Senate committee hears testimony on DSP pre‑training program for immigrant and multilingual caregivers

The Minnesota Senate Human Services Committee heard testimony April 7 on Senate File 3122, a bill that would establish a one‑time direct support professional (DSP) pre‑training grant program aimed at providing in‑person, culturally and linguistically specific classes for DSPs serving people with disabilities and other long‑term needs.

The testimony focused on workforce recruitment and retention among immigrant and non‑English speaking caregivers. Miss Swalley, a small business owner representing the Minnesota Ethnic Providers Network, told the committee the network trains immigrant women who otherwise face barriers to online training and low wages in the DSP field.

"Their average DSP person makes between 16 and $17," Miss Swalley said, explaining the effect of culturally specific, in‑person training on pay. She described a pilot in which 14 women who spoke seven different languages trained together; afterward she said the average pay for DSPs in her small program rose to about $22–$24 per hour.

Swalley said many DSPs she works with are Somali and African American women and that tailored in‑person instruction improved compliance and outcomes while helping workers move away from poverty.

Committee members thanked the witness and discussed how the proposal fits with other workforce initiatives. No final vote was taken; the committee laid the bill over for further consideration and possible inclusion in later work.

Disposition: Senate File 3122 was laid over for possible inclusion; no formal committee adoption or fiscal action was recorded during the hearing.