Staffing crisis at Saratoga Bridges leaves hundreds of families in limbo

Staffing shortages are creating headaches for businesses all across the country. However, when Social Services agencies can’t find enough workers, there are many families who feel the impact.

Such is the case in the Capital Region at Saratoga Bridges.

For the 200 or so individuals who take part in the daily habilitation programs provided by Saratoga Bridges, putting the program on temporary pause for one day a week is more than just an inconvenience.

Jane Mastaitis is the chief executive officer at Saratoga Bridges, the county’s largest nonprofit human services agency.

At one time, 500 people worked there. Now, many of the desks remain empty after roughly 20% of the workforce vanished. The troubles actually began before COVID. It’s gotten worse in the last six months.

Mastaitis says it’s just not safe to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who look forward to their day programs.

So because of the staffing shortage, they’ve made a decision to temporarily pause a portion of day program.

Learn what Mastaitis says she’d like to see happen to help overcome the staffing shortages by watching the video of Dan Levy’s story.