In a series of letters, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Teresa Miller expressed her appreciation for the front-line heroes who work for DHS and care for vulnerable populations throughout the commonwealth.
She rightfully acknowledged the workers at a variety of DHS facilities, which include remarkable and dedicated AFSCME-represented employees. However, it was impossible to ignore Miller’s omission of the heroes at Polk Center in Venango County and White Haven Center in Luzerne County, which are both set to be closed at her direction.
“Pennsylvania’s state centers are more than facilities — they are homes” Miller wrote in her Jan. 3 piece in the Trib’s Opinion section.
I could not agree more. The members of AFSCME Local 1050 at Polk Center have been trying to tell her that since DHS announced plans to close their workplace a year and a half ago.
Despite the planned closures and a global pandemic, the workers at Polk Center have never stopped providing excellent 24-hour supported living, medical care and developmental activities to residents with intellectual disabilities. Some residents have known no home other than their state center.
Every front-line worker within DHS deserves the highest of praise and, more importantly, safety and security on the job. Sadly, Miller has offered neither praise or security for those at Polk and White Haven. In fact, DHS is moving forward with plans to close the state centers, robbing the workers of job security and robbing the residents of more than a facility, but of a home.
Shane Clark
Cochranton
The writer is director, AFSCME District Council 85.