“We’re just very mindful. We control the growth. We sit down and figure out ‘OK, this year we can do this many more.’ My development team is very good about figuring out how to get dollars to do this many more,” she says.
But as Easterseals adds program lines, it can be hard to find staff for a profession that doesn’t interest young people.
Of the 140 people employed by the chapter, Shaw-Dupras says about 90 are direct service professionals who do things like assist with bathing, eating, groceries and social activities. They are the equivalent of the medical field’s STNAs (state tested nursing aides) or CNAs (certified nursing assistants).
“These are the jobs that start at around $10 an hour and go to $12 an hour, so you’re competing with restaurants, etc.,” she says.
It’s easier to fill those positions in a rural setting, though, Shaw-Dupras says. Plus, in the past year, more people have requested adult day services, rather than in-home support, which is easier to staff.
A part of the effort
Whether a nonprofit or for-profit organization, efficiency often comes down to the smallest things.
“We don’t waste things. We don’t buy them if we don’t need them. I know that sounds basic, but that’s one thing my staff has been really good about,” Shaw-Dupras says.
The Easterseals staff also makes the families they serve a part of that effort.
“Parents know times are tough with Medicaid right now and a lot of them will call and say, ‘Hey, is there something we can buy you? Is there something we can do?’” she says.
Transparency helps with this, Shaw-Dupras says. If a family wants to use the adult day services five days a week, but doesn’t consistently use all those days, it’s time to pull back. Easterseals doesn’t want to staff for people who don’t show up.
“I want us to have the best services possible for the individuals we serve. To do that, we’re all a part of it, from the families to the staff to the management team to the board of directors,” she says. “I think we just have pretty open dialogue with people about it.”
It all adds up.
“There are not a lot of people out there who are going to leave me $100,000, but there might be 1,000 people who will bring me $100 to help with things,” Shaw-Dupras says. “That’s the approach we’ve taken. We know all the little things add up to big things at the end of the year.”
