By Mary Tinker
July 2019 | 2019 Summer Newsletter
May of 2019 marked the twentieth anniversary of Public Authority Services by Sourcewise (PA); something we think is worth celebrating.
PA was originally established by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to act as the Employer of Record for the purpose of negotiating wages and benefits with the union for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Independent Care Providers (IPs). PA’s scope has grown and shifted with the changing needs of the IHSS population.
Well before it was mandated by the State in 2003, Santa Clara County (SCC) established a Public Authority in 1999. Throughout California, Public Authorities have four mandates from the State:
- Provide a registry of workers (providers); recruit, screen, and refer these providers (aka IPs) to IHSS consumers
- Provide training for consumers and IPs
- Act as the employer of record for collective bargaining for IP wages and benefits
- Perform any other function related to the delivery of IHSS as assigned by the county
Today, 19 full-time staff work hard every day to accurately and effectively provide services to IHSS consumers and IPs. In 1999, PA began with two part-time administrative staff. At that time, PA began negotiating with the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) for IHSS IP wages and benefits. An increase of $1 per hour above minimum wage was agreed upon in SCC for the first time.
The following year, PA once again enhanced IHSS consumers’ ability to hire providers with the launch of health benefits for over 400 IPs. Today, Valley Health Plan covers 11,861 IPs. In 2001, dental and vision benefits were added for over 600 IPs. Today, this coverage has since increased to 12,562. This rich benefit package is considered one of the best in the State.
A few years later, PA assumed direct responsibility for the Registry— although the Registry was a Sourcewise service since 1995.
The Registry expanded under PA, based on recommendations from the Advisory Board, and the Urgent Care Registry was created as a safety-net program. Additional services have been added throughout the years such as provider enrollment, Department of Justice background checks, and a robust provider training program, offering 15 different topics in five locations throughout SCC.
We are pleased to continue serving the 24,966 consumers and 25,376 IPs currently active in Santa Clara County’s IHSS. The past two decades have brought successes and challenges, and we look forward to adapting to the changing needs of the ever-growing IHSS population for many more years to come.