AUGUSTA - The Maine House voted on Tuesday to advance a bill from Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, to increase wages for intensive case managers (ICMs) within the Department of Health and Human Services.
LD 1915 would provide the state's ICMs with a $5 per hour stipend, as well as an additional $1 per hour stipend for those who have obtained or are currently pursuing a pertinent masters degree. ICMs primarily help high-risk individuals with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders transition back into the community following incarceration. This includes identifying appropriate levels of care, building connections with community-based services and working closely with judges, attorneys and probation and parole officers, among others.
"Our intensive case managers play a critical role in our behavioral health system, performing work that is necessary, complex and sometimes dangerous," said Berry. "However, my teenage son is currently able to earn more money pumping gas than someone with a master's degree who is doing some of the most challenging work in our state. Raising wages will help aid with recruitment and retention and finally give these employees the respect they deserve."
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the rate of turnover among ICMs has been 32% in the past two years. The bill is supported by the ACLU of Maine, Community Housing of Maine and the Maine Service Employees Association.
LD 1915 faces additional votes in the coming weeks.
Berry represents House District 55, which includes Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Swan Island and most of Richmond. He previously served from 2006 to 2014, the final two years as House majority leader, and returned to the House in 2016.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Berry], c. 812-1111