Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Social Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Local home‑care workers and parents urge higher IHSS pay as county reviews workforce policy
Summary
Multiple IHSS parent‑providers and in‑home caregivers told the board about recruitment and retention problems tied to low pay, urging county action while the board considers broader compensation policy changes.
Several home‑care providers used open forum to tell supervisors that the In‑Home Supportive Services (IHSS) wage and benefit levels are making it hard to recruit and retain caregivers for residents who need one‑on‑one support.
Parent‑provider Paige Morgan described long‑term caregiving for a high‑needs child and said the current IHSS pay rate cannot compete with entry wages at retail or fast‑food jobs: “You can go to any fast‑food restaurant in the state of California and get a job starting at $20 an hour. … Trying to incentivize people to come to work in your home for less than they can get working an easier job is impossible.”
Manager Camisha Nichols and other county staff acknowledged the problem during later items as they discussed countywide compensation reviews, but said IHSS funding and rate setting is governed by state rules and tied to state and federal reimbursements. Supervisors did not make a direct wage commitment in open forum, but several said the county should pursue ways to make caregiving viable, and suggested staff explore county‑level options and coordinate with state partners.
What’s next: Supervisors asked staff to consider how county compensation discussions — including the data‑driven philosophy work ordered during the meeting — might intersect with IHSS and other critical care occupations, and to return with information about funding options and administrative levers the county can use.
