Advocacy

Budget Advocacy | Self Advocacy | Ways to Help | Share Your Story 

THE FIGHT FOR A FAIR BUDGET

The health and safety of the people who choose our services are compromised when there is a lack of financial investment in wages for our staff members.  Severe staffing shortages have left nonprofit agencies struggling to maintain their programs and offer high-quality care to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

While the 2025-26 New York State budget made progress, the 2026-27 budget is pivotal in reversing years of underinvestment in our field. Organizations such as the New York Disability Advocates are advocating for 

• A 2.7% targeted inflationary increase to address rising costs and ensure direct support professionals receive fair, competitive wages that reflect the skilled nature of their work 

• Enhanced infrastructure and care system investment including funds to maintain, upgrade and preserve safe, accessible housing 

• Health insurance affordability initiatives, as non-profit providers may face significant cost increases to provide health insurance for employees and their families 

These are more than simple budget requests —they are a commitment to a stable care system and the advancement of direct support professionals. Let’s act now to ensure these priorities are reflected in the state fiscal year 2026-27 Budget. Together, we can secure the resources needed to strengthen our work and serve our communities with excellence. Use the link below to contact your legislators to urge their support of these important initiatives.  

New York State Senate | New York State Assembly 

Click here for more detail on budget priorities.  

Click here for a budget priority overview you can share with others. 

JOIN THE SELF ADVOCACY MOVEMENT 

Self-advocacy is a powerful tool for personal growth, confidence and community leadership.  Events like Self-Advocacy Association of New York meet-and-greets and small group learning sessions have helped people explore their choices, express priorities and build meaningful connections. With formal self-advocacy groups now forming and leaders emerging, we’re excited to support this growing movement. These opportunities are open to everyone—no affiliation with Heritage Christian Services is required. 

Whether you’re a self-advocate or an ally, your involvement matters. Allies play a vital role by listening, supporting and helping build a culture of empowerment. Upcoming events, including the statewide SANYS conference and ongoing learning sessions, offer ways to engage, learn and lead.  

For information on the next self-advocates meeting email [email protected]. 

CHANGING THE NARRATIVE

“There are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.” – Rosalyn Carter  

Caring professionals are the familiar faces working in certified residential programs, hospitals, nursing homes and in-home care who we trust to support our loved ones. Care plans are lived out by the hands and hearts that support the person in each step of their daily routine. 

The establishment of a standard federal occupation code would recognize and advance the direct support profession as a career and assist research efforts to develop better policies that address workforce challenges and ensure direct support professionals receive the recognition they need to offer high-quality care. 

Click here to sign a petition to establish a direct support professional standard occupational classification.

Click here to support the Recognizing the Role of DSPs Act.

GET INVOLVED AND TAKE ACTION

Your advocacy is essential to protecting services and supporting care professionals. Here’s how you can help: 

Advocate for key priorities: 

• Protect Medicaid funding at the federal level. 

• Support the creation of a federal occupation code for direct support professionals. 

• Endorse CareForce Affordability Initiatives to improve housing and financial stability. 

• Promote expanded child tax credits and healthcare support for direct support professionals. 

• Encourage capital funding for provider programs and infrastructure. 

Contact your legislators: 

• Reach out to your elected officials, especially majority members. 

• Clearly state if you are a constituent in your message. 

• Use this form to send a prewritten email about Medicaid funding: NYDA Advocacy Form 

Prefer email? 

Visit the New York Alliance Government Action Center to send your message with one click. 

OTHER WAYS TO TAKE ACTION

Help share the importance of the services your loved one may receive and the part that direct support roles play in those services 

• Write to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form. 

• Join forces with a local advocacy group, e.g. The Family Advocates, the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York (DDAWNY), the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS) or New York Disability Advocates. 

• Share our publications and the information that we post on social media. 

• Talk to others about the importance of our work and about the need for advocacy. 

In addition, Heritage Christian Services supports initiatives that: 

• Enhance the opportunity for diverse, inclusive and equitable community experiences rich with meaningful relationships 

• Ensure introduction and access to high-quality caring professionals 

• Increase the number of people who have meaningful employment in our community 

• Increase access to accessible, affordable and quality housing 

• Improve the availability and quality of transportation services 

Together, we will ensure a community that respects the work of our agency and care professionals. With that respect, we will elevate our advocacy to ensure our legislators and funders make the necessary adjustments to support quality services and fund a sustainable wage for caring professionals. 

OTHER WAYS TO TAKE ACTION

Help Share the Importance of the Services Your Loved One May Receive and the Part That Direct Support Roles Play In Those Services

• Write to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form.
• Join forces with a local advocacy group, e.g. The Family Advocates, the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York (DDAWNY) or the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS).
• Share our publications and the information that we post on social media.
• Talk to others about the importance of our work and about the need for advocacy.

In addition, Heritage Christian Services supports initiatives that:

• Enhance the opportunity for diverse, inclusive, equitable community experiences rich with meaningful relationships
• Ensure introduction and access to high-quality care professionals
• Increase the number of people who have meaningful employment in our community
• Increase access to accessible, affordable, quality housing
• Improve the availability and quality of transportation services

Together, we will ensure a community that respects the work of our agency and care professionals. With that respect, we will elevate our advocacy to ensure our legislators and funders make the necessary adjustments to support quality services and fund a sustainable wage for care professionals.

SHARE YOUR STORY

Your Advocacy Matters

Care professionals perform some of the most essential work in our communities. They are also parents, students and people who want to make a difference in the lives of the people they support. Society depends on people working in these roles to support our community members, often at times of greatest need; as such, human services continues to be one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. People in care roles are required to be skilled professionals with specific training and education. Yet, many of them cannot financially care for their own families because of the low wages associated with their jobs. We all need to work together to increase the respect and wages of care professionals.