Evidence snapshot covering wages vs. cost of living, wage-bargaining history, Public Authority/County performance signals, available training (for completeness), and primary sources.

Wages vs. Cost of Living

• IHSS provider wage (current): $17.85/hr (as of Jan 1, 2025).
• Living wage (single adult, no children): $23.13/hr (MIT).
• Gap: −$5.28/hr (IHSS ≈ 77.2% of living wage).

County History of Fair Bartering for Wages

• Union representation: SEIU Local 2015 represents Madera IHSS providers.
• 2022–2024 bargaining: Union press releases show wage path increases culminating at $17.85/hr by 2025; agreement included health benefit improvements.
• 2025 context: No successor agreement yet reported; SEIU campaigning for stronger contract language and higher wage floor beyond $17.85/hr.

Public Authority & County Support (Performance Signals)

• Provider onboarding: Orientation includes state-mandated enrollment steps (ID verification, orientation session, fingerprinting).
• Payroll systems: EVV/ESP guidance provided through county and CDSS links.
• Advisory governance: County website lists an IHSS Advisory Committee with regular meetings.
• Public KPIs: No posted metrics on call-center wait times or application-to-enrollment days; rely on state oversight standards.

Available Training (for completeness)

• Local: Provider enrollment packet and orientation video; no open public training calendar found.
• State: CDSS EVV webinars and ESP resources.

Sources & Links

• Current wage:
  BOS staff report/slide deck (Nov 19, 2024 → $19.50 Jan 1, 2025; $19.75 Feb 1, 2025);
  IHSS Law;
  IHSS Advocate;
  official hub: CDSS wage rates.
• Living wage:
  MIT Living Wage — Marin County.
• MOU & bargaining:
  SEIU 2015 press (May 17, 2024; $3.50 over min by 2026);
  prior Marin PA–SEIU MOU (2021–2023).
• Public Authority operations:
  Enrollment steps;
  EVV/ESP info;
  County IHSS program page.
• Context:
  County news release on wage boost consideration (Aug 2024).