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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS WEEK AND THE “THEY DESERVE MORE” CAMPAIGN
WHEREAS, September 10-16th is nationally recognized as Direct Support Professionals Week;
WHEREAS, Direct Support Professionals are caregivers who offer a wide range of supportive services on a day-to-day basis to thousands of individuals with developmental disabilities, such as assisting with eating, bathing, administering medication, and job training skills;
WHEREAS, over the past several decades, thousands of adults and children with developmental disabilities have moved from their family homes, foster homes, or state institutions into group homes, where they have been able to achieve more productive and fulfilling lives;
WHEREAS, Direct Support Professionals are an integral component to the well-being of individuals with disabilities and provide critical care for the successful transition from home-based to community care;
WHEREAS, according to the Addressing the Disability Services Workforce Crisis of the 21st Century Report, there exists a critical and continuously growing shortage of Direct Support Professionals directly correlated to low wages that are often below the federal poverty level;
WHEREAS, the “They Deserve More” campaign is a statewide advocacy effort to address the major staffing crisis affecting services to people with developmental disabilities in Cook County and across Illinois, advocating for a living and competitive wage;
WHEREAS, in order to continue to enhance the lives of all people with disabilities who rely on long term supports and services, community providers who employ Direct Support Professionals must obtain the resources to recruit, train and retain a highly qualified and sustainable workforce;
WHEREAS, it is critical that Illinois swiftly addresses the real and immediate workforce shortage jeopardizing the quality of life for our nation’s most vulnerable Americans by providing wages that are competitive and commensurate to the level of responsibility required for this vital occupation;
WHEREAS, this week in September serves as a reminder that we must recognize and appreciate the dedication and contribution of these professionals who provide a crucial service to hundreds of millions of American families;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, in conjunction with Direct Support Professionals Week, do hereby recognize and support the contributions that roughly one million Direct Support Professionals make every day on behalf of people with disabilities, the elderly, the frail and the infirm.
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