With Massachusetts Lt. Governor Karyn Polito in attendance, Dr. Jordan outlined his forecast of trends for our sector, in which he strongly emphasized areas of critical need for the Health and Human Services Workforce in Massachusetts, while focusing more specifically on our Seven Hills staff members. Dr. Jordan highlighted the need for increasing our clinical training for staff as the acuity of the people we support continues to increase. The exceptionally low unemployment rate in Massachusetts, currently below 4% is making the recruitment and retention of Direct Support Professionals extremely difficult. Dr. Jordan called for the salary not to be $15.00 as many are supporting as the new minimum wage, rather a $22.00 rate for DSPs to help bring their salary in line with the critical importance of their work with human beings. “I promise you that I will continue to sound the charge and fight for a $22.00 an hour rate for our DSPs. Even if it takes a few years, we must get to this level,” said Dr. Jordan. Rising healthcare costs and the cost of insurance was another trend he noted. “Seven Hills, this year, paid 70-74% of our employee’s health insurance costs and we will work to continue to absorb the skyrocketing increases in health insurance to protect our employees,” said Dr. Jordan.
Lt. Governor Polito referenced her visit to Seven Hills Pediatric Center in Groton, and noted the Seven Hills Pediatric Center expansion to Hopedale, work underway at Stetson School, and the new partnership with the City of Worcester at the Coes Pond Playground that will include a Seven Hills Café as examples of the Seven Hills record of saying “Yes! because it’s the right thing to do. Thank you Seven Hills, keep doing what you’re doing and more!” said Lt. Governor Polito.
The meeting closed with the honoring of four current and one former member of the Board of Directors. The late Jack Healy was honored with the dedication of a Seven Hills group home in Paxton dedicated as the Healy House to honor his leadership and service. Claire and the late Parker Swan were honored for their legacy of leadership with the naming of Swan House in Worcester. Mel Gordon was honored with the dedication of Gordon House in Worcester, supporting people through Seven Hills NeuroCare. Robin and Marion Mahar were honored with the dedication of Mahar House in Sterling, a home that they helped nurture and build while serving as longstanding members of the Board of Directors and Advisory Trustees. The Seven Hills Professional Building at 799 West Boylston Street in Worcester is now known as the Mary & Nicholas Altomare Building after the late Altomares. Mary was a member of the Board for over 35 years and her son, John Altomare, is the current chair of the Board of Directors at Seven Hills. This tribute of our dedications was a fitting way to cap an evening that highlighted service to others and an organizational commitment to excellence.