Gatesway Foundation

PROJECT PURPOSE

Through this project, Gatesway Foundation (?Gatesway?) honors our essential workers during the pandemic and incentivizes the hire of new essential front-line healthcare workers. Gatesway serves one of the most vulnerable populations in Oklahoma ? adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). Our population is comprised of persons who possess an IQ below 75, many of whom fall below the poverty line. Despite staff shortages leading to excessive overtime (consistently between 30-35%), our staff kept operations running through the pandemic, continuously caring for this vulnerable population in extraordinarily difficult circumstances. In fact, several of these caregivers lost their lives during the pandemic. The constant overtime, the difficulty of work resulting from multiple lock-downs, and rising competitive wage rates have created high turnover and lower retention than pre-pandemic periods. Further, the current inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rates mean our essential workers are paid well below market rates (only $8-$13 per hour). This further exasperates the challenge of attracting and retaining new front-line care givers. To stabilize our overtime rate, improve retention and hiring of front-line caregivers, and boost employee morale, we are applying for $25,000 for each of our essential workers to be paid out ratably over a roughly two-year period. Gatesway has 229 direct care positions that are needed to provide the highest quality care for our population of Oklahomans with I/DD. The funds from this project will help Gatesway return to more normalized overtime rates and increase staff retention, both better enabling us to staff a productive, healthy workforce that can continue to provide excellent care for a highly vulnerable population.

EVIDENCE

In order to care for adults with I/DD who require individualized and small-group care, our sector must pay more to be able to attract and retain workers. A 2021 national survey of 449 disability service providers, conducted by American Network of Community Options and Resources, revealed that over 92% of providers surveyed said that ?industries that previously paid comparable wages now pay employees more than organizations can afford to pay.? 81% reported they are ?struggling to achieve quality standards? because of workforce reduction. Another article provides insight to the safety implications of the pandemic on staff and clients: ?40% of [caregiving organizations] reported they are seeing higher frequencies of reportable events.? The underpayment of care staff is a national issue affecting our field, and this grant will be an incredible help in addressing this issue in the short term as we continue looking forward to the implementation of long-term solutions.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Adults with I/DD have been disproportionately impacted, threatened, and isolated by the pandemic. While Gatesway has worked diligently during the pandemic to ensure we are able to keep our Gatesway community safe, our members' participation in activities and programs have suffered . This fact, combined with the realities of social distancing, has resulted in extreme isolation for the adults with I/DD whom we serve. A recent article in the American Journal of Psychiatry says it best: ?People with intellectual and developmental disabilities were disproportionately isolated prior to the pandemic, and intensification of that isolation stands only to weaken the community for all citizens.? With the funding provided through this grant, we can bring Gatesway back to pre-pandemic staffing levels, enabling us to once again provide meaningful activities that promote independence, social interaction, and community integration for the vulnerable population whom we serve.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

We will measure project performance by a reduction of employee overtime and increased staff morale. We will measure these through our payroll records and staff surveys. Payroll records will be monitored with the goal of seeing overtime reduced from its current high of 30-35% down to levels of 10-20% (our pre-pandemic average), as well as lower turnover for the lifetime of the grant program. Employees will be surveyed semi-annually through the lifetime of the program, with the goal of seeing an increase in the employee satisfaction rate. Xpanxion's Grants Management Solution will be used to monitor success and maintain compliance.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding