September 1, 2011 His Excellency Deval Patrick Office of the Governor State House Room 280 Boston, MA 02133

President Therese Murray State Senate State House Room 332 Boston, MA 02133 Speaker Robert DeLeo State House of Representatives State House Room 356 Boston, MA 02133

Dear Governor Patrick, Senate President Murray and Speaker DeLeo: As leaders in the states business sectors, we are without question pleased that the Massachusetts economy continues to improve. But in our role as board members of communitybased human services organizations, we are enormously troubled by the low wages the state continues to provide to our organizations direct care workers and its refusal to secure solutions. We respectfully add our voices to the request that the Governor submits a supplemental budget request containing a $28 million salary reserve for the more than 31,000 employees who make less than $40,000 per year. In addition, we are asking legislative leaders to take action to ensure that the next supplemental budget request includes a $28 million salary reserve. Direct care workers are among the lowest-paid employees in the state, and they work in a critical sector that helps to drive the economy in the Commonwealth. We view this appropriation as a critical investment in the Commonwealths workforce. More than 31,000 direct care workers in community-based settings have not received even a basic cost-of-living adjustment since fiscal year 2008. In June, 3 percent increases were given to more than 4,000 executive branch managers, while low-paid workers in the human services sector have seen stagnant salaries while dealing with the rising costs of transportation, insurance and other basic needs. The state now has the opportunity to help direct care workers who have, as the Governor has put it, shared in the sacrifice these last three years. In our judgment, none are more deserving than these hard working women and men who serve one in 10 residents in Massachusetts.

Providers Council Human Services Providers Charitable Foundation, Inc. 250 Summer St., Ste. 237 Boston, MA 02210 p: 617.428.3637 f: 617.428.1533 e: info@providers.org

If direct care workers are unable to care for our employees elderly parents or children with disabilities, our businesses would experience increased absences, decreased productivity or possibly resignations because employees may need to leave their jobs and care for a family member. While the human services sectors direct care staff members have been chronically underpaid, we understood the states need to tighten its belt during the recession. In fact, many of our companies were forced to take a similar course of action. But those employees who shared in the sacrifice should now be compensated for their efforts. The Commonwealth has been posting strong economic gains for several months, and we were further encouraged to hear the Department of Revenue state that the Commonwealth had collected $1.442 billion in taxes in July 6.6 percent better than July 2010 and $60 million better than projected for the month. After going without any type of salary adjustment since fiscal year 2008, we believe the time to recognize one of the Commonwealths most dedicated workforces is now. We must care for those whom we entrust to help the most vulnerable individuals in the state. A salary adjustment of less than $18/week for these employees is more than warranted. We stand together with leaders from the human services sector in making this request, and we would be happy to meet with you. Thank you for your time and your consideration of this critical adjustment.

Sincerely yours, The board leaders of human services organizations John Abraham, Engineer/Consultant HMEA Joseph Ailinger, BNY Mellon Bay Cove Human Services Thomas Aites, TD Bank Bay Cove Human Services Alexy D. Arauz-Boudreau, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital Family Service of Greater Boston Warren Bacon, Initiative for a New Economy Childrens Services of Roxbury Robert G. Bannish, Heard & Bigelow, Inc. Family Service of Greater Boston Carol Baribeau, Carol Baribeau Consulting Center for Human Development Stephen C. Bazarian Esq., Seyfarth Shaw LLP Community Resources for Justice Tama Bello, Chelsea Jewish Community MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Meg Beturne, Baystate Medical Center The Childrens Study Home Penny Blaisdell, BlaisdellCooper Family Service of Greater Boston
Providers Council Human Services Providers Charitable Foundation, Inc. 250 Summer St., Ste. 237 Boston, MA 02210 p: 617.428.3637 f: 617.428.1533 e: info@providers.org

