applicants. ==
Exactly. There used to be waiting lists for these jobs in rural areas until Tier 2 came along.
=== ===Qualifications- High School Diploma or GED
For a nurse? A social worker? A top administrator? C’mon. Get real.===
Doesn’t take much to qualify for a top administrator in DOC. When I left DOC, the issue with the Social Workers was they bring a lot of education to the table, but make less money than the Correctional Officers which some only bring a H.S. diploma, GED and no criminal record to the table.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 4:06 pm:
===For a Direct Service Personnel===
lol
Again, you’re not quite getting it.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 4:11 pm:
“Pay up.” Tell that to the people who moan and complain that their taxes are already too high.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 4:12 pm:
=== Most employers are struggling to find workers===
But unemployment is high and the economy is cratering.
These narratives to where it’s not a rural problem…
For me:
=== The real cost of education as a long term debt with rural areas waiting quality AND quantity of people in position, labor costs *to* an area versus labor costs *to* the specialty of service is the gap needed to be filled.
The rest is making the rural life or life outside an urban area enticing for those maybe unfamiliar with his great it is.===
“That’s how I see it”
- “Remo”, maybe #IYKYK
- Merica - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 4:13 pm:
These facilities were originally located in these areas for political reasons, and not for operational reasons. if you want state government to work, they must be relocated to where people want to live. The rural hospital crisis is solved by paying doctors 80% more in rural areas, the State won’t pay these employees a premium, because all labor must be paid the same throughout the State.
- Southern Dude - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 4:26 pm:
=== the State won’t pay these employees a premium, because all labor must be paid the same throughout the State.===
That is correct, however, that is exactly why you can’t put these facilities in highly populated areas. Stateville CC has always had staffiing issues - there are just better jobs available in that area. Also, the salary for DOC staff is the same in Joliet as Vienna, although there is a big difference in cost of living expense. As far as DOC goes, the Tier 2 thing is huge. People hire in at a DOC facility and are stuck on 3-11 with Tue/Wed off for several years. Some staff won’t be able to hold day shift with Saturday and Sunday off for a decade or more. Not an attractive option when you are stuck there until you are 60.
- Anon - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 4:26 pm:
Quinn closed the DD facility closest to Spfld in a community with a rich tradition of caring for the disabled both in institutional and community settings. That guy was an unmitigated disaster .
- BobO - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 4:52 pm:
Shortage of direct support workers is a nationwide, not just Illinois problem.
Studies show majority of workers are female, ages 21-45. Demographics currently show insufficient numbers to meet current demand, let alone increased demand over the next 20 years.
Non governmental community agencies contracted by the State of Illinois to support people with disabilities are reimbursed at a level barely above a $15/hour minimum wage.
This age demographic has opportunities in other professions that pay better and are less demanding.
As a consequence, Illinois is unable to reduce its institutional census and increase community options that are considered to best practice for folks with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 6:26 pm:
“You want the talent? Pay up.”
That right there. Full stop.
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 6:27 pm:
“Rural communities always want economic development, but not infrastructure costs or competitive wages. You also have to offer things todo in your community, but far too many don’t want to pay the bill for that.
Investments in your community usually pay off.”
That right there Part Two,
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 6:31 pm:
“Quinn closed the DD facility closest to Spfld…”
The GOP wanted spending cuts so Quinn went “OK, Here you go.”
He gave them what they asked for.
And the facilities were not exactly in great shape either.
- Southern Dude - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 7:26 pm:
=== “You want the talent? Pay up.”
That right there. Full stop.===
Agreed, but the problem is deeper than that in DOC. I don’t think Correctional Officers or most of the Union staff are underpaid. Most of them would take a pay freeze for a better retirement (Tier II staff). The outsourced Health Care and Mental Health staff have a very good complaint about their pay. DOC has Union jobs like Laundry Managers and Supply Supervisors making a lot more money than your Social Workers - a job that requires a lot of credentials just to be eligible. To be a Laundry Manager, you can have no education or military, hire in as a Correctional Officer, do just enough work not to get fired, and have the job handed to you on the basis of seniority and make a lot more money that someone with a Masters Degree. It is a broken system.
- Proud Papa Bear - Thursday, Jul 27, 23 @ 7:34 pm:
My first career was at a private facility for adults with disabilities in a collar county. The cost of living was high and the pay was low. I lasted 11 years - far, far longer than most.
The ones who stay usually have a spouse who makes a good living somewhere else.
I left my management position there to become a teacher, where I now make more than three times my former salary. That’s not to say I make a fortune now; it’s to say I made peanuts before.