Aaron Bonner, Babson Capital Management The Childrens Study Home Julius Britto, Attentive Home Care, Inc. MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Michael L. Brown, Boston Financial Management Community Work Services Gerry Ann Brown, Action Inc. Home Care Services MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Greg Buscone, Citizens Bank Bay Cove Human Services Brian Callery, 1017 Financial Group Community Resources for Justice Juan Campbell, Health New England The Childrens Study Home Loring Carlson, Western New England College Center for Human Development Amy Caruso, Babson Capital Management The Childrens Study Home Robert Chateauneuf, Berkshire Bank Center for Human Development Lisa Clewes, Chase, Clark, Stewart & Fontana Insurance Agency The Association for Community Living Sarah T. Connolly, Nixon Peabody LLP Family Service of Greater Boston Laura Connors, Social Worker Bay Cove Human Services Mary Jo Cooper, Bay Cove Human Services NuPath, Inc. Dawn Creighton, Associated Industries of Massachusetts Center for Human Development Seth Crocker, Crocker Building Company The Childrens Study Home Jo-Ann W. Davis Esq., Baystate Health Center for Human Development Joseph C. Davis, Waste Management HMEA Tiziana C. Dearing, Boston Rising Community Resources for Justice Jennifer DeMoe, Barre Savings Bank The Childrens Study Home Thomas J. DeSimone, W.S. Development Associates LLC Community Resources for Justice Dale Desmarais, Aegis Energy Services, Inc. The Childrens Study Home Linda Donoghue, Jewish Geriatric Services Center for Human Development Kathleen Dowd, Human Service Forum Western Massachusetts Training Consortium Wendy Drastal, Home Care, Inc. MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Denise Dukette, New England Bank Center for Human Development Paul Dzialo, Affinity Home Health Care MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Bob Fafard, Retired; Former Owner, Fafard Lawn Products The Association for Community Living Robert Fanning, Beverly Hospital (Retired) Family Service of Greater Boston Robert Fawls, Basis Point Group Community Work Services David M. Felper, Bowditch & Dewey, LLP HMEA Pam Fernandes, Johnson & Hill Staffing The Childrens Study Home Michael Ferry, Businessman Berkshire County Arc, Inc. Shannon Filippelli, van Schouwen Associates, LLC The Childrens Study Home Jim Foard, Jr., Financial Advisor The Association for Community Living David J. Ford, EMC Corporation HMEA Dennis Gagnon, Excel Dryer The Childrens Study Home Ed Garibian, Applied Software Technologies The Childrens Study Home
Providers Council Human Services Providers Charitable Foundation, Inc. 250 Summer St., Ste. 237 Boston, MA 02210 p: 617.428.3637 f: 617.428.1533 e: info@providers.org

Mark Germain, Gomes, DaCruz and Tracy Childrens Study Home/Association For Comm. Living William Ghormley, Xconomy, Inc. Family Service of Greater Boston Bradford Gill, Auto Sales (Retired) Center for Human Development Jackie Glenn, EMC Corporation Childrens Services of Roxbury Maria P. Goncalves, TD Banknorth Center for Human Development Bruce Goodman, Shepherd Kaplan LLC Bay Cove Human Services James Goodwin (Ex-Officio) Center for Human Development Kevin R. Gould, Connover & Company Communications, Inc. HMEA Darren Graves, Simmons College Family Service of Greater Boston Phyllis C. Grondalski, Retired, Monsanto Corporation The Association for Community Living Kirby Hamilton, The Colony Group Bay Cove Human Services Annette Hanson, MetroWest Medical Center Community Resources for Justice Tom Hart, KForce Professional Staffing Family Service of Greater Boston Eartha Harrington, Help Services Network, Inc. MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Scott Harshbarger, Proskauer Rose LLP Community Resources for Justice Maureen Hartl, Hewitt Associates Bay Cove Human Services Marjorie Hess, Arcadia Health Services MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Jane Hetzel, Baystate Medical Center The Childrens Study Home Diane Hobbs, Attorney Bay Cove Human Services Christine Hubbard Advocates Kevin Hunter, Anodyne Homemaker Services MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Norman Hursh, Boston University Community Work Services Joseph G. Imbriani Esq., Taylor, Ganson & Perrin, LLP The Key Program M. Dale Janes, NUVO Bank The Association For Community Living John Jenkins, West Insurance Agency Childrens Services of Roxbury Paul Kelliher, Community Advocate; Retired The Association for Community Living Jessica Kemp Advocates Karen L. Kennedy, NUVO Bank and Trust Company The Association for Community Living Mary F. Knight, Hampshire Educational Collaborative The Association for Community Living Jo Mary Koopman, All Care VNA MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Janet LaBerge, Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap The Dianne DeVanna Center Timothy Lee, Advocates client Advocates Paul Lemieuz, Peter Pan Bus Lines The Childrens Study Home Dennis Leonard, Delta Dental of MA Family Service of Greater Boston Deborah Levy, McLean Hospital Bay Cove Human Services Judith Luddy, Charter Oak Insurance & Financial Services The Association for Community Living Dr. Morton Lynn, Orthopedic Surgeon (Retired) Center for Human Development Susan Lynn, Baystate Medical Center The Childrens Study Home
Providers Council Human Services Providers Charitable Foundation, Inc. 250 Summer St., Ste. 237 Boston, MA 02210 p: 617.428.3637 f: 617.428.1533 e: info@providers.org

Robert Lyons, Contec Holdings Family Service of Greater Boston Philip A. Mason, Mason and Martin LLP Vinfen Corporation Linda L. Marston, Springfield College Center for Human Development Gary Martinelli Esq., Martinelli & Discenza The Childrens Study Home Robert Maulden, John Hancock Financial Services Bay Cove Human Services Edwina Mays, EMC Corporation Childrens Services of Roxbury James McCoy, Manpower Business Solutions Family Service of Greater Boston Charlene McEntee, Technical Hardfacing & Machining Co. HMEA Edward McGonagle, Gtr. Boston Home Health Care Services MA Cncl. for Home Care Aide Serv. Dennis Millner-Hanley Advocates Gail Molari, MOLARI HealthCare Services MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Jonathan Morin, Innercity Home Care MA Council for Home Care Aide Services John Morris, Crestwood Advisors LLC Family Service of Greater Boston James Mungovan, Deloitte & Touche Bay Cove Human Services Suzie Murphy, Simmons College Delta Projects, Inc. Joann Noble, First Trade Union Bank Family Service of Greater Boston Mark O Connell, Wolf & Company, P.C. The Childrens Study Home Michael J. OConnor, Partners Healthcare Community Resources for Justice William Oakley, Retired Bay Cove Human Services Elizabeth Osbahr, Professional Profiles, Inc. MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Demetrios N. Panteleakis, OPAL-Real Estate Group Center for Human Development Peter Patch, Patch & Associates LLC Community Resources for Justice Peter Pease, Attorney Bay Cove Human Services Evan C. Plotkin, NAI Plotkin Center for Human Development Jay M. Primack, Moriarty & Primack Center for Human Development Terry Przybylowicz, Baystate Health Systems Center for Human Development Debra Quinn, Attorney at law The Childrens Study Home Gordon Quinn, Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn The Childrens Study Home Teresa Regina, Springfield Public Schools (Retired) Center for Human Development Howard Rich, Rich Family Enterprises NFI Massachusetts, Inc. Rev. Richard Richardson, Retired Childrens Services of Roxbury Amy Roberts, Kollmorgen Electro-Optical Center for Human Development John J. Roche, Roche & Murphy HMEA Angela Rocheleau, Home Staff LLC MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Cathy Rossi Esq., Attorney at Law The Childrens Study Home Timothy J. Ryan, Ryan & Downey, P.C. Center for Human Development Robert Schaeffer, Multicultural Home Care, Inc. MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Mark Scuzzarella, Hologic, Inc. HMEA
Providers Council Human Services Providers Charitable Foundation, Inc. 250 Summer St., Ste. 237 Boston, MA 02210 p: 617.428.3637 f: 617.428.1533 e: info@providers.org

Christopher Segalini, Natixis Community Work Services Michael Sheridan, Peoples United Bank, Worcester Advocates Erik Skar, Mass Mutual Life Insurance The Childrens Study Home Martiza Smidy, Mercy Medical Center The Association for Community Living Phyllis A. Smigiel, United Bank Western Massachusetts Training Consortium JaNet Smith, CHD Terri Thomas Girls Program Center for Human Development Amy Snelling Family Service of Greater Boston Oliver A. Spaldin, Welch and Forbes Community Work Services Bryan Spence, Northeastern University Family Service of Greater Boston Rusty Stieff, Boston Private Bank Bay Cove Human Services Thomas F. Sullivan, R.G. Neylon Insurance, Inc. Center for Human Development Thomas G. Tachovsky, Ph.D., M.I.T. Technology Licensing Office HMEA Mike Talbot, OReilly, Talbot & Okun The Childrens Study Home Rickie Thompson, Prime Real Estate Childrens Services of Roxbury Sally Thompson, Cambridge Health Alliance Bay Cove Human Services Robert Thomas, Liberty Mutual Bay Cove Human Services Tricia Tilford, Certified Public Accountant Family Service of Greater Boston Amy Tobin, Southeastern MA Home Health Aides, Inc. MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Kandra Tranghese, Wolf & Company P.C. The Childrens Study Home Kathleen Trier, Community Visiting Nurse Association Bristol Elder Services, Inc. Patricia Vinter Advocates Robert Walters, Retired Bay Cove Human Services Jeffrey K. Warren, Rolls-Royce Naval Marine Inc. HMEA Dan Weir, Noble & Greenough School Advocates Eric Wetlaufer Bay Cove Human Services Michael P. Williams, Chicopee Savings Bank Center for Human Development Joseph P. Woitkoski, Stockbroker Berkshire County Arc, Inc. Myrna E. Wynn, Benjamin Health Center Childrens Services of Roxbury Regina Yando, Ph.D., Harvard Medical School Delta Projects, Inc. James Zafris, Retired Savings Bank President NFI Massachusetts, Inc.

* Company affiliation is for identification purposes only

Providers Council Human Services Providers Charitable Foundation, Inc. 250 Summer St., Ste. 237 Boston, MA 02210 p: 617.428.3637 f: 617.428.1533 e: info@providers.org